HEMI in a 51 MERC.... any help appreciated.

[19Fordy]

Have a 1956 354 Hemi that I want to stuff in my 51 Merc.
It has Sanderson block hugger headers.Headers hit steering box. Anybody dealt with this situation before. Is there a smaller steering box that I could use? Any and all suggestions appreciated. thanx http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[oldchevyseller]

picture of the area would be great help

[LeadSledMerc]

Hey 19Fordy,
If your not looking for power steering you've got a bunch of options, but if you want power I found there's no room for any of the boxes I checked. I've got a 51 merc with an 390 FE in it and I wanted power steering in it. I ended up putting in a Rack out of a 80's Torus. I had to lengthen the tie rods and shorten the control arms, but it works real nice. I'm running a GM pump with a Heitz control valve.
A buddy of mine has a Hemi in his 51 and he ended up doing the same thing this past year. He had even less room than me.
Good luck.

[Flat Ernie]

Seems a couple folks sell kits to put rack & pinion in. Don't know if you'd be in favor of that or not, but it's an option...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[RileyRacing]

Brooklands publishes a book called Mopar Engine Swaps. There is a vague article with some pix in it, and check out old hot rod mags from the early fifties, Bruce Crower put one in a Hudson and they covered that alot, so you might be able to glean some info from that!

oops, the actual article is about swapping in a poly, but I think the mounts and stuff are the same, so it may work... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Jay

[48_HEMI]

I had the same problem with sanderson block huggers. that and I had to ream out the holes to bolt them to the block then took 4 months and a threat to a road trip to south san francisco to get my money back. my solution was over the frame headers http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[williebill]

Clymers Engine Swap book from 1960 covers putting a hemi in either a 49-51 Ford or Merc.Book doesn't go into too many details,but it does say that the Merc is harder than the Ford because the Merc has a bigger/higher steering box.They suggest using a starter side changeover adapter from Cragar (good luck),and a remote adapter to move the oil filter away from the new position of the starter.Also swap side for side the exhaust manifolds to get ahead of the box...if you want to use stock exhaust, that is.Last suggestion is to mill away some of the exhaust mounting flange to get a little more room.I've seen Hemis in Mercs,and I know they were built before anybody would have used R&P steering,but don't know what was done.I remember an orange Merc at all the KKOA shows 20 years ago with a Hemi.It was stuffed in there,but he got it to fit.
Could you get any more room by raising the motor a little?Seems like you'd have room under that hood,but then you might have to make more room for the transmission to come up,too.
Oh yeah,almost forgot..Clymer also suggested swapping for the smaller Ford box,modifying the pitman arm,etc.
Now you know why everybody doesn't have a Hemi http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Jeem]

Do a post calling out ElPolacko on this subject (or P.M. him). He had a customer with a 50 Merc (I believe) with a HEMI and a Winters Q.C.. I'm sure he could tell you how everything was handled on that car.