1950 Ford Motor.

[jayg48anglia]

I finally made it to retirement. Then a few operations, moving to a warmer climate, etc. And they call this the "golden years?" I have had a few different rides over the last 50 years. My question, I am looking at a 1950 Ford with a Mercury motor that the owner said was a factory install and ordered as a police option. I have yet to see the car in person, just pictures. The hobby has changed not for the better. Can anyone shed some light on this? THX. Jay

 

[Kens 36]

Jay,

This is true. There was a "special" engine option for police cars that was the Mercury engine. However, the Ford brochure states that this option was for Ford Police Cars only. You can see a copy of the brochure at Old Car Brochures.com, http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1950 Ford/1950 Ford Police Cars Brochure/image2.html.

Ken

 

[scicala]

I finally made it to retirement. Then a few operations, moving to a warmer climate, etc. And they call this the "golden years?" I have had a few different rides over the last 50 years. My question, I am looking at a 1950 Ford with a Mercury motor that the owner said was a factory install and ordered as a police option. I have yet to see the car in person, just pictures. The hobby has changed not for the better. Can anyone shed some light on this? THX. Jay

The Mercury 255 flathead was available as an option on the police package in '50. Also through '53. They used the 4 bolt Holley 885F model carb like the Merc, except should have an extra lever for a hand throttle.
In '50 the Holley LIST number stamped on the base should be 598.
Later police 255's used LIST 745, also set up for a hand throttle.
One thing to do is see if the car has a knob on the dash for a hand throttle.

Sal

 

[Newc]

Those Merc heads have a larger combustion chamber than the EAB ford heads. Had to tell the stroke without measuring. Newc

 

[alanwoodieman]

available on police special cars was a cast iron drivers side exhaust header to make it dual exhaust

 

[russonator]

I doubt the average Joe could order a Mercury V-8 in a Ford from the factory in 1950. This is not to say a lot of guys didn't drop the Merc flatty in after the fact. We're talking about 10 ponies here (110 vs 100), so I wouldn't get too excited either way.

 

[Kens 36]

available on police special cars was a cast iron drivers side exhaust header to make it dual exhaust

Alan,

Have you ever seen documentation of this? I've searched for years hoping this was the case, but have never seen anything "official" such as a service bulletin from Ford. The engine in the 1950 Police Cars brochure clearly shows the openings for the crossover pipe.

Thanks.

Ken

 

[jayg48anglia]

I would like to thank everyone with their input. In chatting with a friend about this, he was wondering if Ford dealers installed the Mercury motors when they were new or at some point later. I guess like the muscle car dealers did in the sixties like Baldwin Motion or Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge.

 

[scicala]

I would like to thank everyone with their input. In chatting with a friend about this, he was wondering if Ford dealers installed the Mercury motors when they were new or at some point later. I guess like the muscle car dealers did in the sixties like Baldwin Motion or Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge.

Pretty sure the Mercury engines were installed on the assembly line when a Ford was ordered with the police engine option.
Not 100% positive, but makes the most sense to me.

Sal

 

[alanwoodieman]

dual exhaust manifold is part number EAB 9431 A, marked for dual exhaust in my 49 to 54 parts book. eab is 52/53 but the part number is also a supercede being an A on the end. will try to have picture of the manifold and another marked los angeles, californis later tonight

 

[alanwoodieman]

picture of two manifolds--does anyone know anything about the second LA manifold?

 

[Ol' Ron]

I doubt it's true. However. pulling the heads will tell you. If it is a merc engine, using a set of EAB heads will increase the compression ans fuel mileage.
Gramps