8ba engine going in '40 sedan problems

This is probably the most common engine swap ever preformed on the rarly Fords. Thousands probably and I never knew it was a problem till now. I've probably drilled a dozen or two 8BA 11" or B&B flywheels for 9 and 10" clutches. Have a friends 39 PU with the 11" clutch running righr now and that's ben at least 5 or 6 years ago. I don't see how the realy flywheel could be used, and yea all ford and merc cranks have the same Bolt pattern.
 
When I installed an 8BA in my 40 I used a 50 Merc flywheel, pressure plate and 10 in clutch along with the stock 40 throwout bearing. Also used 50 Merc starter plate and matching Merc stamped steel transmission bellhousing and 50 Merc oil pan. You can also weld little ears onto the steel bell housing and extend the anti-chatter rods so they fit. Still running after 50 years.
 
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19Fordy said:
When I installed an 8BA in my 40 I used a 50 Merc flywheel, pressure plate and 10 in clutch along with the stock 40 throwout bearing. Also used 50 Merc starter plate and matching Merc stamped steel transmission bellhousing and 50 Merc oil pan. You can also weld little ears onto the steel bell housing and extend the anti-chatter rods so they fit. Still running after 50 years.
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19Fordy, I'll bet this combination resulted in a velvet-smooth clutch operation, and used all stock 40 clutch linkage. Can you confirm?
IMO, this is the combination that I would try for.
 
So with a late crank (8BA or 8CM) in an early (59A and earlier) would you now have to use the late flywheel?
Martin.
 
The 8BA family of flywheels have their own starter ring placement dimension that is not a match to the earlier engine families. The later flywheel has to be used to make the starter work.

The Borg & Beck clutch is a smoothie. They only use 6 out of a possible 9 springs so they work well. My old Mercs are heavy and they have no problems at all.
 
bobH said:
19Fordy, I'll bet this combination resulted in a velvet-smooth clutch operation, and used all stock 40 clutch linkage. Can you confirm?
IMO, this is the combination that I would try for.
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You are correct. It's very smooth. I did use the complete original 40 clutch linkage. I think I also installed a new , short body oil pump because of the rear sump oil pan. Can't recall for sure.
 
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Thanks Mr wrench, I'm aware of the starter ring placement, I'm asking if you use a late crank in an early block, do you need to use the late flywheel aswell? Does the whatever crank have to use its own flywheel?
I've run an 8BA crank in an early block in the past, and I'm sure I used the early flywheel. Did I get lucky? Should it not of worked?
Thanks Martin.
 
Martin, I'm pretty sure the flywheel choice has to do with the block, so for a 59A block with an 8BA crank, the earlier flywheel is needed. At least, that's how it went together in my car (I have a 59 block with 8BA crank, and 59 flywheel.) Maybe someone that is more of an expert could confirm??
 
I had a Mercury flywheel and 10" wide finger in my 39
may have had longer linkage bacause of lever on trans should use 39 lever in 39 car.
The 47 working correct the fingers should be same depth as the bellhousing.
Measure PP face to finger= X
then measure face to bellhousing=Y
substract xfrom y = about same side view. 1 inch.
Now not touching the 8ba and putting case iron 1/2 bell
from the trans side view the fingers are about 3/8 inch in.
Now just swapping my PPlates beacause of non adjustable fingers the depth can be made up of 1/4".
So try and get the side view fingers same depth as the trans mounting surface.
 
Got it, thanks chaps. Thought it was block that was important, as I said I'm sure that's how I did it. Thank you for confirmation.
Martin.
 
I'm going to pull the old motor and see what I have to work with,suspect i'ts going to be a 9".The clutch parts only have 6k on them and I may want to have fly wheel set up for the original 9" if that what it has.Would a new 10" or 10.5" be better? the problem is which clutch pack to use and where to get the parts from. Thanks.
 
Thank's everyone for your help! I went with the original '51 flywheel re ground and drilled for the '41 psi plate and disk,works great. Now it's the clearence between '51 fan and '41 radiator.I need about 2" to clear the hose's. I woul'd like to use the fan for the '51 so I'm leaning twords re fitting the top tank of the '41 and reduce the inlet size to match my t-stat housing's. 6 volt fan's seems like a possible option as well. Thank's again.
 
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