Hello to all, I am new to the site and I hope this post saves someone some grief. I have a 55' club sedan gasser,292,4spd,9", ladderbar rear suspension, straight axle, tilt glass nose,you get the picture. I was still running the stock bellhousing and flywheel,(lots of heat cracks) so I says to myself before I loose a foot or have holes in my fiberglass nose maybe I better do something about this. I am not afraid to let the clutch fly at 6 grand  so I bought a Quick time bellhousing kit and a powermaster FE block mini starter and went to work. While the trans was out, (toploader 4spd W/ Hurst inline shifter) I got a overhaul kit from David Kee to freshen it up.So I put the Quicktime block plate on, The billet steel flywheel, (Which comes with the kit) and tried to install the clutch. Damn, no bolt holes for a 10.5 "pressure plate. Off to Summit I go for a 11" Zoom plate and kevlar disc. Clutch is now in and bellhousing is on,clutch fork and t/o/brg and in goes the trans. right? WRONG! First the Adapter ring for the toploader front bearing retainer for the bellhousing is the wrong size. I'll just try the other one they sent with the kit, also wrong so I firers up the lathe and makes a new one the proper size and in goes the trans. right? Wrong again! Now the trans won't go all the way in cuz the front bearing retainer hits the clutch fork. This is where the bridgeport mill and belt sander come into play! After 2 hours on the belt sander and the mill and putting the trans in and out 4 times the trans is in, shifter back on,drive shaft is back in,All that is left is the starter,What could possibly go wrong now? Three bolts and one wire and its burnout time! So we let the lift down to install the 200.00 mini starter and the top and bottom bolt holes are dead against the block,I can thread bolts in them but not with a starter attached. So with a die grinder and a cut off wheel I had to cut a 3/8" trought in the block so the socket head bolt head has a place to live. I also had to cut a 1/4" off the bellhousing mounting ear so the bottom bolt had someplace to go. now the starter fits Right? Wrong again now the front mounting plate on the starter hits the block! ( this is all because they move the starter location closer to the block and use a FE block ring gear and Starter) So off comes the Starter nose and over to the belt sander to remove 3/16" + from the side that goes against the block.Now the starter fits and every thing works great. I now have a Y-block that sounds like an old chrysler when it starts but other then that I am very happy with the outcome.So everybody is aware I called Lakewood Ind.(they bought out Quicktime after I bought mine) And asked what clutch fork to use, they said the stock fork goes right in.BULLstuff! I also called them after this firedrill and told them what I just said here and the kid on the phone was less then interested,said he would have them call me(never did) So whenI saw lakewoods trailer at the Norwalk nats. I explained it to a real nice guy who seemed interested and said they would be in touch.Never Happened.In closing It is my opinion that if you buy these parts and think you are going to Install them without a Lathe,Mill,Beltsander,And lots of patients you are wrong.I have 35Yrs. in this business and my best friend who helped with this is a mechanial Engineer so It was'nt our first rodeo. There Is no way that they ever tried to Install these parts or they would have forseen these problems. I am not crying or looking for anything for nothing I just hope to save another y-block lover some Greif. Sorry this was so long, Good luck to all,Stan

Welcome! and thanks for all the info.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

Welcome stan, enjoyed your colorfull description, sounds like my expeirences. how about some pics of your gasser. What is your engine build, carbs etc, regards bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Stan,Come join us at Columbus for the y-bloock shoot-out

  JUST A MIDNIGHT CRUISE DOWN THUNDER ROAD!!! TOM DRUMMOND MIDWEST DIRECTOR 57 FORD INTERNATIONAL

Stan, as Tom said come join us in Columbus for the Y-block shoot out, I believe you will enjoy every bit of the comaraderie with other y-blockers and enjoy all other aspects of the show as well.

-Gary Burnette-

Stan: Yes, welcome here.. wow, most people would have thrown there arms up in despair with what you ran into! And probably used it as an excuse to convert to one of those unmentionable engines. Anyway, someone else on this site recently questioned the fitting of a mini starter, but I don't know if it was that brand of starter. I don't know if this has any bearing on your situation or not, but one thing that has come up re F.E. starters is, that early ones up thru 1964 engage from the back, like a Y starter. However, post 64 F.E.'s engage from the front, which is an invitation to problems with the Y ring gear, even in some cases resulting in it tearing off the fly wheel!..

Paul

Howdy Folks, thanks for the welcome. Could one of you give me some info about this columbus event? When,where,what my car needs to pass tech? I would be Interested. Thanks in advance, Stan

Stan, welcome. You gotta go to this event! I've been several times with a lot farther to drive than you and loved it. The yblock guys are the best you'll meet. It's in Heath, Ohio-National Trails Raceway. Wish I could go this year.



September 2-4, 2011

33rd Annual NMRA Ford Expo

National Trail Raceway – Columbus, Ohio

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

Stan ,

Welcome to the site .Thanks for the heads up on the bellhousing & starter .Not sure where you live in USA ,but I have been lucky enough to have  made the trip 5 times from Australia .

You will not meet a better bunch of people in 3 life times .They are the true spirit of the sport .I guarentee you will have a great time , meet real people and make some great friendships . You will fit right in if you can B/S a little and tell a good story ??? That's where I fit in .Telling stories , not the B/S part ????  You may even get to meet some folks from the Frozen North .Most of them are good ???? Have fun .Go to Columbus and " Live the Dream "

Lon

yblocksdownunder

Labor Day Weekend and the most fun for any human to endure!!!!!!!!

-Gary Burnette-