Merc Guys, need suggestions...

[MercMan1951]

I cut the offending 16" off the Lincoln frame the other night, so that I could finally fit the front sheetmetal of the Merc on and see how much room I have to work with in terms of mounting a radiator/cooling fans (electric no doubt) between the front sheet metal and engine. I already pulled off the engine fan. I can fab up any mounts neccesary for a radiator. I have on hand two radiators...one off a '78 Cougar that had a 302, it's wide but thin...I also have the stock '87 Lincoln radiator (from the car - 302 as well), same width but thicker (3 row). I think I can make one of them work, but they're WIDE as I say. The other option is to go for a stock '51 Merc radiator that is converted to use a top inlet and one bottom outlet rather than the two inlet/outlet setup from the flathead. That would be the narrowest option, but I think it would be too thick by the time I add the electric fans to it. I have no clue as to who offers the thinnest elect. fans. I know I can fit something in here, but take a look at the pics and let me hear your thoughts. As always, thanks! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[MercMan1951]

Here's an overall pic, to prove that it can be done:

[MercMan1951]

In this pic, the red illustrates the Merc body, the rest is Lincoln...the Lincoln frame rails at this point butt right up to the Merc sheetmetal...the inner structure where the grille goes...

[lefturn]

In my 49 i am using a rad out of a camarro and electric fan from a pontiac 6000. it all fit in with room to spare.i have used the olds rads but they are wide and hard to fit in.........ray

[old beet]

This is what I did. Don't think it will help. Stock Merc rad moved forward a bit and import dual fans. ........OLDBEET

[MercMan1951]

Thanks guys...

Actually: Beet...that was a shot I was looking for to see what a stock-type rad. looked like in there...I must have gave mine away with the chassis...I can't find it now to use as a mock up http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

BTW, did you have your tank re-done for single outlets/inlets or did you do it yourself??

[old beet]

I took the inlet-outlet from a stock 460 Lincoln radiator and sweated them to the stocker, after plugin two holes........OLDBEET

[LeadSledMerc]

I'm running a 70's F100 radiator in my '51 with an electric fan in front. The radiator fits the stock support almost perfect and you can get them new real cheap. I only use the elec fan when I'm stuck in hot traffic for a real long time. Oh yea, I'm running a 390 FE.
I can take some pics tomorrow if they would help
Keith

[glassguy]

i put a griffin aluminun rad. in mine fit like a glove! 4core it about 19x22" there only 180.00 from summit, its the only new part i bought for this toilet and man am i glad i did......dave

[LeadSledMerc]

MercMan1951, Heres how I did that '76 F100 rad & fan.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/GOTCH/merc%20cooling/100_1231.jpg

[LeadSledMerc]

another
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/GOTCH/merc%20cooling/100_1230.jpg

[LeadSledMerc]

another 2

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/GOTCH/merc%20cooling/100_1228.jpg

[MercMan1951]

Those are all great pics...but I have about 1/3 the working room as you all..my engine sits farther forward, so I can't use any of the stock stuff, bracketry or otherwise. See my first post/pic. I have about 8" to work with between the front pully and the front of the grille shell....

[LeadSledMerc]

yea, I see what you mean.
Have you thought about a cross flow one with the tanks on the sides?

[CharlieLed]

LeadSledMerc...I've been looking at your photos and had a few questions about your engine mounting. The rear of the engine looks very close to the firewall, did you have to recess the firewall to get the engine installed? Also, the angle of the engine looks like you may have had to do some creative driveshaft/differential work...true? I have just gotten my engine/tans set in to the chassis and have gotten a few surprises relating to engine placement and angle, I won't have the same clearance issue with the radiator because I am not running a deep water pump and belt-driven fan....but the rear of the engine is giving me some grief right now.

[mikes51]

[ QUOTE ]
I know I can fit something in here, but take a look at the pics and let me hear your thoughts. As always, thanks! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

On mine, I had the stock "U" shaped radiator/fender support so I could only work within the width of that support.

If I were in your situation, meaning you aren't confined by the stock "U" shaped support, I would go with the modern wide radiator. Even cut away those air intake pieces (as shown in red on your pic below) on the inner fender support if you need the width.

I once tried hooking intakes up for fresh air venting and it was a waste of time. The vents pick up so much heat from the engine compartment, just hot air comes into the car. Since you're probably going to run the modern A/C those vents are of no use, those inner fender panels just need to hold your outer fenders in place relative to your frame.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/image_uploads/514649-frontframe22.jpg

[LeadSledMerc]

Charlie, good eye. The engine is recessed into the firewall around 5" depending on how you want to measure it. Theres nothing fancy with the trans or diff. I have a bar mounted to the bottom side of the x-member for the trans support and a 9" rear mounted with blocks on posies drop springs. It's realy nothing fancy. Keith

[MercMan1951]

Mikes:

Yes, I was wondering about the inner fenderwells, and noticed they actually supported the front end (with bushings), in stock form on the Mercury. (My car was dis-assembled already to some degree when I got it, so I have become part detective when trying to figure all this out.) I have no use for the fresh air system, so I'll probably ditch all that balony. The inner fenderwells need to be trimmed to fit the new control arm configuration anyways, and I was planning to switch over to a more modern radiator/header panel setup and fab up new mounting points on whats left of the Lincoln frame. I was concerned, after looking at how far inward the grill cavity extended (fresh air vents and all), that if the grill was in place, it would take up what little room I had in there, but I have since placed the stock grill in the opening, and noted that it does not extend as far back as the fresh air vents...so it's all good. I got a full 8+ inches to work with.

I'll no doubt be going with a more modern dual side tank setup.

I was just wondering if anyone else ran into clearance problems and picked out a thin (but effecient) dual tank radiator and electric fan(s) setup. I'm surprised by how much room you guys get using a different motor (even a 390 or 460!) and still have the stock front end setup. I guess with the
stock frame, you can set things back as far as you want.

I was warned by FEDDER that unless the number 2 cyl. was behind the centerline of the front wheels that I may have to move the engine back. That's not an option as far as I'm concerned...and since my engine IS forward of this measurement, my only option is to get creative with the cooling. No biggie, I'll make it work. If they can pack all that crap in like a sardine on newer cars, I sure as hell can make it work in the space I've got. I've seen a lot worse. Just looking (fishing) for ideas... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anybody deal with electric (slim) fans? What make, model and price?? Quality issues?

[MercMan1951]

BTTT.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[CharlieLed]

Here's the problem I ran into when I slid the motor mounting back...the trans tailshaft hit the center of the "X" in the frame. Dropping the frame down to 4-1/2" off the floor didn't help either, but by this time I had to cut the "X" out anyway otherwise I couldn't drop the trans without pulling the engine...