• The Ford 256 engine is an eight valve designed for power.the powerful engine image by kuhar from Fotolia.com
  
  The Ford diesel 256 engine was created in 1954 and used primarily with the automaker's Mercury line of vehicles. Commonly referred to as the Mercury Y-block engine, the 256 was also used in law enforcement vehicles around that time according to engine repair workshop, Eaton Balancing. Ford did not use this engine in its branded vehicles, opting to keep it solely as a Mercury engine type.
  
  

Power and Displacement

• Maximum horsepower for the Ford 256 is 161 at 4,400 revs per minute. Piston displacement in the engine is 256 cubic inches with a maximum torque of 238 ft.-lbs. at 2,200 RPM. Normal oil pressure is 40 lbs. with the valve located inside the engine block. The compression ratio in this Ford engine is 7.5:1 with a bore and stroke measurement of 3.62 by 3.10 inches.
  
  

Engine Tuneup

• The spark plug gap for this engine type is .030 inches, according to automobile restoration website Second Chance Garage. The firing order for the spark plugs begins front to rear, moving from the right bank to the left bank. Voltage and polarity measure 6 volts with a positive ground. Cylinder head torque measures between 65 and 70 ft.-lbs. The engine idle speed with a standard transmission comes in at 475 RPM and 440 RPM with an automatic transmission while in drive.
  
  

Valve Specs

• Valve specifications for the Ford 256 diesel engine have an intake operating clearance of .019 inches while hot and an exhaust operating clearance of .019 inches while hot. The valve seat angle is 45 degrees. Valve timing for the engine is 15 before top dead center for the intake opening and 19 after top dead center for the exhaust closing. The valve spring pressure measures 54 lbs. at 1.82 inches.