When I get the 292 built what can I expect it to do on gas mileage,it will be basicly a stock rebuild with a cam for low rpm torque if one is made. I will have a 3 speed automatic trans and 3.00 gears,since I never really driven a car with a Y block very far just wondering how they do.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

My '57 Fairlane had a 0.030 over 292 with mild cam 4-barrel and dual exhaust, coupled to a Ford-O-Matic and 3.10:1 rear gear it would give 21 mpg on the highway if you didn't push it over 65 mph.

Larry D

Winnipeg, MB Canada Eh!


'57 Fairlane 500 Club Victoria

'58 Custom 300 Tudor

'56 Crown Victoria

'61 Starliner Z Code

'51 Ford Victoria

That's pretty impressive Larry! What carburetor are you using? Any alterations to the stock distributor/ignition?

1954 Crestline Victoria 312 4-bbl, 3-speed overdrive

I’ll add that my ’55 Customline with its 0.020” over 272 when it had fresh rings would hit the 21-22 mpg numbers regularly with a 500 cfm Holley on an ECZ-B intake and the Isky E4 camshaft. While 15-17 mpg is the norm now, it’s mostly town driving with less than ‘egg on the foot pedal’driving. And with over 125K miles on those same rings now, ethanol laden fuels, and a timing set that continues to retard the cam timing as the chain stretches, some reduction in the fuel mileage is to be expected as the miles continue to add up.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Using the factory '57 Holley 4 barrel carb & manifold from a 312 and a Pertronix unit in the stock distributor with an initial setting of 8 degrees btdc.

Larry D

Winnipeg, MB Canada Eh!


'57 Fairlane 500 Club Victoria

'58 Custom 300 Tudor

'56 Crown Victoria

'61 Starliner Z Code

'51 Ford Victoria

I have a 292 stock, headers, 3.89 gear, 3-speed od, and got about 16 on the highway. I'm thinking of trying a 3.70 gear. I was running the autolite 4 barrel, since switched to a 600 and haven't re-checked the mileage





thanks, Mark

My 55 has 3.00 gears which will stay after the 292 is installed,I need to get a tach on my present motor and see how fast its running while on the highway and build the 292 accordingly. The 351 is only getting 16 to 17 on the highway and was hoping I could build the Y block to do a little better if possible.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

I don`t think that your gas milage will be more than 18/19 overall even with a very light foot. I owned a 1955 Club Sedan two door with a straight 6 and O/D for about a year and a half in 1959 and if I got 21 or 22 I thought that was great milage. Remember at that time Amoco unleaded 104 Octane gas was 35 cents a gallon and Volkswagon was bragging of fantastic 25MPG. It was not that unusual for a car to get 8/10 mpg. Pete

The crappy gas we have today might have some effect on the mileage of non efi motors today.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio