The Ford Barn

kehughes · 04-27-2017, 02:47 PM

I posted in another thread that I had misplaced(nice way of saying "lost") the main bearing caps for my '39 Ford 85hp engine. It has put a big wrench in my plans and my progress. So I started looking for a cheap engine to steal those parts off of it. While looking, I ran across an engine locally advertised as a '38 but it was a 24 stud so I went to check it out anyway as the price was good and the guy wasn't positive of the year. It didn't hurt that it was complete with 2 Stromberg aluminum offenhauser setup and a transmission. I was hoping it was a '39 or '40.

Once I got there and pulled the heads off I realized it wasn't a Ford block at all, but a Mercury('39/'40)

. Triangle, circle, upside down keystone, 99 stamped, 3 3/16 cylinders. So I went ahead and bought it.

My plan now is to run this engine in my Ford pickup, but put the 81A Heads from my Ford block on it....little higher compression ratio and it'll look just like a '39 Ford 85hp. The mercury currently has 81T heads on it.

I am planning on also running the '39 stock cast iron intake manifold as well. I'll save the 2 carb setup for something else.

The mercury motor also had the double groove crank pulley and water pumps. I figure it may have been in a 3/4 or 1 ton.

Now to the questions....

I have already sent my Ford '85hp water pumps(78 part #s) to Skip Haney for rebuild and they're on there way back. $$$ already spent. Which pumps should I run? I am leaning toward the rebuilt ones from Skip and changing the crank pulley to a single groove pulley. I like the idea of it looking stock(but with some sneaky extra hp!) Are there any big advantages for bigger double groove pumps. Also, If I were to do this, which crank pulley would I need? Would it be the same crank pulley as a '39 Ford? '39 Mercury passenger? I understand the fan mounts on the generator pulley on the Ford pickup so the crank pulley wouldn't need mounting holes for fan.

04-27-2017, 02:47 PM	#1
kehughes Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 149	'39 Mercury engine in '39 Ford Pickup I posted in another thread that I had misplaced(nice way of saying "lost") the main bearing caps for my '39 Ford 85hp engine. It has put a big wrench in my plans and my progress. So I started looking for a cheap engine to steal those parts off of it. While looking, I ran across an engine locally advertised as a '38 but it was a 24 stud so I went to check it out anyway as the price was good and the guy wasn't positive of the year. It didn't hurt that it was complete with 2 Stromberg aluminum offenhauser setup and a transmission. I was hoping it was a '39 or '40. Once I got there and pulled the heads off I realized it wasn't a Ford block at all, but a Mercury('39/'40). Triangle, circle, upside down keystone, 99 stamped, 3 3/16 cylinders. So I went ahead and bought it. My plan now is to run this engine in my Ford pickup, but put the 81A Heads from my Ford block on it....little higher compression ratio and it'll look just like a '39 Ford 85hp. The mercury currently has 81T heads on it. I am planning on also running the '39 stock cast iron intake manifold as well. I'll save the 2 carb setup for something else. The mercury motor also had the double groove crank pulley and water pumps. I figure it may have been in a 3/4 or 1 ton. Now to the questions.... I have already sent my Ford '85hp water pumps(78 part #s) to Skip Haney for rebuild and they're on there way back. $$$ already spent. Which pumps should I run? I am leaning toward the rebuilt ones from Skip and changing the crank pulley to a single groove pulley. I like the idea of it looking stock(but with some sneaky extra hp!) Are there any big advantages for bigger double groove pumps. Also, If I were to do this, which crank pulley would I need? Would it be the same crank pulley as a '39 Ford? '39 Mercury passenger? I understand the fan mounts on the generator pulley on the Ford pickup so the crank pulley wouldn't need mounting holes for fan.