Ford or Merc 49-53 engine ?

[woodburnranch]

I'm looking at a 49-53 engine and would buy it if I could determine it is a Merc without disassembly. The oil filter canister has a "STRATO STAR V8" logo. Any tips would be helpful. Thanks. Jim

[JM 35 Sedan]

Measure the stroke. 4" = Merc. 3-3/4" = Ford. Measurement can be done through sparkplug hole using a nylon tie strap. The blocks are the same. Crankshafts and pistons are different.

[V8ER]

STRATO STAR V8 LOGO was used for 52-53 Ford.

[Mart]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

Measurement can be done through sparkplug hole using a nylon tie strap.

Can it? I wouldn't have thought that was possible or reliable enough. Not criticising, just curious.

Mart.

[Andy]

Whern't the Merc heads marked 8CM and 1CM? I had one that was painted a light blue green. i think Fords were dark blue
I don't think the stroke can be measured without pulling the pan or a head.

[itsa52]

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If the heads are Merc script and the carburetor is 4 bolt it's a good bet it's a Merc..but no guarantee.
I think Any is right on 49-51.. 52/53 are Mercury and EAC

[louisb]

Until you open it up there is no telling what it is inside.

--louis

[my4dv8]

With the 4 bolt side inlet carb and 8cm or 1cm on the heads you would assume it to be a merc but assuming could make an ASS out of U and ME.

[oldford2]

I have a 52 Mercury engine and the heads are marked:

Mercury EAC

[rotorwrench]

Now days a guy can't get too picky about the crankshaft unless you are just looking for a 4-inch crank. A good 8BA block is a good start if the price is right. The crank you can pick up separate or buy one of the pricy new ones.

[Bob/Ohio]

I bought a flathead that was in a 47 Ford dump truck, a few years ago that had a Ford head on one side and a Mercury on the other. Had a 50/50 chance, and it turned out to be a Mercury when I tore it down and checked the crank.

[itsa52]

Yeah with them being 60 years old they all have a lot of history, and they only sure way is to tear them down. I still feel if the heads are Merc and the manifold is Merc the chance are better than 50/50 it's a Merc. Nobody ever put Merc heads on to get more power.
Then the next thing is if it is a Merc crank, how many times has it been ground.. I'm not a big fan of 30/30's as I am sure a lot of them are that small or even smaller.
Conversely I an sure there are a lot of 8BAs with a three bolt carb supporting a Merc crank.
With the spark plug hole over the valves, checking stroke with any dip stick is going to be gamey at best

[Bob/Ohio]

Your right about the undersize on the crank, the surface hardness is only so deep, and 0.030 under is about max on most cranks. I have seen some 0.040 under, but where are you going to get bearings these days. You used to be able to buy bearings in many under sizes, but now your lucky to find much more that 0.010/0.020 under, even for a small block Chevy.

[Binx]

Okay woodburnranch, you've got some encyclopedia-class information now. How are we doing?

Lonnie

[19Fordy]

Don't forget, even if it was once a Merc engine, someone could have installed a Ford crank at some point in its life. Also, check the distributer part # to see if its a Merc distributor. Check the cover on the oil pump idler gear to see if it has a Merc part #on it. This one is cast iron, off a 51 Merc.

[41LjH]

JM 35 Sedan is right on.

The Merc is a stroked 239.4....

If the stoke is 4", it's probably a Merc. All the other parts, intake, heads, etc. bolt on to a 8BA block. So like JM 35 Sedan said just put a zip tie or small dowel rod in the #1 spark plug hole get #1 to TDC, mark the measuring device and turn the engine until #5 is TDC,(this puts #1 at BDC) mark the measuring device again. If the distance between the marks is 4" you either have a Merc or a 8BA with a 4" crank. Either way you have the torque potential you want.

[r_reed]

as said above, i don't think the piston is directly below the spark plug hole. all i remember seeing in my EAB was the valves. i didn't think a dowel would work. seems like you either have to take a head off to measure piston travel, or if the crank is out, put it in a stand and measure top to bottom.

[Ol' Ron]

So if I stroke a 4" cramk to 4 1/8 and turn it to 1,998 It will ware out to fast because it soft. Where do you guys get this stuff.

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

So if I stroke a 4" cramk to 4 1/8 and turn it to 1,998 It will ware out to fast because it soft. Where do you guys get this stuff.

Its in their drinking water Ron. They read it on a forum on the internet. "LOL"

R

[flatjack9]

Originally Posted by r_reed

as said above, i don't think the piston is directly below the spark plug hole. all i remember seeing in my EAB was the valves. i didn't think a dowel would work. seems like you either have to take a head off to measure piston travel, or if the crank is out, put it in a stand and measure top to bottom.

Right. Remove the plug and all you will see is the exhaust valve. No way to measure the stroke without removing the head or pan.