Mystery motor?

davids2toys

davids2toys

Senior Member
I am the new owner of a survivor unrestored 1936 Ford 4 door touring sedan deluxe. The engine was replaced with a 49-53 Mercury Flathead v8 due to a cracked block on the orig motor. I can't seem to ID it down to the exact year. I know it has the 53 heads and it has the big clean-out at the bottom of the oil pan. It does not have any numbers on the Pass side intake manifold surface location. I am making the assumption it is a truck motor because of the clean-out in the oil-pan. Also has the fat belt and the color was orange before it was painted Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks...Dave
 
Welcome to The Barn, Dave. Advice will be coming, from the pros. We always like pictures when possible. Your avatar looks good.
 
With such a conglomeration of parts, it could be anything.
Mercury heads tells you it has Mercury heads, nothing more.
Truck pan means it has a truck pan.
If it has a Mercury crankshaft, that means it's a Mercury engine or someone put a Mercury crank in some unknown variation of a Ford engine.
Pretty much of a guessing game.
 
A Bones: Yes, I understand the value of pics. I am not new to Forums at all. I also own a ERA Cobra, Mustang and a Harley. Thanks for the welcome!!! I am totally new to the flathead world and have a lot to learn for sure!!!
51 Merc-CT: Totally understand what you are saying. My concern at the moment is ordering parts for the outside of the long-block. Examples would be starter, asst gaskets, etc, etc
 
About the only thing that can be determined from markings on the block is the assembly date of the engine, which may or may not be stamped on the intake surface of the block. The table for decoding this date is available several places. Flatheads are not for the Corvette "matching numbers" crowd.
 
The blocks are all about the same and the only real internal difference is the crankshaft throws, Ford vs Mercury. Of course the pistons have to match the crankshaft. The later 8ba engines also had rotator valves. There are part differences, such as different heads, but they interchange. If it has the original 8ba distributor, then the carburetor needs to be the correct one for the vacuum advance to work properly. 8ba starters should all interchange (actually, 32 thru 53 should interchange).
 
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One nice thing is that a Gasket rebuild kit has virtually all the gaskets needed for whatever variation of 8BA type engine you have.
 
Great news about the gaskets, but that is only if you buy a whole gasket kit. If you need one particular gasket, it is the guessing game! I have the 53 heads and the up high distributor with the vac going to the carb. I believe the carb to be a FORD/Holley 94.


flatjack9: When you say that era of engines, are you talking 49-53, or all Flathead v8's?
 
1948-'53 US Ford pickup truck and 1949-1953 Ford and Mercury cars are what is considered the 8BA style "era" engine.
 
Well unrestored is subjective, to some that means mechanical as well. obviously a rebuild has new parts. Meaning correct motor etc....

...but not to be that guy, very nice car!

My guess is you have at least a truck oil pan on the motor and truck water pumps. truck oil pans had the cleanout and the rear sump needed to clear the straight axle. Also the truck motors parts make it possible be bolted to the early trans. Actual block could be merc/etc for a car.


Most gasket engine sets include extra's. Most everything is also interchangeable. It's a ford thing, also why you have a 49-53 in your car with some mods.
 
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Oh I will have tons of questions, thanks for the welcome Mike!


Tinker: It is unrestored except for the motor, it is not the original, and it is also NOT RESTORED!

So to totally clarify it is a pretty good running old Jalopy. Original paint and interior both in 82 year old condition. A pretty cool driver with a ton of Patina! My goal is to just have a nice running car, make some improvements to make it safer and more reliable like pertronix ignition, signal lights and just keep it properly maintained.
 
David, Welcome to the Barn, and to Flatheads! A comment on your planned improvements: Do your research on every improvement you have been told it will need. Some (many) improvements are made on assumptions that they will make a car safer or more reliable, and turn into nightmares in practice. I'm talking about all the things you have mentioned you want to do. Homework first.
 
The 36 is one of my favorite cars, and has a very good suspension system, if, in good working condition. Shocks can be rebuilt or converted to late style tube shocks. I use mid size Gm 70/30 shocks. If interstate driving is considered, I might consifer converting to hydraulic brakes. But again the mechanical work well in proper condition. The weak part of the brakes are the drums, nobody makes them Yet Good luck
Gramps
 
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