Hello, I have a 1951 mercury with what I believe to be the factory engine, the transmission on the other hand I’m not sure about, my question is what transmission do I have and what starter do I need?? This is what came with the car but it grinds gears and sometimes doesn’t engage at all, most resent the starter quit working all together, I go to start the car and you can hear it spinning but not engaging, any help would be awesome?
Looks like a 49-early 51 non OD 3speed Regular flathead starter 1st gear isnt synchronized so it growls at ya sometimes
Pull the starter, if it’s the same as I have there is a large keyed washer , 2 actually on either end of the bendix spring, the outside washer split. I beat the washer back into shape and stitch with the mig, little cleanup and traded positions with the inside washer which doesn’t seem too beat up and reassemble, but I’m cheap. There are 2 different bendix types (that I’m aware of) and the shafts on the starters are different lengths so not something you can just swap
I will take the starter out tomorrow and send more pics of it, the shaft moves from side to side A little more than it should maybe, I’ve read where they say it should move at all ? The starter would grind sometimes when you would try starting the car, sometimes the car would only start if I would hit the start button a few times really quick as that was the only way it would engage
The one item not correct is the starter plate, which should have an attachment to the oil pan's three studs. It's hard to really make sure with your pictures, but check that the starter is parallel with the oil pan and not angled "up" from using a '49-'51 Ford angled starter plate.
There were several different starter plates used in conjunction with the 1/2 bell housing on an 8ba. They are different than the ones used on full 8ba bell housings. You need a plate that has the mounting surface for the starter that is parallel to the plate itself. Not at angle. The photos show the 2 different types. From what I can see from your photos your starter plate has the correct orientation and should work even if it doesn't have the plate that bolts to the pan. If not others will correct me. I do know that a plate from a full bell house that is at angle will cause the starter to lock up. Don't ask me how I know.
Something is wrong with mine because it was grinding pretty good when trying to start, and I just took the starter apart and the shaft is snapped in half
Your starter looks like the starter pad is not angled with the additional pictures, but I would still try and find the correct starter plate that also bolts to the oil pan, as pictured by Anthony above. What may cause problems is the absence of a small support bracket that connects one of the starter bolts to an oil pan bolt, keeping the starter from moving, like the one below. https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/tr...AfmBOopEZiOvqbRwJhP2vFGEzIdKtSwFF-heRLQdrv7O3
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