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What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 7:05 am
by shaff64
I have my 1663 292 Y block being rebuilt, But I would like to put a big motor in it to play with this year my motor won't be ready until next March. What is the biggest motor I can go with without changing my Trans ( 3 speed) Manual. ?
Jeff
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 7:09 am
by R Pope
With a bellhousing from a 352 Slick, a 428 or any FE will work. With your bell, a 312 is the biggest.
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 8:22 am
by BarnieTrk
R Pope,
Wouldn't "Shaff64" also need to change the engine mounts/perches?
As I recall, the Y-block mounts are very different from the FE mounts.

BarnieTrk
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 8:38 am
by charliemccraney
Yep. And will the transmission actually fit an FE. If the Y trans is retained, the FE will be a little more tricky to mount.
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 9:21 am
by Gritsngumbo
As I understand it, you can use mounts and possibly bell housing from a FT engine (out of a big truck) on the FE engines to bolt in an earlier slick. Not easy to find but they are available. Member HawkRod seems to know more than anyone else about this swap and possibly has the parts for sale.
I'm more interested in this Y-Block you're having built, that won't be ready until next March. Something exotic? Tell us more.
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 9:54 am
by Shaffs 64
Well, my 292 Y block as I say is being rebuilt however, I'm the one that said no hurry when I dropped it off to the gentleman to rebuild.
I had no idea that I would be this far on my truck at this point. That's why I just thought I would put in a fun engine for awhile until my motor was completed. I didn't have any problems with the little 292 that was in other than the many oil leaks......but it ran like a watch. I am hoping it will have a little more power when I get it back it didn't seem to have much power but it could have been from the carb not being adjusted correctly. Why are you asking about my 292? worth much?
Jeff
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 10:35 am
by Gritsngumbo
No, not interested in your 292 ( have several). Just curious that you might be building something "exotic" since you said it would not be ready until March.
Sure seems to me that I would be easier (and cheaper in the long run) to expedite the 292 re-build than to install another engine. Have you considered buying a rebuilt 292 from one of the auto parts suppliers? Think they run in the $1,300 range.
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 10:43 am
by Mercules

- big engine.jpg (73.15 KiB) Viewed 2561 times
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 10:48 am
by Gritsngumbo
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 10:50 am
by BarnieTrk
WOWIZER!
Mercules,
I'm guessing we're looking at a crankshaft for a 10-cylinder engine that will go in a LARGE BOAT?!
BarnieTrk

Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 11:01 am
by Gritsngumbo
SHIP not Boat

Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 11:08 pm
by R Pope
He just asked about the trans,I assumed he would be able to handle the mounts. There were several different 3 speeds in those years, not 100% sure all will interchange from a Y to an FE, but I have done it with a few over the years, haven't hit one that didn't work yet. Even the six cylinder units will fit V8's in most cases. The ratios are different for various applications, but they still fit.
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 29, 2012, 11:35 pm
by foodstick
Almost any motor is going to make more horsepower than the one he has that was built in 1663 !
That is probably less than one horsepower
just funnin you, I don't think this makes me a SPELLING NAZI? more of a numerology nazi ?
hahahaha
Sometimes typos are more fun than an intentional joke.
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 30, 2012, 12:00 am
by JojoDVM
[quote="foodstick"]Almost any motor is going to make more horsepower than the one he has that was built in 1663 !
quote]
He failed to mention it was a steam engine...
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 30, 2012, 12:03 am
by foodstick
JoJo, you must be a worse night owl than me ! hahahha
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 30, 2012, 12:05 am
by JojoDVM
Im usually going to bed a few hours after the time the sun is coming up
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 30, 2012, 6:49 am
by shaff64
Well thanks everybody......... I think I had better push the guy to get my 292 done looks like! Do they normally run pretty strong?
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 30, 2012, 8:53 am
by charliemccraney
shaff64 wrote:Well thanks everybody......... I think I had better push the guy to get my 292 done looks like! Do they normally run pretty strong?
They do produce a lot of torque for there size. A similar sized small block couldn't compete in that area. If you're doing a very basic rebuild, then it is still a truck engine and will not be a performance motor by any stretch of the word. That being said, Y's respond very well to the same modifications that benefit any other engine. 500+ naturally aspirated hp is not uncommon but is usually a race engine. A streetable engine at that same level is absolutely possible. Most realistic for the street is probably anything up to about 450hp.
Everyone's definition of a "strong engine" is different but I'm sure most can get a Y that fits their definition... though it may not fit their wallet. Y's do cost a little more.
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 30, 2012, 8:55 am
by Gritsngumbo
What Charlie said X2
Re: What's the bigest Motor I can get?
Posted: May 31, 2012, 8:04 am
by Hawkrod
charliemccraney wrote:shaff64 wrote:Well thanks everybody......... I think I had better push the guy to get my 292 done looks like! Do they normally run pretty strong?
They do produce a lot of torque for there size. A similar sized small block couldn't compete in that area. If you're doing a very basic rebuild, then it is still a truck engine and will not be a performance motor by any stretch of the word. That being said, Y's respond very well to the same modifications that benefit any other engine. 500+ naturally aspirated hp is not uncommon but is usually a race engine. A streetable engine at that same level is absolutely possible. Most realistic for the street is probably anything up to about 450hp.
Everyone's definition of a "strong engine" is different but I'm sure most can get a Y that fits their definition... though it may not fit their wallet. Y's do cost a little more.
I call foul, no way no how that 500 HP is not uncommon for a Y block, it is extremely uncommon. 400HP is difficult for a normally aspirated engine and most of the serious engines like John Mummerts 314 with tunnel ram don't make 400HP. 300HP is a serious target and is expensive but 400HP requires quite a bit of money and one of Johns race engines (a 331 for Ernie Phillip's race car) came in at 425HP after tweaking. yeah, you could get 500HP but not cost effectively and probably not without NOS or a blower. Hawkrod