Need help on flathead engine swap
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
Need help on flathead engine swap
OK, this is not a ford truck, BUT .....
Here is the deal, a buddy of mine has a 46 Merc Coupe that does not have an engine. We have been looking to install an 8BA into it but he has some real concerns. The car still has the original transmission (minus the clutch) as well as the enclosed driveshaft. It does not appear that the bellhousing from the 8ba will line up and he is concerned about major modifications if we swap out the transmission. The motor mounts are also missing from the car and it appears that the mounts on the 8ba will need to be modified, but that seems minor.
Anybody have any experience or advice with such a swap?
Here is the deal, a buddy of mine has a 46 Merc Coupe that does not have an engine. We have been looking to install an 8BA into it but he has some real concerns. The car still has the original transmission (minus the clutch) as well as the enclosed driveshaft. It does not appear that the bellhousing from the 8ba will line up and he is concerned about major modifications if we swap out the transmission. The motor mounts are also missing from the car and it appears that the mounts on the 8ba will need to be modified, but that seems minor.
Anybody have any experience or advice with such a swap?
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 110
From: Northshore, MN
The water pumps with the motor mounts built in to them are different between trucks and cars. My F1 came with Merc water pumps and oil pan, and the PO had installed mount risers to make it sit right in the F1. Hard to do the opposite in lowering an engine, though. So the question is, what water pumps are on the 8BA going in?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,782
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From: Kalispell, MT
Joe, you're going to need more detailed info than we can give you here. You're dealing with waterpump and bellhousing issues as well as early vs late flathead details. What you want is pretty straight forward.
Check into this link - these guys can walk you thru the swap and they have a complete guide to bellhousings and a tech page that has tons of helpful info.
Ford Flathead V8 .. 1932 thru 1953 • Index page
Check into this link - these guys can walk you thru the swap and they have a complete guide to bellhousings and a tech page that has tons of helpful info.
Ford Flathead V8 .. 1932 thru 1953 • Index page
Thread Starter
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
The water pumps with the motor mounts built in to them are different between trucks and cars. My F1 came with Merc water pumps and oil pan, and the PO had installed mount risers to make it sit right in the F1. Hard to do the opposite in lowering an engine, though. So the question is, what water pumps are on the 8BA going in?
Thread Starter
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
Joe, you're going to need more detailed info than we can give you here. You're dealing with waterpump and bellhousing issues as well as early vs late flathead details. What you want is pretty straight forward.
Check into this link - these guys can walk you thru the swap and they have a complete guide to bellhousings and a tech page that has tons of helpful info.
Ford Flathead V8 .. 1932 thru 1953 • Index page
Check into this link - these guys can walk you thru the swap and they have a complete guide to bellhousings and a tech page that has tons of helpful info.
Ford Flathead V8 .. 1932 thru 1953 • Index page
I have been told that the bellhousing from a late pick up will work, but I need to know if the bellhousing from an F6 is the same.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 7
From: Erie, pa
The Merc water pumps/mounts are different - the engine mount bolts are 1 inch higher and 1/2 inch closer or further apart than a ford
I have a 46 Ford Coupe that had a Merc Flatmotor in it and it had a "U" shape (on it's side) adaptor for the mounts
I have a 46 Ford Coupe that had a Merc Flatmotor in it and it had a "U" shape (on it's side) adaptor for the mounts
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 2
as was said you use a truck bell from 49 to i think 52.its just an extension to make it match early flathead trans.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,782
Likes: 558
From: Kalispell, MT
Yes the truck half-bell from the F6 will work. It's cast where the merc is pressed steel, but bolts the same to the best of my knowledge.
Here's the link to the bellhousing pdf file
http://www.flatheadv8.org/bellhousing.pdf
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