Ford Y-block Engine - 292

292

The 292 in³ (4.8 L) was also introduced in 1955. It was used in the Ford Thunderbird, Mercury, and some high-end Ford cars. In 1956, it was an optional engine for Ford cars, was commonly used in high-end models, and called the "Thunderbird V8" (the optional larger 312 in³ engine was called the "Thunderbird Special V8"). The 292 in³ was also used in Ford trucks, namely the F-100, through 1964. The 292 forged steel crankshaft was popular with motor enthusiasts in increasing the performance potential of the 312. With some machine work, this part was used to upstroke the 312 V8 to 340 in³ in combination with custom-made pistons and a .040 inch overbore (4.040 in. x 3.3 in.).{See Mummert's Y-Block website for details.)

Ford Australia released this V8 motor as its only option in the 4-door Customline sedan from 1955-1959 (based on the Crown Victoria), and its utility, based on the same styling as the Customline, called a Mainline.

This particular version of the Y-Block engine was used in Argentina in the F-100 pick-up well into the 1960s, and was known as Fase I (Phase I). In 1971, the engine was modified to accept a new-style cylinder head with a different valve arrangement (E-I-E-I-E-I-E-I versus E-I-I-E-E-I-I-E), new intake and exhaust manifolds and was renamed Fase II (Phase II). In this form, the 292 Fase II continued into the 1980s in the F-100, and was also used in the Argentine Ford Fairlane (built from 1969–1982, and based heavily on the U.S. 1968 model). All Argentine versions of this engine feature a cast crankshaft rather than the forged example that equipped US heavy duty engines. The 292 version was also produced by Ford of Brazil and equipped the Brazilian LTD starting in 1969. Both the 272 and 292 engines were replaced on Brazilian cars by the 302 engine starting on 1976 model year.