Lucy, Don't get in a rush and get ahead of yourself... yet. Identify what you have first. If you change the distributor to a later ('57 up) it will be incompatible with the '55? carburetor. Go slow and learn about the different nuances of the different year/model Y-Blocks.

Get the car running good and drivable while on your learning curve. There are many (somewhat) knowledgable people on here that are willing to help.

Have fun...

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

I just never liked the looks or the idea of a 2bbl carb. but in reality wouldn't a Holley 500 2 bbl be more carb with equal or better performance than a 390 4bbl? The first thing I did with mine was put a 390 Holley on it....

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

If you are in the mood to drool, go here...

www.ford-y-block.com

lol

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

The firing order you list is incorrect. Should be 15486372. Then, how well does it run? Is it in good enough condition to warrent up grades? Then the entire engine could use a good cleaning & some spruce up such as repainted Rocker covers etc. Unless I'm mistaken the distributor you have is not incorrect & is likely correct for the carb in the photo, even though 57 & post engines used the later distributor. And what vehicle is it in? Are you looking for high performance? The numbers you listed are not block or head #s, so it's hard for someone to suggest suitable upgrades...

Paul

I had one of the larger two barrel intakes for awhile. I ran a Holley 500 2bbl on it without any problems. Since 500cfm is about right for a basicly stock Y this would probably be a cheaper way to go. Make sure you get a carb with the linkage on the correct side to mate up with your current accelerator. Chuck

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

Just to continue on the theme of adding some horses to a 272 - and not breaking the bank - you might look at a bit bigger 2 barrel carb arrangement. The later model "four bolt" manifold is a lot cheaper than one of the four barrel set-ups - and perhaps easier to come by as well. Use it with an Autolite 2100 or one of the Holley two barrels......

The PCV will be a good addition - it will help you seal the engine up and avoid leaks and drips.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

If you open the distributor top - and this is what you see -

This is the older model distributor (Load-O-Matic) - its NOT the one you want. Key here is that two springs are visible. 

You would perfer to have a later version as shown below...

If you go to buy a remanufactured distributor at an auto parts store - ask for the part that fits a 1964 292 cid truck engine. It will have the vacuum and centrifugal advance mechanisms you want.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Thanks for the info.  I think I am going to pull the RM distributor, and buy another one.  I will attempt to get under the car this weekend again to get the block number.  The manifold/headers appear to be that of the 292 as there is no cross pipe in the front of the engine.  Maybe I'll get lucky.  Updated my signature.  not to far from you.  Know any good machining shops assuming I want to got that route?   

Lucy55fair

Ossining NY

As far as the points are concerned, there are two basic distributors. One is for 54 to 56. This distributor has a straight points base and the advance springs are on top the the plate in the distributor. 56 distributors have two diaphrams.



The 57 and later distributor has a curved points base and there are no advance springs showing above the plate (they are below). The cap is slightly larger that the 54-56 cap.



The distributor you have is probably a remanufactored one (hence the RM)



Usually, 272 and 292 manifolds were the same, even with the four bbl carbs so your 2bbl intake is probably the correct one for either engine.



Regarding the pictures, I don't know why the pics show up the way they do but not to worry, they can be seen just the same. Just something with the software



You didn't mention the year of the car/engine. The only way to verify what size the engine is is the casting number on the block, works with 272 vs a 292/312.



Since you a new guy, it would be nice if you would list your city and state and the cars you own to make it easier to help you. Look at the bottom on my reply to see where it is shown. Pics are optional.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

last but not least, is there a better way to add photos?  with todays devices 512KB goes very quickly, and they are not showing in a string of my post but as attachments.  Sorry again to all as I am new at this.  I feel like an idiot.  lol

Lucy55fair

Ossining NY