The Ford Barn

wgreeley · 09-26-2017, 10:17 AM

When the babbitted mains of my '36 Ford Phaeton failed, I replaced the engine with the largest flathead that would fit; my misspent youth. I did it in 1965 so my memory is a little shot. I think this is a 1952. How can I verify this?

I'm replacing it with a rebuilt '35, but would like to identify the engine.

glennpm · 09-26-2017, 10:36 AM

Check this out

"The belts and pulleys for 1948/49 stayed with the 5/8" wide of previous years, but changed from 1950 on to the narrow belts. In general, the latter year flatheads were commonly referred to as the "8BA" type for Ford and "8CM" for Mercury."

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...0to125late.htm

V8 Bob · 09-26-2017, 10:37 AM

Well, the heads are '49-'51 Mercury, the intake/carb is Ford car or truck, and the visible wide belt may make it '48-'53 truck or '49 Ford or Mercury.

19Fordy · 09-26-2017, 10:43 AM

Look at the number on the distributer to see if it says 8cm, 8BA, FoMoCo.

tubman · 09-26-2017, 10:54 AM

That engine has mismatched components, like many back in the day. It was at least 13 years old when you had it. You will never know for sure. I have 3 that I am sure of what they are, buts that's only because I pulled them out of the fairly original vehicles they were in.

rotorwrench · 09-26-2017, 10:59 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Even in 1965 the waters could have been muddied a bit. The blocks were all the same in the 8BA era with exception to the type of valves it has (plain valves or rotator types). Early ones up to 1951 model year somewhere have hardened valve seats and later ones may not have hardened seats in the intakes or not any at all. Heads and manifolds are too easily changed to be a good judge. If it has a 4-inch crankshaft, it will be Mercury. If it has 3 3/4" then it's a Ford.

Mercury motors were favored though since if you could get one out of the salvage yard with the half bell and clutch still on there then it would bolt right up to the early transmissions in older cars. Water pumps would likely work too if they have the spacers between the pump and the frame mount. The oil pan was a rear sump type and generally has the starter plate bolted to the bottom rear of the pan to help reinforce the transmission installation. 8CM marked heads indicate 1949 through early 1951 Mercury. See if it has the three studs on the bottom of the oil pan too. 1952 & later Merc would be differnt markings on the cylinder head (EAC) and they lost the old style half bell too.

wgreeley · 09-27-2017, 07:49 AM

Thanks for your help folks. I'll get more information when I pull the engine.

tubman · 09-27-2017, 08:58 AM

There may be a date code stamped on the surface of the block where the intake manifold sits. If it's there, you can use it to date the engine. The codes used are kind of arcane, but you should be able to find them on the web. As far as I know, these are the only identifying marks on a later flathead.

09-26-2017, 10:17 AM	#1
wgreeley Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Marblehead, MA Posts: 13	"52 Mercury Flathead? When the babbitted mains of my '36 Ford Phaeton failed, I replaced the engine with the largest flathead that would fit; my misspent youth. I did it in 1965 so my memory is a little shot. I think this is a 1952. How can I verify this? I'm replacing it with a rebuilt '35, but would like to identify the engine.

09-26-2017, 10:36 AM	#2
glennpm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Wiscasset, Maine Posts: 1,981	Re: "52 Mercury Flathead? Check this out "The belts and pulleys for 1948/49 stayed with the 5/8" wide of previous years, but changed from 1950 on to the narrow belts. In general, the latter year flatheads were commonly referred to as the "8BA" type for Ford and "8CM" for Mercury." http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...0to125late.htm

09-26-2017, 10:37 AM	#3
V8 Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granger (Northern) Indiana Posts: 1,520	Re: "52 Mercury Flathead? Well, the heads are '49-'51 Mercury, the intake/carb is Ford car or truck, and the visible wide belt may make it '48-'53 truck or '49 Ford or Mercury.

09-26-2017, 10:43 AM	#4
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,936	Re: "52 Mercury Flathead? Look at the number on the distributer to see if it says 8cm, 8BA, FoMoCo.

09-26-2017, 10:54 AM	#5
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: "52 Mercury Flathead? That engine has mismatched components, like many back in the day. It was at least 13 years old when you had it. You will never know for sure. I have 3 that I am sure of what they are, buts that's only because I pulled them out of the fairly original vehicles they were in. Last edited by tubman; 09-26-2017 at 11:17 AM.

09-26-2017, 10:59 AM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: "52 Mercury Flathead? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Even in 1965 the waters could have been muddied a bit. The blocks were all the same in the 8BA era with exception to the type of valves it has (plain valves or rotator types). Early ones up to 1951 model year somewhere have hardened valve seats and later ones may not have hardened seats in the intakes or not any at all. Heads and manifolds are too easily changed to be a good judge. If it has a 4-inch crankshaft, it will be Mercury. If it has 3 3/4" then it's a Ford. Mercury motors were favored though since if you could get one out of the salvage yard with the half bell and clutch still on there then it would bolt right up to the early transmissions in older cars. Water pumps would likely work too if they have the spacers between the pump and the frame mount. The oil pan was a rear sump type and generally has the starter plate bolted to the bottom rear of the pan to help reinforce the transmission installation. 8CM marked heads indicate 1949 through early 1951 Mercury. See if it has the three studs on the bottom of the oil pan too. 1952 & later Merc would be differnt markings on the cylinder head (EAC) and they lost the old style half bell too.

09-27-2017, 07:49 AM	#7
wgreeley Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Marblehead, MA Posts: 13	Re: "52 Mercury Flathead? Thanks for your help folks. I'll get more information when I pull the engine.

09-27-2017, 08:58 AM	#8
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: "52 Mercury Flathead? There may be a date code stamped on the surface of the block where the intake manifold sits. If it's there, you can use it to date the engine. The codes used are kind of arcane, but you should be able to find them on the web. As far as I know, these are the only identifying marks on a later flathead.