I think i will try to get a copy.  I can appreciate the fact that it can be downloaded but it's nice to have an old hard copy.

88% of original size (was 574x16) - Click to enlarge   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

As I understand it, the often maligned (it doesn't breath well like an SBC head and so on..) original Y-Block combustion chamber was designed on Ricardo principals. Apparently Ford's engineers anticipated much higher compression ratios. Even some of the best race engine mechanics of the day, misunderstood the design of the combustion chamber. While it may or may not have breathed as well as it's well known competitor, it was apparently far more detonation resistant. According to James Eickman in the Y-Block book, the main "head" engineer at Ford was Allen Cleveland.

Paul

Allen Cleveland and "Sully" Sullivan, can't remember his first name would be interesting subjects also. Sully worked for Ford during the design of the flathead through the Y-Block and beyond. He had quite a career at Ford.

A story was related to me that Sully saved Henry a fortune when Ford was sued for using bottoming taps. Someone had patented the idea and was trying to collect. Sully was able to prove that Ford used them before the patent date and saved Ford big $$. Haven't verified this story.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

88% of original size (was 574x16) - Click to enlarge

i think some of you on this forum are being too modest.. if you type Y block into any search forum some of the first things to come up are this forum, john mummerts website, Tims website, youtube links to Charlies truck, More links to Ted pulling wheelies with a Y block, old info on the Hoosier Hurricane.. guys give yourselves credit.. some one else may have designed this motor but you guys have brought it back to the limelight with all your good tech and innovation.. so i'll put my vote in for you guys as Y block personalities.. Cheers..

Dustin

Southern Oregon Y's Guy

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=h...

I got the latest issue of Rod and Custom this morning and  there is a Barney Navarro reference on the cover and a long article about him and his roadster inside.Good stuff!!!!!!!

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

While I'm certain that all of the folks you mention appreciate the pat on the back, we have had years to sort out the Y-Block. The original engineers had only a few to design it from the ground up.

Karol Miller showed up at Bonneville with a year or two development time and ran 155mph in a 56 Ford sedan he drove there! I can't imagine exceeding that mark with years of trial and error.

In 1956, Racer Brown made 271 uncorrected horsepower with a 312, ECZ-C heads, 3-2 Edelbrock intake and a mild Isky cam. Plenty of guys have built Y-Blocks in the last few years that would be very happy to have matched that.

Ed Winfield was a true genius. He revolutionized camshaft design and is still considered one of the best. He also designed his own carburetor and I believe a OHV cylinderhead for the Model T. Any piece of vintage speed equipment that says WINFIELD on it is highly sought after today.For a quick bio go to  http://harveycrane.com/secrets...

Harry Ricardo made tremendous strides in the study of combustion efficiency, detonation and general engine design 90 years ago.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

88% of original size (was 574x16) - Click to enlarge

Well said.  I appreciate the centiment but I can't be grouped in with the early guys, I'm just a grunt who build engines with the knowledge that I got from other people.  Thanks though.

88% of original size (was 574x16) - Click to enlarge   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

John Mummert wrote (11/19/2009): "Allen Cleveland and "Sully" Sullivan, can't remember his first name would be interesting subjects also. Sully worked for Ford during the design of the flathead through the Y-Block and beyond. He had quite a career at Ford."

Don "Sully" Sullivan was a great character in Ford history. Here is one article of him:  http://www.thehotrodsofdearbor...

"After finishing up the flathead and a few other projects, Sully became resident engineer at the Cleveland engine plant where six-cylinder and 256 cubic-inch Mercury flatheads were built. But by the early '50s, he had been transferred back to Dearborn to apply his talents to Ford's NASCAR efforts. Later, he was charged with improving camshaft, valve train and oiling system design on high-performance versions of the 292 and 312 Y-block V-8s. However, before he could bring about any significant changes, the 1957 AMA ban on racing took effect, and performance activities were temporarily put on the back burner."

Also here: http://www.livingimagelegacy.c...

-jyrki from Finland-

www.hollowheads.net

John,

       I guess you'll need another chapter in the book. Or, maybe another book. you'll need to add Payne & Parham, Feistritzer, probably Eaton, and some others (Harry Hutten, Wally Kerstein, etc, Dick Brannan- Romy Hames ran an F code.)  I tried a couple of years ago to get John Feistritzer to write some of his memiors down, didn't get very far. Might be a good place to start, here and now  while we can all remember our names and aren't drooling on our shirts. 

      One of the main reasons I decided to build the red car was to show this generation what was "overlooked" by Peterson Publishing and most of the rest of the aftermarket experts.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Looks like Kathy's getting me this one for Christmas.  Thanks for the suggestion John. 

88% of original size (was 574x16) - Click to enlarge   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias