Hey guys I have s line on a 50 Mercury flathead , running last fall when removed from the car Should I go for this or wait for a ford? What advice can the flathead experts give me ? Oh and I Don't have head numbers Thanks ATTACH=full]2841009[/ATTACH] Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The Mercury flathead is more desirable than the Ford flathead because it has a 4" stroke. And if it was recently running I would go for it.
Don't wait too long, someone else will grab that in minute. Does the trans come with it to? Even more reason to grab it as everything will match up. That's a Mercury carb for sure and a 4 blade fan. Some heads will say Mercury on them.
Yes it has a tranny Shifter is setup for 3 or 4 on a tree Not really what I was looking for in a trans Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
A running flathead won't stay around long...go get it. Probably only way to be 100 percent sure is to check stroke. All indications are it is a Merc, in the pics.
If the heads don't say Mercury they will say "8CM" Only sure way is to see if it has a 4" stroke and agree with Slopok that outward appearances sure say Mercury on this engine.
Since it was recently running,pull a head and measure the distance the piston travels from the bottom of the stroke to the piston being all the way to top of block.Usually the Pistons will have a "dome" that will extend above the block and the edge of the piston will be flush ot slightly below the edge of the block.This distance should be 4 inches.Even though there is only 16 cubic inches difference between Ford/Mercury engines,there is a "real" difference in the power and drive ability of a stroker(Merc with 4 in stroke) on the street or the track.Mercury cranks by themselves usually command $250-$350 by themselves depending on condition and availability.
It's hard to see from the pictures, but from the colors on that engine, it has either been rattle-canned with silver paint or or may possibly be a Canadian version with aluminum heads and intake. If so, I'd be ALL over it.
I scored an 8CM last year with the Merc heads that have the Merc man logo on them. Really glad I did. Hope to get to it this year.
Don't buy it. Just send me the info and I will contact the individule and properly scold him for bothering you with such an obscene offer. No charge for my service! g
Exactly. Running means little to nothing. Plan on having to do a full rebuild sooner rather than later and pay accordingly.
It depends on how much the dang thing costs man. It came out running, that doesn't mean it ain't cracked all to hell. And if it is a Mercury and has the 4" crank how do you know that it's good either? People keep paying crazy prices for these old flatheads only to find out they aren't worth the time to tear um down. I finally learned after years of disappointment tearing these greasy ass things apart that the smart money buys one that has be magnafluxed and pressure tested. Yea, it could a good one, I wouldn't count on it.
If the price is good, it's good. Doesn't matter if it's Merc or Ford! Most important thing is: is the block cracked beyond repair?! The value of this thing comes down to the block, and wast case scenario would be, over paying for junk block and a bad Ford crank. And end up with a boat anchor where the only thing salvageable is heads and ignition drive. But Merc crank is a major score! Gearbox ain't bad and that's not a bad mill, it's a late 24 stud. Go lad, go!!
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