Very good. Be sure to check the block surface for cracks at the water jackets and valves after you pull the heads. Flatheads are notorious for cracks. The cracks even come with their own part numbers. Does it smoke? Are the water passages rusted? You should get the block magnafluxed when you get the chance. Chances are good that your block is good but still need to be on the careful side. Be sure to compare shop if you buy your own engine parts but don't be a cheap skate either. Good luck.
Remember that the stamped bellhousing for Merc takes a 10" clutch and the cast bellhousing for the trucks accepts an 11" clutch or the 10" Merc clutch. Either one needs its own starter plate to function properly.
It was looking like we were all going to be too polite to mention the cracks. That's the first thing you do, man, check for cracks. Even a "running" engine can have cracks in to the cylinders.
I think I got confused by the term 1/2 truck bellhousing. I was thinking horizontally half but it must mean vertically. So I presume that the bellhousing shown is what I need? I sure hope so...
It is not the face where the transmission bolts on that is angled.....it is the area on the lower front side of the bell housing where the starter plate bolts on that is slightly angled. The starter mounting flange on the plate for that particular bell housing ‘corrects’ that angle to keep the starter shaft centerline parallel with the crankshaft centerline. This ‘angle’ thing only applies to certain stamped steel bell housings used with the small transmission bolt pattern...... not to the cast iron truck or ‘49-‘50/‘51 Mercury stamped ( so called 1/2 bell housings) for the older style transmission large diameter mounting flange. There is an excellent thread, posted several years ago, that details in text and photos, all of the bell housing variations used by Ford and Mercury cars, Ford trucks and both V8 & 6 cylinder models. If you have any bell housing questions it is worth the time to do a search for that thread. Ray
Nice. Your lucky to have found one that was running. As others have mentioned, look for cracks after you pull the heads. These engines are now 70 years old, and really should go through a complete cleaning and rebuild if you are going to use it in anything. Probably not what you want to hear. I recently had mine rebuilt (short block), and it was a great learning experience researching for and purchasing most of parts myself. Whatever you dump into you are likely to get back if you ever decide to sell it as well. Good luck with your project. You made the right choice going with the flathead.
Rolling On Ground Laughing. I googled it for ya. To the OP how you proceed depends on what you plan on doing with it I suppose. For general use I think I would first make sure that it is not stuck then open it up to see how clean it is. If its all glunked up or all rusted up (2 ends of the spectrum and common for any old engine) I would tear it apart and clean the hell out of it then go from there.
Thank you for the clarification. I remembered that something was at an angle and makes sense now that you explain it.
Flathead Dave I was wondering how to see who is in NJ. Can’t figure that out. Someone else mentioned it but could find the “person head” he was referring to. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
If the profile page is filled out, the town will show under the avatar. You can also go to the upper left corner of the HAMB page, click on the three torso's and type in a member's name.
Hnstray, Sorry about the confusion over my bell housing,,,I should have stated it is for my 49 Merc. It was sold to me as a 50 model Merc housing,,,but I’m not sure on that either. I know the housing and starter plate are a matched pair,,,the rust and dirt pattern match up perfectly. But,,,according to the Van Pelts site,,,the starter plate is a Ford and not a Merc. The clutch diagram matches the 49-51 assembly for a V8,,,,,but not the Merc 49-51,,,or the Merc 52-54. It must be a Ford bell. It has a reinforced gusset in the plate,,,like the Ford did. Either way,,,it is in great shape and is the style of bell housing I wanted. Tommy
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