Y Block Challenge - How Well Do You Know this V8?

Over the past several years, much content has been posted here about the Y Block Ford V8.

Y Block Education

I am 52 years old. My birthdate in 1973 took place almost 20 years after the Y Block had debuted in passenger cars and trucks in 1954 and almost 10 years since the engine ceased production in trucks in 1964 here in the US. My personal experiences with the Y Block began back in the late 80’s when I purchased a 1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan. For more than 35 years I have been tinkering on Ford’s first overhead valve V8 (not including the Lincoln/truck series in 1952). Back then, as it is now, most of the men I met who were into 292 and 312 c.i. engines were much older than me. Many of them were old enough to be my dad’s or even my grandfather’s age. From analyzing statistics on my YouTube channel and this website, it does appear that most visitors and viewers are still in that age bracket directly above me. As the paternal generations pass from this life to the next, the firsthand knowledge of turning wrenches on the Y Block Ford goes with them. Both of my grandfathers have gone on to heaven. My dad is in his mid-70’s, and while he has no immediate plans to kick the bucket we all know that none of us lives forever. One day, his firsthand experiences of tuning a Y Block V8 will go with him.

The Hot Rod Reverend and his dad at Dragway 42 during the Fast Fords weekend.

Compared to many other engines of the big three manufacturers in Detroit, the Y Block has received very little technical press over the years. Thankfully, James Eickman wrote a book on the Y Block in the early 1980’s, Charlie Morris has done an excellent job producing a full color rebuild manual, and Bruce Young did much through the Y Block Magazine over its 30 year run to keep things hopping in the Y Block world. Of course, in the modern era the internet and social media seem to be the first “go-to” of new owners of a Y Block powered vehicle.

So, how well do you know the Y Block Ford V8? Over the past few weeks I have begun producing YouTube videos that give a 10 question challenge to the viewer. All of the questions have potential answers listed in multiple choice format. If you have not taken the quizzes yet, check your Y Block Ford education and see how you fare. From the early feedback I am receiving, I believe we will end up producing one of these every month or so just for fun.

News from the Hot Rod Reverend

Y Block Build

The special 6.254 connecting rods from Mummert Machine should be available soon. Once they are in inventory and able to be purchased, we should get back on the road with the 342 c.i. Y Block build. Crankshaft balancing and the balancing of the rotating assembly are coming up next.

New Stickers

The last run of stickers we placed into the website store are very popular. In the coming weeks, two more will be added - a Thunderbird fender emblem and a 50's FORD crest emblem. They will be the same price as the other stickers already listed, and will also be sold with free shipping in the US. One reminder on sticker orders; we need to ensure you have a USPS ready address for mailing. If you are only ordering stickers then they will be shipped in an envelope via USPS first class or media mail.

The FORD crest and Thunderbird sticker are on the way; the Tbird engine will be here in 2026.

Videos on the Horizon

One of the most often asked questions I receive concerns the Y Block and which oil I recommend. This is always a topic that includes controversy these days so I tend to stay away from the circus. Anyone who frequents social media would readily agree that the oil debate is akin to political and religious scraps that take place over the internet. I have decided to include a video on this topic very soon and will be uploading a video to my YouTube channel hopefully before the end of the calendar year. Another video for which I am conducting research and editing content concerns the great history of the Y Block Ford engine and its record in NASCAR in the 1950's. The 292's and 312's accomplished much in 1956 and 1957 and ran away with the most wins. This is bound to be a controversial video that will irritate fans of other engine manufacturers of the era but as they say, "it is what it is."

3 Deuce Intake and Carburetors

This project is on hold for the time being as I got into rebuilding a Holley 4000 last month, located an Edelbrock 573 intake manifold, and also have a desire to test the carburetors for my 2x4 intake (each one on the ECZ 9425 A intake separately) in the coming weeks. Also, I just had a subscriber that sent me a rebuilt WCFB from a Mercury Y Block that I just may install and run on the current intake setup as well.

Subscriber Visit

The Sunday after Thanksgiving brought two special visitors to Lancaster, California to spend some time together with me on a Sunday. John and Lisa Monath from Arkansas traveled all the way out to California to drop off their 272 Ford Y Block into the capable hands of my friend Tim McMaster. They made a special trip detour to visit me to attend the church services at Lancaster Baptist Church. It was a joy to hear John's life story, how God spared him from a serious health condition, and what he is doing now to reclaim lost time. Some of that includes a 1957 F500 and this 272 Y Block that he is working on with his son Jared. I am thankful that John and Lisa are getting spiritual help from the weekly Bible study "Wednesday's in the Word" on the YouTube channel. It was my privilege to treat them to Sunday dinner and make new friends!

John and Lisa Monath visited from Arkansas because of Wednesdays in the Word!

The Hot Rod Reverend

aka Daniel Jessup