11-20-2018, 09:42 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 186
|
Trans question
Hi guys, I haven't posted in a long time, just driving my 50 Merc every day and loving it. My question is about a late 51 Merc engine. I think it has the trans that has 4 bolts holding it to the bell-housing. My 50 has the completely round bell that is part of the trans. Is there any way to put the later 51 Merc engine in my 50 and bolt my overdrive trans to it? Thanks guys. old guy rich.
|
11-20-2018, 10:03 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Coral Springs FL
Posts: 10,942
|
Re: Trans question
You can if you use the 50 Merc stamped steel bellhousing. My 51 Merc had an OEM 51 Merc engine with the OEM 51 Merc stamped steel bellhousing and OEM 3 speed trans. with OD. See first photo. 49-51 merc stamped steel bellhousings are all the same.
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
11-21-2018, 07:57 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 186
|
Re: Trans question
Thank you 19Fordy. old guy.
|
11-21-2018, 10:16 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,431
|
Re: Trans question
Both of my 51 Mercs are early models (Nov 1950). They still have the old trans used in 49 & 50. I think it was Feb of 1951 when the new style transmission and cast iron bell housing became the norm. The equalizer for the clutch should work fine on the earlier stamped half bell same as 50 & early 51. You may also need to find the earlier rear trans mount that uses the round rubber biscuit type mounts. The late 51 transmission has the smaller diameter input shaft so you will need to change back the the 49 thru E51 Borg & Beck clutch set up to use the 1 3/8" 10-spline trans input.
|
11-21-2018, 12:26 PM | #5 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 186
|
Re: Trans question
Quote:
Thanks rotowrench, I have not seen the late 51 Merc engine yet, it is for sale not far from me. What I want to do is just install the late 255 engine into my stock drivetrain and want to make sure my 50 trans and bell housings will fit the later engine with no problems. My engine uses a little oil and the engine for sale was rebuilt is what I'm told. Thanks rotowrench. old guy rich. |
|
11-21-2018, 02:19 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,431
|
Re: Trans question
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
It would still be a bolt up deal though. Just use all your OEM 8CM stuff you need off the original motor in the 50. The cast iron type bell housing is a very good bell for converting transmissions on all the old flatheads so it's worth a fair bit in trading stock if you have no plans for it. The 4 bolt pattern overdrive transmissions were used clear up till the end of the flathead era in Fords and Mercury cars. It has a good value to it if still in fair shape. The T85 type transmission sort of took over in the Y-block era. |
11-21-2018, 04:06 PM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 186
|
Re: Trans question
Quote:
Great info rotowrench, thank you very much. I'll see the "for-sale" engine this coming week. |
|
11-21-2018, 06:20 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: shirley ny
Posts: 992
|
Re: Trans question
I have the 49/50 merc stamped steel bell and starter plate to match if you need it
|
11-21-2018, 07:28 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Chester Vt
Posts: 8,860
|
Re: Trans question
Just use your bell housing flywheel and clutch. the engines are the same block.
|
11-21-2018, 08:28 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 186
|
Re: Trans question
|
11-21-2018, 08:32 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 186
|
Re: Trans question
|
11-21-2018, 09:19 PM | #12 |
Member Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
|
Re: Trans question
The bolt pattern should be the same on all the 8ba blocks.
|
11-22-2018, 04:10 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 186
|
Re: Trans question
|
11-23-2018, 10:58 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,431
|
Re: Trans question
The only thing you have to be careful of is whether the engine is an actual Mercury 255 cid engine or not. I've heard plenty of tales about folks installing Mercury 8CM or later heads on a standard 239 engine and representing them as a "Mercury" engine which is fraud. All the 8BA family of engines used the came basic block design and they are interchangeable. The 4-inch stroke crankshaft is the main difference with the 239 being a 3 3/4-inch stroke. Mercury pistons are different with the wrist pin location being changed to compensate for the 1/4" longer stroke.
|
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|