51 merc into 40 sedan

S

sactopv

New member
I have a 1940 ford sedan that I want to install a '51 Merc 3/4 race flathead. I will be keeping the 3 speed trans. Can you help me with the following:
1. Can I (or should I) use the original 1940 clutch and flywheel?
2. What pilot bearing do I put in the crank?
3. what bell housing and starter plate fits this application?
4. What oil pan?
Your help is GREATLY appreciated.
 
I installed a 49 merc engine in my 46 coupe a year ago. I used a truck flywheel, clutch and pressure plate as they take the same size throw out bearing as the earlier trans. I used the merc pan and it cleared the tie rod just fine. You will also need the adapter ring from a 49-52 f 1 truck or 49-50 merc to bolt the later engine to the earlier trans, and the starter plate for same. Mine is from the 49 merc. The mercs used a Borg and Beck pressure plate. All other fords used a Long clutch. Also Napa sells a diaphragm cutch for the ford 10" bolt pattern flywheel. Mercs and trucks and HD applications used 10" clutches instead of the 9" on earlier fords. As for the pilot bearing it is just standard Flathead. I hope this helps.
Matt
 
As best as I can recall, to install an 8BA or 49-53 Merc engine in my 40 Ford coupe I used 49-51 Merc rear sump oil pan. Early Ford pickup truck oil pan will also work. I also used the merc 10 in. pressure plate, flywheel and clutch. Also used 49-51 Merc bellhousing and starter plate. Early 50's Ford pickup bellhousing will also work. You will also need to use the early Ford wide belt truck water pumps or the 51 Merc water pumps as they feature the engine mounts you need. Remember that the 40 radiator water inlets are different size than the Merc. engine. Also , you will have to figure out a way to have the Merc fan blade clear the top radiator hoses. Some folks have figured out a way to mount the 40 fan to the Merc crank pulley. Also, you will have to remove the 40 Ford "Y" bracket that bolts to the front cross member and supports the fenders -otherwise Merc crank pulley interferes with the bracket. Not trying to steal Deuce Man's thread but here's a photo of the 51 Merc spacers in case anyone else needs to know. Speedway sells them . One advantage of using the Merc water pumps is that they have the narrow pulleys.
 

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If you use the merc water pumps be sure you have the spacers they used in the mercs. Otherwise the mount holes will not line up and the motor will sit too low. These spacers were a piece of 1/4 inch strap bent in a "u" I can email a picture if needed. Rich
 
Years ago, I put a 53 merc in a 35 ford pickup and (using what I had) I used the stock 35 pan, I just cut the adapter ring in half and used only the top half .
 
Gary in Mozarks said:
Years ago, I put a 53 merc in a 35 ford pickup and (using what I had) I used the stock 35 pan, I just cut the adapter ring in half and used only the top half .
Click to expand...

That would be a case where you could use the early flywheel on the 8BA. In fact you would have to. A person would probably want to weld a flange on each side of the abreviated half bell so it could be joined structurally with the early type oil pan. Yankee ingenuity never ceases to amaze me.

Kerby
 
I helped a friend put a 8BA in a 40 a few years back and used a truck oil pan and water pumps with the wide pulleys. On the crank we used the 40 pulley and fan mount.To do this we drilled the spot welds out that holds the pulley to the hub then slid the pulley off and turned it around then slid the pulley out towards the fan hub untill it was in alignment with the water pump pulleys,marked it then removed it and rewelded it in its new location. This allows you to run the fan in stock location.
 
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Helped me too - ?I was struggling with the same problem, but on a separately mounted fan assy.

Thanks
 
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