Good to hear that you are back at it. Y blocks have a unique sound even with single exhaust. The latest one I bought still has single exhaust. But they sound even better with duals. I will probably put duals on it pretty soon. Once you hear the y block sound with duals, it will grow on you. Its been over 45 years ago when I put the first set of duals on a 56. Its not fun wiggling the head pipe in on the driver's side. But its worth it.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

6Y6s, the mellowest power tubes.



On that note, my recent experiments with points distributors indicates good breaker points may soon become as rare as quality glass vacuum tubes (cheap pressed-in plastic construction, improper spring tension, variation from OEM specs., etc.). Just as happened when the changeover to transistors caused tube producers to drop them, reduced market demand due to the popularity of electronic ignition has apparently caused quality U.S. manufacturers to surrender the line to foreigners, who just never seem to get it right.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Just got my 55 Merc started today!! I now know the excitement you felt!! Truly is amazing hearing a Y-block car run after countless hours of love, blood, sweat and tears. I'm definitely running dual cherry bombs on my 292, just to make sure that all of my neighbors know when Y is home!!



Loving my Y!

Kevin Walshe

Costa Mesa, California

duals with Cherry Bombs is what I have on mine (272, 57 Fairlane)... yeah, its only about 175 horses give or take, but the sound!!

A Fender Deluxe is / was a smaller tube amp, but its immortal, as it can be heard on most any "classic rock" song... Neal Young is said to own many vintage Deluxe's!

my local muffler shop installed my Auto Zone-purchased Cherry Bombs... whole set up for approx $250...

Mark

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

Go for duals. You'll never look back. And you can find inexpensive alternatives if you hunt through salvage yards, local classifieds, and eBay. Although, sometimes I'm amazed at what people pay for junk on eBay. Good luck duder.



I'm rebuilding my 55 F100 and am about to have the engine completely rebuilt! I'll watch this post for progress. Again, good luck and keep turning your wrench!

Heber City, UT (15 mins outside of Park City- basically it's in the mountains)

55 Effie

Mark,

Oh yeah, my best buddy was obsessed with 50-60's music (he is getting his PhD in History) and we roomed together during/after college. with his first Navy pay check after finishing ROTC he picked up a limited edition John Lenon Epiphone Casino and a Fender Deluxe tube amp.  The sound is burned into my head pretty good  I can thank him for any knowledge I have of music at all, and all my knowledge is pre 1970

So will the y-block sound good even with the single exhaust I've got on there...or do I need to start budgeting for an upgraded amplification system??

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

don't give up!! I started mine in 91 when I bought the car... 6 months later, first baby born... there went the extra money and extra time!!

finally got it back together enough to drive and get registered here in TX late last year!  That first kid is now a senior in HS!!  So, never give up... keep spending time with it, even if you don't actually get any "progress"... it's now a "labor of love"... and yes, shifting a "three on the tree" is ALL THAT plus a bag of chips!! I grew up learing to drive this way and its like riding a bike... you never forget!

once you get that Y sound in your blood, nothing will ever come close... with the possible exception of a tube guitar amp...  if you are a guitar player!

Mark

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

Good to see you back Nate!   Good luck in your moms basement, get that done and get going on the car.  Three on the tree ain't so hard once you do it. Just go for it!  That's Clark's credo.

   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

Happy Spring Everyone!

I just had a great time re-reading all the posts from last fall...reading all of your advice is almost as fun as working on my car!

I went to the garage this past weekend just to see how everything survived the winter and I felt like a kid in Toys-R-US trying to decide how to spend my allowance!  I'm really excited to get this car moving.  The budget has gotten even smaller, but if I can just finish the carb business, re-do the brakes and put some tires on this thing.....oh yeah!

It is hard for me to imagine what it feels like to shift a 3-on-the-tree.  I learned to drive on a stick but haven't driven one in years, and shifting on the column in an old 50's car sounds too cool! my clutch foot is eager.

I'm hoping to get into the carb this weekend...but the odds are looking dim.  My mother's basement flooded and you know who has to carry all that crap out up those basement stairs.  And when I say "all that crap" I'm thinking 8+ hour job..especially if my mom is watching over my shoulder.

I'll keep you all posted!

N

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

A lot of people lose interest when they find out how expensive fixing up old vehicles is. And I have seen a lot of young people lose interest when they find out just how much they have to learn about these simple old machines. I hope it's just too cold for him and he'll be back.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas