EXPO2005, Doug Thrasher photo 

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Marvin,

           Columbus Ohio. Half the guys on this site will be there, mostly waiting to see what I can break this year! We had around 30 cars racing at National Trail Raceway last year, and a few more at the car show. Figure on two days minimum Friday through Sunday.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Ron,  Pc said it all in his first sentence. We are not upset, just want these fine cars to retain most of their originality from that time, but it might not be your cup of tea.. Your 54 4dr looks very nice as shes sitting.  By the way, I myself didn't elect to go with my original engine. I went with a 272 bored out. I did keep the 256 under my bench, as someone has mentioned here.     And Frank where is expo labor day? 

     

Actually I was told of swaping a later Cruise O Matic valve body to give a full 3 speed auto shift. Maybe some of the tranny guru's know about that. Chuck

PS. Of course the Ford O Matic is actually a 3 speed you just have to manual shift 1st gear.

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Ron,



It's your car, so do what makes you happiest. But here are some things to think about. If you swap to a newer engine like a 302, you'll have to do a bunch of work to get linkages and motor mounts to work, and in the end it will still be a lash-up. On the other hand, if you rebuild and retune the 239, at least the parts will all be there to make it work right the first time. The stock 239 can be bored and stroked to 272 (3.3" cranks are easy to come by) and I think the Fordomatic can be reprogrammed for 3 speeds. If you zero-deck the pistons and use a 63-64 distributor I think you'll have a decent engine that gets good mileage. I just searched egge machine. You can save $100 if you buy 256 pistons over 239 pistons, but you'll have to bore the block to fit. Oddly, 256 pistons are cheaper than 272 pistons.

Best regards,



Paul Menten

Meridian, Idaho

Wouldn't a 54 Merc original engine be a Y- 256" ?  If it just needs some freshining up, possibly parts might be available from people like Egge Machine or maybe Schumanns Sales. If I recall correctly (?) I think the pistons are the same dimension as 272s (same rings?) but with the shorter 239 type crank. It might be possible to install a 272/292 crank and rods if a person wanted to go that far, but that's a maybe, as the engine may be a Dearborn early casting.. ??    

Paul

Not Upset! Just Y-concious. It's your car after all but we just love to see the Y-Blocks retained. They are often underestimated. There was a guy from Arizona at the Columbus meet this year. Drove his 54 from there and back. Raced it a few times. The motor had been changed to a 292 but the detailing was all 239. This was very near to a concorse appearing driveable car that apparently sees a lot of shows. Keep the 239 (if you have space) and build a 272/292 for it. But most of all fix it the way YOU want it and DRIVE IT! Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

WOW....what a thrill it must be to drive into that driveway everyday and in that Mercury too, gives me goose-bumps just looking at the picture. What part of Paradise is that?

Okay, I'm convinced, sorry for getting everyone upset...I'll keep the car as original as I can, right down to the drum brakes.

Marvin,

         Pease bring that to EXPO labor day, sure is "purty".

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Please keep your 54 as it was back in the 50's even if you have to uprade it to a 272, 292,312. It should be at least period correct of that time. Otherwise why even bother with it if you want something more modern. I just walk away from cars at shows that are not even close to that time, whether it be a  dodge,chevy, ford, or pontiac etc. It degrades them for what they were and the value of them goes way down!  Do you want to hear those glass pacs or a 400 watt stereo? If the latter buy a Honda civic & put one in. Get my drift?  I am not trying to be a wise guy, but just keep it like the old days!