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RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

Y block Billy — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:09:42 GMT

Willie,

Do not forget the 292, First of all you will not find a 2000 302, 96 was the last year for them, a 200 has a 4.6 liter modular block motor. unless you plan to buy an aftermarket 302.

2nd, searching hemmings and these sites will get you the parts you need to go back to an original Y block and with the Y sound and tourque you will not be sorry, plus the value of your bird should be much greater going back to a Y.

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

Joe Johnston — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:08:23 GMT

Willieb

Check your private messages. J

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

Teros292 — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 02:26:13 GMT

272´s were truck engines in 1956 and 1957, rumor says that in 1958 there were some 312´s in trucks.

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

pcmenten — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 01:15:40 GMT

[quote][b]willieb (2/8/2007)[/b][hr]I have located a 1956 292 truck engine and auto. trans.
Willie B.[/quote]

Did they have 292's in trucks in 1956?

I wonder whatever happened to this engine/trans.

-Paul

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

Hoosier Hurricane — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:15:04 GMT

Willie:

There is a complete '55 T-Bird engine and transmission on ebay, #230092359878. It has all the T-Bird specific parts you need, would obviously be the easiest way to put your Bird back original.

John

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

willieb — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 10:10:17 GMT

Thanks for the input. Please e-mail me a couple of pictures of your Bird without the engine. I am not sure what was done in the conversion and pictures of your car will be a great help.

thanks

willie B.

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

willieb — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 09:01:05 GMT

Hello John

My goal is to have a very nice driver with power steering, A/C, power brakes. Lets go the other way for now. Forget the 292.

1955 T-bird with a 89 model 302, no air, no power steering and no power breaks. It has electronic egnition and a c5 trans.Runs nice drives nice but, I want it done better. This is an old conversion.

If I put a newer 302 from a 2000 model mustang with the wireing harness computer and everything that is with the motor, What has to be done to put power steering, A/C and power breaks?

I know this can be done but I need to know where to go to get the info.

Thanks again

Willie B.

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

Hoosier Hurricane — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 05:32:21 GMT

Willie:

What is your goal for this car? Do you want to make it concours correct, or is it going to be a driver with a 292? To make it correct will require a lot of T-Bird unique parts that are scattered all over the world and most people think they are made of gold. Things like throttle linkage, air filter, spacer for the water pump, generator mounts, steady rest rods, damper as Al stated, water pump pulley, oil pan, your A/C isn't original, though many Bird owners add it, radiator, fan shroud, dipstick tube and dipstick (truck may work OK, but not original). Don't want to discourage the change back, but feel I can help more by knowing what you are wanting to achieve.

John

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

bird55 — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:07:40 GMT

Hoosiers right on all he said. I believe you will also need a tbird Specific Harmonic Balancer or an aftermarket one also. I bet you could have the old missing steady rests put back in and delete whatever they had used for the 302. Did the previous owner alter the frame or crossmember? The steady rests do not hold up the engine. They prevent side to side motion. Front and back/tranmission mounting. By the way it's just my 2 cents but I think you're doing the right thing going back to the 292. Good Luck. Let me know if you need any reference pics as the engine is out of my bird right now and I could easily shoot some for you.

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

willieb — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:19:11 GMT

Me again John

Are you telling me that the side mounts on the T-Bird are just to keep the motor from rocking from side to side? The trans. and front engine mounts are the main mounts? Because the original owner put a 302 in and the mounts have been altered.

Am I going the right direction on the change? I can get everything I need to put A/C, power steering and so on for the 292.I do not think I can get what I need for the A/C and power steering for the 302 that will fit.

Thanks

Willie B.

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

willieb — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:06:37 GMT

Thanks much for all the info. This is my first thunderbird. I am a pretty good shade tree I just need a little info and I can make do.

I have a c5 trans., What do you think, get an adapter for the c5 or use the auto that is behind the motor?

The 292 and trans. only has 5000 miles since a rebuild.

thanks again

Willie B.

RE: REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

Hoosier Hurricane — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 16:12:13 GMT

Willie:

It's doable, but there will be some snags. The first thing will be the oil pan. The original for a Bird only fits '55-'57 Birds. It is a rear sump, the truck is more a tub. It could be modified to clear the front crossmember. The next thing is the steady rods on the side of the engine to the frame. The mounts are in the front and rear on the engine and transmission, the steady rods keep it from rocking side to side. The mount bosses on the truck bellhousing may cause clearance problems, but passenger car bellhousings are the same as Bird. Truck exhaust manifolds are wrong with their front crossover pipe. The left exhaust manifold if T-Bird specific, the right one from passenger cars fit. The generator won't clear the frame, either use an alternator or find the original Bird generator, brackets, and water pump spacer. Water pump pulley has to be Bird also. It would be nice if you could find the original engine from your Bird or another Bird. Passenger car engines have Thunderbird decals on the rocker covers, so many sellers of Y blocks call them Thunderbird engines even when they came from a passenger car. The main giveaway is the oil pan, Birds are rear sump, cars are front sump, trucks are pretty much a tub shape. Good luck.

John

REPLACING 302 WITH 292 IN A 55 T-BIRD

willieb — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:52:50 GMT

I have located a 1956 292 truck engine and auto. trans.

i want to put it in my 1955 t-bird that was altered for a late model 302.

Do I have a chance in _ _ _ L that it will work.

I need advice on this.

Thanks

Willie B.