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Old 10-19-2020, 04:11 PM   #1
banditomerc
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Default 1940 merc & ford x member replace

I am looking to put in TH400 into my 1940 merc,so am removing xmember am needing some direction as to where to aquireu
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Old 10-19-2020, 05:40 PM   #2
19Fordy
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Default Re: 1940 merc & ford x member replace

Something got lost in your question. Please redo.
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Old 10-20-2020, 10:27 AM   #3
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Default Re: 1940 merc & ford x member replace

This could be what you're asking about

https://chassisengineeringinc.com/pr...940-ford-t400/
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Old 10-21-2020, 06:56 AM   #4
42merc
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Default Re: 1940 merc & ford x member replace

Check out Pete & Jake's.
They sell a kit developed by "Mor-Fab" , looks good to me.
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Old 10-21-2020, 02:06 PM   #5
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Default Re: 1940 merc & ford x member replace

I'm not much on splitting wishbones but it may be a necessity. I think I'd use a C4 with a Flat-O adapter before I'd use a T400. The old T400 was set up with electric kick down so that could be another problem to solve.
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Old 10-22-2020, 01:21 PM   #6
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I think I'd use a C4 with a Flat-O adapter before I'd use a T400.
$5 bucks says we ain't talkin' about a flathead. $5 more bucks says we're talkin' . But, WTF do I know? DD
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Old 10-21-2020, 03:10 PM   #7
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Default Re: 1940 merc & ford x member replace

What I have done is build up some frame sections by bending some sheet of the proper gauge and welding the new sections in (after cutting out the original center). They could also be bolted in.
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Old 10-22-2020, 06:07 PM   #8
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Default Re: 1940 merc & ford x member replace

Street Rodders!

I'm more traditional myself. I prefer a Ford in a Ford.
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Old 10-22-2020, 08:02 PM   #9
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Street Rodders!

I'm more traditional myself. I prefer a Ford in a Ford.
Back in the '60s (before the term "Street Rod" was invented), virtually nobody was putting a 289 or a 260 in an old Ford "hot rod". They were mostly Chevies, with a few Olds, Pontiacs and Caddy thrown-in occasionally. DD
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Old 10-23-2020, 06:29 PM   #10
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Back in the '60s (before the term "Street Rod" was invented), virtually nobody was putting a 289 or a 260 in an old Ford "hot rod". They were mostly Chevies, with a few Olds, Pontiacs and Caddy thrown-in occasionally. DD
I grew up a Ford man back in the 60's. There was a Mercury dealer two blocks from my house and a Ford dealer three. I kept up with the latest models by cruising through the back lots every week or so, especially when it was model changeover time.

My older brother bought a 1937 Ford coupe in 1964 with a 1952 Merc flathead engine. I inherited it in 1965 when he went off to college, and needed more reliable transportation. In 1967 I put a 289 hi-po engine in the coupe, before I went off to the Navy. It was a tight fit, but it worked well enough that my younger brother drove it through his college years. I guess I am glad no one told me it wouldn't fit, so count me as virtually nobody.

PS: you can see the patch to the firewall in my avatar to correct the sins that I was responsible for that engine swap.
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Old 10-22-2020, 08:26 PM   #11
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When it comes to Hot Rods, A Ford in a Ford is not traditional, unless it's a flathead.
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Old 10-22-2020, 10:55 PM   #12
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when it comes to hot rods, a ford in a ford is not traditional, unless it's a flathead.
Exactly! ........DD
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Old 10-23-2020, 05:26 PM   #13
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Default Re: 1940 merc & ford x member replace

A traditional hot rodder would have built that Merc flatty. The original hot rods mostly had Ford engines until the competition finally built something that would compete. I don't mind monkey motion engines but they're in my muscle cars of the 60s. I'm fortunate to still be able to push a clutch and grab a gear. Maybe someday I'd consider and automatic.

A Ford in a Ford is my personal preference. I damn sure wouldn't put a good Ford engine in a Chevy.
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Old 10-24-2020, 10:40 AM   #14
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Default Re: 1940 merc & ford x member replace

As I recall in the early 60's the 265 Chevy was the power plant of choice because it was plentiful, cheap and small along with the Olds Rocket 88 and the Caddy. My 40 convert, had a 265. Wonder where it is now?
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Old 10-24-2020, 11:11 AM   #15
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The SBC came out in 55 at 265 cubic inches, Ford didn't introduce the SBF until mid-61 (62 model year) and it was only 221 cubic inches. The in mid- 63 it was upped to 260 and then to 289. That gave the SBC about a 7 year head start in the Hot Rod world and that coupled with the fact it was almost a drop-in in the early Fords made it the go-to engine. Also, speed parts were everywhere for the SBC and cheap! With the SBF it took a while for anything other than Ford high performance parts to be available at affordable prices. In the early 60s we running a SBC in our B/A, but switched to a SBF in 66.

To me traditional Hot Rods were up to the 50s and early 60s. Even if you extend it into the late 60s, the SBFs were not that plentiful until things started moving into the Street Rod era.

I think the SBFs have a lot of advantages (and they are popular swaps now days) but got a late start and the SBC fan base was already well established. So, for a traditional Hot Rod, other than a flathead, it about has to be a GM product except for a few Mopar products.

One thing to be thankful for is a SBC installation often required little to no modification to the early Fords and can be easily converted back to a flathead!
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Old 10-24-2020, 12:29 PM   #16
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Default Re: 1940 merc & ford x member replace

Zeke3,
You had to cut the firewall to put a 289 in a '37 Ford? I put a 289 in a '40 about that same time and cut nothing.
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Old 10-24-2020, 06:34 PM   #17
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Yes, I didn't know very much about it and thought that was the way to get it in. I also had to dent the front of the oil pan in to clear the front crossmember. I left the trans in the original location and used some mounts that attached to the front of the cylinder head and used the original mount isolators. I was 18 at the time and everything I knew came out of the hot rod magazines.

Last edited by Zeke3; 10-25-2020 at 07:30 AM. Reason: Added info.
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Old 10-25-2020, 10:51 AM   #18
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Yes, I didn't know very much about it and thought that was the way to get it in. I also had to dent the front of the oil pan in to clear the front crossmember. I left the trans in the original location and used some mounts that attached to the front of the cylinder head and used the original mount isolators. I was 18 at the time and everything I knew came out of the hot rod magazines.
I have been working to correct many of the changes and will be putting an original 21 stud engine back in.
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Old 10-25-2020, 11:06 AM   #19
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Zeke3,
In 1964 I bought a '40 Ford and proceeded to put a SBC in it. All stock Ford drive train. Ran well and was reasonably fast. By '67-'68 the 289 Fords were kicking 283's butts. I had to have a 289! Oh what a mess I got myself into! No aftermarket support for Ford in a Ford at that time! I had to make everything! Oil pan, headers and everything for open drive train. Didn't want to cut anything on the Ford frame so, it was quite a challenge. All worked out well and was very fast and reliable. Sold the car in '88 minus engine and trans. It now resides in FL as a Chevy with a Ford body, oh well.
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