Hey ya'll! Very happy to be a part of this social group. I was fortunate enough to pick up a beautiful 1956 Mercury Medalist last spring. It was missing the original 312 Y block and transmission when I obtained it. I was finally able to buy a 352/cruiseomatic combo from a 1965 Galaxie 500 that I'm attempting to drop in it. I've read several threads on here about this swap and have started some general conversations which has lead me to this group. My first attempt to drop this in was unsuccessful. I flipped the original mounts that came on the 65' 352 180degress and tried that. They were close and brought it away from the firewall but my oil pan bottomed out on my cross member about an 1inch before the mount bolt dropped into the bottom engine mount hole on the cross member. I've been told to look at original 56 mounts and that they can bolt into 2 of the holes on my FE. I'm currently looking at these mounts but not sure if they'll do the trick. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Ford-FE-Series-Big-Block-V8-Rubber-Motor-Mounts,61974.html It also looks like I could use a spacer to bring the engine higher up to hit the top bolt hole on the cross member. If anyone has experience with this particular swap and could provide any insight I would be super grateful! Based off of what I saw with the first dry fit, it looks like I'll be running into other clearance issues. I'd love to hear what you guys have done in the past. Much respect, Sage
While I haven't done this swap I believe the mounts they are talking about are these: https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_...d-272-and-292-and-312-and-332-and-352-v8.html
That Link takes you to a Corvette page ?? Maybe this is what should have come up ? https://www.ebay.com/itm/55-56-57-FORD-272-292-312-8-CYLINDER-MOTOR-MOUNTS-PAIR/230753476469?fits=Year:1956|Make:Ford&hash=item35b9fa9f75:g:nO4AAMXQ2UVQ8Gy6:sc:USPSPriorityMailPaddedFlatRateEnvelope!85037!US!-1
I installed a 390/C6 combo in my 56 Fairlane. Car is nearing completion, but the engine is in and running. I used the 56 mounts. I can't remember where the modified trans cross member came from. The engine has to sit pretty close to the firewall. I shimmed the motor mounts up 1/4" to help my headers clear. I made my own headers. I had to make brackets to move the aluminum radiator forward and made my own fan shroud. Making the headers was definitely the hardest part. According to some forums there are options out there to buy. The rest just took some thinking, but not too hard. I can try and post some pictures if you need.
I appreciate the comment Todd!! This sounds exactly in line with what I’ve heard from others and what I saw after the first attempt. I have some 56mounts and on the way here. I already have headers which I was stoked for, doubt they’ll fit based of what I’m seeing and hearing please send photos if ya got em’!
Sorry it took a while. Pardon the dust/mess, I’m still doing some body work/paint. I was going for a “stock” look, as though Ford built it this way.
Those photos are great and super helpful, I really appreciate them. Yeah if you can do the mounts that would be great. Here's what I'm running into: When I dropped the engine in it fell right between the two slots on my crossmember. I guess I could just drill out a spot right between the two? However, I would like it to drop in the top slot. I mocked up some wood blocks last night and think that I can shim the engine up to the top bolt hole by machining out a 1/2 inch plate that will go between the mounts and the engine block. I'll design it to have 3 grab locations for the block as well instead of just the two. Seems like it should work right?
You could do what we have been doing for years with the SBF swaps: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/media/albums/289-302-351w-swap-mounts.41498/ We started slotting the mounts because in a lot of cases the holes would line up and in a quite a few they did not line up we did not have computer accuracy to rely on back in the 50's so adjustments had to be made.
I didn’t have to drill the crossmember at all. The mounts dropped right in. The pics aren’t the best. Let me know if you want anything specific and I’ll see what I can do.
I did the swap in 1967. There was an article in Hot Rod Magazine about it. We reversed the stock 56 mounts. It drops in the holes in the crossmember. We moved the radiator forward. The 3 speed column shift would not allow the transmission to go into reverse. The reverse lever on the column hit the back of the head before the transmission would go into reverse. Drove it without reverse a few days before putting in a floor shift. The Hot Rod article used a 56 Chevy radiator but we used the stock Ford radiator and moved it forward.
Thanks Todd! I finally got the mounts to work. However now I need to relocate the transmission crossmember and unfortunately trying to figure out some headers. I have not came across any of the forums where I could pick up some. Even the shorty headers I picked up were way too big. I really don't want to go back to the stock log style cast iron manifold but I don't know what else to do.
They make cross members and headers: https://www.critesperformanceparts.com/page6 (pricey though) check here also https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Search?query=C6 cross member&facet=GA_TransmissionFamily:C6
This is another header source http://fordpowertrain.com/FPAindex/Fordpassenger1.htm These might be a copycat version https://www.ebay.com/i/283403707457...wHEJdD38RUr16Qz59_zpVh6reZaFV5mYaAsYZEALw_wcB As cheap as these are you might be able to make alterations for fit.
I don't have 1st hand experience with either of the headers Jeff mentioned, but when I was researching the swap people were saying neither fit right without modifications. (They were the only 2 that claim to have any headers that fit). That is why I decided to make my own. There are suppose to be some stock manifolds that fit, but I don't know what they were from.
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