Well after talking to 5 differtent engine builders in Northern California 2 said they are not taking on any new builds for 3 or 4 months and 3 said what's a Y-Block, I called Ted Eaton. After talking to him and reading a lot about him I figured he was the best builder to go with. The engine left last Monday, and 8 weeks or so I can get back together. The 312 is going in a body off restoration in my "wife's" 56 T-Bird that I am doing myself (except the body paint)
I will update as i go, back to sand blasting parts.

Rob

Ted  will build it right. He knows Y-Blocks better than anyone and is a great guy to deal with. Bought a set of Sharp rocker arms from him a while back and basically copied an engine build he had in YBlock magazine . Talked to him today with a question on valve adjustment specs with the Mumert heads. Always helpful and fun to talk to.

IF I recall correctly, Rob, your engine has already been 'rebuilt' by others.  I envy your ability to turn to Ted for having your engine gone through to have the correctness of the previous work verified and any issues identified, resolved, or corrected as necessary.

I suspect that Ted has thoroughly queried you to understand how you plan to use your vehicle.  IF you're looking to drive it more than enter it in Concours judging events, he will likely suggest substituting a '57 'Bird ignition distributor for your '56 unit and swapping your '56 intake manifold for a '57 style with a newer carburetor to go with it.  IF offered, these suggestions (and possibly others) will be for the purpose of ensuring enthusiast driving enjoyment and reliability of operation.  There are reasons why FoMoCo stopped using Loadomatic distributors and Holley 4000 carburetors in production year 1956.

Sleep well, Rob.  You've put yourself in GOOD hands! 

Regards,


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Holley 4000 carburetors were not used after '56 because of the lower hood lines and the 4000 was a very tall carburetor. As far as the bad rap on these "Teapot" carbs, it's all from people that shouldn't be working on caburetors. Carbs are an awful easy thing for people to blame when they are lost.

However, I do agree that the Loadomatic ignition system in conjunction with these carbs leaves a lot to be desired.

  Sal

Consider doing this.  Use a later FoMoco distributor (centrifugal advance with vacum advance to improve fuel economy when running at a constant load and speed) coupled with your '56 Holley 4000 carburetor.  To make them work properly together, use the procedure recommended by Ted Eaton for changing the stock '56 Holley 4000 to be correct for working with the later distributor.

Click the following pasted Internet address. 
http://www.eatonbalancing.com/blog/2013/03/02/modifying-the-holley-teapot-four-barrel-carb-for-late-model-distributors/

Ted's procedure works!  A Forum friend in Australia used it on the two '56 Holley 4000 he's using on his '57 'E' 'Bird.  Lord knows where the original '57 'E' Holley 4000s went with their correct vacuum signal provision for the '57 'E' distributor.

Hope this helps. 


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

I also sent the Ted Eaton procedure for modifying the Holley 4000 for ported manifold vacuum to a gentleman on the Ford Barn (Lives in the Czech Republic) for his '55 Ford 272. He installed a '59 292 distributor and car has never run better.

  Sal

I bought a 4000 from Ted (correct one for my 56 Bird) and had him do the modification before he sent it to me.  I had the carb professionally rebuilt ( Mike Suter in PA).  That, combined with a 57 distributor upped my mileage about 3-4 mpg on my first long trip ( Springfield Missouri from NJ).  Car starts and runs a  lot better too.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ