Want to replace the flatty in my Model A with Mercruiser 4 cylinder. Pretty sure the trans is a 39 ford. How difficult is this, and what adapter, clutch, pressure plate and flywheel will I need. Any tips from those with experience?
Watching this. Cuz we have a Mercruiser engine in a boat here. And even though in the past I've said I wouldn't want to use a small engine in a hot rod, maybe in something like a stockish looking '20s or '30s four-door sedan, I would.
I actually covered this in my model A build thread before I changed coarse. Here is the short version! 1: fits like a glove! I used a 39 trans and a stock A rear and torque tube. - you need v8 u joint cups/shells to put the A torque tube to the v8 trans btw- With a stock valve cover I didn’t even need to touch the firewall at all. Even the radiator neck lines up nice. I made front mounts to clear my steering but there are a variety of options. 2: the swap is exactly the same as a small block chevy. You need a sbc to early ford adapter aka speed gems etc and a 50 merc pressure plate. It’s all the same as the v8 swap as far as that goes. I made a wishbone ball holder onto my trans mount using two cups and some plate. 100% flat floor as stock! swaps been done a shit ton of times but that’s the short version. I believe the only place making the pressure plate currently is…. Slipping my mind but I’m sure it’ll be posted. Everyone else stopped a few years ago. Another option is use the ford pressure plate and drill the chevy flywheel to have the ford pattern on it as well. The Chevy flywheel is 168 teeth I think? oh, little edit. The very top hole on the trans adapter doesn’t have a corresponding hole in the back of the block. No big deal. I actually Cut the tab off for it to clear the lower firewall better
The engine- transmission connection is standard Chevy with a 153 tooth flywheel up to 1990. If you had a 3.0L built after 1991 it takes a 168 tooth flywheel. So the sky is the limit to what you can put it in.
You got the short version, here's the 117 page version The elusive 224/3.7 MerCruiser banger | The H.A.M.B.
Ft. Wayne Clutch is where mine came from. Borg and Beck PP #1310 for 49-51 Merc. Call and talk to Lou. Core charges are way high. Flywheel is 168 tooth to match your crank bolt pattern. Used a Cragar Chevy to early Ford V8 trans. another option that was posted on here. Probably cheaper than Ft. Wayne https://kyclutch.com/
WHOA GUYS!!! The MerCruiser 224/3.7 IS NOT A DIRECT BOLT IN as it is basically 1/2 of a 460" Ford, & is roughly 5" too long to go into a stock Model "A". (I'm in the middle of the same problem where I had to cut my firewall). If you want to use a 4 cyl that is compatible, there is a 181" MerCruiser known as "3.0L" that is Chevrolet based, & will fit almost anywhere the SBC does without cutting the firewall, & it responds to "hop-up" mods just like any other SBC, & the bellhousings/flywheels/transmissions are "bolt-up"... Hope this helps! And, yes, I love the big MerCruiser, but it has been a real PIA learning how to make it work in a '28 Model "A"!!!
Good catch we all assumed he was referring to the Chevy based 153 and 181 cid motors. Pre iron Duke aka the Chevy ii four banger
By all rights, Mercruiser made 2.5, 3.0L and 3.7L engines, all known as Mercruiser 4cyls. He didn’t specify and the old GM based 4cyls are far more common
Good and complete details when you ask a question get good and complete answers. On the other hand I have never heard of putting any "Merccruiser" engine except the Chevy 4 banger in a Model A or other smaller early rod.
there is a entire thread on the making the 3.7 usable . Its not a simple thing but is doable but the engine is huge compared to the 2.5 and 3.0 I have the 2.5, 3.0 and 3.7 sitting in the garage . I hope to use the 3.0 in a track T one of these day . the 3.0 is used in a lot of industrial stuff like fork lifts , boom lifts like in a JLG and sweepers and other stuff. A company called PSI retrofitted 1000's of these for industrial use so boats are not the only source and the industrial stuff has some interesting intake and exhaust manifold options . there are other companies that made these ready for industrial use as well . OMC boats also used the 2.5 and 3.0 like MerCruiser did In another thread I post a link for a vacuum advance distributer also for the 2.5 and 3.0 If buying a boat engine look really good for freeze cracks as many are cracked jsut below the deck line . I have two with bad blocks
I have the 181 cubic inch, 4 cylinder Mercruiser marine in my '32. Worked out great. It is easier with a '32 since the '39 trans bolts in and the brake and clutch pedals are mounted on the K-member. Unlike most conversions you will find the fan is too far from the radiator and you need an extension. Attached also are pictures of my throttle assembly and motor mount (using a stock GM rubber biscuit). I was told the stock marine cam wasn't the best choice for the street but I have been running one. I am currently running a head from a 153 since I haven't got around to making manifolds for the 181 head. Charlie Stephens
What vacuume advance distributor did you use? Original chevy car units like in the Nova are hard to find. I had a link to one I posted in another thread . No idea if I'd actually get it if ordered .
[QUOTE="Charlie Stephens, post: 15605016, [/QUOTE] Charlie do you have a build thread with more info on your car?
I put a S10 pickup 2.5 l, 151 cubic inch engine in my Model A coupe. The only reason I didn't use a Chevy II/Mercruiser style engine is that I didn't find one easily when I was doing the build. I bought a complete S10 pickup out of a salvage yard and the engine and transmission went into the model A. By the time I had pirated out and sold some other parts and eventually the carcass of the S10 pickup I had about $300 in my engine and transmission without any rebuild necessary other than new gaskets in a rattle can rebuild. I put quite a few miles on it, not tens of thousands, but quite a few miles and I'm very happy with the way it drives and handles. Steering is nice and easy too with the little lightweight 4 cylinder instead of the extra weight of a V8. The short story is I would do pretty much the exact same thing again but still would lean to the Chevy II/ MerCruiser engine if I found one. Actually I have a freshened up 153 sitting under my workbench right now. Mild Cam and a Rochester 2gc carburetor on the MerCruiser manifold that was cut down to be intake only. I built a tri-Y header for the exhaust. Lynn
Charlie do you have a build thread with more info on your car?[/QUOTE] Actually I did the conversion 50 years ago (seems just like yesterday), long before anyone thought of build threads. Charlie Stephens
A couple of years ago I picked up a cheap '90 Iron Duke from an S10 that the guy had pulled for his project but never used. It only has around 60k on the engine and came with a t5. My plans are to put it in my 29 model a when I get to that build. @lake_harley was kind enough to send me pictures of his 2.5l install in his model a which I'm going to lean on when I start my build. I think it's going to be a good combination, but we'll see....
70 MPH on I-55 this morning to have breakfast with our daughter and her husband on his birthday. 3.55 rearend with a 1:1 top gear 4 speed that looks like a T-5. My post about my model A may have left the impression that I used the S10 engine and the T-5 that was in the donor pickup, but I actually used a equivalent looking 4-speed. RPM buzz up pretty good at 70 MPH, but it works. If memory serves the S10 with the t5 had a 3.73 gear. In 5th it would be around a 3.00 to 3.23 in 5th. Lynn
I put a 181 mercruiser in my 30 model A roadster. I had to fabricate an intake and exhaust manifolds, thermostat housing with integral fan support, motor mounts using Ford biscuit type mounts and a transmission tail stock housing. I used a Tremec T170 fully syncro top loader four speed taken out of a four wheel drive jeep. I retained the mechanical brakes but did upgrade to cast iron drums. I also retained the enclosed drive shaft but did have to shorten it 6.25". I didn't cut the frame or cross members but I did have to cut and modify the brake shaft to clear the transmission. It was a fair amount of work but well worth it. The car has plenty of power to pull hills and cruises down the freeway easily at 65 mph turning 2400 rpm.
Worth noting Jim Jacob’s has a Chevy ii 4 banger in his newest A roadster as well with mechanical brakes. Featured in the last issue of the rodders journal but you can’t see much in the photos.
The Jim Jacob's car is what inspired me to do this. I just need to be sure I get the best (SIMPLEST/EASIEST) engine for me to do this swap. I still have the (I think) 39 Ford transmission and a transverse leaf rear end (don't know the year), but I'm running 40 Ford wheels. Would like to keep the trans and rear end for the sake of easy. My dad built this in 1961-1962 and isn't around for me to ask questions anymore. Sounds like the 3.0 and 2.5 are better candidates for my swap. I am VERY grateful to all who have contributed to getting this done.
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