I drove a Y-Block for about 10 years before I was married with various Y-Block engines and the LOM was always the first thing to go because I was interested in power. About the time I got married, I installed a .030 over 272 with a brand new Holley 94 and a Fred Jones rebuilt LOM distributor. The power was acceptable and the fuel mileage was fantastic. My wife and I drove the car another 8 years. The T86 transmission even outlived the Hurst Mystery shifter. There was nothing really wrong with the LOM if everything was kept in shape, but the 57 and up carbs and distributors leanded themselves better to smoking the tires.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Wayyyyyyyyyyy back in 1966 and 67 I had a 1957 ford 4dr custom that had a 272 2V that was demon possed. It ran like a Scared Haint ( southern colloquialism def.Ghost etc.) It would take down 390 fords,and especially 283,327s, 350 chebbies didn't have a prayer. This indeed was a rare find that run as strong as it did BUT it does go to show that a well tuned 272 can be made to run really well. 

-Gary Burnette-

I mint to add that I drove that GREAT little Ford into the early 70s and have always regretted ever selling it and people today still talk about the 57 4dr ford with a small yblock that outran anything that dared take it on at a traffic light if no other cars were around, as dumb as kids were we did practice some safety every now and then.

-Gary Burnette-

I'll add to what Gary just said. I had a 56 Ford 4dr 272 A/t that ran the same way. I've never had another yblock that ran as good as that one. When the car body finally gave up the ghost, I pulled the engine out and put it in another 56 Ford I had at the time. Great engine.

Dan      Kingman Az.      86409

Those '57 272s had the "better" '57 cam along with the G heads.  No wonder they ran surprisingly well for only 272 cubes.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"