Hot Rods Starter plate problem. Need help.

I have a 49 51 mercury eng. It did not come with a bell housing. I have a stamped steel bell. I bought a starter plate from o/p who had a iron bell.
The cut out to the pan fits my eng but the plate does not fit my bell.
New to F/h and don't know what to do. help from the experts. I think I need a different bell housing. Or maybe all is wrong. this is what I have.Only 2 holes line up on the bell.

 

Get ahold of Pinstriper40, I got my flathead from him. He has a ton of parts and knows what goes with what! Mine is a '52, came with the late bellhousing and starter plate, I got a Cast iron bell housing and that takes a different plate than a stamped steel one. Gonna put mine in the '46 and hook it to the stock trans. Good luck!!

 

Thanks.

 

That angled starter plate is for a FULL SIZE '49-'51 Ford stamped bell housing, not for your 3" Mercury 1/2 bell. You need a flat '49-'50 Mercury or '48-'52 truck starter plate.

 

That's for the one year only '53 Mercury stamped steel bellhousing, I have that style on my engine. It's still a good score even if you don't need it, you can always easily sell it to someone who needs it since it's a somewhat rare part. You need the flat style starter plate that doesn't have the relief in the bottom to clear the flywheel when using the above mentioned bell housing.

 

The '53 Mercury used the same cast iron full bell as in '52, along with '52-'53 Fords. The only one-year-only Mercury bell was regular '51 production; cast iron full bell with the earlier clutch shaft and fork.

 

Whoa, yea you're right, '49-'51 only.

 

Below is a '51 Mercury bell.



This is a '52-'53 Ford and Mercury bell.



I can't for some reason post the entire bell housing ID pdf that Moefuzz and I put together several years ago, but I can post pictures from my camera card if more are needed.

 

I don't know the years but I do know there was a stamped steel 8BA to to early round bell transmission bell housing and a VERRY similar looking cast iron bell housing, however they do take different starter plates....

 

Thanks all.I think I am more confused. I can get a iron bell for this starter plate that goes with my 39 trans. ,But is that what I need?

 

The starter plate in the original picture is for a 1949-51 Ford p***enger car bell housing. This is the one with the angled starter mounting flange. If you were to use this plate with any of the other bell housings, your starter would jam in operation.

To work with a 39 style Ford transmission, you’ll need either the 49-50 Mercury bell housing (stamped steel) or the 48-52 Ford truck bell housing (cast iron). Either one should be matched with its respective starter plate. This link shows the two types. Click on the small picture in the middle to enlarge it.

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_trans-adapters.htm

 

Thanks Mac for all the input.
The o/p I bought the plate from has a cast iron bell that matches up with the plate.
The plate in your pic has a large cut out for a dust shield, is that necessary? My plate does not have that large cut out.
The eng did not have a dust shield. The reason I know is because of all the grease ac***ulation. I had to dig to get to the rear pan bolts

 

Can anyone identify this bell ? I cannot find a part number on it. I would like to tag it for what it is.
Thanks,
jim

 

I still have the one I found for you at the Big 3 swap meet last weekend that I PM'd you about. PM me if you are still looking for one.

 

The first picture above in this post shows the '49-'51 Ford car starter plate, and the pictures below will show why this plate can only be used with the correct bell housing.
This is the '49-'51 Ford car stamped bell housing.

Same bell , side view showing the lower angle.


...and now with the angled starter plate, that corrects the starter angle.


One more oddity. The '49-'51 Ford car 6 cyl. bell looks like the V8, but is flat, not interchangeable, and uses an entirely different starter plate, as shown below. V8 on the left, red 6cyl. on the right, front view.


And the rear view.

 

'49-early '51 Mercury.

 

Thank you Bob. Now I need a starter plate for that.
That would be the one with the angle plate on the bottom that bolts to the oil pan.