Howdy gents, I am once again considering installing an automatic transmission in my 1950 Mercury. Specifically I'm looking at the C4 transmission because bell housings that mate to a flathead are pretty easy to come by. I am looking to install a column shift set-up along with the automatic transmission, probably an iDidit column. Here is the rub. I'm just a guy with a great big car in my garage that my wife would love for me to complete so that she can park in the garage again, and I have no sheet metal experience. The big problem as I see it is the C4 transmission will not fit under the existing transmission tunnel in the Mercury. It is my understanding that starting in 1952 the factory started installing an auto transmission in the Mercurys as an option, so those cars have a taller transmission tunnel. Would it be possible to take one of the transmission tunnels from a later model Mercury and install it in mine? And of course what I mean is: can I do so and make it look good when looking at the fire wall? Because the tunnel is covered with carpet inside the cabin, I'm sure I could get some sheet metal bent in the approximate shape I want and screw it or rivit it down for the actual tunnel but making it tie into the firewall in a way that doesn't look just stupid is what I'm concerned about. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Paul
I have located the tunnel I am thinking I need from a 1952 Merc. The price seems fair, and the guy can cut the tunnel out of the donor car within a few days. WooHoo! I am thinking he can cut the tunnel out of the donor car such that i can MiG weld it in place and make it look ok. The question now is if a C4 transmission will indeed fit under the tunnel from a '52? Any thoughts?
The automatic transmission aka Merc-o-matic was first available in 1951. I think I posted some pictures of my transmission cover/tunnel in another thread of yours. My car is a '51 and originally a Merc-o-matic car. See if my pictures match what yours looks like. I think it does. In my 1951 body parts catalog, it does not list different part numbers for different transmissions. Just one part number - 12115. Perhaps someone with a 1950 body parts catalog can see if its the same part number for your car, or someone can see if the trans tunnel carried over to 1952. A 1952 Merc would have had the same engine and transmission as my car. I can always go measure the height of my tunnel if it would help.
I'd agree with the Doc above. First I'd see if the C4 will fit under the floor as it is now. If not, you may only need to clearance it here and there. Worst case scenario, I don't think it would be any trouble for someone who can weld to put that 52 tunnel in and make it look decent.
As usual, I get caught over-thinking problems. I have been told that the C4 won't fit. I don't KNOW it won't fit. But of course, yall are right; I need to make sure I actually need to make changes. The bell housing I need to mate the C4 to the flathead must be pretty similar to the one on the 3 speed. If so, I may not have the trouble I am foreseeing. I suppose it's possible that the folks who have the trouble may be using a more modern engine/modern bell housing design combo. Basically I need to get the transmission and bell housing I need in here, and get it mated up to the engine then see if it fits. I just hate to do it that way. The spend- money-only-to-find-out-I-can't-make-it-work method is my least favorite problem solving scheme. As usual, This forum is just super helpful. Thanks, Doctors Detroit and Dave.
Maybe create a picture request thread ***led "Pictures Request: 1950 Merc with Flathead & C4"... somebody out there has to have it done and can answer your question
I don't think you'll need to do anything. I have a 700-r under my stock ****** cover in my 50 Merc. "IF" I say if you need to change it why not just modify the stock cover and then bolt it back in like it was stock. No one will be any wiser that way. Also, why go with a Ideiot column when you could just get a 51 Merc automatic mast jacket and change it on your existing steering box? Then everything would look pretty stock. It's also just nuts and bolts and No fab work. The Wizzard
Same here^^^^^^^ I just had to widen the p*** side an inch for about 3 inches.Depends how the bell sits because the engine is a flatty on factory mounts. Get your parts mocked up,and do a lil slicin'. Not that big of a deal,and you might be just fine with that trans. Give it a shot.
Those ididit columns are generally pricey. This column here looks like my '51 Merc automatic column. eBay ad says it's from a 51 baby Lincoln, which is probably the same. 49 50 51 LINCOLN AUTOMATIC AUTO TRANSMISSION TRANS STEERING COLUMN TUBE SHIFTER http://www.ebay.com/itm/130765106493?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
I used a "Baby Lincoln " column in a '51 Merc ,with Olds+Hydro powerplant. Lincolns used the GM hydros also so the shift quadrant was marked properly. I do remember having to cut a section out of the shift tube and outer jacket with a tube cutter and re-welding them. Worked out sweet back in 1961 so things shouldn't change much. I recall the turn indicator and horn even plugged in.
Correct me if I'm wrong here but didn't the Lincoln Hydro unit have Reverse at the very bottom of the shift pattern? So if or when you find a 51 Merc unit you'll notice it only has Drive and Low not 1-2-3 forward. That's an easy fix with a file and will work just fine on the 3 speed C-4 Should you want to do that. The Wizzard
Good afternoon. I know this post has been over a decade, but so valuable, I’m grateful for this information. I am attempting to do this with my 1950 Mercury, but difficult to find Mercury columns/parts though. I’m going to attempt a 1951 Ford automatic column with C4/FH.
All of this early stuff is getting hard to come by, specially one year only stuff. If I were doing this today I'd find a 58 Ford car unit because the Crusomatic shift detents are the same as a C-4. Not that finding on of those is any easier than a 51 Merc or Ford unit.
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