Anyone have pictures & measurements of Merc pressure plate?

[38 coupe]

I just purchased a well used pressure plate that looks like a 49-53 Mercury, but I'd like some verification before I have it rebuilt and drill & tap a flywheel to match. Does anyone have pictures and measurements?

Thanks!

[Lanny]

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F...49to51merc.jpg

[51 MERC-CT]

Out of a '50 Merc.

[jimvette59]

I just removed one from my stock 53 Merc. It is a 9 1/2" set up. It's 9 1/2" in Diameter on the face. The flywheel is different from the earlier ones.

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

I just purchased a well used pressure plate that looks like a 49-53 Mercury, but I'd like some verification before I have it rebuilt and drill & tap a flywheel to match. Does anyone have pictures and measurements?

Thanks!

Why not go to a diaphragm clutch, one you can buy with the same common bolt spacing as that Merc B & B? It will be cheaper, and have less effort.
You are better off to have the plate in hand before you drill and tap a flywheel.

[George/Maine]

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The radius is 5.8125 or 5 13/16 evenly spaced 60 degs.
The old and best way to do this is with a rotary table or index head.Find the center put index at 0 degs.Then move table out to 5.8125 ---5 13/16 lock table .
Spot drill,then index to 60 degs,then120,180,240,300,360 home or start.Once they are spoted repeat first opertion.The ref only between hole is 5 13/16
There is less chance of errror and easy.

[rotorwrench]

Originally Posted by jimvette59

I just removed one from my stock 53 Merc. It is a 9 1/2" set up. It's 9 1/2" in Diameter on the face. The flywheel is different from the earlier ones.

In 1951, the Mercury changed to the 1 inch 10-spline transmission (same as Ford car) and a different bell housing and even a another bellhousing change for 52 & 53 but still used the Borg & Beck clutch till 53. Since the trans input was the same as the Ford car, many of the later Mercs were changed over to the Ford set up which used the Long type 9 1/2 inch clutch plus the Borg & Beck is interchangable with the Long type Ford 10 inch pick up clutch so there can be mixing and matching depending on which trans input spline is present.

If you have the 9 1/2 clutch, at least it makes it easier to find replacement parts. The Borg & Beck next to impossible to find new parts for. The old parts can be rebuilt though, as long as you have a good core.

Kerby

[PeteVS]

Whatever you have, make sure that the three fingers won't interfere with the "snout" on the trans that the throwout bearing rides on, especially with the fingers "compressed."

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

In 1951, the Mercury changed to the 1 inch 10-spline transmission (same as Ford car) and a different bell housing and even a another bellhousing change for 52 & 53 but still used the Borg & Beck clutch till 53. Since the trans input was the same as the Ford car, many of the later Mercs were changed over to the Ford set up which used the Long type 9 1/2 inch clutch plus the Borg & Beck is interchangable with the Long type Ford 10 inch pick up clutch so there can be mixing and matching depending on which trans input spline is present.

If you have the 9 1/2 clutch, at least it makes it easier to find replacement parts. The Borg & Beck next to impossible to find new parts for. The old parts can be rebuilt though, as long as you have a good core.

Kerby

The Borg & Beck has the same bolt pattern as a common diaphragm pressure plate, and is cheaper and a much better choice than the old B & B. There are even some diaphragms available now that have the Long style bolt spacing, so no reason to stay with obsolete hard-to-find-parts-for clutches. Detroit hasn't used anything but diaphragms in cars and light trucks for many many years, and for several good reasons!

[38 coupe]

Thanks for the replies. I had a flywheel and clutch setup but I installed it on a friend's engine. I'd like to have another, and picked up a pressure plate cheap, but don't remember exactly what the correct Mercury pressure plate looks like. Does anyone know if the Mercury pressure plate clears the bell housing on a 38 transmission and works with the throwout bearing on the same transmission?

[Bruce Lancaster]

'49-50-very early '51 Merc pieces fit. The later '51-53 won't work on early Fords because the fingers are spaced for a much smaller throwout bearing. I think there are also very similar plates, also not usable on early Ford, from early Chevy V8's.

[jimvette59]

I have a 53 merc. 9 1/2" P/P and disk with a 39 Trans. no problemo. Call FORT WANE CLUTCH & DRIVELINE at 1-800-2258-8243, they will have all the information you need on any set up and make it up for you (very cost effective and time saving).

[jimvette59]

This is the pressure plate that came out of my 53 Merc. The same is in my 53 merc. engine in a 8ba cast iron bell housing with a # 78 case, 39 transmission. I had the disk made with the 39 trans. spline. It all bolts up fine.