The Ford Barn

flatford8 · 03-05-2026, 08:26 AM

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L-head · 03-05-2026, 09:19 AM

If you have a Merc crank is sized and uses the early rods, I would carry it to a machine shop and have the stroke verified. If it has the early rod size jornals it has been "stroked," your 4" pistons will not work in that combinaton.

matthewejacob · 03-05-2026, 09:33 AM

yeah i think i'm going to just buy a more compatible crank from scat. when i baught it I didn't know all this about how guys used to grind them down to get a longer stroke. I'd rather have the later rods in it than mess with the floating bearings. i listed it on marketplace but around here there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in the flathead stuff. I had a spare complete engine i had sitting around in case i needed it, listed it for i think just under 100 bucks. had maybe one question about it and it's still sitting in the shop. but you never know.

Als48 · 03-05-2026, 04:46 PM

Where are you located, Matthew? There may be someone local who can help out with your decisions.

Just remember, Murphy's Law is not a suggestion!

Al H

rotorwrench · 03-05-2026, 05:02 PM

The old floaters are better than the locked in bearings but the problem is finding a good set of floaters with steel backings. Some of the new stuff is cast bronze and they can split from each other between the two paired rods on the crank journal. A well fit set of steel backed floaters is a very good set up in my book.

matthewejacob · 03-05-2026, 11:32 PM

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I'm in proctorville OH. Funny you should say that cause I just ran into a guy today, older guy that was around when these engines were on the road. He was looking for a crank just like what I had to build an old school stroker. Wound up selling mine to him for almost what I paid and we chatted for about an hour about it. The real hangup for me was that I already had baught the Merc 4" strike pistons and I really didn't want to have to track down a new set of pistons and rods and bearings. Doing that may have cost me more than a new crank. This way my stock rods will work just fine with the pistons I have and he said those rods are pretty stout and well made. I did see eagle cranks are slightly cheaper but they only have the 2" rod journals and not the larger ones so it looks like scat it is. The only piece of the puzzle I don't have yet is the cam. I was going to out a mild cam in it but I've also read that by 53 Ford had pretty well had them figured out and a lot of guys are pretty happy with the stock cam. For me, it would really be just because I like that lumpy sound. It wouldn't be great for cruising though. And this isn't a race truck. I'm just trying to wake it up a little.

03-05-2026, 08:26 AM	#21
flatford8 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lyman,ME. Posts: 3,024	Re: 49-53 mercury rods Delete __________________ I'm thinkin' about crankin' My ragged ol' truck up and haulin' myself into town. Billy Joe Shaver…RIP Last edited by flatford8; 03-05-2026 at 08:41 AM.

03-05-2026, 09:19 AM	#22
L-head Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 195	Re: 49-53 mercury rods If you have a Merc crank is sized and uses the early rods, I would carry it to a machine shop and have the stroke verified. If it has the early rod size jornals it has been "stroked," your 4" pistons will not work in that combinaton.

03-05-2026, 09:33 AM	#23
matthewejacob Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2026 Posts: 11	Re: 49-53 mercury rods yeah i think i'm going to just buy a more compatible crank from scat. when i baught it I didn't know all this about how guys used to grind them down to get a longer stroke. I'd rather have the later rods in it than mess with the floating bearings. i listed it on marketplace but around here there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in the flathead stuff. I had a spare complete engine i had sitting around in case i needed it, listed it for i think just under 100 bucks. had maybe one question about it and it's still sitting in the shop. but you never know.

03-05-2026, 04:46 PM	#24
Als48 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Paducah Ky Posts: 420	Re: 49-53 mercury rods Where are you located, Matthew? There may be someone local who can help out with your decisions. Just remember, Murphy's Law is not a suggestion! Al H

03-05-2026, 05:02 PM	#25
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 18,006	Re: 49-53 mercury rods The old floaters are better than the locked in bearings but the problem is finding a good set of floaters with steel backings. Some of the new stuff is cast bronze and they can split from each other between the two paired rods on the crank journal. A well fit set of steel backed floaters is a very good set up in my book.

03-05-2026, 11:32 PM	#26
matthewejacob Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2026 Posts: 11	Re: 49-53 mercury rods Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I'm in proctorville OH. Funny you should say that cause I just ran into a guy today, older guy that was around when these engines were on the road. He was looking for a crank just like what I had to build an old school stroker. Wound up selling mine to him for almost what I paid and we chatted for about an hour about it. The real hangup for me was that I already had baught the Merc 4" strike pistons and I really didn't want to have to track down a new set of pistons and rods and bearings. Doing that may have cost me more than a new crank. This way my stock rods will work just fine with the pistons I have and he said those rods are pretty stout and well made. I did see eagle cranks are slightly cheaper but they only have the 2" rod journals and not the larger ones so it looks like scat it is. The only piece of the puzzle I don't have yet is the cam. I was going to out a mild cam in it but I've also read that by 53 Ford had pretty well had them figured out and a lot of guys are pretty happy with the stock cam. For me, it would really be just because I like that lumpy sound. It wouldn't be great for cruising though. And this isn't a race truck. I'm just trying to wake it up a little.