Projects 350 Chevy or 351w into a 50 merc coupe?

Do you HAVE to swap the motor? Or is this something you just want to do? The old flatties are fun to tinker with too, and can be reliable too. At any rate, if its a V8 when you yank it, dont scrap it, somebody's gonna want the crank if nothing else. You find the right person and you might be able to swap it for a running SBC. Good Luck

 

Put the Ford engine in…you might get an award for putting a Ford in a Ford, to compensate for the hassle you will go through for making that choice… (it fit)!

 

Junk yard 351w with a dingleball rebuild and be done. AOD out of the same truck and you're set.

 

Depends on your skill set. Either way it’s a challenge, you feel lucky?

 

Honest no BS question. Do you rabid Ford in a Ford guys ever actually put later model Small blocks in early 50's Ford (not truck) chassis without major suspension changes?
I see the put a 351 in it but have you ever actually had a 351 hanging off a chain hoist trying to install it in anything?

People toss around the Brono pan but that isn't a lot of help with a Merc or shoebox. The front still drops down a lot to clear the oil pump and you can't cut and fit the pan to fit the crossmember.

When you look at the stock Merc frame with or without the flathead in it and see where the front if the engine sits, Guess what? The fuel pump and oil filter are right in the big middle of the crossmember of the Merc even if you spend a bunch of money on a pan. For the guy building on a budget the Ford engine isn't practical to keep the budget under conrol.

 

I voted for Ford, but changed my mind. I agree with keeping it simple. Do your research and set an achievable goal. I’m the king of unfinished projects, so verily, verily I say unto you; understand your constraints in time, money and wherewithal. Make that happen.

What is your budget? You could spend a couple thousand getting that flatty running. Ask me how I know.

 

An electric fuel pump and a remote oil filter are quite simple, and there are other oil pans to consider- the mid-sump 4x4 pans were designed to help keep oil at the pickup at different angles, not for crossmember clearance. A 289/302 also is easier dimensionally than a 351. The 351 has larger main bearings/ caps, and the pan grew with it. Rabid? Really? One can put almost anything in anything with a little ingenuity, you don't have to settle for an el cheapo and boring scrub engine- it's called hot rodding

 

Simple. I had a 289 in my 49 with stock suspension before switching to Mustang II. The foxbody swap pans for 351 are cheap and easily obtained from any of the big box stores. Shoebox central sells the motor mount kit that comes with a trans mount as well. All the SBC guys are soooo scared of the Ford and it makes zero sense.

 

And here I thought hotrodding, especially in a traditional view, was about performing better with the least amount of effort and dollars.
Or is it make a lot of effort, spend more $$?

 

The argument over price to run a Ford compared to Chevy is antiquated. The aftermarket for Ford has exploded since the early 90s and the prices are virtually the same. Just sounds like laziness to me.

 

Yep, I firmly believe that most (NOT all) of the "Put a Chebbie in it" crowers have just never done it any other way, and many (NOT all) are way dependant on the Speedway method of "hot rodding". There is a big difference between cheap and inexpensive lol...

 

Ya think. Okay. Off to the Google thing, oh, who makes a kit to put the 351 and trans in his car?

 

^^^^
Glad you added…(NOT ALL)!

 

https://shoebox-central.com/49-51-mercury-small-block-ford-motor-mount-kit they have a small block Chevy kit too but it's $10 more..........

 

How about the guy doing the work lol... Things can be done without a "kit". A tape measure is a good start...
Google- creating instant experts since 1998!

 

And please list a master rebuild kit for a 351 v 350. Please find stock rebuild kits from the same place. Machine work should be the same, but I don’t know.

 

You funny, now everyone funny too.
You did read the original post, right? I think you’re pretty intelligent so I’ll leave it at that.
I will just say “first project”.

Edit: It was in post 10

 

Sacrilege, svinehunde! You vill only speak ov der superiority of der master engine! SBC uber alles!!! ONLY the SBC vill be tolerated!!!

 

You're welcome- and you get it lol

 

And ya can hook either one to the stock manual trans
My kid loved driving my 3 on the tree
I’ve got an old merc parts beater with an SBF.
I’ll try the get some pics posted for ya.

 

My kid has a very sweet 49 F1- when he got it, it had been unnecessarily bastardized with a scrub engine. The orange lump was quickly on the ground. It now has a supercharged 302 and runs very, very well and is INTERESTING lol

 

350 Chevy

 

Yes. That does not mean he would of used a sbc had it been available.

 

Go with a sbc, just easier all around to get parts for, especially starting from scratch.

 

And here we are, doing this same old dance again.......

Here are the facts regarding the use of SBC engines in early Ford hot rods.
1). The Ford Y-block was introduced in 1954, and the SBC a year later in 1955, so availability is not a major factor.
2). The SBC engine was an easier swap into the early Fords because of it being shorter. This is a major factor.
3). The easier installation kept the cost of the swap down, and made it a more attractive option for hot rodders.
4). Because it was done a lot more often, the SBC swap became what we now call "traditional".

The argument over which engine is "better" is pointless and irrelevant. If we are wanting to build in a manner that parallels the pre-'65 era, using a SBC engine definitely fits (pun intended). It is not about Ford versus Chevrolet. It is more about the way it was, and that should be all that matters.......

My thoughts???
Do your homework, and use the engine that best suits your skill level, your budget, your passion, and your final vision. Do now what you will still be happy with in 10 years time. It is always more cost effective to do it once and then just enjoy it.....

 

Less than $100 difference. The price argument is done. It's all personal preference.

 

This is just pure ignorance. Small Block Ford is just as easy to get parts for as a SBC.

 

Next thing people will be talking guys out of chopping their car because it's harder than leaving it stock... "it will be harder to find glass!"

 

Here’s a 49 merc with a SBF in my bone yard.
Crude but era friendly

filter is tight. But that’s an easy issue to handle.

front sump pan. Sits at a bad angle. Rear sump pan would drop it a lot.

Has a good bit of room above the drag link

 

Silly boys ,if you are running points the best engine is the one with a front mounted distributor..