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Author
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Topic: SB ford in a 55 Ford?
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BornInAFord
Gearhead Posts: 533
From: Bend, OR, USA
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 02-07-2003 04:23 PM
  
My dad has a 55 Customline sedan that I was born in the back seat on Interstate 5 on the way to the hospital (but that's another story). It has the original 2BBL 272 and 3spd w/Hohner overdrive with 162,000 miles. He's had it since 1962, but it has been parked in a barn undriven since 1985. He wants to restore it (new floors, a bit of rust work in the front fenders, new headliner and upholstery), but is looking to put in a 289 or 302 while he rebuilds Y-Block. BTW, it's never even had the pan off--that's pretty good for that mileage!Do any of you know if he needs an adapter for the transmission? How about motor mounts? How about the radiator? Any of you ever done this conversion before? Daniel
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 7145
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 02-09-2003 07:35 PM
A friend in NC has a 57 T-Bird with a 69 302 and C-4. RUns great! BOught it that way but says it sure beats the WHY block.The latest M&Fords has a yellow 55 T-Bird feature car with a 5.0 EFI. Pretty slick!
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44935
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 02-09-2003 07:59 PM
He will at least need an adaptor for the bellhousing. The '65 and later small blocks are 6 bolt bellhousings vs the 5 bolt earlier ones. The motor mounts will be different, too. Radiators are easy to adapt, though.------------------
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BornInAFord
Gearhead Posts: 533
From: Bend, OR, USA
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 02-09-2003 10:49 PM
Thanks, Steve. Do you known if the early Y-blocks were 5 bolt as well? I might try to find motor mount adapters from Dearborn or another aftermarket vendor...Daniel
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DidgeyTrucker
Gearhead Posts: 1539
From: Greenbrier, TN USA
Registered: Oct 99
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posted 02-09-2003 11:33 PM
The Y-block bellhousing bolt pattern is more like an FE block. The transmisson will more than likely bolt up to a regular 302 bellhousing. At one time Hurst made adapters for almost any engine swap. This will be a fairly easy swap if you know somebody handy with tools.
Y-blocks are still popular. You can still get hop-up parts for them.Tracy
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WARDF
Journeyman Posts: 44
From: Cecilia, Ky. USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 02-27-2003 01:10 AM
Hey borninaford, my grandfather owns a house at Black Butte Ranch, you live in beautiful country there. Yes you can fix up a "y" block but they are pretty expesive, and I wouldn't hook up a 302 to one of those old slush boxes(ford-o-matic) either. just get a good 302 c-4 combo and they will fit very easily. I'm not sure what year but early 70s galaxies or ltds disc brakes spindles and all bolt right on. I've done it.
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BornInAFord
Gearhead Posts: 533
From: Bend, OR, USA
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 02-27-2003 04:11 PM
It is beautiful here (maybe someday I'll post pictures, but that's off topic--I could take pictures of my cars with the mountains in the background...)  We have a column shifted manual tranny with overdrive that I think is very beefy. We will likely keep the old Y in it for nostalgia's sake and for the great sound. Solid lifters, oil bath air cleaner, enough room in the engine bay you could park an entire ricer in (especially a melted down one).  Daniel
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BornInAFord
Gearhead Posts: 533
From: Bend, OR, USA
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 02-27-2003 04:14 PM
I should mention that in the 70's during the last gas "crisis", my dad messed around with the fuel and exhaust system and got over 30MPG in it. I think if we can get back to that, we'll be happy...Daniel
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 26813
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 02-27-2003 04:43 PM
Trans-Dapt still offers the SBF to Y block transmissions adapters.------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
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NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,&'03
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Professional Manwhore
The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
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SlowFord
Journeyman Posts: 32
From: So. Cal
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 02-27-2003 07:49 PM
A few months back, I spoke with a guy who has a 302 in his '57 Ford. The motor mounts that he used were Parts Master 31-2220 and 31-2221, which should be available at your local parts store. The C4 transmission mount he used was from a late 60's Ford.
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BornInAFord
Gearhead Posts: 533
From: Bend, OR, USA
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 02-27-2003 08:26 PM
Thanks for the info Any of you who are familiar with the Y to SBF swap know about radiator issues? I suppose we could try an 3 or 4 core aluminum one from one of the rod shops... Daniel
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Rory McNeil
Gearhead Posts: 1614
From: Surrey, B.C. Canada
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-27-2003 10:39 PM
I know it`s not exactly the same swap, but when I swapped a 72 Ford truck 360 "FE" in my 57 Sedan Delivery years ago, I retained the original rad from the stock 272 that the car came with. It cooled the big block just fine, although you would have to check to see if the rad hose nipples are in the correct location for your SB.------------------
78 Fairmont 428 4 speed 10.20@130mph
80 Fairmont 302 5 speed 12.8@105mph
85 Mustang NHRA Stocker under construction, 302 5 speed
59 Meteor (Canadian Ford) 2 dr sedan 332, auto
74 F350 ramp truck 390 4spd
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Bob Hopkins
Gearhead Posts: 362
From: BRIDGEPORT NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 02-28-2003 05:03 PM
small block in a mid 50's sholud be a bolt in remember they had "y-blocks" in fullsize Fords untill 61 and smallblocks started in 62 and 61-61 Fords frames are basely the same frame
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