Time for a change
 

i`m considering pulling the belly button motor out of my `37 coupe, I`ve located a 52/53 mercury flathead EAC Motor, with trans, what is this motor from can anybody give me a clue I`m new at flatheads...what to look for....?

Re: Time for a change
 

what is a belly button motor!

Re: Time for a change
 

Good move!! Brian

Re: Time for a change
 

Chevy small block.....

Re: Time for a change
 

oh, ok i was going to ask you if you wont to sell it, i already have two in my shop.
i think that would be a good idea to put the merc motor in!

Re: Time for a change
 

thank you, you are a fine person.

Re: Time for a change
 

Rich
Essentially what you have is the last of the flatheads for the US. The last Mercs were rated at 112-125 HP. If what you have is truly a Merc engine (many flatheads had parts interchanged), and it's in good shape, you've got a great engine.
Jim

Re: Time for a change
 

Oh, Man! There is a flathead god!.
Good man!...slim

Re: Time for a change
 

I agree, good move. The only drawback to that engine is that it probably won't have hard seats in the exhaust.

Re: Time for a change
 

Oh man!! That's good news :), I'm sure that '37 will be much happier with a new FH heart transplant! Put that SBC back in a Chuby. I'm not that familiar with the Merc engines, but I would see if it has a four inch stroke crank, bore it a little over, and maybe install hardened valve seats. Keep us posted on the conversion process with some pics, etc. Good luck! JM

Re: Time for a change
 

look for a 4" stroke, cam marked 1CM, 4 bolt mount for carb. good luck! glad your getting rid of the "belly button"

Re: Time for a change
 

Thanks guys, the engine is complete and together, with trans all parts there except gen/starter, been in a garage covered up for 30 years per the owner, are there any stampings on the block to verify.....? I`m trying to gather all the info I can so when I go to look it over I have a educated guess, I know that it is a crap shoot as far as being a cracked block..!:eek:

Re: Time for a change
 

There's been a lot of talk about the engine. You didn't say too much about the transmission. Is it contemporary with the engine? I'm not too sure that a '49 and up transmission will work in the '37, especially if you want the traditional closed driveline.

Re: Time for a change
 

This is where it will get sticky, I`m going to keep the ford eight inch under it with open drive line, not sure yet on trans, still looking for options, any recomendations at this point....

Re: Time for a change
 

If the trans is from a 52 merc it will be for the open driveshaft and side shift linkage good luck.

Re: Time for a change
 

Hey Rich, we must live close by, I saw that ad a few days ago myself.

Re: Time for a change
 

Do you want an automatic or a stick? Modern or vintage?

Re: Time for a change
 

You can keep the 8 inch. Use a 48-50 F-1 three speed floor shift. It's open drive and will look like a stock trans with the floor shift. You will need to use the pickup bell housing also, as I think the Merc bellhousing is different. If the block has been sitting for a long time I would pull the heads and check for cracks. Hopefully it was not removed from a car due to a cracked block. I had exactly the same setup in my 37 coupe.

Re: Time for a change
 

There is a flathead god after all!!

Re: Time for a change
 

You have a bunch of guys here that will do what ever we can to help you get that Chevy boat anchor out of your Ford. Your car will never be normal, it must have emotional and self esteem issues. It's like somebody cutoff its penis at one time and now your considering putting back on.

Your going to loose half your power for twice the money but once you go Flathead you'll never go back. You will find that Flathead people are the nicest people on the planet. All my very best friends own flatheads, the billet Chevy guys just seem to be a little to bitchen for me. I’m serious, it’s like they are from two different planets.

Jerry

Re: Time for a change
 

What kind of trans? Merc-o-matic or 3 speed with o.d.? the overdrive would be great.

Re: Time for a change
 

re tranny, if you want a stick shift, consider a 5 speed out of a mid 80's S 10 pickup

Re: Time for a change
 

Congratulations! A great move. SBCs are just an engine. Flatheads are an art form.
Use the motor and trans with your 8", use a shifter for the side linkage. Or, use the motor with an earlier bellhousing and use a 39-40 light pickup toploader that has the open drive setup.
You've made my day!

Re: Time for a change
 

I`ve called the owner and I`m trying to a date setup to have a look see, its only about 90 minute drive, I `m just trying to avoid taking off work right now, if I was looking hard for this it wouldn`t of happened, but sinse I`m just lazily looking it kinda fell into my lap sorta speak from the pics it has a early ford trans, shifter from the top, I have to call him back tomorrow.

Re: Time for a change
 

I`m trying to covince the other half I need a new motor in my daily driver, which it realy does, so I think she might by off on this, pic of said belly button motor 406 long rod, 202 fuelies, 10 to 1 comp, 268 extr energy comp cam, yes I `m dropping hp in half, but looking forward to the change.

Re: Time for a change
 

Beautiful Car Rich! I am like the others... You have made my day! Love knowing that a flatty will live in it again!

Re: Time for a change
 

as Rick mentioned, If it were me, I would look real seriously into a T-5 OD. You already have the open drive shaft setup,

Re: Time for a change
 

I'd say you'd be dropping HP by about 75%!

Hey, if these guys talk you into running a T-5 behind it, I'd be interested in the transmission thats on that Flathead now.

PS...if you want me to take a look at it for you and make sure it's not stuck, or any obvious damage, give a holler, it's not too far from me.

Re: Time for a change
 

I'd look into putting a 5 speed trans in it as it really helps the performance feel according to my friends who have made the change and drive their vehicles. Just an option but more expensive that a 3 spd with open rear drive. Good luck with whatever you decide. Al

Re: Time for a change
 

Even if this deal don`t work out I`m still looking, but I`ll step down to just a late (52/53 ) merc block if I can find one, I hadn`t realized there was so much stuff out there for them still. I `m assumming when were talking T-5 trans, were talking from a mustang T-5 as I see many on CL.

Re: Time for a change
 

Actually, the 5 spd from a S10 from 1986 to about 91 with the mechanical speedometer drive seems to be most popular and easiest to install and use in this area. Regrettably, I sold a good one before it dawned on me to put it in my own truck! Duh! Thus I'm still driving a stock 3 spd with closed driveshaft... and still have my money... er had my money... it got sucked up by the 1936 Fordy project. Such is life. Might as well be happy. Life's more fun that way.

Re: Time for a change
 

After talking with the owner again I `m getting the impression that is seized up, how bad can this be...? He originally pulled it from a 52 ford pickup that he had, I didn`t want to drive all the way down to find it seized up, but he won`t admit to it.