Here is a Merc 255 falt head I picked up a week or so ago. I would like to know what the trans is and what would this set up be worth? The engine has a Harmon Collins cam w/ adjustable lifters and a Mallory dual points dizzy, Edmunds dual intake w/ 2 94's on it & Edelbrock heads. It was tore down about 25 years ago and as far as the guy got with it was putting wrinkle paint on the heads. The thing was in boxes and coffee cans when I got it. The guy it came from said the cam and heads came from Honest Charlies speed shop way back in the day. Thought this was kind of neat.
Tranny is late 30s ford passenger or late 30s to '48 ford pickup 3 speed. It's bolted to a merc [49-50] ring bolted to the merc motor.
Rocky nailed what it is...as to what it's worth, well, nothing. Ship it to me, freight pre-paid, & I'll dispose of it properly. You don't want the EPA to find out you've got this sort of stuff lying about...
Are you asking the tranny value, or the whole shebang? I've been trying to sell a similar vintage side-shifter tranny for almost a year, asking $150. Not a lot of demand, lots of people putting modern OD trannies in. Have you run the engine yet? Looks great!
Does the engine turn over? The trans looks to be '38-'39 on the Merc. bellhousing . You can take off the fuel pump tower and look inside with a flash lite and look at the adjusters . as the price goes ,EBAY what can I say if you didn't pay with wife or girlfriend, you got a good deal.
AlbuqF-1; I just picked up a '47 merc. trans for $75 and though it was a good deal. Don't shit can it. it will sell. Randy
I've been known to break those trannys with a stock flatmotor and skinny tires. Better check to see if it has a one-piece cluster gear in it....could be in several pieces like mine were. Still, I'd like to have it for my 33 ford coupe build.
The shift tower doesn't look like it has the double detent so its likely to be '36-'39 gears inside. Its not a '42-'50 1/2 ton truck 3spd as its not open drive. Albug, the top loaders seem to always demand more money. The side shifters are harder to sell even though the gears are the same. Whats funny is that if the cluster gear is in good shape, it usually sells for more than you are asking -- go figure. The other factor in the price is patience. I tried locate a toploader for my '46 1/2 ton but didn't want to spend up to $300 for one from the yards around here. One day on craigslist I found a fellow selling a '48 1/2 ton 6 cyl with trans for $50 -- the trans was the 3spd yea! Plus I got a few bucks off some of the parts from the 6.
Thanks for the the info on this, I really was just curious about what a flat head and trans like this would go for. Dont want to sell it or any of that. but was just curious. I by no means got hurt on the deal so all is good, I have never had a Ford Flat heat V8 so I am new to them. So the open dive transmissins were only in the 42 and later? So in 39 all trucks were closed drive line??
Although parts can be mixed in all sorts of ways, your trans is likely 1936; has the right shifter, mount, and bell to match that. Serial number will date the case, this will date the innards: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91515&showall=1
That was a cool thread Bruce. I have done a bunch of investigation on these trans since I bought my '46. Each time I am pointed to something like that I learn something new. Thanks. I especially like this quote "Most buyers seem not to know much, and so won't buy any that aren't well hyped by sellers" I kind of resemble that remark! But I am learning. Hot Rod, I haven't followed the flatheads enough to know what the engine is worth. As far as the trans though, the price range is huge and Bruce hit the nail on the head with the above comment. I have paid between $25 and $100 for the different transmissions that I have. Each has some problems with the gears, worn or chipped teeth on the cluster is the most common. The local junk yards etc want to get $200-300 for them with unknown gears! Only one guy said that he would give me a truck box (with bad gears) and a car with good gears so that I could build one from the single purchase. Online, they usually are "hyped" well so $150-300. So the value of the trans can really vary a lot.
Good picture alert: That picture does a good job of showing the straight area at the front edge of the bell that distinguishes 1935 and later case...this (and a nearly invisible move of the crossshaft) is what allows room for 10 and 11" clutches.
Thank you for the info every one, Like i said I dont want to sell it but more curious than any thing, Never owned a flatty V-8, just trying to learn as much about this as I can. Just wanted to know what I have more than anything else.
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