8BA in 47 Merc.

[47MercSkip]

HI, Newbie here (in fact my 1st post ever in any forum!) Recently purchased 47 Merc. convertible out of long term storage. It appears the previous owner was planning on installing an 8BA engine, but stopped for what I now see as the obvious reasons. So far I've installed the truck water pumps (from Speedway), and I think figured out the fan, generator, pulley dilemma. I believe I have the bell housing and starter plate I need? (see pics), but not sure if the flywheel (see pic) I have will work, and if so, what pressure plate I need. The flywheel has 6 holes spaced evenly apart, not in the 3 groups of 2 like the earlier flywheels. Does anyone make a 10" pressure plate that will work with this flywheel and 47 ******? I mocked up the block with the bell housing, flywheel, 10 inch clutch/pressure plate that was with it, and installed it in the car (the nose off right now, so it was easy!) I thought I was home free until I realized the throw out bearing would not reach the pressure plate. SOOO! Not sure which direction to turn now. (In hindsight ,which is always 20/10, I should have searched out a 59AB!!) Thanks for any help!

 

[40cpe]

You will need the 8BA flywheel, not sure what the one pictured is. Check to be sure the throw-out bearing holder (fork) is secured to the cross shaft with the pin. If the pin is missing the fork will rotate on the shaft and not move the TO bearing.

 

[big job]

Maybe its my eyes but that flywheel looks wrong. Whether 10 or 11inch clutch it should
slide right in there. I don't know it all, but the pressure plate bolt holes looks like some
kind of industrial application not right; should be 2 2 and 2 holes. Would be a help
with a picture of the pressure plate. I put a EAB in a 46 car, truck water pumps truck fan
and generator all is good . my biggest itch was upper radiator hoses many trips to Napa
cause radiator has fat inlets and the heads have small outlets so I had to put a hose 'in'
a hose for the heads...another point is any time to replace a clutch most likley you probably have to adjust clutch rod .....

 

[Ggmac]

What was in the car ? Was the previous owner a racer ? I as cause the flywheel , although it looks like it'll bolt to a crank has either been lightened or aftermarket . I'm no expert
. The ring gear looks to have the chamfer for starter on the wrong side for a flathead .
Good luck and welcome to the forum .

 

[George/Maine]

That's looks like a mercury flywheel maybe harder to get PP.
8ba flywheel with 10" pp see if you can get a PP with the fingers that were adjusted at factory. The ones that are made with 3 fingers wider you need to adjust linage to reach throw out bearing

 

[Ggmac]

I just enlarged the pic , ring gear looks correct . The flywheel looks like it's been lightened. By turning the outer shell off . I'll measure one of mine but it look like one of mine from an old racer " Mad Marion McDonald "

 

[Ol' Ron]

Could be a Mercury flywheel with B&B clutch.

 

[JSeery]

47Merc, rotated your photo. Was this photo taken with an iPhone? Nice car!!!

 

[19Fordy]

Do a search using the words "Install an 8BA". Use various word combinations to find more info. May take a while, but there's ton's of info. telling you exactly what you need. Here's a good thread about this. Be sure to read all the links in the threads. I used a 50 Merc clutch & pressure plate, bell housing and starter plate, flywheel and 10 inch clutch plus OEM throwout bearing. looks like you have a cast truck bellhousing and starter plate which will also work. Make sure you have the correct starter plate that matches the bellhousing. It's all in the thread.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233199&highlight=install+8ba

 

[tubman]

I did this exact installation in the '90's with all stock Ford parts. I had a Ford flywheel and and the traditional Long pressure plate (2-2-2). I think your problems stem from the Merc flywheel and Borg & Beck clutch. I know what works, but I don't know what doesn't work.

 

[markdtn]

Be very sure that the flywheel is for an 8BA. The easiest way to tell is if the pressure-plate bolts are drilled allthe way through. If they are blind, itwill not work (even though it will bolt up, I found out the hard way). Also note that there are 2 different stylesof pressure plate. The “Long” style hasbolts in pairs close together. The“B&B” style has 6 bolts equally spaced. Apparently, the B&B pressure plates are getting scarce.


Also, the starter rings are unique to thisflywheel. They cannot be reversed andare not available through normal parts channels. The restoration parts suppliers have them ifyou need one. The clutch disc is the same either way.

 

[chap52]

You are in the right place. As suggested use the search function at the top of the page. Get a Shop Manual and check for how to videos on You Tube. Most importantly "ASK" on this Forum, even if it sounds like a stupid question.
Welcome aboard, and remember, "Enjoy the adventure".
Chap

 

[mfagan]

Also, PP bolts on merc are 3/8 as opposed to 5/16 on ford flywheel.

 

[flatford8]

47Merc, rotated your photo. Was this photo taken with an iPhone? Nice car!!!

When I enlarge your photo it turns upside down, when I enlarge his photo it turns right side up......I’m so confused......Mark
PS....nice car!!!!

 

[JSeery]

Mark, it doesn't do that for me, but who knows. Maybe it is related to the computer/device you are using. My guess is it's a photo from an iPhone. I don't know what they do to the photo formatting, but they behave strangely!

 

[flatheadmurre]

Perhaps you got a 9.5" flywheel and pressureplate from a late 8BA then you get that kind of issues...did it come with a smaller spline on the clutchdisc?
Truckpumps in a mercury...won´t the engine end up sitting a bit high that way...
Using a merc engine in a truck you use spacers to raise the pumps...so other way around would be high.

 

[19Fordy]

Not sure if it's the same situation, but when I installed both an 8BA and a 50 Merc in my 40 Ford Merc spacers were not needed if the 8RT truck pumps were used. The wide belt set up used in the early Ford pick ups was used.

 

[47MercSkip]

Thanks everyone for the quick response! It is becoming clear to me that the flywheel is Merc, for the B&B pressure plate. It has the 3/8" bolt holes spaced evenly apart. The pressure plate I have (see pics) is 10". Again everything bolted together fine up to the 47 ******. Thanks to the inspection cover, I can see exactly what was going on when clutch depressed. The throwout bearing will not go far enough forward to engage the pressure plate fingers. I have not checked the pressure plate for numbers, so not sure if it is B&B, and could the problem possibly be the throw out bearing?? If not, looks like my options are to find correct pressure plate and bearing for my flywheel, or get Ford 8BA flywheel and clutch assembly. Thanks again for the help!

PS- Yes the last pic of the car was with a cell phone. I don't understand how it ends upside down either! Damn computers! But can't live without them!

 

[flatheadmurre]

That is the correct pressureplate for the merc and it should work just fine with the gearbox you have.
So you can´t adjust the clutch linkage enough to make it engage ?
Is the clutchdisc correct or is it very thick...so the fingers end up far in ?

 

[George/Maine]

There are new PP that have fingers that are like sliced bread with no adjusting screws.
I think the Long pressure plate 10" will get you closer to throw-out bearing.
When I did mine I had the new style pressure plate and had to adjust the linkage.
It really engages quick but works ok.
I also think both blocks have different spacing .