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By Dale T-Bird - 9 Years Ago
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I recently purchased a 1957 T-Bird with a manual transmission w/overdrive.
Unfortunately, I discovered, after I purchased it, it had a 292 engine with the 2 barrel carburetor. (That's what happens when you assume) All the literature says that all automatics and cars with overdrive come with the 4 barrel 312. How this one got through is a mystery. The ID plate says it's a "C" code, which is the 292.
My question is: Can I convert this engine to a 4 barrel and get better performance? I already bought the correct carburetor and intake manifold. Haven't made the change yet and was getting different answers from people (who probably don't know). I want to keep it "stock", so don't want to make any additional changes.
Thanks
Dale
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By 2721955meteor - 9 Years Ago
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the 4v carb will help,with the 292 you will have no trouble staying with a similar bird with a312. 292 lighter crank shoter stroke you wont be unhappy if the rest of the engine is sound. (aplus is you wont have the rear main seal issue.
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By paul2748 - 9 Years Ago
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You will get better performance, but don't expect miacles.
The O/D may have been put in after the fact, not a factory installation.
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By NoShortcuts - 9 Years Ago
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Welcome to the site, Dale.
NOTE: Identification information about the transmission used behind '55 - '57 'Birds with 292 engines has been corrected in this posting since it was originally entered.
Yes, '57 'C' code 'Birds were equipped with the 292 engine and a 3 speed Borg Warner 259 manual transmission. This transmission was also used on '55 and '56 'Birds equipped with 292 engines. Some '55 B-W 259 'Bird units did have a R-10 overdrive unit attached to them, the '56 and '57 292 'Birds with B-W 259s were not offered with overdrive. Someone may have swapped transmissions on your car in the nearly 60 years since the car was originally assembled.
'57 'Birds designated as 'D', 'E', and 'F' codes had the 312 engine and the Borg Warner T-85 3 speed with R-11 overdrive transmission, OR the FordoMatic transmission, OR could have been ordered from the factory with the T-85 3 speed only manual transmission. -My understanding is that few of the T-85 3 speed only manual transmissions were ordered for the '57 'Birds.
The 292 engine may not have bragging rights, but will perform admirably. You'll enjoy the 292 with the '57 style 'B' intake manifold and few will think to question whether the engine is a 292 or a 312. Externally, the two engines look identical. Many '57 292 and 312 original engine blocks have the same identifying casting numbers & letters, ECZ 6015-C, above the oil filter mounting location on the driver's side of the block. To determine which engine is installed those seeking proof have to see the back flange end of the crankshaft or the casting numbers on the main bearing caps that secure the crank in the block. The main caps on a 292 will be marked EBU while the main caps on a 312 will be marked ECZ.
As Cliff indicated, an advantage of the 292 is that it is less prone to rear seal leakage. Some believe that this quality is due to the physical difference between the seal retainer for the 292 crank as compared to the 312 crankshaft. The groove that holds the seal has a bit more of a grip or support for the 292 seal than for the 312 seal. See the picture below to see the difference between the two removable seal retainers.
Hope this helps! 
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By slumlord444 - 9 Years Ago
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While the 4 barrel won't by technically "stock", for practical purposes it will look stock. Performance will definitely be better but it won't quite keep up with a 312 in a drag race. I know that because I had a similarly equipped 292 back in the day and my buddy's 312 would beat me in a drag race.
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By NoShortcuts - 9 Years Ago
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Dale. To expand a bit on what Slumlord stated about 292 vs. 312 performance...
The '57 vintage 'C' code 292s and 'D' code 312s are equipped VERY similarly.
- the cylinder heads used on the '57 'Birds all had large casting letter ECZ-Gs for the C, D, and E code engines; they used the same valve porting, valve sizes and combustion chamber shapes and volumes. The difference in static compression ratio between the 292 and the 312 was only due to the difference in cylinder displacement.
- the camshafts for the C code 292, D code 312, and standard offering 312 E, and F code engines (both passenger car and 'Bird) were identical in valve lift, lift duration, valve overlap, cam lobe center angle, and valve event timing.
- the rocker arm ratios for all C, D, E, and F code engines (both passenger car and 'Bird) were identical.
- the exhaust manifolds were the same for all C, D, E, and F code 'Birds.
The performance difference between the 'C' code 292 and the 'D' code 312 was derived from the 312 having a larger cylinder bore, longer piston stroke, higher static compression ratio (due to increased cylinder displacement), and a four barrel carburetor.
The olde school way of explaining all of this was, 'There's NO substitute for cubic inches!'
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By 9310alloy - 9 Years Ago
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I disagree on manual transmission choices for 1955 to 1957 Thunderbirds. Not talking Fords or Mercury , T Birds only.
The T 86 was a lite duty 3 speed overdrive only. 6 bolt sheet metal top cover. Not used behind the Thunderbird. Ford never used a T 86 as a straight 3 speed , only as overdrive with a RG 10 , 3 pinion planetary. Borg/Warner T 86 came out in 1956 used up thru about 1966.
1955 & 56 292 T Birds came with the Ford built (9 bolt cast iron side cover) 259 series 3 speed in straight shift or a overdrive which used the RG 10 , 3 pinion planetary.
1957 only 292 T Birds came with a straight 3 speed Ford built (9 bolt cast iron cover) 259 series transmission only. Not as a overdrive.
1956 & 1957 312 T Birds came with the T 85 heavy duty 3 speed. As a overdrive or a straight 3 speed. The overdrive T 85 all used the RG 11, 4 pinion planetary.
(T 85 cast iron 9 bolt side cover) looks like a sideways "D"....
Mike
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By NoShortcuts - 9 Years Ago
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Mike. Thanks for catching my error! No excuses, I messed-up. One of the great things about this Forum is that we help each other to get it right.
My statement that the Borg Warner T-86 was used in '55-'57 'Birds was incorrect. Mike is correct, the designation for the gear box used in '55 through '57 'Birds behind 292 engines was Borg Warner 259. The side cover is rectangular in shape and has nine bolts used to secure it. Three of the side cover corners are rounded while the lower front corner is square. My information is that the '55 and '56 case numbers are AF7006A, AF7006B, or AF7006D. I'm not sure of what appeared on the '57 C code 3 speed cases, but they use the B-W 259 components.
My information is that no B-W R-10 overdrive units were installed behind the B-W 259 transmission boxes used in '56 and '57 292 equipped 'Birds.
See the link below to the Articles section of this web site for pictures Doug Thrasher pulled together of the '57 Ford transmissions
http://www.y-blocksforever.com/tech/html/57trans.html
This should corrects the blatant error in my previous text entry. 
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By 9310alloy - 9 Years Ago
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That's what it's all about ... helping & sharing information with fellow enthusiasts politely...
Mike
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By Joe 5bird7 - 9 Years Ago
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I have a D code 57 bird and many years ago replaced the 312 with a 292. Used the 312 intake and carb. It's perfectly fine with the 292 and frankly I never noticed any change in performance. But then, or course, I never did hot rod it all that much. BTW, also have the T85 with overdrive.
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By Dale T-Bird - 9 Years Ago
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Thanks for the response! The ID on the car shows it is a "C" code and a "2" transmission which is the overdrive. Perhaps it was ordered that way, or it was also built the last day of production for the 57. ( Dec.13 '57 ) Maybe they had a leftover 292 that needed to be used??
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By NoShortcuts - 9 Years Ago
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Dale. Yes, my understanding is that all kinds of things were done in the last months of production of the '57 'Birds when the '58 model year production was going on, too.
I'm not sure what you're using for data plate decoding. Click the link below for the one offered by the Classic Thunderbird Club International.
http://www.ctci.org/decoder.php
There are numerous Forum members who own 'Birds. Many are not purists when it comes to component date codes, etc. but they respect those who are.
Regards,
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By Dale T-Bird - 9 Years Ago
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Dale T-Bird (12/8/2016)
I recently purchased a 1957 T-Bird with a manual transmission w/overdrive. Unfortunately, I discovered, after I purchased it, it had a 292 engine with the 2 barrel carburetor. (That's what happens when you assume) All the literature says that all automatics and cars with overdrive come with the 4 barrel 312. How this one got through is a mystery. The ID plate says it's a "C" code, which is the 292. My question is: Can I convert this engine to a 4 barrel and get better performance? I already bought the correct carburetor and intake manifold. Haven't made the change yet and was getting different answers from people (who probably don't know). I want to keep it "stock", so don't want to make any additional changes. Thanks Dale
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By Dale T-Bird - 9 Years Ago
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I GOOFED! I went by my "impaired" memory when I said it was a number "3" transmission. I went back and looked. The plate says it's "2"! (edited my original post)
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By DANIEL TINDER - 9 Years Ago
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Several of these posts suggest that some '56 T-Birds came with 292 engines. I was under the impression all '56s were 312 (?).
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By NoShortcuts - 9 Years Ago
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Dan. Yes, some '56 Birds did come with 292 engines equipped with the 3 speed only manual transmission. A friend in the Syracuse area had one and I've seen several at CTCI conventions.
I'm still surprised that Dale has a '57 C code that was equipped with a 3 speed with overdrive transmission from the factory. Since it did come from the factory with overdrive per his data plate, AND assuming that the tranny hasn't been changed out over the last 60 years, I'd expect it to be a T-85 rather than a B-W 259. As Dale indicated, having been produced THE last day of production of the '57 'Birds in December of '57, who knows what they did on the production line that day. Maybe they put a 312 in it, too, but used the two barrel intake manifold to make it look like a 292 that C code 'Birds were scheduled to have installed.
Usually considered to be the 'base' model, I saw one C 'Bird that was LOADED with options about a year ago in the Buffalo, NY area. It had power windows, seat, brakes, steering, two tops, fender skirts, AND a Fordomatic transmission that I ASSUMED had been installed since it was originally produced. I did not check the data plate beyond noting that it was a C 'Bird.
Hey! Life can be full of surprises!
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By Dale T-Bird - 9 Years Ago
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Thanks for the info! It really helps.
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