Just to clarify.. the 279" was a  Truck engine period, it was never used in Lincolns.
 


Paul

Theoretically there is a lot you could do to a 279.... but cost effectiveness would be questionable.  Egge machine can probably provide a piston.  Most shops could rebuild the heads and install conventional (non sodium filled) valves.. The cam can be reground to a slightly hotter profile..A Lincoln 317 4bbl intake could be sourced but In the end maybe you gain 20 horsepower for all the expense and effort.. Any member of the Lincoln Y Block family will be the same physical size and have same bellhousing bolt pattern and could be substituted for the 279... The 279 is the least desirable version of the engine family... If you keep the 279, disassemble it,  see if you can reuse the pistons,  do the heads with modern valves, rings bearings and a reground cam and call it good..

Not sure how thick the walls are, or  any core shift on those blocks.   They are heavy!!   Over at the HAMB site they have a forum specifically for the Lincoln Y's.   I'm  not sure if the stroke is different than a 332,  but 302 and 332's had a dropped forged crank.   Guys are stroking them and getting close to 426 cubes out of 368 blocks.   All it takes is MONEY.    

The LYB (1952) was FOMOCO's first overhead valve engine. The FYB followed in 1954.

GOOGLE ' LINCOLN Y-BLOCK ' and you should get about all the info you are seeking. Service parts are available new and NOS.

The car version had the highest performance rating in THE '56/57 LINC and 57 MERC.

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Ok, Now I think I get it.  So the 279 is a Lincoln engine that Ford stuck in Heavy Duty trucks.  Not Ford engines they stuck in Lincoln cars.  So since Ford Y-Block parts like pistons won't work.  Is there a source for them?  How much "work" can be done to a 279.  Any thing is better than the Flathead in it now.

1959 Edsel Ranger, 1916 Ford "speedster"
"I may not be a rich man, but I can give you a million dollars' worth of bad publicity."

I thought the Lincoln Y-block for HD truck app. were geared cams

That would be the 1956-1963 302 and 332 HT engines.

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This is whats covered in the 54 - 55 truck shop manual. I thought the Lincoln Y-block for HD truck app. were geared cams. Maybe that wad a later mod? Anyways, thought I'd add this to the thread. This will be an interesting build and hope you can gather enough parts/information to complete this Lincoln Y-block...........JEFF


64F100 57FAIRLANE500

The truck it's going in had a flathead in it originally.  This EAL came out of a fire truck that was sent to the scrap yard

1959 Edsel Ranger, 1916 Ford "speedster"
"I may not be a rich man, but I can give you a million dollars' worth of bad publicity."

The 279 was a FORD HT engine whereas the 317 was both a LINC engine and used for HT. Both are members of the LINC Y-Block Family.

Does the truck have a FORD PATENT PLATE?

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This is a Lincoln heavy duty truck engine . Made only for 3 years.. It has a 3.5 inch stroke crank but a tiny bore.3.56  .Like Ted says  , It probably has big sodium filled exhaust valves and very low compression  about 7.0 to 1.. Finding pistons will be an expensive challenge.. ..  As a 279 you are talking flathead like performance... This falls into the category of what was Ford thinking.. This block is tall and heavy.for such a tiny displacement, but then again the Lincoln is a very robust engine, and a 279 can not make enough power to hurt itself and so longevity will be outstanding. There are running 317s around for the taking which would be a much better option... The 279 would only be appropriate if it is extremely low mileage and needs no repair  or it is for a restoration of a truck from that period