1972coronet Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 I didn't realise that Ford had an OHV V8 in 1953 . I thought that 1954 was the first year for that engine ( the 'Y' Block ) ; this brochure presents evidence to the contrary : http://oldcarbrochures.org/United States/Ford Motor Company Trucks-Vans/1953-Trucks/1953-Ford-Trucks-Full-Line-Brochure/slides/1953_Ford_Trucks_Full_Line-39.html Ostensibly , Fo-Mo-Co waited until the 1954 model year to offer the OHV V8 in its F-Series . Thoughts ? Correct info ? Just curious .
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) The brochure cites a 279 or 317 cubic inch displacement. These are simply the truck versions of the Lincoln 317 OHV V8 introduced in 1952. It is also a generic "Y-block" style design, which refers to a very deep skirt on the lower end of the block for rigidity, but it is a different engine. The '54 Ford passenger car Y-block was a 239 cubic inch engine, and the Mercury version was 256. Edited January 5, 2020 by Ace-Garageguy
1972coronet Posted January 5, 2020 Author Posted January 5, 2020 12 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said: The brochure cites a 279 or 317 cubic inch displacement. These are simply the truck versions of the Lincoln 317 OHV V8 introduced in 1952. It is also a generic "Y-block" style design, which refers to a very deep skirt on the lower end of the block for rigidity, but it is a different engine. The '54 Ford passenger car Y-block was a 239 cubic inch engine, and the Mercury version was 256. Thanks much for that info . I didn't realise that Lincoln offered an OHV V8 as early as 1952 , but I'm not surprised , either . BTW , I love the looks of the Lincoln L-Head V12 !
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 Yes, everybody in Detroit was working on different takes on the OHV V8 in those days. Caddy and Olds intro'd theirs in '49, Chrysler's "Firepower" hemi for 1951, the Buick "nailhead" in '53, then Ford's Y-blocks, and finally the game-changing smallblock Chebby in '55.
Motor City Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 Pontiac also introduced their second V8 for the '55 model year. They had one in the early thirties, too. Also, Chevy's first V8 was in the late teens.
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) 45 minutes ago, Motor City said: Pontiac also introduced their second V8 for the '55 model year. They had one in the early thirties, too. Also, Chevy's first V8 was in the late teens. Yeah...I knew I was forgetting somebody in the '50s. I always liked the Pontiac engines too...except for the unusual reverse-flow cooling on the early ones. I'd completely forgotten that Chevy's first V8 was that far back, and that it was an OHV engine too. Very interesting old engineering. Edited January 5, 2020 by Ace-Garageguy
1930fordpickup Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 Ace you also forgot the Studebaker that came out in 51( I think that was the year ). Another on the list before the Chevy came out again.
Ace-Garageguy Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 17 minutes ago, 1930fordpickup said: Ace you also forgot the Studebaker that came out in 51( I think that was the year ). Another on the list before the Chevy came out again. Yup. For some reason I always forget Studebaker's OHV V8 was that early. Nice engine too, though I don't believe I've ever turned a wrench on one (though that may not be true, as I seem to remember something about the way the intake manifold is held down causing some problem with sealing...). While we're at it, there's the big Packard OHV V8 introduced in '55 too, looking a lot like a contemporary Caddy engine.
1930fordpickup Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said: Yup. For some reason I always forget Studebaker's OHV V8 was that early. Nice engine too, though I don't believe I've ever turned a wrench on one (though that may not be true, as I seem to remember something about the way the intake manifold is held down causing some problem with sealing...). While we're at it, there's the big Packard OHV V8 introduced in '55 too, looking a lot like a contemporary Caddy engine. Most people do forget about Studebaker so not so much of a foul. LOL What I do find funny is people never seem to mention that the SBC was the Last of the big 3 and most of the independents also beat them to the punch. So it should not have the problems the others have. When you have from 1917 until 1955 to research another one. LOL
1972coronet Posted January 5, 2020 Author Posted January 5, 2020 There's a Buick OHV engine with exposed-valvetrain ; it's from c.1917 or some thing...
Motor City Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 7 hours ago, 1930fordpickup said: Most people do forget about Studebaker so not so much of a foul. LOL What I do find funny is people never seem to mention that the SBC was the Last of the big 3 and most of the independents also beat them to the punch. So it should not have the problems the others have. When you have from 1917 until 1955 to research another one. LOL The only reason Chevy didn't have a V8 for so many decades is that GM wanted people to buy a more expensive GM product with an 8. Pontiac offered a 6 through '54, Olds through '50, and Buick through '30. They eventually realized that they needed an 8 to compete with Ford. Plymouth finally came out with an 8 for '55, with Nash following in '56.
1930fordpickup Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 3 hours ago, Motor City said: The only reason Chevy didn't have a V8 for so many decades is that GM wanted people to buy a more expensive GM product with an 8. Pontiac offered a 6 through '54, Olds through '50, and Buick through '30. They eventually realized that they needed an 8 to compete with Ford. Plymouth finally came out with an 8 for '55, with Nash following in '56. Yes Chevy is the entry level for GM. Always has been and Chevy fanatics never want to here that. If you look back at GM's idea it was a good one. Chevy was the money maker as they were rarely the risk taker for the company. The Corvette being the exception. Most of the R&D costs were on the shoulders of the other brands.
Mark Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 11 hours ago, 1972coronet said: There's a Buick OHV engine with exposed-valvetrain ; it's from c.1917 or some thing... Every Buick car ever built had overhead valves. David Buick did build a couple of side-valve (flathead) engines, but those predated the car. One very low production small truck built by Buick also had a flathead, but no Buick car ever had one. Only a couple of Chevrolets were built without overhead valves, including the Type C (the one SMP made the promotional model of). That one was a T-head straight six (valves in the block, on opposite sides of the cylinder). The Stutz Bearcat had a T-head engine also.
junkyardjeff Posted January 7, 2020 Posted January 7, 2020 The 54 Fords in Canada still had the flathead.
Mark Posted January 7, 2020 Posted January 7, 2020 14 hours ago, junkyardjeff said: The 54 Fords in Canada still had the flathead. Australia too.
Richard Bartrop Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 An interesting variant of the Studebaker OHV V-8 built for an attempt on Indianapolis.
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