Engine swap for 51 Merc

I have a 1951 Merc with its stock flathead and manual trans. My age and health, 73, makes it difficult to use the clutch. In your opinion, which newer engine and auto trans would present the easiest swap for my car. I, of course, would save the flathead for some eventual buyer of the car in the future. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

The most common engine/transmission swap to automatic is the Chevy 35O engine with the Chevy 350 transmission. However, I don't think you still use the stock Mercury steering column.
Why not keep the flathead and put in a Chevy 350 transmission? That way you save money on the engine and still keep the flatty. Here's some info. Give H&H Flatheads a call. http://www.handhflatheads.com/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=2&Itemid=127 Also call WILCAP. http://www.wilcap.com/index.html
This has been done and kits are available, I believe.

 

A ford C-4 transmission can also be adapted to the flathead I believe. Flat-O adapter comes to mind. Some modern engines are so long that they require moving the radiator forward and you'd likely have to change radiators anyway. Engine mounts would have to be fabbed to fit another motor in there. Purchasing an adapter and putting an automatic behind the flathead might be the easiest solution. There are some Merc-O-Matic type brake pedals out there too but a person could modify the original for a larger pedal for the brake. A Merc-O-Matic steering column could be used to get your shifting done but you will have to do some looking to find one. The driveshaft can be fabricated to correct length so that's not too big an issue. Mercs had a removable rear trans mount for both early and late 51 so that could be made to work or fab another one that does.

 

I have a 51 Merc. my Dad bought new, We drive our cars long distance and want to just drive and not have any trouble, We are putting a 283 Chevy with a powerglide because the Merc was a 2 speed automatic and the shiter will work. I know some one will chime in and tell me how great flatheads are , maybe they would be OK in a light roadster, but not in a heavy Murcury. the fllathead had 100 HP and the 283 has 220 . I road thousand of miles in that merc, pulling a trailer and I remember going up hills at 10 MPH and my mothers eyes glued at the temp. gauge. Chris

 

Well as you didn's say what condition the flathead is in I'm going to assume that it is most likely solid but due for a rebuild.

I ran a 350 Olds with a turbo 350 in my 51 Merc for a number of years and it wasn't a hard install and the engine cleared the radiator in stock location.

Still if the engine is in great shape and you just want to cruise it locally I'd go with swapping in an automatic as 19Fordy or Rotorwrench mentioned above.
The cost will be about the same, the car will still have the flathead and if a future buyer decides they want to go back to the original stick trans it should be a simple swap back. That swap would also most likely make for the shortest down time.

Still you have to build it for you and what you want to do with it and not for us and what we like.

 

Thank you for all your comments. I'm going to look at both options, 1. Just changing out the trans and 2. Motor and trans swap.