53' Merc auto trans converter bottom cover

Merc Cruzer

Merc Cruzer

Well-known member
Does anyone have a picture of the cover that goes on the bottom of the automatic transmission (Merc-O-Matic) converter bell housing. Parts book picture attached. I would guess it would be the same for 52/53 Ford. My search has not turned up one so now it is time to fabricate one. Parts book says it is 5" long and 2 7/8" Wide. Part number 1M-77979.

Thank you,

Merc Cruzer
 

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I don't have any photos but I do know that the air cooled Merc-O/Ford-O units were all very much alike up through 1953. Dip sticks changed but that was about it. The Y-block change in 1954 made a difference. External oil cooling was even more of a change just a year later.

Stuff shows up on flea-pay now and then but not very often.
 
I went out and put my '51 on stands, and mine doesn't have a cover. I didn't know it was supposed to have one honestly. This is the original Merc-O-Matic
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WABOOM said:
I went out and put my '51 on stands, and mine doesn't have a cover. I didn't know it was supposed to have one honestly. This is the original Merc-O-Matic
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Thank you for the picture. The cover appears to have a spring clip that would work for yours too. I think is is called a "dirt" cover. Logical for the location.
 
Think you will find that the one for '52-'53 is 2 1/2" wide. (with the 'B' suffix) (51's are different)
In the event you have to fabricate one, the biggest problem is how to attach.
Solution for me would be to drill and tap a couple of screw holes into the casting flange.






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51 MERC-CT said:
Think you will find that the one for '52-'53 is 2 1/2" wide. (with the 'B' suffix) (51's are different)
In the event you have to fabricate one, the biggest problem is how to attach.
Solution for me would be to drill and tap a couple of screw holes into the casting flange.






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Thank you, when I used the B suffix, a NOS one showed up on e-bay....so I bought it. Thank all for your pictures and help.
 
Merc Cruzer said:
Thank you, when I used the B suffix, a NOS one showed up on e-bay....so I bought it. Thank all for your pictures and help.
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Great! Just a pointer on installing the cover.
When installing, with arrow facing forward, insert drivers side first then push and snap passenger side in place.
 
Great photos! With a spring clip set up, it's no wonder they come up missing. A lot of them likely departed the car on there own.
 
51 MERC-CT said:
Great! Just a pointer on installing the cover.
When installing, with arrow facing forward, insert drivers side first then push and snap passenger side in place.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. Since I retired last December I have been going through the car and correcting all of the "little" things that never kept the car from running but that I just need the time to address them. One more thing checked off the list! Thank you all for your help, this has always been a great resource for me owning the car. I can't imagine doing this before the internet and the Ford Barn.
 
Post script: Over the ten years I have owned this car, I have always made a practice to confirm the part I am dealing with on the car is actually a 53' or at least a 52'. When 52 MERC-CT pointed out that the one in his 51's took a smaller cover plate (which by the way the parts book points out), I went down to measure the opening on mine. Interestingly enough the plate size for mine would be the 5" X 2 1/2" not the 5" X 2 7/8". Mine appears to have a ledge cast into it that is not on WABOOMS housing. As it turned out the one on e-bay was for a "51' (5" x 2 1/2")" so it would be the correct one for my car. WABOOM, when you compare the two pictures of the opening on our respective cars it appears your opening would be larger, so yours just mite take the larger plate. I know pictures can be deceiving but a quick measurement could confirm what you need for your car. We have an event to go to tomorrow with the local Early Ford V8 club. All said and done I became paranoid to drive the car (yes I have driven the car for over 10 years without the cover plate, but now that I know....) so I made a quick cover plate. Not beautiful but defiantly functional until the new one arrives. Thanks again to all of you.....the education continues.
 

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The milled flat on mine is 5" , and the opening of the window measures 4.160"
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VABOOM, the parts book shows that they are both 5" long but one is 2 1/2" (used for 51MERC-CT's 51') vs 2 7/8" (for the 52'-53'). Yours might take the 2 7/8" cover.
 
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51' with a 53' housing and a 53' with a 51' housing....makes all the sense in the world.

This statement has now been corrected. See later post.
 
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