Brad
Odenville, AL

1955 Fairlane Victoria
1956 Ford F100 (Restoration Underway....slowly )
2006 F150 SuperCrew

Nighthawk756,

The heads will have casting marks actually showing "ECZ-G" if they are "G" heads; just look carefully.

John Mummert's site has more information on crank marks for "312" crank; but, it is not "foolproof", as Ford is known to have "violated" their own common markings a few times.

Only "sure" way is to remove heads and measure bore and stroke; also, can be "found" by removing pan, and looking at main bearing journal caps for "ECZ" casting marks. Though, if someone before has bored-out a 292 and ground-down a 312 crank to fit, that will not tell you either.

"Stroke" will only define 312 factory crank and rods, bore will only define 312 diameter pistons. some engines have been known to be converted to 312 pistons, while still using the 292 crank and rods.

Regards,   JLB

55 Ford Crown Victoria Steel Top

....he had a 1956 Ford Club Sedan with the y block still in it. I popped the hood and noticed it had a 4 barrel on it. I then noticed it had Thunderbird badges on the front fenders.



What can you tell me about that engine? 292 or 312? I'm thinking it's just a 292 for a couple of reasons....the casting number by the distributor is EDB with what looks like 17 above it. I realize the only true way to tell is pulling it and checking out the crank flange or mains. Also, the data plate was missing, so no way to tell so far exactly what year the car is.



I really appreciate anything anyone can tell me....

_______________________________________________________





John Mummert’s web site lists the following block castings as being FoMoCo machined as 292s or 312s depending on the main bearing caps used. I assume that the same sand cores were used in making the water jacket/cylinder walls on these engine blocks if they were machined for either cylinder bore.



1956: ECZ-6015-A

1956/1957: ECZ-6015-B

1957: ECZ-6015-C

1958/1959: EDB-6015-E

1959/1960: B9AE-6015-F

1962-1964: C2AE-6015-C



Sooo…. In a salvage yard, getting to the pan or crank flange can be... difficult. I've pulled a cylinder head and measured the cylinder bore because of the difficulty of accomplishing the other without the yard owner’s help.



Regarding cylinder heads, the identifying casting numbers on many y-block are located adjacent to where the front most and rear most bolts secure the intake manifold to the cylinder heads.



Y-block equipped vehicles have gotten OLD. Over the last 50+ years, cylinder heads, exhaust manifolds, intake manifolds, engine blocks, and whole engines have been moved from one vehicle to another for all kinds of reasons. Unfortunately, you really can't depend on the vehicle data plate to KNOW what’s in front of you. Along the same line, the Thunderbird badges you mentioned might mean the '56 has a 312 engine... if somebody like me didn't install them on the fenders at an earlier time.



Welcome to the site. Hope this helps.




NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Thanks for the quick replies guys! Plenty of good info!

Been reading up on Mummert's site again and I caught this little nugget....EDB 292 cu in. V8 1957 if cast at Dearborn foundry. EDB found near distributor and generator. And he also writes....Dearborn block I.D. numbers near distributor and above generator.

My numbers are by the distributor, (as his site suggests for a dearborn) and have a number that looks like 17 above an EDB with no dash or anything following it. And according to his site pictures and text, that would make it a Dearborn. So, I'm getting really excited that this is a '57 dearborn that should have G heads.

But we'll have to wait and see....keeping my fingers crossed!

 

Brad
Odenville, AL

1955 Fairlane Victoria
1956 Ford F100 (Restoration Underway....slowly )
2006 F150 SuperCrew

Sorry to disagree but back in the day I had a '56 car with the T Bird emblems on it.  It was an original car and definitely had the original engine with a TeaPot Holley. It definitely was a 292.  272's had the YV 8 a'la my avatar.  312's were relatively rare in '56

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

Doug T is correct about the T-Bird fender emblems, often indicating a 4 Bbl 292. This was true in Canada also. Someone in the U.S.A. researched this and found that only about 17% of 1956 regular cars had 312s. Early in the year T.Birds, Merc's & official cars got priority before regular cars.

Paul

Yeah, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that it's a 292. And I'm good with that, especially if it turns out to be a Dearborn '57.

Brad
Odenville, AL

1955 Fairlane Victoria
1956 Ford F100 (Restoration Underway....slowly )
2006 F150 SuperCrew

Don't get hung up trying to find a 312, a good 292 block will make a nice engine. Even the 272, if the block is good can make a nice package. I replied to your PM, I need to get with you and find out where this junk yard is located. I also have a complete 56 292 that might interest you.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

I always hesitate before saying always or never when it comes to Y-Blocks. However, I have never seen a Dearborn 312. Every 312 I have ever seen was a Cleveland block. In fact, even the Dearborn 292's (EDB near distributor) are fairly rare. The vast majority of Dearborn blocks were 272's in 55-56-57.

Dearborn blocks were not made after 1957.

http://ford-y-block.com 

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

Correction noted! Thanks for catching that for me Doug and the additional info, Paul. Appreciated... still learnin'!



Regards,


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York