Oh man, I need help

Rusted64 · Post by **Rusted64** » April 19, 2011, 9:02 pm

To all listening/reading,

I have reached a point in my project that could be a problem and be a hurdle.

Trust me; I will try to make this long story as short as possible.

I have recently started my build on my “Rusted 64” (with a frozen 292 engine…..I know, I should have known better, but this was my best chance at a slick at the time).

I have a replacement cab, frame and bed, and now working on the engine and transmission. I really wanted to stay with a 292 and the original 3 speed trans, as I don’t often hit the highway and I wanted that it to stay as close to stock as I can for now.

After getting the engine to the machine shop and starting on cleaning up the sheet metal for the truck, I received a call from the machine shop days later. The shop says that the engine block is scrap, unusable.

So this brings me to an impasse.

My question to you ALL is, what should I do?

Should I try to find a cheap later model vehicle that I can use the powertrain out of, or should I try to find a 292 block and move forward with my original plans?

If I were to move forward with a later model setup, what are your suggestions?

If I were to stay with the original 292, can anyone help me with a block….and other internals as needed?

I would really like to stay with the original 292, but of course, budget is a factor.

I am north of Houston, in The Woodlands, for anyone nearby.

Please HELP!

Thank you greatly,

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » April 19, 2011, 9:13 pm

I would stay with the 292. Personal preference.

Post by **Greg D** » April 19, 2011, 9:20 pm

Rusted64 wrote: but of course, budget is a factor.

You can probably buy a running/driving whole car (87-90 Crown Victoria, F 150, etc.) with a 302 & AOD or M5OD to drop in it for less than the overhaul on the Y block - mind you this is before hunting down another block.
Don't get me wrong I love Ys myself - they just simply aren't cheap to rebuild. I personally would find a 5.0 from a 87-93 Mustang, or Explorer or Lincoln and get the roller cam engine (you will have to convert it to a carbed engine) and an AOD. The roller motor makes a little more torque which is good with our trucks.

Rusted64 · Post by **Rusted64** » April 19, 2011, 9:31 pm

Greg D wrote:
Rusted64 wrote: but of course, budget is a factor.
You can probably buy a running/driving whole car (87-90 Crown Victoria, F 150, etc.) with a 302 & AOD or M5OD to drop in it for less than the overhaul on the Y block - mind you this is before hunting down another block.
Don't get me wrong I love Ys myself - they just simply aren't cheap to rebuild. I personally would find a 5.0 from a 87-93 Mustang, or Explorer or Lincoln and get the roller cam engine (you will have to convert it to a carbed engine) and an AOD. The roller motor makes a little more torque which is good with our trucks.

THis is sort of what I was thinking too, but that would mean more mods to my existing frame, drive, etc.

Just wondering, would it realy be less expensive?

Rusted64 · Post by **Rusted64** » April 19, 2011, 9:34 pm

Gritsngumbo wrote:I would stay with the 292. Personal preference.

\

This is my preference also, but when it comes to dollars$$$$, I need to be frugal. Especially looking to the future with gas at 4 dollars and other purchases already made fro the project.

Post by **Greg D** » April 19, 2011, 9:41 pm

Bout $150 for the mounting crossmembers - unless you make towers & a tranny crossmember.
All the parts to carb the engine can be had at the junkyard.
I still have to make my tranny crossmember but these towers worked great for the 5.0 - mounts are for a 79 F 150 with a 302. The 292 was sitting on them when I got the truck I only had to enlarge a hole with a reamer for the insulator stud.
5.0 & Overdrive tranny and you should easily be in the mid 20s for fuel mileage.
I can get you patterns & measurements.

CoralRed · Post by **CoralRed** » April 19, 2011, 9:47 pm

Bear in mind that changes always lead to more changes. More power means a brake upgrade. Then you might as well change to power steering, and how about the rearend? Yes, rebuilding the y block will be expensive, more expensive than a used 302 and AOD, but why not consider finding a good used 292? Might take longer, but you can keep it original and save money.
Just a thought; hope this helps.

Rusted64 · Post by **Rusted64** » April 19, 2011, 9:56 pm

Greg D wrote:Bout $150 for the mounting crossmembers - unless you make towers & a tranny crossmember.
All the parts to carb the engine can be had at the junkyard.
I still have to make my tranny crossmember but these towers worked great for the 5.0 - mounts are for a 79 F 150 with a 302. The 292 was sitting on them when I got the truck I only had to enlarge a hole with a reamer for the insulator stud.
5.0 & Overdrive tranny and you should easily be in the mid 20s for fuel mileage.
I can get you patterns & measurements.

See, now you have me day dreaming about what could be.

How much woul I have to pay for the engine and trans though? I know that can vary, but would it be worth doing?

Like it was already said, changes lead to more changes......

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » April 19, 2011, 10:11 pm

I'm not sure about your area, but around here 5.0/302's are quite plentiful and cheap. Probably in the $200 range for a running engine, and I recently sold a complete AOD for about $80. Rebuild parts for a 5.0 would certainly be cheaper than they would for the y-block , though I think the machining costs would probably be about the same.

Greg D wrote:I personally would find a 5.0 from a 87-93 Mustang, or Explorer or Lincoln and get the roller cam engine (you will have to convert it to a carbed engine) and an AOD. The roller motor makes a little more torque which is good with our trucks.

Agreed, but Is the extra torque solely a function of the roller cam, or is it also related to the EFI? I was under the impression that the sequential EFI helped increase torque due to the long-runner intake manifold. Just curious because I have the standard output version (Grand Marquis/Crown Vic) but with a factory roller cam.

Post by **foodstick** » April 19, 2011, 11:31 pm

If you like the older stock motors, what about going to the old six inline with the T5 tranny?

bird55 · Post by **bird55** » April 20, 2011, 7:13 am

Any engine is going to COST to have machining done or buy parts for, relatively. Keep your eyes open for a used, running yblock you can drop in. You can still find them. just my 2 cents.

charliemccraney · Post by **charliemccraney** » April 20, 2011, 7:13 am

Stick with a 292. You'll be glad you did. It's an excellent compromise of power and economy. So far, the only "modern" 302s that get better mileage than I get have been fuel injected 302 roller motors. Anything less than that and it seems you can forget mileage and power. Only one of the few injected roller motors I've heard of got over 20mpg.
If you're patient, you can find a good running 292 to drop in and even if it's not running, a basic 292 rebuild really is not that expensive. The machine work should cost the same as any mainstream engine.

By the way, what exactly are they calling scrap?? A 292 is not one of these puny "modern" engines. If they don't know what they're doing, they could be calling it scrap because it's already .030 over or something, which is nothing for a Y.

Did you know, Rusted, that you're about 3 hours away from one of the best Machine shops in the US for a Y block, Eaton Balancing, builder of the 524hp, 375 ci Engine Masters Y block.

65Lover · Post by **65Lover** » April 20, 2011, 8:36 am

one for $700 runs
http://tulsa.craigslist.org/pts/2302850526.html

3 for make offer
http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/pts/2331685453.html

Craigslist search
http://www.allofcraigs.com/2009/08/sear ... d7h7s#1882

You can use uship.com to get them shipped to you

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » April 20, 2011, 9:24 am

charliemccraney wrote:By the way, what exactly are they calling scrap?? A 292 is not one of these puny "modern" engines. If they don't know what they're doing, they could be calling it scrap because it's already .030 over or something, which is nothing for a Y.

That's what I was wondering. Check in with Kenny (62galxe), he's near you. He had Ted Eaton help him with his Y-Block.
I know I'm in the minority and maybe it's just me, but I just hate to see anything but a Y or a 223 in a 61-64 truck. If not the "Y" then I'd go all the way with a SOHC or DOHC modular. Why have what everyone else has? Be unique.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » April 20, 2011, 10:05 am

i would be looking for another 292.

fact is they are easy to work on ,and swapping an engine for one of the same is always the easiest , least expensive and time consuming way to go.

unibody madness · Post by **unibody madness** » April 20, 2011, 11:22 am

Ditto that,
you can always find a used y block or 223 around. try Y-blocksforever forum, or fordsix performance
They really are hard to kill, and if you are that close to Mr. Eaton load it up and swing it by. You will get an honest opinion, and top of the line builder who loves Y-blocks. Either way, it would be great just to visit the man

Rusted64 · Post by **Rusted64** » April 20, 2011, 1:45 pm

charliemccraney wrote: By the way, what exactly are they calling scrap?? A 292 is not one of these puny "modern" engines. If they don't know what they're doing, they could be calling it scrap because it's already .030 over or something, which is nothing for a Y.

The machine shop I took it too said that they saw a lot of something called "liquid glass" or something in the block that got them concerned. They ran some pressure tests and found that it was not testing satisfactory. I don’t even think it has been bored before.

I do trust this guy, because I took my Buick 401 engine to him and he did a good job. I told him that I would be bringing in a Y block for him to work on and asked if he had any experience with them. His eyes got big and he said that he has done a lot with them and used to own a 56 F100 with one. Of course, everyone does make mistakes on diagnosing, but he seems to know what he is doing.

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » April 20, 2011, 1:58 pm

Sounds like it may be cracked then, and may have had a coolant leak at some point:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_sil ... ive_repair

Interesting that it's the same stuff that was used to kill engines during the "cash for clunkers" period.

Rusted64 · Post by **Rusted64** » April 20, 2011, 1:59 pm

It looks like I am seeing a majority of you suggesting to stick with the 292 and I have agree. The other options do sound pretty good, but I was really looking forward to the 292.

Also, in an attempt to get it done faster, I have a bunch are parts for the 292 already. Probably a bad idea, but I wasnt expecting the bad news. I just now remembered. So I should probably stay with the 292.

It looks like I will need to be patient and wait for a block or engine to come up that doesnt break my bank.

Rusted64 · Post by **Rusted64** » April 20, 2011, 2:13 pm

65Lover wrote:one for $700 runs
http://tulsa.craigslist.org/pts/2302850526.html

3 for make offer
http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/pts/2331685453.html

Craigslist search
http://www.allofcraigs.com/2009/08/sear ... d7h7s#1882

You can use uship.com to get them shipped to you

I will look into these.

That is a pretty cool site, that can search all of craigslist.

Thanks,

Oh man, I need help

Oh man, I need help

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