Lincoln Y-block V8 engine

The Lincoln Y-block V8 engine was Ford's earliest OHV V8 engine, introduced by Lincoln in the 1952 model year.^[2] Like the later and better-known but even more short-lived Ford Y-block engine, its block's deep skirts gave the block the appearance of the letter Y from the front.^[3]

Its development was in response to the sales success of the competing Oldsmobile "Rocket" and Cadillac OHV V8 engines introduced in their respective 1949 models, as well as the need for larger and more powerful truck engines. The basic engine design was produced through 1963.^[4] It was replaced by the newer MEL engine for car applications in 1958,^[2] and was gradually replaced in heavy-duty truck applications by the larger Ford Super Duty engine, which had also been introduced in 1958.

279

A 279 cu in (4.6 L) version of the Lincoln Y-block was introduced for heavy-duty truck applications for one year only during the 1954 model year.^[4] The engine had a bore of 3.562 in (90 mm) and a stroke of 3.500 in (89 mm).^[4][5][6]

302

The 302 cu in (4.9 L) version of the Lincoln Y-block was used for heavy-duty truck applications from the 1955 through the 1963 model year.^[4] The engine had a bore of 3.625 in (92 mm) and a stroke of 3.660 in (93 mm).^[4][5][6] Power output was 196 hp (146 kW).^[7] The engine was optional equipment on the Ford T-700 Series and standard equipment on the Ford F-750, C-750, and B-750 Series heavy-duty trucks.^[7]

317

The first-generation Y-block was the 317 cu in (5.2 L), which replaced the undersquare 337 cu in (5.5 L) flathead V8 on all Lincolns in the 1952 model year and was produced through 1954's.^[2] The 317 was oversquare, as was rapidly becoming the fashion, with a bore of 3.800 in (97 mm) and a stroke of 3.500 in (89 mm).^[3][4][5][6] Power output was 160 hp (119 kW); higher compression, larger intake valves, a Holley four-barrel carburetor, improved intake and exhaust, and a more aggressive camshaft the next year increased it to 205 hp (153 kW).^[3] The engine was unchanged in 1954 except for the vacuum advance mechanism.^[3] These engines used the same solid valve lifters as Ford truck engines, and were to power the "Mexican Road Race Lincolns". The 317 was replaced by the 341 for automobile applications in the 1955 model year.^[2] Like the 279, the 317 was also used in heavy-duty truck applications for the 1954 model year only.^[4]

Lincolns powered by the 317 won the top four spots in the Stock Car category of the Pan American Road Race in both 1952 and 1953.^[2] In 1954 Lincolns took first and second place.^[2]

332

The 332 cu in (5.4 L) version of the Lincoln Y-block was used for heavy-duty truck applications from the 1955 through the 1963 model year.^[4] The engine had a bore of 3.800 in (97 mm) and a stroke of 3.660 in (93 mm)^[4][5][6] and produced 212 hp (146 kW).^[7] The engine was standard equipment on the Ford F-800, F-900, T-750, T-800, C-800, and C-900 Series heavy-duty trucks.^[7]

341

The 317 cu in (5.2 L) automobile engine was bored out in 1955 to 3.940 in (100.1 mm), displacing 341 cu in (5.6 L).^[3][4][5][6] Power was up to 225 hp (168 kW) and torque 332 ft.lbf (450 Nm).^[3] in its sole year of produciton.^[2]

368

In the 1956 model year the 341's bore was increased to 4.000 in (101.6 mm) and stroke to 3.660 in (93 mm) to create a 368 cu in (6.0 L) engine^[3][4][5][6] that produced 285 hp (213 kW) and 402 ft.lbf (545 Nm).^[3] In 1957 horsepower increased to 300 hp (224 kW) with 415 ft.lbf (563 Nm) of torque but the Lincoln still lagged in horsepower and torque behind the Chrysler Hemi 392 used on the Imperial, Chrysler New Yorker, and 300C, and in horsepower behind the 3-2bbl version of the Cadillac 365 used on the Eldorado.^[3] The 368 was standard equipment on all Lincolns in the 1956 and 1957 model years,^[2] and standard on the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser and Colony Park and optional on the Mercury Montclair, Monterey, Voyager, and Commuter^[2] in 1957, its final year.

Lincoln Y-block engine family

Block size

Although classified by some as a medium-block V8 (due to its relatively modest maximum displacement of 368 cu in (6.0 L)^[3][5]), the Lincoln Y-block is a big-block engine in size.^[1] While bore spacing is relatively modest at 4.630 in (117.6 mm),^[5][8] the deck height of 10.940 in (277.9 mm)^[5] is greater than any gasoline powered V8 with the exception of the 11.250 in (285.8 mm) Ford Super Duty engine, which gradually replaced the Lincoln Y-block for use on heavy duty trucks.^[5]

A useful comparison is the Oldsmobile V8 engine, which came in both small-block and big-block versions from 1965-1976.^[3] Both blocks have a bore spacing of 4.625 in (117.5 mm),^[3][5] almost exactly the same as the Lincoln Y-block, but differ in deck height, with the small-block's being 9.330 in (237.0 mm)^[3][5] and the big-block's 10.625 in (269.9 mm).^[3][5] By this measure the Lincoln Y-block has a larger engine block than the Oldsmobile "big-block." In comparison, the Ford FE engine has the same 4.630 in (117.6 mm) bore spacing ^[5][9] but a deck height of 10.170 in (258.3 mm).^[5][9]

Similarly to the Packard V8, another "big-block"^[5] which maxed at a relatively modest 374 cu in (6.1 L)),^[3][5] the Lincoln Y-Block has unrealized displacement potential. While the Packard engine could have grown to 500 cu in (8.2 L) or more ^[3] but for the demise of its maker, the Lincoln Y-block was replaced by a engine designs with even greater potential, the Ford MEL and Super Duty engines. The MEL had a somewhat lower deck height of 10.482 in (266.2 mm), but a much larger bore spacing of 4.900 in (124.5 mm),^[5][10] while the Super Duty has a monumental bore spacing of 5.250 in (133.4 mm).^[5][6]

See also

• List of Ford engines

References

• Peter C Sessler (1999). Ultimate American V8 Engine Data Book. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7603-0489-0. 
• "The Ford Y-Block". Retrieved 2006-07-24. 
• "The Ford Y-Block Argentina". Retrieved 2007-09-11. 

External links

• Short descriptions of Ford overhead valve V8 engines