As I stated earlier, my '53 Ford Flathead V8 was no barn burner. Had overdrive and added dual exhausts and still nothing to write home about. '58 Custom 300 292 was a whole different ball game. Had a lot of fun with that one. Got me hooked on the Y Block and then I traded it for the '57 Bird that I still have. I remember seeing '55 Fords with a 4 barrel but never a '54.

In 1953 a Ford I Block 6 was faster than the flathead V8.  I've read that Karrol Miller had an I Block 6 that he made very fast.

Paul J. - '57 E Code

160hp is nothing today. In 1954 it was quite a lot.


Lawrenceville, GA

I just learned that that engine was at one point intended to be used in the 55 T-birds.  Didn't happen of course but according to an April 54 ad in a magazine titled "Automotive Topics"  (as reprinted in the March-April Early Bird----the publication of the Classic Thunderbird Club International) that was the plan.  As to how competitive it was on the track, it seems that 160 hp wouldn't really burn up the track, but then again it was used in Mercurys, Police cars and considered for the T-bird, so maybe quicker than I'd think.

I could beat the Dodge quarter mile but not top end. At 17 my tuning abilities and budget was limited.

If your 53 V-8 couldn't keep up with a Dodge six in "the day" your car had some tuning or other problems..

Paul

I am still curious as to how they ran with the competition back in the day. I have first hand knowledge that the 292's and 312's were competitive with the Chevy's and Chrysler products of the day. My "53 Ford flathead with over drive was not as fast as the comtetiton of the day, 

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Obrien,+OR&hl=en&ll=42.066973,-123.703421&spn=0.001969,0.004128&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hnear=O%27Brien,+Josephine,+Oregon&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=42.066962,-123.703444&panoid=0IzNTZ4GJcbxnBZGKA5WsQ&cbp=12,287.07,,0,2.67

Jim - Erie Colorado, 1957 Country Sedan

I think Racer Brown did a lot of work on a 54 when new to increase power. Not sure if he started with a 239 or 256. Was that in an article JC put in Y-Block Mag recently? The memory is fading faster than the hair color.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

The cop car owner has a convenience store in a small place called Obrien, OR.  The store is about all there is to mark the "town", and is on Highway 99 just north of CA.  He keeps the car parked close to and facing the highway.  It serves to slow down speeding traffic, even being almost 60 years old.  If Obrien, OR is put into Google Earth, there is a fair chance it will show the black and white.

Woops, we have two of this vintage running around.  The one in Obrien is a Plymouth(?), and is marked on Google Earth, including picture.  The '54 Interceptor is owned by someone else around here.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.