The Ford Barn

2xspinner · 04-27-2018, 11:18 PM

Hi, I am new to the site and after some advice. Restoring project 1951 Ford Vic O/D car which I have in NZ. Has rebuilt O/D g/box and wanting to mate it to a rebuilt 49 Mercury motor. Issue - the 49 motor had fitted to it an 11" dia fly wheel too big for Ford bellhousing and starter motor alignment. Have been suggested to use a 10" Ford Fly Wheel but this seems to raise other issues: sourcing a pressure plate for rebuild + throw out bearing and set up probs. My reading indicates most 51 Ford cars were factory fitted with 9.5 " Fly wheel which is easier to obtain, plus parts. Is this application workable for the my car with Merc motor? I am aware Ford fly wheel will need redrilling to suit mounting stubs. The car will be a weekend cruiser not for racing drags etc. Advice appreciated. Many thanks.

tubman · 04-27-2018, 11:57 PM

I have a warmed over '51 Mercury engine in my '51 Ford club coupe. I used the flywheel from the Ford (I believe it uses a 9 1/2" clutch), and everything went together without any problems. I bought a new pressure plate and disc from Fort Wayne Clutch and everything works perfectly. I don'r see any reason why the flywheel would need to be re-drilled, unless you are planning on using the Mercury clutch, which I believe would be a mistake.

JSeery · 04-28-2018, 08:15 AM

2xspinner, keep in mind you are much better off with a smaller diameter clutch/pressure plate for most driving conditions, including acceleration. I would go with the 9 1/2.

rotorwrench · 04-28-2018, 08:17 AM

Someone must have had the motor in a truck or it's an older flywheel from 59 series era. Does your transmission have the half bell like the Mercury cars 1949 to early 51 or is it a 4-bolt narrow Borg Warner pattern? There is a big difference. If yours is a Ford car type then you need the 9.5 inch clutch with the 1-inch 10-spline disk. Any 8BA era flywheel can be drilled to work with any of the available clutches used in that era. I hope you have the Ford bell housing with starter plate and clutch arm mechanism. It would make life much easier. Those transmissions have a place for the clutch linkage to attach on the side and the 1951 has its own rear mount. The earlier Ford car units have a different rear mount.

2xspinner · 04-28-2018, 06:07 PM

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Thanks guys for your replies. Yes I have the correct Ford bell housing bolted to the gearbox with starter plate fork etc.

04-27-2018, 11:18 PM	#1
2xspinner Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 2	51 Ford Vic question re clutch & Flywheel Hi, I am new to the site and after some advice. Restoring project 1951 Ford Vic O/D car which I have in NZ. Has rebuilt O/D g/box and wanting to mate it to a rebuilt 49 Mercury motor. Issue - the 49 motor had fitted to it an 11" dia fly wheel too big for Ford bellhousing and starter motor alignment. Have been suggested to use a 10" Ford Fly Wheel but this seems to raise other issues: sourcing a pressure plate for rebuild + throw out bearing and set up probs. My reading indicates most 51 Ford cars were factory fitted with 9.5 " Fly wheel which is easier to obtain, plus parts. Is this application workable for the my car with Merc motor? I am aware Ford fly wheel will need redrilling to suit mounting stubs. The car will be a weekend cruiser not for racing drags etc. Advice appreciated. Many thanks.

04-27-2018, 11:57 PM	#2
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,330	Re: 51 Ford Vic question re clutch & Flywheel I have a warmed over '51 Mercury engine in my '51 Ford club coupe. I used the flywheel from the Ford (I believe it uses a 9 1/2" clutch), and everything went together without any problems. I bought a new pressure plate and disc from Fort Wayne Clutch and everything works perfectly. I don'r see any reason why the flywheel would need to be re-drilled, unless you are planning on using the Mercury clutch, which I believe would be a mistake.

04-28-2018, 08:15 AM	#3
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: 51 Ford Vic question re clutch & Flywheel 2xspinner, keep in mind you are much better off with a smaller diameter clutch/pressure plate for most driving conditions, including acceleration. I would go with the 9 1/2.

04-28-2018, 08:17 AM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,449	Re: 51 Ford Vic question re clutch & Flywheel Someone must have had the motor in a truck or it's an older flywheel from 59 series era. Does your transmission have the half bell like the Mercury cars 1949 to early 51 or is it a 4-bolt narrow Borg Warner pattern? There is a big difference. If yours is a Ford car type then you need the 9.5 inch clutch with the 1-inch 10-spline disk. Any 8BA era flywheel can be drilled to work with any of the available clutches used in that era. I hope you have the Ford bell housing with starter plate and clutch arm mechanism. It would make life much easier. Those transmissions have a place for the clutch linkage to attach on the side and the 1951 has its own rear mount. The earlier Ford car units have a different rear mount.

04-28-2018, 06:07 PM	#5
2xspinner Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 2	Re: 51 Ford Vic question re clutch & Flywheel Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks guys for your replies. Yes I have the correct Ford bell housing bolted to the gearbox with starter plate fork etc.