Technical 1949 mercury 350 chevy Saginaw 3 speed swap questions

If I pull the flathead out of my mercury I plan to use a shoebox central engine mount kit. Question is this, has anyone swapped a 3 speed Saginaw behind their 350 chevy and kept it 3 ok the tree with the mercury linkage? Can it be done?

 

Anyone?

 

Tony, I put a SBF in my 53 Ford and used a 3-speed top loader with the original linkage. Just start out with the column shift arms being in neutral and see what modifications you need to make to the linkage and/or the transmission shift arms. I welded some fine thread rod to the column end of my linkage and had some threaded buttons made for the column shift arms so I could fine tune it.

 

Thank you for the reply.

 

@Mopar Tony , you're not going to do that to the '51 Merc you just got are you??

Dave

 

@Some Guy
He has a '50 with a 283 and a GM 3spd O/D. I think he made his own Z bar.

 

I start by taping the column shifter to the steering wheel in the neutral gate three o'clock position. Transmission in neutral. As above, the gentleman threaded rod as I did using female threaded heim joints with a threaded male side to attach to the transmission shifter arms. You may have to bend the rods a bit to follow the line from the engine compartment pivot point on the column to the shifter arms on the side of the transmission. There are several variations of Saginaw transmission shift arms, some of which are offset, others have provision for multiple positions and are rectangular in shape with several holes. It takes time but is so worth it when it shifts better than the factory and doesn't bind. I have over 100k miles on my column shifter and love it. By the way, I originally had the Muncie 319 3sp+od and now have the Saginaw/Borg-Warner 3sp+od, both shift(ed) marvelously. Good luck.

 

The shift linkage isn't difficult, just read what Cosmo49 wrote and figure it out from there Low-reverse rod from the column works the low reverse lever on the trans and the 2-3 rod works the 2-3 lever. the issue may be if the Saginaw levers don't line up with what the Merc levers would have been orientation wise.

That should be the simple part. the harder part is going to be figuring out how to work the clutch with the 49 clutch pedal that works like earlier flatheads or F-1 trucks. The Merc clutch shaft turns the clutch fork while the Chevy clutch setup pushes back on the fork that pivots on the clutch ball and pushes the throwout bearing forward. This being a 49/50 OD trans.

 

This is a rather grubby 49 Merc OD trans that you can see the clutch fork on and see that it works the same as the earlier Ford transmissions. Maybe someone has it figured out how to rig up clutch linkage but I don't remember seeing it without changing the bellhousing. That isn't easy or cheap because you have to have the Chevy engine to flathead adapter and the partial bellhousing that replaces the bell on the Merc trans.
Thinking on it a bit you might be able to fab a Z bar setup where you put an arm on the Merc clutch shaft that pushes a rod that goes to the Z bar that in turn pushes the clutch.

 

I plan to yes

 

I honestly love that idea but not sure where to get this adapter from. Do they make this adapter? When I google it all I see is pre 48 trans adapters.

 

I found this on ebay, but it says for early chevy so won't work for a 350?



VINTAGE TRANSMISSION ADAPTER FOR OLDER CHEVROLET ENGINE WITH THE CAST IRON SPACER ON BACK OF ENGINE AND STARTER BOLTED TO THE SPACER 1962 AND DOWN I BELIEVE TO FORD 1949 TO 1964 TRANSMISSION , VERY NICE CONDITION

 

This one does in fact say to 50 mercury, but since mine is a 51 it won't work?
Also, do you think the 350 chevy will grenade this transmission?

 

Pretty sure they changed the Mercury trans between 50 and 51
The 51 is like a 50 ford trans and doesn’t have the large bell like a 39 ford trans
Also you’ll gain synchro low with the Saginaw 3 speed
Hope you get it worked out
I think all early customs should have column shift

 

the mercury trans and linkage wewr changed to the ford 4 bolt in mid 51. i had a late 51.

the clutch linkage is the main issue. that may not be that big of an issue though.

 

I did look at the stuff you posted, I see that it says early 51. The thing I saw said only 49 and 50. I guess I need to get under mine and see if I have a early or late trans. IF I have the early trans it looks like all I will have to do is change motor and use adapter?

 

Can you tell if this is a early or late? This is the best pic I could get laying in my side.

 

Dang I need a trans like that

 

So @Mopar Tony , Where's the Mopar part come in? If ya gotta change that beautiful Merc, put a 340 in it.

Dave

 

The adapter is not the problem, the borg & beck pressure plate to bolt up to the Chevy flywheel is non existent now

 

My 51 had the late trans.
Pulled an early out of a parts car to do this

swap meet speed gems adapter. Came with the pilot adapter.
I had the correct gm flywheel that accepts the Borg and Beck pressure plate.
Can give ya the casting number if needed
Gm trans mount is much cheaper than the merc
Homemade mounts

55/56 manifolds

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/bought-a-mercury-on-purpose.1284871/