Yeah, my Y-Block experience is limited... but my many years of other automotive experience intended `interesting` to be interpreted as "seems dangerous and like a bad idea"

That contraption with it's plugs and extra thingies and such seems like a lot of extra failure points, not to mention an extra external leak potential.

 

And to showcase how bad this build is, he used a 55/56 distributor with a late model carb





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

Oh, no, not that video again!

Those oiling mods are a waste of time and that whole video should be disregarded.  It is an example of what happens when a person who doesn't know Y-blocks builds a Y-block.


Lawrenceville, GA

I came across this today. Interesting to say the least. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB_Q9qpvnL0

i never stop searching the web for y block videos.ive seen the one your talking about.after all this time i still see comments here and there about spun cam bearing.

A misconception is that the various cam companies make all their cams from scratch.  The various cam companies instead purchase cam blanks from a casting supplier and then simply grind the lobes to their own specifications.  The machining of the journals and the hardening has already been performed by the cam core supplier prior to being shipped to the various cam companies.

CWC is a major cam blank manufacturer and it’s CWC that is machining the center groove for the Ford Y camshaft on the shallow side.  Most flat tappet camshafts I get here at the shop originate as CWC castings regardless of the camshaft company that’s providing the finished product.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Unfortunately, almost anyone becomes an expert when posting their opinions on the Net.  It’s an interesting read though when going through the comments.  A majority of the comments are actually favorable towards the Ford Y.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I heard that ISKY was one of the worst regarding the cam groove despite being told.  John Mummert says he always checks the groove in the cams he sells and machines the groove if necessary.  I asked him about this when I bought a cam from him.


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

Great video.  Before I installed my current Isky cam, we measure the center cam grove depth at .018".  This was new out of the box.  On the advice of this forum, we machined the center groove to .030" deep. We did not widen the groove.  With the engine assembled on the stand, we used a speed wrench to turn the oil pump by hand. A good stream of oil flowed into both heads.  So much so that I was somewhat worried that there would be too much oil.  The rockers were assembled with new unmodified drain tubes in the stock location.  This turned out to be perfect for this engine.  I have put about 3,000 miles of this engine so far and top end oiling has been excellent.  The plugs are perfect and there is no excess oil where it's not suppose to be.  Thanks for the great advice. 

John,

Thank you, and your son, for producing these videos. We would all like to see the Y Block get positive press, but unfortunately some of the YouTube videos and channels with the highest view counts are either lackluster in their information or are like this one here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI_TBe1qss4. I cannot imagine someone producing a video with the intent of labeling the Ford Y Block as one of the worst engines every produced, but there it is. And the thing has over 88,000 views. Social media can be a circus at times, and I've seen a LOT of mis-information, lies, and downright negative press for the Y on these types of platforms. 

Appreciate your development of quality Y parts as well my friend, carry on.

Hot Rod Reverend

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com