Hyd. Cam in a Y Block

[Dutchtreat]

I have been told that all Y Blocks from the factory were solid lifter cams. Is it possible to convert a Y Block to run a Hyd Cam and how hard is it??

[Milt/Las Vegas]

Anything is possible,but it would be very difficult.

[rick55]

There are no internal oil passages to lubricate the lifters and I would not think it is possible to provide such passage as the metal in the valley is too thin.
Regards

[Y-Blockhead]

To add what Rick said, The Y-Block is a side oiler, meaning the main oil galley runs down the side of the block by the oil filter. Also the Y have mushroom lifters the are too small to make hydraulic and the holes it the block cannot be made big enough for normal lifters.
Never gonna happen.

[Bill Steiner]

I don't see how it would be possible . Bill S.

[scicala]

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Plus it wouldn't be a Y-Block without the slight clacking of solid lifters.

[Charlie Stephens]

Follow the money. When they were new the only people interested in what type of lifter was in an engine were the racers and they wanted solid lifters. If it was even possible/practical to develop hydraulic lifters (which it is probably not) who would buy them? Along those lines, I have never heard of hydraulic lifters for a Y block.

Charlie Stephens

[streetdreams]

Look, crap always rolls downhill, the guy in front of you always grabs the last meatball, blondes have more fun and Y-blocks have solid lifters. These are just 4 of the many of lifes truths.....

[ford1]

ford v/8 engine according to my book didnt get hydralidc lifters till 1959, they were in the 332 and 352 engines,

[Ole Don]

Y block lifters MUST be removed from the bottom. The part that rides on the cam is just over one inch in diameter. The part that rides in the lifter bore is less than half that diameter. Y block lifters are very good quality, if they get a mark on them, have them refaced. Do not throw them away. At one time, replacements were rare and expensive. My 312 has two sets of 134/172 Ford industrial motor lifters in it.

[46yblock]

I found some NOS lifters for a Ford model 600 tractor, which uses the same lifter as a Y.

[streetdreams]

!958.. Hydraulics in the first FE's and MELs. 332, 352 361, 383, 430

[Paul H]

The first 332s had solid lifters.Sometime in mid 58 they were changed to hydraulic.

[streetdreams]

Thanks, good to know. I also heard the first 352's had machined chambers instead of cast. Any insight on that?

[Oldmics]

The earliest Edsel 361 F.E. series engines had machined combustion chambers. I have two sets of those heads which are 10.5:1 compression.

I"m not sure if the 352 had the same situation or not.

Lets not talk about the 50 Y Block engines manufactured for military testing that used hyd cams and lifters. Only 50 made and thats the lore No proof left behind except one eyewitness account.

Oldmics

[raceron1120]

I wonder what military application they were designed for? In the early 70s I saw several Yblocks in Air Force ground support equipment but am pretty sure they were Lincoln engines.

[Ole Don]

I saw a Hough front end loader repowered with a Y block once. The old style with the steering wheels in front, when it had a load on, you couldnt turn it. It ran great.

[34pickup]

Originally Posted by streetdreams

Thanks, good to know. I also heard the first 352's had machined chambers instead of cast. Any insight on that?

Yes, the first 332 and 352s had machined combustion chambers and solid lifters.Just got rid of a set. About mid year they went to cast combustion chambers.