The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Questions regarding idle on early Y-block

GREENBIRD56 · 07-21-2015, 01:43 PM

Looking at the pictures - that's a '56 style distributor with two vacuum lines. And if the tachometer works - it probably has the drive cable too. This is all most likely "top end" stuff from the original car. It would take a VERY knowledgeable mechanic to make a 239 work with that distributor in my opinion. Early in one of the threads it says the engine is a later version - my money says 272 block at least. Oil pump and waterpump parts say so to me.

Ted recently gave some pretty good advice about T-pot carbs to another fellow - first use lots of carb cleaner and compressed air and clean/blow out the orifices at the top center. This thing ran before - needs a tune-up most likely. Make sure the points are set and the initial timing is correct at idle. The engines actually like 10º better than the 5º-6º on the spec sheet.

Parts for the "rock" style fuel filter are advertised at a bunch of T-bird aftermarket suppliers.

07-21-2015, 01:43 PM	#27
GREENBIRD56 Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 55	Re: Questions regarding idle on early Y-block Looking at the pictures - that's a '56 style distributor with two vacuum lines. And if the tachometer works - it probably has the drive cable too. This is all most likely "top end" stuff from the original car. It would take a VERY knowledgeable mechanic to make a 239 work with that distributor in my opinion. Early in one of the threads it says the engine is a later version - my money says 272 block at least. Oil pump and waterpump parts say so to me. Ted recently gave some pretty good advice about T-pot carbs to another fellow - first use lots of carb cleaner and compressed air and clean/blow out the orifices at the top center. This thing ran before - needs a tune-up most likely. Make sure the points are set and the initial timing is correct at idle. The engines actually like 10º better than the 5º-6º on the spec sheet. Parts for the "rock" style fuel filter are advertised at a bunch of T-bird aftermarket suppliers.