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By ravenclaws - 6 Years Ago
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Hey guys,
So I was given a 1948 F5 Ford from my uncle. I always do routine stuff on my cars and trucks (brakes, starters, alternators, etc) but this is the biggest project I have every tackled.
After a lot of thought I have decided to give the Y block in her a try. The engine was fully rebuilt by the Ford dealership not long before the truck was parked in the 80's. Pulled the dipstick...the oil looks new.
I am about to pull the plugs and pour in Marvel Mystery Oil in each hole and let it sit for a few days before I try to turn it by hand (well wrench and pipe).
I know nothing about these engines. Any and all advice much appreciated. 
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By Lou - 6 Years Ago
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So far so good, when you try to spin it over for the first time do it with the plugs removed.
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By ravenclaws - 6 Years Ago
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 Thanks Lou.
Can anyone tell me about the bolt pattern on the back of these engnes? I believe the block number is behind the starter. Someone has seen these pics and believed this engine is from a car not a truck.
Was hoping to pull out the four speed manual out of the truck (it was a wrecker) and go back in with a 5 speed from a 80's F150 if a lot of surgery isn't required.
I am going for a weekly driver not a show queen. So hoping a five speed will allow me to get over 45 mph without the old girl sounding like she is trying to give birth.
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By charliemccraney - 6 Years Ago
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The bellhousing bolt pattern is unique to the Y-Block; no bellhousing for another engine will bolt directly to it.
Engine numbers will be either above the oil filter or near the distributor. It does look like it is configured for a car but since a '48 would never have come with a Y, it may fit well.
http://www.ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm
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By Rono - 6 Years Ago
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Ravenclaws;
I love the early F-1 trucks (48-50). Visit John Mummert's website at FordYBlock.com. The most common 5 speed conversion for the Y Blocks is a T-5 tranny from 86-93 V8 Mustangs. Mummert sells the adapter plate for the bellhousing and has lots of other parts and info for you. One issue you may have with the T-5 is the shifter position in the cab. If you have the stock bench seat, the shifter location may be too far back and could interfere with the seat.
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By charliemccraney - 6 Years Ago
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A T5 might be too light duty for an F5 even if it never hauls a load again. The cars they came in were about 3600lbs at the high end and when you figure in 4 American sized passengers, that's probably up to about 4400lbs total that they were intended to move.
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By Rono - 6 Years Ago
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Charlie;
That's very true. The T-5 were only rated at about 300 HP. I did find a company though called "G-Force Transmission" that can convert your stock T-5 to their "Street T-5" which they rate at 550 HP. They change everything; mainshaft, gears, syncro's and bearings. I haven't looked into the cost, but I'm considering them for my upgraded blower motor.
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By 30 coupe - 6 Years Ago
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If that eng. has been setting a long time like shown in the picture with no carburetor, and air cleaner. I would pull the intake off of it and vacuum out the cylinders, and the intake runners. there is probably a bunch of insect/rodent residue in there. If you don't pull the intake , at least try and make sure the intake runners are clear by using a shop vac, and suck out anything you can.
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By charliemccraney - 6 Years Ago
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There's G-force and Astro that I know of, who can modify T5s for more power. Cost depends a lot on what you have done. For most modification, you still have the stock T5 case, which really makes me question the durability. If you go with an upgraded case, it is quite expensive, and a TKO or whatever the current equivalent is, or T56 is probably just a small increase in price. That said, if a T5 was already in place, it could be a good idea as long as the modifications do live up to the claims. Been a while since I looked at it.
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By Rono - 6 Years Ago
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What has to be done for a T-56 to bolt up to Mummert's adapter?
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By charliemccraney - 6 Years Ago
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I don't think he has an adapter that it will work with. Gary (speedpro56) put one in his 'bird. I think he said the aftermarket ones come with something you can drill to fit the bellhousing, I guess a front plate of the transmission.
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By ravenclaws - 6 Years Ago
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charliemccraney (5/17/2018)
The bellhousing bolt pattern is unique to the Y-Block; no bellhousing for another engine will bolt directly to it. Engine numbers will be either above the oil filter or near the distributor. It does look like it is configured for a car but since a '48 would never have come with a Y, it may fit well. http://www.ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm
First thank you all for the replies guys. I don't know enough yet to know how much I don't know.
Charlie,
So it is safe to assume that since only y block trannys bolt to y block engines the tranny current in my 1948 F5 (which came originally came from Ford with a flathead) is not the original 4 speed tranny to the truck?
Michael
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By charliemccraney - 6 Years Ago
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I'm not sure. There were adapters and bellhousings made by the aftermarket at the time to swap Y-Blocks into older vehicles while retaining the rest of the stock driveline. However an F5, being the more heavy duty truck that it is, would not have been the target of such hot rod parts. I don't know if those things would have worked for that.
If you go to eBay and search for Y-Block Bellhousing, you will see all of the Factory Y-Block offerings as well as an Offenhauser transmission adapter for '32-'50 transmissions. You can use those images to help id what you have. Another thing to do is to look for a model number or date code on the transmission but if it is all gunked up like most things that old are, it may not be easy to find.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 6 Years Ago
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If the tranny in your truck is one of the "granny low gear" ones, it is probably a Borg Warner T98. That tranny was used for many years, and was available in later Y Block trucks. A Y-Block bell housing for a T98 would connect the Y to the original tranny. However, it is NOT an overdrive tranny, it is a 4 speed with a super low, seldom used 1st gear, but high gear is a strictly 1:1 ratio.
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By slumlord444 - 6 Years Ago
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I have often wondered how it would work if you put a 3.00 reare end behind one of those granny low 4 speeds and started out in 1st with it?
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By FORD DEARBORN - 6 Years Ago
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At the moment on e-bay, there are 2 truck y block bell housings for the "narrow" bolt pattern transmissions. This is the pattern most all the adapters are made for. These are hard to find and this one is very reasonable. I'll try to post the link but they are listed on e-bay, vintage car and truck parts, "Ford y block bell housing." Hope this helps, JEFF.... hhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/54-55-56-64-FORD-TRUCK-V8-Y-BLOCK-BELLHOUSING-TAAM-7506-BF100-239-272-292-312/112983393526?hash=item1a4e55c4f6:g:QCkAAOSwR65aytE5
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