The Ford Barn

RalphG · 10-25-2015, 02:30 PM

I have read that all Mercury pickups (flathead powered) had the Mercury engine. Yet also read that Mercury pickups came off the same assembly line as Ford pickups in Canada. So did the Mercury trucks get the Mercury engine? The 49 M68 I hauled home a couple of weeks ago says 8BA on the heads. Any other obvious clues to be seen on the outside of the engine that might help identify it?

texas webb · 10-25-2015, 03:19 PM

4 inch crank.

scooder · 10-25-2015, 03:53 PM

Pretty damn sure none of them had the 4" crank. All had 3 3/4" crank for 239 cubes. Same as the Ford engine. It'll be an 8BA/8RT but with a c #
Martin.

RandyZ · 10-25-2015, 05:27 PM

None of the merc truck came with the 255 CI motor. I have the Ford of Canada parts book and they only show one style of crank and one style of pistons.

But, as I understand it, the dealers were willing to swap motors if the customer really wanted one. Just like I did with mine.

RalphG · 10-25-2015, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyZ

None of the merc truck came with the 255 CI motor. I have the Ford of Canada parts book and they only show one style of crank and one style of pistons.

But, as I understand it, the dealers were willing to swap motors if the customer really wanted one. Just like I did with mine.

I never even thought of checking my Ford Fast Moving Parts catalogue to see if they mention engine sizes for the Mercury trucks. It goes up to 1949.
And of course there is no telling if this engine is original to the truck unless I can find a number on it.

Ross F-1 · 10-25-2015, 08:12 PM

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There actually were certain models of Canadian Merc truck that came with a 255. See below. M-5 and M-6 in '52 only, I believe.

Ralph Moore · 10-25-2015, 08:50 PM

There is a 47 Merc truck here, I looked at it close and it appears to have a Ford engine. Of course it could have been changed. On another note, I've sen a lot of Merc engines in heavy duty trucks and cab overs

49fordv8f4 · 10-25-2015, 10:14 PM

Ford and Mercury engines in '47 would have been identical.
Mark

scooder · 10-26-2015, 02:51 AM

Thanks for that Ross, learnt something today, I'd guess production numbers for the 255 ones is fairly small?
Martin.

Ross F-1 · 10-26-2015, 08:51 AM

I'd say so, Martin. Some M-5's and M-6's had the Big 6 (254ci), so I'd guess probably only 40k trucks at most with the 255. It's surprising how persistent the belief is that all Merc trucks had 255's, tho.

rotorwrench · 10-26-2015, 09:23 AM

Mercury (sport sedan/6 pax coupe) and Monarch cars had the 255 as stock. Police cars and other applications such as trucks could get them under special order but Ford didn't have a central office of production for special orders like GM did. I'm not sure how the Canadian products got special orders. I imagine someone could get a 255 installed and any of the cars if they knew that they could special order one but they might have to know the right people. Many Lincoln and Mercury cars were assembled in different plants than the Ford cars here in the US. Dearborn would have been the likely plant for special orders in that time frame for US production. It may have been easier in Canada since there were less assembly plants.

10-25-2015, 02:30 PM	#1
RalphG Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sask. Canada Posts: 2,424	Ford or Mercury Engine? I have read that all Mercury pickups (flathead powered) had the Mercury engine. Yet also read that Mercury pickups came off the same assembly line as Ford pickups in Canada. So did the Mercury trucks get the Mercury engine? The 49 M68 I hauled home a couple of weeks ago says 8BA on the heads. Any other obvious clues to be seen on the outside of the engine that might help identify it? __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/roosty6/videos

10-25-2015, 03:19 PM	#2
texas webb Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 636	Re: Ford or Mercury Engine? 4 inch crank.

10-25-2015, 03:53 PM	#3
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,593	Re: Ford or Mercury Engine? Pretty damn sure none of them had the 4" crank. All had 3 3/4" crank for 239 cubes. Same as the Ford engine. It'll be an 8BA/8RT but with a c # Martin.

10-25-2015, 05:27 PM	#4
RandyZ Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Murillo, Ont. Posts: 87	Re: Ford or Mercury Engine? None of the merc truck came with the 255 CI motor. I have the Ford of Canada parts book and they only show one style of crank and one style of pistons. But, as I understand it, the dealers were willing to swap motors if the customer really wanted one. Just like I did with mine.

10-25-2015, 08:50 PM	#7
Ralph Moore Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 1,470	Re: Ford or Mercury Engine? There is a 47 Merc truck here, I looked at it close and it appears to have a Ford engine. Of course it could have been changed. On another note, I've sen a lot of Merc engines in heavy duty trucks and cab overs

10-25-2015, 10:14 PM	#8
49fordv8f4 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Yellville,AR Posts: 222	Re: Ford or Mercury Engine? Ford and Mercury engines in '47 would have been identical. Mark

10-26-2015, 02:51 AM	#9
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,593	Re: Ford or Mercury Engine? Thanks for that Ross, learnt something today, I'd guess production numbers for the 255 ones is fairly small? Martin.

10-26-2015, 08:51 AM	#10
Ross F-1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NM Posts: 2,438	Re: Ford or Mercury Engine? I'd say so, Martin. Some M-5's and M-6's had the Big 6 (254ci), so I'd guess probably only 40k trucks at most with the 255. It's surprising how persistent the belief is that all Merc trucks had 255's, tho. __________________ '52 F-1, EAB flathead

10-26-2015, 09:23 AM	#11
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,425	Re: Ford or Mercury Engine? Mercury (sport sedan/6 pax coupe) and Monarch cars had the 255 as stock. Police cars and other applications such as trucks could get them under special order but Ford didn't have a central office of production for special orders like GM did. I'm not sure how the Canadian products got special orders. I imagine someone could get a 255 installed and any of the cars if they knew that they could special order one but they might have to know the right people. Many Lincoln and Mercury cars were assembled in different plants than the Ford cars here in the US. Dearborn would have been the likely plant for special orders in that time frame for US production. It may have been easier in Canada since there were less assembly plants.