What would you stick in YOUR Merc??

I think it depends mostly on how much you want to drive it. Can't get a much prettier engine than a dressed flathead, but not what I would want to power a pretty heavy car on long trips, esp. if you go with A/C. However, if you want a looker, money is of little object, and also something a little different, you might go with a 337 Lincoln flathead like the one below:


My son and I went through the same quandry, what do we put in our 51 Merc that was customized in the 50's and left neglected since 63. I wanted an old Caddy and even had a complete 56 ready to buy to get the engine and ******. I also spotted what was claimed to be a 58 Olds J-2, but some questioned it's authenticity.

I priced out engine rebuilds, speed parts, ****** adaptors, etc; etc. A friend that did over 60 Olds, Caddy engine swaps in the 50's pointed out a myriad of problems to overcome. Limited budget and time-line means rust-fix and body work or exotic engine. We decided to go with what we know, reliability, economical and quick to install. I'm at the age now that I don't want to wait for years to finish a car to drive, and soooo, no apologies for a SBC. We may even put our Latham Supercharger on it. That's period to 1957
Ol Blue

 

I won't suggest the best V8 ever made, we all know which one it is. Go with a big Buick, Cad or Olds. Save the flatty for a lightweight car with no hood. Then you can show it off AND be able to get out of your own way.

 

Personaly, I'm not a hood lifter, so I factor that in too. It gets down to practicality balanced against what I can personaly sleep at night with. And that would not be a SBC.

 

It needs a 348 or 409 chevy!

 

427 side oiler!

 

Like this except for diffrent valve covers, air cleaners and headers.

462 inches of Pontiac. My Merc will run AT LEAST a 13 second 1/4

-Abone.

 

a caddy or a nailhead would be my first choice in my dream merc. I'd cheat a little and get a 390 cad for the cubes. if it were a nailhead I'd get one that bolts up to a turbo 400.

the only way I'd run a flathead in a merc would be in a stock or close to stock car, or if it ran great and was already there. if it ever needed to come out, it would not be going back in.

I like flatheads in HOT RODS, but not customs.

 

Thats cool...but Im not figuring speed into it, just pure nostalgia. Really looking into the Caddys now, seeming to be the hot item. What points out a later say 60 390 from its earlier (365) versions?

As for speed...I have a (someday) plan for a mostly fibergl*** Merc, full roller 468..but thats another idea and not nearly as cool (to me) as a period custom is at this point.

 

I don't see much return on a flathead in a full-fendered car...in a coupe or roadster they look great, but in a Merc nobody sees it unless your stopped with the hood up. Meanwhile you get to push that sled around town with an underpowered and overweight mill. My Merc is built to perform, keep the outside ol skool but under the hood needs to have some power and reliability...

 

Hey, thats easy fixed. Just put two flatties in there. Do I have to think fo everything around here?
Sheesh!

 

My dad's first car was a '51 merc in '59. He started customizing, but got the urge for more power and "had to have" an Olds. Traded the merc for a '51 Olds 98 and to this day wishes he had instead put an Olds motor in the Merc and really had something. What's gonna go in my '51 merc? That olds motor right over there under the bench.

 

'nother vote for 331-365-390 Cad. Traditional + wow + enough torque to reverse the earth's rotation. Extra points for multiple carbs.

 

If you go olds contact me as I have a rebuilt 56 324 and stick parts,I sold the 53 88 they were going in so they are just collecting dust. Jeff

 

Check out Blown49's car just once. A blown flathead is the ***S!

Glenn

 

Ferrari

 

i got a 348 with 4 2's going in my 49

 

Having owned three different'51 coupes back in the day, my vote goes for Olds or Cad however a Hemi really fills that engine bay quite nicely .

 

Hey Unionvillehaunt,Greetings from Long Branch,N.J.,Americas first seashore resort.
I tried to e-mail you in response to your earlier note to me but I dont think it went through.
Right now my 51 Merc is stock but I plan to do something similar to what you are thinking about doing....making it a 50's or 60,s type custom.
I plan on keeping the flathead in the car but the olds or cad
dy mill would also make your ride period perfect.
If you make the move to the shore you will find that it aint too bad and the old neighborhood is not that far away.
Checked out your chopped Merc....pretty cool....real cool.
I have family and friends in Union ....I'll blow the horn next time I go by....
LEE

 

my girlfriend

 

A flathead is there anything else?

 

#1 Olds,#2 Caddy

 

324 Olds.

 

I really like the idea of an early pontiac motor. Mid '50's with the tall intake and valley pan. Very traditional, not nearly as common as the caddy/olds/buick route. They were good runners too.

 

This is what I'd do too...390 or even a 429 caddy.

 

blown49 (Jim's) car

 

YEAH!!!!!!! Or....

 

An early Olds or Cad is the perfect match for a Mecury. Can't be beat for style and looks.

If you need more go Falconer.

 

What he said!

 

413 would be bad*** im puttin one together for my 34 plymouth and my dad is puttin a long ram 413 in his 33 plymouth just look at the pick tell me thats not *****in.
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