'56 valve covers
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'56 valve covers
I recently aquired a 56 ford f-250. I was looking at the engine and noticed that the word mercury is stamped into the driver side valve cover. The one on the passenger side is plain. Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Thanks!
Hotshot
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From: Durham NC
Welcome to the forum! Ford often used the Mercury family of engines in their heavier trucks. Your Vin # plate will tell you what engine originally came in your truck. Do a search on decoding VIN #s.
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From: Too far north of I-10
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The code in the vin will only tell you the cid and carb, right? Is there any difference between the ford and the merc engine besides what is on the valve cover? Is it pretty common to see a merc engine in a f250, or is this somewhat of a rare thing? I had never heard of this before now. Thanks for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!
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From: Too far north of I-10
Originally Posted by jonboy73
The code in the vin will only tell you the cid and carb, right?
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I meant the engine code. My '56 is a V code. Are those all merc engines? How do you tell? If I had never seen the word mercury on the valve cover how would I know? Or did the one valve cover come off of a mercury and the rest of the engine is a regular ford? Maybe I am just asking a question that there is no answer for.
Postmaster
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From: Riverside, So Cal
As far as I know, there isn't any significant difference between a Mercury Y-block and a Ford. The fact that the valve covers don't match tells me that a PO just used the valve covers he could find.
That's my guess.
That's my guess.
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Welcome to the board!!
From the sounds of it the previous owner had to replace a valve cover at one time and used whatever he could find. It would be neat to find another Mercury cover so that they both would match.
Let us know what you decode from the vin#. We'd all love to check out some pics.
Bobby
From the sounds of it the previous owner had to replace a valve cover at one time and used whatever he could find. It would be neat to find another Mercury cover so that they both would match.
Let us know what you decode from the vin#. We'd all love to check out some pics.
Bobby
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From: DFW, TX
Jonboy,
Welcome! There is more info on the data plate on George's "Earl's World" website at this link.
http://www.clubfte.com/users/earl/Re..._Material.html
George is also doing a '56 F-250, so there is some interesting reading for you there, also.
The V code says it's a 272 V8, light duty.
Welcome! There is more info on the data plate on George's "Earl's World" website at this link.
http://www.clubfte.com/users/earl/Re..._Material.html
George is also doing a '56 F-250, so there is some interesting reading for you there, also.
The V code says it's a 272 V8, light duty.
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Jonboy,
The 56 V code is for a 272 Y block. I have the same engine in my 56 F-100. The mercury trucks (m-100 etc...) were almost identical and most of the parts are interchangeable. The cover probably came off of an M-100 or other series mercury truck with a 272 or 292 engine. For your question it isn't the "correct" part for your FORD truck but it is the same except for the writing on the cover that says Mercury. So it isn't original but it is the correct pattern and sizing for your engine. Anyway there are plenty of places to buy reproduced valve covers that have the correct design stamped on them.
Mike
The 56 V code is for a 272 Y block. I have the same engine in my 56 F-100. The mercury trucks (m-100 etc...) were almost identical and most of the parts are interchangeable. The cover probably came off of an M-100 or other series mercury truck with a 272 or 292 engine. For your question it isn't the "correct" part for your FORD truck but it is the same except for the writing on the cover that says Mercury. So it isn't original but it is the correct pattern and sizing for your engine. Anyway there are plenty of places to buy reproduced valve covers that have the correct design stamped on them.
Mike
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jonboy73
The merc valve cover isn't correct for your ford. I have a pair of merc covers from my car and I would think that the 239 thru 312 covers would interchange.
Anyway I just looked on e-bay and they had several y-block valve covers for sale. Just search for y-block. They had one nice pair with the decals installed.
I have a set of finned aluminum covers on my car that I bought from Moon equipment in fact there is a picture in one of my gallerys.
Chuck
The merc valve cover isn't correct for your ford. I have a pair of merc covers from my car and I would think that the 239 thru 312 covers would interchange.
Anyway I just looked on e-bay and they had several y-block valve covers for sale. Just search for y-block. They had one nice pair with the decals installed.
I have a set of finned aluminum covers on my car that I bought from Moon equipment in fact there is a picture in one of my gallerys.
Chuck
Last edited by merc546; Jul 8, 2006 at 08:11 PM.