I am new to the group. I have a 1950 Mercury pickup, with a 239 flathead Ford V8 in it. It's been around 10 years since I've had the truck running, and I'm trying to get it all going again. I have a few problems.

1. The truck's tranny seems to be stuck. I can't shift it out of neutral when I have the truck started. It seems that the plates have rusted together. I've tried starting it in 1st gear which results in a good jerk forward, and off I go driving. Unfortunately I can't stop until I shut the truck off. Any recomendations for getting it all unstuck?

2. After a carburator rebuild I'm not getting fuel into the carb bowl. The fuel pump was working before the rebuild, and if I manually put gas into the bowl it'll run for about 10 minuets, and then shuts off. Any recomendations?

3. I'm getting a squeeling sound from the fan/waterpumps. It's sort of a grinding steel against steel sound which is most unpleasent. I have new belts on it.

Thanks for your help.

Joel Stobbe,
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1950 Mercury Pickup
1965 Mustang coupe

 

Good to see another Mercury in Progress.

1. Are the plates you mentioned the clutch? I think the clutch is causing the problem.

2. Don't know but someone else here will.

3. On the water pumps there is a little hole on top of it. Try putting some lubricant in. There probally isn't any lubricant left so it will squeal and wear out faster than normal.

 

Yes, the plates are in the clutch. How can I seperate them?

I'll try putting oil into the waterpumps this afternoon. Is it a little cup like the ones in the distributer and generator? I'll let you know how it went.

Thanks.

Joel

 

Hi Joel, welcome to FTE.

I'd say you've got the following to work on:

1. Sounds like you can move the shifter thru the gears - only not when the truck is running - right? If this is the case, your clutch linkage needs adjusting. It isn't releasing enough to disengage. Lengthen the linkage some so the 'throw' is longer by 2 or 3 turns. This is under the truck on the connecting rod between the pedal and the clutch release shaft.

2. Take the hose off the carb and have someone crank the engine. If the pump is working you'll have gas shooting out the hose. If not, check the oil dipstick to see if it smells like gas. When the diaphragm goes bad it dumps gas in the crankcase. Change oil as necessary to protect bearings.

If no gas in crankcase you might have a blockage anywhere from the tank forward. Pull the lines and blow them out. Could also have garbage in the tank that has settled into the outlet. (Outlet is just a drain hole out of the tank) I had a piece of plastic wrapper in my tank once that drove me crazy floating around in there and once in a while happening to settle over the hole.

3.The truck pumps are sealed bearings so dumping oil in the drain holes won't help. Squealing is eventually terminal - look for new pumps. Here in the states I'd recommend Sacramento Vintage Ford. Steel on steel sound means the bearing is gone and the impeller is rubbing on the housing or block. It will leak shortly when the seal ruptures.

 

Did you put all the float stuff back in right? And adjust it yet?