292 or 352??? Mercury

Its a canadian built 1962 Mercury Monterey. Instead of a 'w' or 'x' to identify the engine size, the engine code is 'GC', I cant find the meaning of this code anywhere.... Any ideas?

 

Please post the entire VIN, This website should help you decode it.

http://www.mercurystuff.com/pdfs/1962-mercury-identification.pdf

Pretty easy to tell the difference between a 292 and 352. The 292 was a Y-block, It will have a rear mounted distributor and sandwiched center exhaust ports. The 352 is a FE engine. Front Mounted distributor and evenly spaced exhaust ports.

 

Front mounted distributor and evenly spaced exhaust ports so I guess its a 352!! Nice surprise because the person sold it to me said it was a 292. Thanks for the good news, happy friday!

 

Technically the FE is a y-block as well, just not the same family as the earlier, smaller Ford Y-blocks that most people refer to. Best part of the 352 is you now have a big block. They also put 390's in the '62 Monterey's. If it has a stock 4 barrel carb, it quite possibly is a 390. However, There is NO visible external difference between a 352 and 390. You will have to measure bore and stroke to determine exactly what you got. Still, if you plan on building the FE, the 428 crank is a drop in and with a 0.05" bore, you get 410 cubes. There is a ton of aftermarket support for the FE, and the sky quite litterally is the limit. The down side is a properly built FE will p*** eveything but a gas station.

Enjoy your weekend.

 

352

 

i think 352's do not have an alternator boss/hole on front p***. side of block.

generators may have been mounted from the head.

 

390 should have a hole for alt. bracket (prob. round 66)
date code stamp should be on bottom of oil filter boss.
something like a "C**X"

head date codes in between spark plug holes and under valve cover in center of head.

love the FE.

check FE forum for great info.

 

GC = Goofy Canadian? (Kidding) Bigger is better, so 352.

 

I wasn't aware of that one. But the generator on my '62 Monterey with a 352 was mounted down low, opposite of the power steering pump, the mount came off the timing cover, not the head..
Here it is in take-apart mode.

 

352 and all FE have distributor in front, all 239 272 292 312 have a rear mount dist.