50 Ford overdrive trans vs Mercury

[BirchRidge]

Hello! Can anybody tell me if there’s any difference between the Ford and the Mercury overdrive transmissions? I got a 50 Ford coupe with the regular 3 speed and have been offered a complete 50 Mercury overdrive transmission, so the question is will it fit? Is it bolt on or is there any modifications needed?
Thanks/ Mathias

[V8 Bob]

Totally different transmissions. The '49-'64 Ford trans are narrow 4-bolt B/W pattern while the '49-'50(and some early '51) Mercurys are carry-over round pattern like the '32-'48 F/M transmissions. The Merc trans will fit your '50 but would require the Merc or truck 3" 1/2 bell, complete clutch linkage re-work, along with possible drive shaft, rear trans mount and shift linkage mods.

[raybee]

50 Ford and Mercury have different clutch arrangements.

[Automotive Stud]

Totally different. 50 Ford where it bolts to the engine is a small flange with four bolts, the 50 Merc trans has a large bell that looks like the '48 and earlier Ford transmission.

[BirchRidge]

Ok thanks for the quick reply’s guys! I guess I’ll pass on the offer and keep looking then

[V8COOPMAN]

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Originally Posted by BirchRidge

Ok thanks for the quick reply’s guys! I guess I’ll pass on the offer and keep looking then

Here's the difference....'49-early-'51 MERCURY O/D on top. 1950-ish Ford O/D on bottom. DD




















………..

[flatford8]

Originally Posted by BirchRidge

Ok thanks for the quick reply’s guys! I guess I’ll pass on the offer and keep looking then

Pass on parts!?!?!?.... I’ve never heard of such a thing!!!..LOL......Mark

[tubman]

Uh, "DD". The bottom transmission is not a '50 Ford. I don't know what it is out of (maybe a T85 if you're lucky), but "shoebox" Ford transmissions were "sideloaders', not "toploaders" like your example. I should know, I changed a LOT of them in the '50's and '60's.

[rotorwrench]

It's a later T86 transmission. The 259 series is closer to the Ford types but they have to have the mountings for the clutch linkages on the case for the 49/50 Ford type set up. It changed again in 1951 with an updated case clutch mounting and new style gears.

The Mercury cars had different housings as mentioned until later 1951 When Ford started to standardize. The Mercs had a different bell housing that Ford cars had in late 51 even though the transmission was similar. For 1952/53, things were more standardized between Ford and Mercury cars.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by tubman

Uh, "DD". The bottom transmission is not a '50 Ford. I don't know what it is out of (maybe a T85 if you're lucky), but "shoebox" Ford transmissions were "sideloaders', not "toploaders" like your example. I should know, I changed a LOT of them in the '50's and '60's.

Yeah, yeah, YEAH! I just 'blew' this one bigly! It won't happen again. DD