Please identify this engine...

L

LandBC

New member
I was cleaning out a neighbors barn and found this engine and transmission. He gave it to me to take to the scrap yard. Before I junk it, I would like to know what it is and if it is worth saving. Thanks for your help.
 

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My eyes ain't too good any more, but ecz-a was a 56 engine, ecz-b was a 56-57 engine, and ecz-c was a 57 engine, could either be a 292 or 312. if it has ebu main caps it's a 292 and ecz main caps it's a 312.
Just kinda lookin, sorta, and trying to revive some long ago stored info out of my noggin, I would take a guess that it is a 312 out of a 56 merc.
These numbers are for block numbers which would read such as ecz 6015 a.
If someone can read the head number I might be able to get more accurate, but what I can see ( I cant really ) on the head looks like a z and a g. if that is so it is a 272 or 292 head, but with the 1.92 valves. Hope I helped and didn't confuse.
 
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Thanks for the prompt replies. I learned a while back that just because I don't now what something is, doesn't mean it should be trashbound. The block in the fuzzy picture reads ECZ 6015A.

I do not need the engine so I will be selling it if anyone wants to make an offer. I am located in the Salt Lake City area. I have never tried shipping anything this large/heavy so it would be local pickup only, or you would have to pay for and teach me how to ship it.
 
One more thing that might help someone out is E just means it's an engine part and B or C or D is just the era it was manuf. for production cars. All ford Y blocks were 6015. All Y block heads were 6090. etc etc.
 
Lots of things can/could happen over the years but I think if the ECZ-A block was matched up with ECZ-C heads in a '56 Merc, it'd be a 312. Great "scrap" score! Those embossed Mercury valve covers are nice pieces too.
 
I don't think Mercury used the 292 after '55, so I would wager it has the 312 crank. The transmission could very well be the heavy duty T-85. Is the trans an Overdrive? If it is a T-85 OD it is very desirable.
 
It looks like a 56 Merc. It has the dual diaphram vacuum unit on the distributor (56 item only), is a ECZ block and Merc. Everything points to 312.
 
I would have to vote its a 312 from looking at all the signs and numbers. You could remove the trans and bell housing and look on the crank shaft flange and if it has a round dot raised up on the flange its a 312.
 
I just had to do a little digging last night thru some old, old notes, and it looks like everyone is pretty right on. Racerron really got me to thinking about the C heads. They are a 56 only head, and on the Merc 312, 4 bbl, it made it a 225 HP motor. Other ECZ heads + smaller HP. The C heads have 1.78 intakes and an advertised Comp. ratio of 9.0:1
Of course, Fords advertised CR was always a little high. Uaually about 8 or 9 %. That would still be about an 8.3 which is still pretty good for the times.
Looks like you got a good-un.
 
I took a closer look at the transmission. the tail-housing is stamped with R10F-1 O.DIV. The transmission itself is pretty dirty but I think I could make out a 44E. I will try to get pictures in the next day or two.
 
I have one set of ECZ-C heads, they were indeed on a '56 312 (block was badly cracked & scrapped) and are now on the '55 Mercury 292 in my Fairlane. I also found a 2nd set, likely later replacements on a 272 V8. Good heads, I've heard they're second best to the later ECZ-Gs.
 
More digging Racerron, and I think you're right on the C heads being a step down from the ECZ-G heads. The G heads were an improved head for 57 312s. The best 312 by the way, as they "de-tuned it from 58 on up. The G heads had the 1.92 intakes, 69 cc chambers and better ports. They used them with a better distributor, bigger exhaust manifolds, and an improved intake and carb on the 57 312. A person wants to check every 57-58-59 Y-block tho because they came on some 272s in trucks in 57 and early 58 with 2 bbls, also 57 early 58 Ford, and 57-58 Merc, and 57 T-birds with 2 bbls and 4 bbls.. They were also the head on the 57 270 horse dual quad engine. Some of these heads also had the ECG rockers on them. These were 1:54 instead of 1:43 ratio. Be careful if you try to use these rockers on 292 heads because on some heads they cause coil bind. But, the ECZ-C head is a great head also. Oh yeah, G heads comp. ratios are: 272 = 8.6, 292 = 9.0, and 312 = 9.7 advertised.
Racerron, those C heads were used on 56 272 2bbl pickup engines.
 
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ALL '57 heads were "G" heads with the 1.92 intake, not just the 312's. Except the heavy duty truck heads and the supercharger heads.
 
It is out of a 1956 Merc 312. You can tell by the Carb and Dist. It was there high performance eng with that Carter carb . The other eng in 1956 used the SO Called teapot carb.
 
This is definitely a 1956 Merc 312 engine. EZC-C head was only on the 56's... and didn't 56 Mercs only come with 312's? The motor looks original, down to the cannister oil filter setup. A lot of those got changed out.
 
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