Thanks alot guys for chiming in on this ,  stock meaning what that particular car came with, but limited to any stock 2 barrel. Now my dad owned a 56 ford post ex police car with an interceptor but he does not remember what it was for size,heads, intake, cam, or is the interceptor in those days not much of anything?  also do you really think there would be any older guys in tech, maybe a bunch of young guys that only know chevy's. Maybe i could get away with murder? Ha!! Thanks again guys P.S any help on the interceptor? and I'd love to have any of you guys on the team!!

Todd Watertown S.D.

Of course this all depends on how much you can spend.  It sounds like you could bore & stroke the motor and if so you could get it up to 340 to 350 CID.  You can even bore a Y block up to 3 15/16" (sometimes ) and with a 312 crank you end up with 333 CID.  That could be done with a '55 292 block.  Either way you would not be losing too much on the displacement limit. 

Another issue are the heads. Of course you could use '57 heads and manifolds and hope the officials don't know too much about Y's which is a pretty good bet.  However win a few races and the competition is likely to start looking up what is stock for '55. 

Advice about the cam should come from an experienced cam grinder and I think the Berry cams in Minnesota or John Mummert would be able to give you a good cam. 

It really depends on what the competition is and how much they are spending. If you are racing against  '80's Malibu Scrubs they will all have 350's (at least) so a lot depends on the weight of your '55. I suspect that the '55 is likely to be much heavier.  

If the competition is not too intense and the '55 is well thought out, well prepared, and well driven it might be able to surprise a lot of the scrubs.  If you do decide to go ahead keep posting here, we will all be very interested.

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

Yes, without seeing the rule book, advise here is just musings. "If" the displacement can be modified, towards the max that's one thing, but if the block has to be a stock displacement to the year of car, that's another. And just for the record, 78- 81 & maybe later Malibu's didn't come with a 350. A 305 was the biggest engine in that chassis.

Paul

Dirt racing is more about the chassis and driver than the engine. What good is a 500 HP engine if you can't get the power to the ground? The 292 Y Block has tons of torque and on a 1/4 mile track with a good chassis should do well. I would be looking at what tires and chassis mods are allowed such as can you change springs, shocks, tire stagger, rear gear ratio, or move weight around in the car. If you max out the rules with the chassis, and if you can drive it, you will do fine. Go with G heads, late four barrel intake, holley two barrel, late distributor, I'll bet that no one will know enough about a Y Block to know that they where not offered in 1955 unless they check out this forum. I'll also bet you a cup of coffee that the guy that is winning is cheating too.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Sorry, Glen, I won't take that $1 cup 'o joe bet.  I was born at night but not last night.

I went to a few dirt track races in the 60s.  Saw a lot of tri 5 chebbies and great Fords beat up out there.  Seems the 56 Ford that won points had a leather strap (piece of a belt?) screwed to the dash.  It was slipped over the shift leaver to hold the tranny in 2nd gear.

TC

You gotta have the right tools and know how to use 'em.

TC - Austin, Texas

                  as far as the chassis there is test and tune day before the season starts, and I had raced in the early 90's before. By rights I could raise cain with them about the malibus and monte carlos too, because I don't think either of them had 350's stock. I also found out there is a 3400lb. car weight minimum. But I cannot gut out the firewall or floor of the car. Once again thanks for the interest!

Todd Watertown S.D.

Red Farmer, one of the orginal members of the Alabama Gang, ran a 56 ford on the short tracks in the south for years, although in the later years I think he swaped to a small block ford.  He replaced the body in later years with a 63 fairlane.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Todd,

      Y's are heavy, so if you can move it back (and maybe a little toward the drivers side) that'll help. Also lower is better, but you know that.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

               Thanks pegleg, You wouldn't happen to now how much they weigh?, Just curious. I see you probably drag race your 57'?, How do the bottom ends hold up w/ arp rod bolts, stock CAE2 truck rods ,and stock 312 cranks? thanks again for the info. Todd

Todd Watertown S.D.

As Glenn H says, it is more about handling than raw power and handling would include braking.  When you think about a 1/4 mi track,  it is mostly turning with two very short straightaways.  Coming out of the turns a little faster than the competition will get you to the next turn quicker. Getting down the straightaway a little further before you hit the brakes is the same as going faster.   Getting around the turns is the question. 3400 lbs is probably within easy range of your '55 with enough left over for some weight tuning. 

Now if you must use the stock brakes you are sunk before you start.  But if you can use disc brakes then you probably can build a car that will perform pretty well.  Discs might be allowed in for "safety" reasons.  Check this point with the class rules and get a reading from the promoter if it isn't covered.

4 piston KH discs brakes and spindles from 65 to 67 Fords Mercs and T birds will bolt into your front suspension. These are 11" dia 1" thick ventilated rotors and they will STOP that Ford, those cars topped 5000lbs.  I don't know if GM had anything quite as big.  Also these spindles are much beefier than stock and the Granada spindles that are often used.

Keep asking questions, I expect that you will keep getting answers. 

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.