Personally, I can't imagine subbing any SBC for a 'Y'.
1958, I had a '56 Ford ragtop (yeah, 3600 lbs.!) with a fresh Factory Rebuilt 292.
I took it to the drags, embarrassed myself, then back to the shop to look things over.
My boss, Red Mayfield, went through the distributor, and at 32* full advance, massaged the Teapot carb.
Cam was next, and cam timing...lotsa tricks, but still 'stock'.
Ford ran 88 MPH, mid to high 14 seconds...(this was 1958)

I was on a budget, but sponsored by my employer: Mayfield's Garage, in Santa Clara.
Drastic things were next: a '40 over 50%' beefed Borg & Beck pressure plate, heavy truck flywheel, (3600 lbs. convertible, remember? It was Mom's car, so I couldn't put it on a 'diet'; besides, they weighed the 'gassers', and also the stockers that were 'suspect'. I was always 'suspect')
Next thing was the pistons and a concentrated study of valve timing. (this was a car that had to be kept running; NO blueprinting or decking of all surfaces, flow benching, or anything serious)
I removed all 8 pistons, examined them, polished them, and installed them 180 degrees from their position on the rods, taking advantage of the wrist pin offset (in the negative for silent running) Juggled cam timing, when I drove it I could feel the difference...(WOW!)
Fremont drags Sunday was exhiliarating (for me, not the Chevys) First run I netted 92 MPH, in 14.58...next run same, but E.T. suffered a little (14.65)
I was eating Chevies like there was no tomorrow.
Then I got protested. ($50) "You got it?" The $50 was the question. I had it...
I countered with, "You'd better have gaskets..." they tore my 292 down, measured everything. Found nothing. Chevy guy paid. The pit guy ('official') was a Ford hater, and told me: "We'll tear you down 'til we find it, yer cheatin' and we know it..." blah, blah, blah.
I continued beating Chevies and Pontiacs 'til I was afraid they'd wear the bolts out tearin' down that Y block!
This was prior to the new "Bracket Racing".
I was also racing 4 nights a week on the street...San Jose was always good for $10 a gear.
Lost one night when I opened up my T-86 Heavy Duty gearbox with a sloppy shift to 2nd. Box opened up like the bomb bay on a B29...Cluster bounced up, hit the floorboard and scared the daylights outa me. Thought I'd run over that Chevy...
Guy I was racin' was a cool head, wouldn't take my money; drove me to a friend's house to get a chain; TOWED me home with his hopped-up '55 Chevy Tudor Post!
Chevy guys were O.K.
Thinking back on it now...I wonder how many of his Chevy buds' houses he towed me past.
That would be Ultimate! (for him)

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Mike in Atwater

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