Hello



Newbie here.



So, hoping some of the Y-Block folks can help me out......before I go batty . Working on a 55 Thunderbird that has a 272 in it. This is not the original engine. It's my Dad's, owned since 63 and has been in storage in our basement since 1969 November! Engine has probably less than 5K miles on it and obviously did run.



Anyway, Saturday nite after months and months and many hours we set out to fire it. After pre oiling rockers we cranked it and all is well. Due to a faulty NEW fuel pump.......needless to say we were unable to actually start it. However, what is driving me NUTS is crank rotation. On these engines, standing at the FRONT of the vehicle looking at the crank pulley........which way is it supposed to rotate?? Dug through our manuals and couldn't find much other than distributor rotation (viewed from top) should rotate counter clockwise of which it does. However, looking at front of engine.........it is rotating clockwise as you crank. Hoping someone can 100% tell me, "yep.......car/truck y-block crank rotation is clockwise" :



Look very forward to some reassuring words.



Thank you! BILL

Yep - that's the right way...clockwise seen from the front. Test the fuel pump, installed on the engine with a hose dropped right straight down into a gas can for a supply. 

The line to the tank could be badly rusted inside (often is) - the tank inlet blocked - all sorts of things interfere with the pump suction of fuel.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Whew, thank you. Now I can sleep tonite concerning engine rotation. Far as the fuel pump, we're getting fuel to the pump. Problem is what I believe to be a faulty pump. It's an Airtex I snagged from O'Reilly's and seems to be operating backwards. Meaning, the line in side of the pump is "pushing" and the line out is creating a vacuum. Hence, threw the original pump in it and poooooof........it squirts fuel where it's supposed to . So, gonna order a pump from Mac's Auto Parts online, have had good luck with them. Also ordering a new fuel tank as well. We did have the original hot tanked, cleaned and all that but just don't trust it and going to replace. That way the fuel system will be all fresh. The fuel lines have been flushed out and are running clean. So hopefully we'll have all our pieces by next weekend and this Bird will move again. Thanks for the help, appreciate it very much!

When I put a pump on my 292 I discovered that the replacement pumps ports were oppisite of the original. Dont ask how long it took me to figure it out.

Kenny  Onalaska, Texas

If the inlet and outlet are switched on the new pump just switch the lines to match.

Has the car and engine been in storage since 69 or just the engine?

  

Yes, thought about switching the lines on the pump but rather not have to start from scratch bending pretty lines . Just ordered one from Mac's this evening. If it acts like the O'Reilly's pump, then I'll resort to bending new lines to match. Hopefully it's a plug in play though from Mac's.



In reply to the car being in storage. Yes, entire car has been in a dry basement. People can't believe we have cars in our basement, guess we're weird motor heads. Anyway, it's quite the piece of history. Last licensed in 69 and still has that year plate on it. Just got my wheels and tires this weekend, really changed the look of the car. We went with black steelies, 15x6 in back and 15x5 up front. Front tires are 215/70 BFG T/A's and rears are 235/70 BFG T/A's. Going to run a fresh set of red center dog dish caps. Will have to get some pics posted up eventually of the car.



Thanks for the help folks, appreciate. Any other y-block tips would be great. Am trying to figure out which Pertronix ignition to get. Ordered from Summit and apparently picked the wrong one. Car is a 12V system too. Dunno, just wondering which one we need.

Are you using a "Load-O-Matic" distributor out of the original '55 motor? Along with the matching carburetor? If so, you probably still have a few bridges to cross -

Just give us a better Idea of what the total engine equipment is and we'll do a better job of getting you the info you need.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

All I can say is wow!!!! Sounds nice!!! 43 years of preservation.   Just a thought before you take it out you might want to check your rear axle & (if manual), the trans fluid to make sure they are not dry, if you have`nt already done that.   Also, You mentioned it is now 12 volt, (not sure about the T-birds), but the 55`s were 6 volt positive ground originally. You  may want to check if that has a bearing on your petronex ignition.    Just in time for summer.....   Good Luck    54 Merc 312  (also a newby)

1954 Mercury 312

Hi Guys



More info on engine, trans, electrical, etc.



Distributor I am unsure of, I believe it is a later model. All I know is it has vacuum advance.



Intake is a 57 and we put a new Holley 600cfm on it. Had to make an adaptor for the stock air cleaner to work annnnnnnd modify the air cleaner base itself. Just had to remove the part where the cork part went. Apparently with the 57 intake and the big Holley, the hood didn't wanna shut



Other details. Had brake booster rebuilt last month. I did ALL new brakes which was shoes, hardware, springs, wheel cylinders, hoses and rebuilt the master cylinder. All hardlines have been flushed and verified to run clean. New front wheel bearings and seals. New axle bearings and seals and pinion seal. Rearend drained, cleaned, flushed and fresh juice installed. Rear gears are 4.10's sooooooooo we'll probably be going to a steeper gear set New water pump and radiator. Power steering pump "appears" to be ok but won't know until engine is running. Then I fear there might be a leaking pump, lines/hoses and or cylinders to deal with. Replaced all engine mounts. One other terrifying thought is rear main seal issues. Car sat for 43 years, soooooooo I've read enough horror stories about the "rope seals" on these engines. If indeed it leaks, wonder how much fun it would be to replace in the car or if it's even possible. Exhaust will be the next engine related pieces. It has headpipes and mufflers on it but no tailpipe pieces. Hoping I can just order up the 4 pieces for the tailpipes and hardware/hangers and be done with that portion. Transmission is a Borg Warner T10 4 speed, that my Dad bought from the local Ford dealer circa 1964! Went through the trans and it's brand new again. Pressure plate was fine, got a new disc, throw out and pilot bearing and all is installed and goes through the gears pretty nicely.



Electrical. It was a partial 12V system in the 60's. My Dad can't quite remember how he did it though. However it does have a 12V regulator and gen on it and 12V starter. Seems to have 12V headlights in it but we of course are going to go through and check that and swap all interior lighting to 12V as well. Far as ignition, took the points all out and went to install the Pertronix from Summit to learn it was incorrect. So, put all the standard stuff back in as well as new plug wires. When cranking it, it'll shoot an arc (from coil wire to coil) probably .250 or more back into the coil and you can hear the arc! So I think we'll be ok with points for now. Most engine bay wiring has to be replaced or repaired. Have a headlight harness coming from Larry's, the one that goes between headlights, horn and regulator. Noticed also need the actual headlight harness itself as well, from the junction block to the headlight. Interior wiring is ok, still flexible and safe but there will be some hours involved in straightening that up and double checking it.



Will be replacing the entire hardtop weatherstripping (ugh). Door gaskets, gasket for rear window in hardtop, trunk seal, the tail light gaskets, door handle and lock gaskets, etc etc. BIG money there it looks like to get it all sealed up with fresh gaskets and weatherstripping. Other exterior pieces are reinstalling the "hash" marks, V8 emblems and Thunderbird script. In 64 my Dad redid the body and painted it. However, removed all emblems and filled mounting holes. Gonna be kinda fun to dimensionally locate where emblems go. Thunderbird script should be fine, can see from inside trunk where those holes were. Hash marks and V8 emblems, might be able to crawl up in the front fenderwell and find those from the inside. Car also needs an outside mirror, not quite sure how to locate that! Other exciting parts will be getting the wipers working, budget too tight for the electric conversion wipers



Having a lot of fun. It's a family project with my Dad, my amazing wife and 4 year old Son. We're all having a blast and my wife amazes me each marathon weekend we put in on the car. This past Saturday was a 9am start and we clocked out at 2am Sunday morning. Couple weekends ago we did a 9am start and quit at 430am Sunday morning! FUN!