55 V-8 Swap

Just bought a 55 Customline 4dr, 312ci 3spd manual. Previous owner said originally a GA Police squad car(?) and they had swapped out the 272ci when the 312 came out. Anyone heard of this practice? Data plate says 272ci and exterior color of Waterfall Blue. Doesn't really sound like a "police package" but then who knows from 55?



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In 1955 there was a 272 'Special' available with 4V carb, dual exhaust and heads which provided 8.5:1 compression ratio, yielding 182 HP. Refer to Eickman's Ford Y-Block, pages 15 and 20. You may also want to check the casting marks on both heads and block to be sure of what you have.



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Runs in my head that was 56 when that motor came out, but no data I have. Had decals on valve covers and air cleaner I remember, but not what car it was in. There were some block crack problems in some motors in those years, check the oil galley above middle mains for cracks ? The blocks wanted to split open in some of them.



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In 1955 there was a police interseptor but it was 292 cu.in. 1956 the interceptor was a 312. It is highly possible that it was changed to a 312. What you will need to do is get the casting numbers off of the block and heads and find a reference source to see if it is indeed a 312. But sometimes this will foul you up too. I bought a Y-block not to long ago and checked the numbers on the head, BUT some one had put 312 heads on a 272. The only way to tell for sure is pull a head and measure the bore and stroke. But really if you get the casting numbers a get a good reference source you can find out.



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JD is correct---the 312 came out in mid 1956 in the Fairlane series. Ford's answer to the Chev 283.



There were a series of newspaper ads: In '55 Chevy advertised their new V-8 as "The Hot One". In 1956 when the 283 came out the blurb was: "the hot one is even hotter".



Ford countered with a full page color ad introducing the 312, with the byline: "Cools off the hot ones".



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i have a 1964 ford f100 with a 292 and i have a 312 cam that was built up for street racing in the 292. what I realy need is a set of 312 heads if you have any idea where I could find a set please contact me

Email -- [email protected]

home # -- 910-326-1041

cell # -- 910-340-0418



thanks

JESSIA MEADOWS



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LOOKING FOR A SET OF 312 HEADS PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY INFO ON WHERE I CAN FIND A SET

PHONE HOME

910-326-1041

CELL #

910-340 0418



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The 312 WAS a police interceptor in 56. As a kid I put these in 53 Fords and Mercury's with a 3 speed overdrive . Top end was almost unlimited and the cops never did catch my 53 Merc, though they tried quite often. I ran a flip switch on the overdrive to kick it in and out in any gear, made for 6 gears forward. Confused a lot of people. Floor shifts had to be set up backward to clear the overdrive, so they looked like 4 speeds, but would usually scratch 5 gears . Ahhhh the good old days. Anyway, the 312 is pretty hot for it's time and I didn't have any trouble with the first 327 's when they came out in police cars in 61.



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