1952-59 Ford 53 Mercury engine swap

Ive searched & ive read the faq sticky but would like some more personal experience on a solid cruiser motor for my merc. It came to me with a SBC (350). Im a chevy guy but have nothing against ford & im not asking for the chevy vs ford debate.
History:
Motor ran ok when i got it & drove decent. I decided to tear down front end to rebuild & it all dominoed. Lol.
Ended up with an oil pan full of choco milk that wreaked of fuel. The 350 is tired & needs a rebuild.
Before i throw money at a sbc, what motors fit best with stock steering setup? I scored a hurst drop drag link that fits nice but it hangs a little low for my taste with my ride height.
I honestly think ive over read the subject for which fords fit best & mods to fit a sbc. Not looking for a "500hp monster", just a good cruiser thats not a slow poke either. I know this is long winded & ill probably get the same responses ive been reading but you never know...

Thanks!

 

Click on the "Sticky FAQ" at the top of the page,click on page 4 and scroll down to posts 97-99 you will see pictures of a 5.0 Ford install in a '53 Ford the 1952-53 Mercury uses the same mount kit http://www.butchscoolstuff.com/52-53-ford-car-15-sb-ford-engine-transmission-mount-kit-2501cpb/ Also notice the steering box clearance using the Hedman 88400 headers. You do not need a dropped tie rod with this swap using the later Fox Body 5.0 dual sump oil pan. I helped this guy all through the swap on a facebook forum if you use a C4 transmission no problems with clearance the AOD does require some minor mods to the floors tunnel. I helped a guy a while back on the main board here in a '53 Merc the same suggestions apply. I ***ume the radiator used with the Chevy has the lower hose on the p***enger side if you look at the pictures I linked you too you will notice this Ford has the early 1966-69 "short" water pump which also has a p***enger side lower hose so you can keep the radiator you have.

 

Ok cool. That was my main thing was wondering the differences between ford/merc. Also (me not being a ford guy) will that 5.0 motor move a heavy merc decent enough? I got into the idea of an FE motor but dont know much abt them so i decided to shoot for ease of install with least amount of butchering possible as a start point. Ill go check out the post you mentioned.
Thanks for the input!

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

The 5.0 won't have any problem moving the Merc,the curb weight of your Merc is 3570 lbs compare that to a 2005 Mustang GT that weighs in a 3614 lbs. Also the 5.0 weighs about 100 lbs less than the '53 Merc flat head (free H.P.)

 

I'm doing the 5.0 swap out of an Explorer/Mountaineer right now. Watch for my threads and it may save you some lumps. I'm sure I will take the majority of them....

 

Will the dual sump bolt up to any 302 block?

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Also (while im bugging you with Qs)
I know the 351 is a bit bigger than 302 but how does it fit against the drag link/steering? Thats really my main concern.
Just curious. Ill go bigger motor if it doesnt cause too much more chaos with fitment.
Thanks again.

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Thanks. I appreciate the heads up. Ill keep a look out for updates. What are you putting it in?

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

55 customline

 

The extra width of the 351W puts the exhaust closer to the steering box some of the guys that have done 351W swaps in a 52-56 can offer you some solutions,other than that no differences over a 5.0/302 maybe the cost of this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Racin...792436&hash=item1e9dfffbeb:g:KggAAOSwoPpaYP2S

 

Man, ive been researching like crazy lately. A lot of great info here btw! Thanks! I was looking into 351s & then got sidetracked & started looking at FEs....too many options. But from what ive gathered, if im looking for a good combo for lots of use & miles (daily) it sounds like the 302/c4 combo has the best bang per buck. I like the idea of the FEs but sounds like higher cost to build/parts not as easy to get/and they're quite heavy motors. That sound about right?

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I am a FE guy and have decent inventory of parts and it still cost me a lot of money to build my latest FE.
I would think fittment of an FE would be a lot more work as well.
If I were starting from scratch, I would lean toward the 302 C4 combo....but the FE does look pretty cool under the hood!

 

"Lots of use & miles daily" Go with an AOD instead of the C4 if you will be running the highways the overdrive will gain about 3-4 MPG. Best AOD's were 1989-93 they had all the later upgrades and were non-computer, EPA average highway for a 1990 Crown Vic for example is 24 MPG and that is heavier than your Merc is.

 

I run a stout SBC in my '59, take some flack for it but IDGAF about that. I really wanted a 351C for it, but had trouble locating a decent core locally. Plus I had most of the GM parts on hand already for the swap. The 4-speed option made it easier on my end over an automatic. I did swap a 351W and FMX into a '68 Mustang and ran into floor interference issues with the cast iron FMX case. I did toss a C4 into it, lots more room. For the '54 I'd agree that a 302 and AOD would be a good choice.

 

Thanks. Ill look more into the AOD. i was leaning towards c4 because i gathered the AOD may require some trans tunnel cutting due to its size compared to c4. But ill check it out. Thanks again

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Yea. Ive got the sbc that came with the car and i had planned on running it but it seems the sbf will fit alot better with stock steering. I was going to spend the $ to rebuild it anyways...so i figure ill just find a good sbf & use that. Ive never been a "purist" when it come to mix & match motors to cars. Just whatever works. Thanks for the info.

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Yea. Thats what i was thinking. They do look great! Its real easy to get overly ambitious when dreaming up motors...lol

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

One of the guys I helped on facebook through his swap in a '53 posted pictures of his tunnel but he also used a B&M Hammer floor shift,is your Merc an automatic or stick now ? Here are some pictures #1 shows the AOD on the stock cross member, He cut the hole a little larger than needed he explained.

 

AOD in a '53

 

Oh ok. Yea, doesnt look like you need to modify it very much. Mine was column shift auto. But i may swap out to an aftermakert column anyways so ill be able to decide then. Thanks for the pics & info!

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Your stock Merc column will work fine with a C4 or AOD with only a minor tweak. The car in the pictures was a stick at one time. You do need the Lokar TV cable for the AOD though.

 

Yea. This had a 350/350 when i picked it up. Had a lokar column shift kit on original column. The steering wheel spline & threads at top of column are badly chewed up (from POs). I found that out after i kept having to re-tighten the wheel nut. It would loosen up & the wheel would get wobbly.
So ill either go aftermarket or replace the original inner shaft.

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I'm an old school hotrodder, we used what we had around the shop. The SBC installation was actually easier than doing a Ford swap. All of the Ford mounting points are intact, just made up a plate adapter for trans mount and motor mounts that bolt to the Ford crossmember pads. Like I said earlier in in the project, I had looked at a Boss 351 but bailed on it. It had spent years outside and was missing the main caps and almost everything else. I still have an eye peeled for a 351C and a top loader.

 

Might be a good time to kill two birds with one stone,eliminate the "deadly spear" with a later column here's food for thought http://fordfalcon2000.com/restoration/tiltcolumn.htm And maybe these options ? https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/power-steering-add-on.1019325/

 

Yea. Thats definately been a thought in my mind as far as safety

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I did the SBF swap into my '53. It was pretty easy using the stuff I learned here and the Butch's mounts. Currently swapping out the toploader 4 spd for a race prepped C4 with a trans brake. I smoked the clutch out of it a week ago in SC and cracked an ear on the 4 spd so I'm done screwing around with it... If you have the shorter measurement 15 vs 17) I have a brand new set of Butch's mounts that I would let go since I ordered the wrong ones and painted the brackets...

 

Thanks for the info. Man, thats a good looking car! Too cool!
Im not sure which mounts i need. Ill take the measurement tonight and let you know. Either way, i appreciate the offer! Thanks again.

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Here is the link to the measurements,note that the difference between the 15" & 17" also determines which oil pan you will use (see notes) http://www.butchscoolstuff.com/52-53-ford-car-15-sb-ford-engine-transmission-mount-kit-2501cpb/

 

Thanks. I was just over there reading up on that. Much appreciated

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Is this measurement to bottom side of xmember (flange) or to top side of crossmember?
Im abt 15" where bottom of xmember meets frame & almost 17" where top meets frame...?

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app