So I looked up my numbers on the engine, and I'm thinking it was a rebuild. It's a 1950 and says 8BA and 8RT near the carb but then at the cylinders it says EAC. According to VanPelt the EAC was on later 52/53 models... copied text below...

In general, the latter year flatheads were commonly referred to as the "8BA" type for Ford and "8CM" for Mercury. The truck version was identified as an "8RT". Later 1952 and '53 Fords and Mercurys were known as "EAB" and "EAC" respectively. These markings are generally cast into the cylinder heads.

So, what do i have here? Stock or rebuild or what? Thanks!

 

The intake manifold (8BA/8RT 6520) is the same casting used on both Truck (8RT) and Car (8BA) engines, so it is dual-marked. EAC heads are from a late Mercury, not ideal for sure on a Ford engine, but it's always possible the engine is a Merc, which would be a plus. All the parts interchange, so the only way to know for sure is to pull a head and measure the stroke.

 

Pretty weird if it was a rebuild. Everything else down to the wiring looks stock. And it's been sitting for > 25 years since it died on me while driving (fuel or fuel pump issue). The front tires were even the old 6.5-16 tube tires. But, could have been rebuilt early maybe.

 

It looks like the Mercury's had a different carb? Mine says 7RT, which was Ford?

 

Mercs with EAC's would have had a different carb, with a 4-bolt flange. But if someone swapped engines, they'd likely keep the old Ford manifold and carb, so the throttle linkage etc. still hooked up.

Does the engine have the wide truck belts for water pumps and fan? Mercs used two narrow belts, a different fan, and different WP's without the "foot" for the motor mounts.

A lot of people swapped Merc parts onto their Fords, thinking it would give them more power. In truth, putting Merc heads on a Ford engine lowers the compression ratio, not a good move. But if the Ford engine's heads cracked, and there were two Merc heads laying around, people would use them.

 

It has the wide belts and water pumps with motor mounts. So, sounds like a rebuild of some sort, before 1986 for sure... Thanks for the info!

 

8RT-9510-F (replaced 7RT-9510-A) .. 239 V8 Holley 2V Carburetor:

1948/52 F1/F6 & F5/F6 COE / 1953 F100/600 & C500/600 (F100/350 with M/T, F100 with/without Overdrive).

 

I run a Ford intake with a 7RT carb in my 48 F1 but it sits on a '51 Merc engine for the reason Ross listed above. So any combination of parts is possible.

One more thing to check on your water pumps - does the foot sit right down on the rubber cushion or is there a spacer (1.5" - 2") between the rubber and the foot of the waterpump? Ford/Merc difference respectively, both were wide belt pulleys.

As Ross said, almost all Ford/Merc parts interchange and were swapped over the years.

 

Definitely no spacer, sits directly on rubber. I know because I'll have to replace one water pump most likely and I plan on replacing the motor mounts when i do that.