Ken: First welcome to the site. I also have Irish heritage, which includes sir names such as McGinnis, Dougherty & Kelly. Anyway, to your inquiry. You need to take into account the current time. The engines are 50+ years old now, so it all depends on the current state of repair the engine is in. When new & currently properly rebuilt, they are, & were very durable engines. If you are going to do a rebuild on yours, you need a Ford Y-block manual & should also refer to John Mummert's site, www.ford-y-block.com It's a very valuable site both for information & parts. Pay close attention to the page on "assembly errors" Other questions can be answered by experienced people on this site. Good luck with the project...

Paul

Ken,

       like the others have already posted, I see no reason why the Edsel couldn't be a routine daily driver. I drove a 56 F600 rollback that I had about 2-3 times a week loaded with a car on it and once I got all the little things done to it was extremly reliable. I was working on the side hauling cars back and forth to a auto auction. I did that for just about 3 years in all kinds of weather. You should really like it here, a great group of people from all walks of life with great knowledge.

                                     

Michael

Sandy Valley, NV

Welcome to the site Ken,

My heritage is from there also on my mothers side, Moore and Sullivan were her parents names'

The Y is a great daily driver and very reliable, I think the Y block cars are probably the biggest number still with their original engines, unlike the other brands that have been swapped out five times in their life, if that tells you how reliable they are. As far as installing hardened seats I don't think it is a neccesary in your neck of the woods if your gas is as high an octane as UK. We get crap for gas compared to you guy's and Austrailia.  we get 87 octane for regular and 91 for high test, I think you guy's are up near 100 aren't you?

Don't be scared, put the Y in, a set of glass packs and drive it like you stole it.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

Fáilte romhat isteach! /Duck

BOO- YA!!!

Welcome Ken. Y blocks can take a huge amount of abuse and are known for their longevity. They make easy and reliable daily drivers. My great-grandfather came to the U.S. from Kilglass.



Mark Hebard

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

A big Thanks to everybody who replied, I am delighted to hear they are so reliable,

ps



Oldmics I will check that edsel site out.

Thanks again Ken.

Ken

Ken

As an Edsel owner myself (58  Roundup),this Forum is absolutly the best for "Y" block knowledge.

If you would like to futher your Edsel education,give these guys a shot

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/edselrestorationandpreservation/

Its a group that you will have to register and join (no fees involved) but these guys are the best Edsel folks anywhere.

Very helpfull,knowledgeable,through folks that have helped me greatly in my Edsel education.

Perhaps I"ll see you over their.

Oldmics

56 T Bird/57 T Bird/58 Edsel Roundup (tow car)

Very, and yes.

I think you will find many on here use their Y powered cars/trucks every day and find them very reliable.  I for one do little more than oil changes and adjust the valves from time to time.   Welcome to the site Ken.

   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

Thanks Daniel for replying, that's great. I can't wait to get the V8 back into it You're right about the alternator I've already done that on my 46 plymouth. Thanks again



Ken



edit: Bloodyknucklehill thats great news. I'm from Dublin, Southern Ireland about 150 miles away. This is a brilliant site and i've so many questions i'll be asking in the future. Thanks again



ken

Ken