Has anyone stuffed a 390 and a C6 in a 54 merc or ford. I'm about to do it. It's NOT my first engine swap but I'm to to proud to take some advise. Thanks Ian
Set the engine in correctly, level, straight, the get a beer, sit on a bucket and look at it. Is it going to be like a Chinese puzzle to get access for service? If the exh. manifold doesn't work, there are other 390 man. that may. Watch clearances, brake lines, exhaust, steering gear. Remember you're the one that most likely will be working on it when it's finished. Keep it simple, safe and as easily worked on as possible. It doesn't have to be "cookie-cutter".Some things may have to be re-engineered, swapped, rerouted..good luck.
It used to be a common swap to put the 390 into the 1955 and 1956 Fords. I don't know what frame differences there are for the 1954 Ford or Mercury compared to them. Someone around here should have experience with this swap..
You can even use the same engine mounts (if Y8) I do believe, just need to put them in backwards. Dunno what you need to do for the transmission, but the engine is about as easy as a Y-block.
It's easier with the 1954 Ford because of the redesigned suspension which was a big improvement over the 52/53 Fords. You may have to change or modify the oil pan but it's not that difficult. You might check out JeffB2 social group 52-59 Ford,,someone over there has probably done this swap in the past. HRP
Like I said, its more or less a drop in. I think you'll just need to flip the motor mounts. Ford designed the FE to be a drop in, as they're from the same YOP, and its easier to make two set ups than three. http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/thread/1289715502/390+to+replace+292- That link should help a little bit
Years ago we stuck a 352 and a t-10 into a 54. Like CC said I think we flipped the motor mounts had to put a different pilot bearing in the fly wheel or something similar, but did it over a weekend under the infamous tree in the back yard
I have a 390 with and C6 in my 54. It fits like a glove. it is tight but awesome when it is done. I would remove the front of the car and the rad for sure before you did it. The old rad was recored and I am still using it. I don't live in the hottest climate but have driven it 19 hours to Vegas a few times. Vic
I put a 351C and C6 in a '52 Merc. If your thinking of adding power steering do it at the same time as setting the motor in place. It gets crowded on the left side. Also plan to modify the oil pan for center link clearance. I know it's not the 390 you asked about but maybe this will help
This thread may be old but I'd like to add my experience with building a 54 Merc with an FE engine. In 1968 just as I began driving I inherited a mint condition 1954 Mercury Monterrey Coupe. I had been saving money to buy a car but inheriting the Merc allowed me to spend $$$$ on upgrading performance. A family member had connections with Ford as did our mechanic. I was able to buy a Holman & Moody built 1967 427 with Tunnel Port Heads. The Dyno papers rated it with 520HP at the flywheel. It was mated to top loader 4 speed and installed in the Mercury. We swapped out the rear end with a heavier unit and that completed the conversion. By late spring 1968 the Merc was road ready. Simply put there was nothing coming directly from Detroit that could touch it. It routinely ran low 13's 1/4 mile on horrid street tires. There was a plethora of hot rodded 55-57 Chevys in my area and some were big block 409 and 396. The 3,600lb Merc made short work of the lighter Chevys. The car was something of a sleeper in that I retained the normal wheels (with whitewall tires and full hubcaps. The only external clue were large dual pipes out the back. I drove that car for around 18 months selling it to our mechanic when I went away to college. The 427 ended up in his boat and the Merc is said to still be around fitted with a 351. So it survived. It was great ride.
I seem to recall there was an in-depth article in either Hot Rod or Car Craft magazine back around '63 to '65, it may have been in the Q&A column where Ford parts #s were given to do this swap. As others have stated, motor mounts were swapped side-to-side and there were exhaust manifolds and perhaps a cross member involved but at the end of the day it was a complete bolt-in using the right parts. About 20 years ago in PA I saw a black '54 Coupe, original paint with a 406 tri-power and a 4-speed, looked like everything was done back around '64 and I said yeah, that's The Shit. This WAS the fastest car in town.
Front sump pan drops right in. '58 Ford 352 engine mounts, like they say, 'reversed'. (mounts are offset, to move engine fore-or-aft about 3/4"?) As someone suggested above, have front removed, that C6 tranny will be real close to tunnel. I had a 427 side oiler in a white '54 Ford Coupe in 1969. Car was monsterously fast... It was a 'bolt-in'. 3 speed stick overdrive. Chevy eater... My new one is another '54 coupe, this time one of my son's 406 monsters. Slowly coming together, parts for 406 aren't as easy to find as before. 6V system $2,000, so I'll use the 2X4 setup...
Damn! Because it was only around for 2 years people forget what a beast it was. 385 or 405 HP right out of the box? Please tell us more about your son's 406s, a lot more.
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