I need to know what work is involved to replace my 292 v8 with a 351 w engine. My car is a 56 Fairlane with a factory 3 speed standard shift, and what would be a good choice to upgrade to a 4 or 5 speed trans.? thanks, Bill karimu@frontiernet.net

You should be able to find the answer to this question at Thehamb.

You’ll have to get the engine and transmission mounted. I don’t know if you can buy kits for it or if it will have to be made. You’ll have plumbing, wiring, throttle linkage, clutch linkage, drive shaft length, shifter mounting and probably other things to deal with.

RE the transmission, with a small block, your choices are virtually unlimited. Since you are going through the trouble anyway, get overdrive. If you’re keeping it mild, go with a T5. If you’re going to have some serious power and/or like to abuse it, think something like a TKO or T56.

Some questions. Will you do the install from start to finish yourself? What is your goal with this swap? Are there problems with your 292?

Lawrenceville, GA

Bill, Ask on '52-59 Ford Social Group on the H.A.M.B. There are numerous persons who have done this. From what I understand it is pretty much a bolt in with stock mounts.

Personally I would keep the Y-Block, but then again you didn't ask for my opinion...

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

This is sort of like asking the Pope how to be a Lutheran. The hamb site is the place for removing Y's We tend to look for interesting cars to put them in.

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

Bill:As Charley points out, there will be oodles of changes required to properly complete the re re. And as Doug T. points out, this site is about retaining, rebuilding & upgrading Y-Block engines.. not replacing them! There is a wealth of info here in that regard & there are numerous recent developments, speed parts & upgraded assembly info here, which makes thoughts of replaceing your 292 redundant. And at the same time, it will retain more originality to your 56 Ford.. Give it some thought.

Paul

I made the mistake by removing the 272 in my 55 and replacing it with a 351-W,the 351 might have more cubic inches then the 292 it will not have the torque the 292 has and the loss of torque will be noticable,I am getting the parts to go back to a Y block but will change the cam in the 351 to help in the torque department until I get the 292 built then the 351 will go in a 60s galaxie.

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

The 351W is a fine engine. I had 4V version in a '69 Cougar convertible and it was one of the most fun cars I've ever had, but...my '54 Merc ragtop with a 292 and C4 is amazing! Gobs of torque, sweet sound at both idle and high RPM, great looking under the hood. I'd sell the car before I'd consider swapping out the Y.

You've gotten some pretty friendly answers here, from guys who really want to say..."#%@&!% What are you thinking!!" The Y is a very satisfying engine and properly built, makes a '56 a great show and go machine. Get a -B intake, 4V carb, '57-up distributor, dual exhausts and a C4 tranny and you're good to go. There is a lot of knowledge and assistance here to help you sort out any issues you may be having; listen to them.

Marc

'54 Merc ragtop

Pt Townsend, WA   

                                                                                                                                   

Oops, I missed the part about your Fairlane having a 3spd. Forget what I said about the C4, there are plenty of options for a std trans. and a Y.

Marc

'54 Merc ragtop

Pt Townsend, WA   

                                                                                                                                   

Well said, Marc! I'm going to submit your name for 'Diplomat of the Year', too!

IMO, while ‘old’, the Ford y-block is structurally a sound engine design. In 1957, the flaw to its continuance in production was not having planned for sufficient cubic inch increase in the block casting.

Looking back, the original ’54–’64 FoMoCo cylinder heads imposed a definite rpm and horsepower limitations, also. These limitations have been ELIMINATED by John and Geoff Mummerts’ design, production, and assembly of quality aluminum cylinder heads in the last two (?) years. Bolting a set of out-of-the-box Mummert heads on a previously warmed over 312 has proven to yield 50 horsepower and dramatically increase rpm capability!

With Mummert cylinder heads and the implementation of rudimentary carburetor, ignition, piston, and camshaft improvements developed in the last fifty years, the y-block has the performance capability and SOLID reliability for any street or competition application.

Members of this Forum have built carbureted, fuel injected,supercharged, and turbo charged engines that outperform more storied engines of equal and larger displacement.

Though out of production in the U.S. for 50 years, the FoMoCo y-block engine has amazing horsepower and torque potential. It will amaze you, anyone that you take for a ride, and anyone you draw for a competitor should you go in that direction.

I don’t know your fabricating experience or capability. Executing and sorting out an engine swap can be a lot of work.

Build a y-block, it’s a sleeper!

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