[rotorwrench]

The 8BA family of V8s are all the same block. The truck or Mercury half bell and starter plates are require to adapt to early Ford trans but the clutch also has variations. 49 through 53 Ford cars had the 9.5" Long type clutch wit the 1" 10-spline input for the new 259 series trans. Mercury cars had the Borg & Beck 10" clutch with same size input as early Fords (1 3/8" 10-spline). Pickups like the 48 through 52 F1 had the Long type 10" clutch with the same as early V8 1 3/8" 10 spline input so it's a direct replacement but a person needs the flywheel from an F1 to make it work. Four speed F2 and larger trucks have the big heavy 11-inch clutch but they are too heavy for a car.

I don't know what is making the noise but the clue is that it's only noisy with clutch pedal pushed. The trans isn't turning much with clutch disengaged. The throw out bearing turns and the pilot bearing is too. I prefer the pilot bushing myself. The ball bearing needs grease where the phosphor bronze bushing doesn't need much unless the vehicle is shifted a lot in city traffic. Both eventually wear out though.

If someone is using a 9.5" clutch cover with a 10" disk then that would be a problem. I don't know if it would even fit in there but it's something to check. They never made a 9.5" disk with the early 1 3/8" 10-spline set up. The smaller fingers likely won't work with that big throw out bearing either.