hi people, i just brout an old ski boat with a late 50's ford 292ci y block. i havent taken it out yet cos im not sure about the oil pressure. i got out the garden hose and started her up. when i started it the oil presure went well above the green section on the gauge, i then took the rpm up to about 2500 and the pressure droped a bit, but not to the green section.
can someone tell me if this is a problem? and also what oil pressure would a healthy carb v8 have at about 2500? thx

Last edited by chl_carlin on Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

You should be ok, i do remember the old Y block having a problem with getting oil up top.
We done a mod to my mates Cusso a few years back to solve the prob but i can't remember what it was, i'll ask him and see if he remembers.

thx mate it would be a great help

From memory it involved a length of tube from the rocker cover down to the sump or oil pump.... Was a long time ago but he'll remember for sure.

Id suggest firstly changing the oil and filter (if not done already) and put a mechanical oil pressure gauge on it to get a true reading (in psi)
Higher oil pressure is better than not enough, the Y-blocks were solid cammed, and If i remember correctly the rocker rails have their own oil feed that is squirted out of some small tubes up top.
I think the Y blocks suffered over oiling up top due to small drain passages in the heads, and if they are sludged up, only makes the problem worse.

The Y-blocks are excellent motors, for a 272 to pull a customline out of corners in 2nd gear (3 speed manual) will give you an indication of how torquey they really are....
There is a bit of aftermarket and N.O.S parts for them too, and quite a few websites around on how to id them, tweak them etc... they were used a lot in speedway cars in the late 50's and 60's.

 

 

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just found this link in my bookmarks http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/tipstricks/74739/

thx for that info mate. ill try and post some pics as im not sure if the sender is mechanical or electric. the gauge reads around 500 kpa while running without labour (drive not connected).

some pics, sorry about the large file size, im not sure what program to use to make it smaller

 

 

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