ClassicCar

Trying to decide what motor/trans to put in '56 Merc. Original 312 is missing and later 2v Y block in there now. I have tons of Ford motors already that I could use (a good rebuilt 292 +.040), a worn 312 that I would have still to get rebuilt (not cheap) an '89 Mustang 5.0 (strong), an '88 Crown Vic 5.0(tired), a good 1973 351 Cleveland (low compression 2V version) a 1959 FE 352(good), an FE 360(good) with early heads w/hard seats swapped on to it, a freshly rebuilt '78 410 (400M +.040) with 351 Cleveland heads and custom-ordered Competition cam, Weiand intake, etc., or one of several Lincoln 460 and 462's available to me. Was originally hoping to use the 462, since motor mounts bolt right up and manifolds clear A-frames better than FE motors. Unanticipated problem with 462 is oddball tranny for Lincolns is only bellhousing pattern that fits the later MEL motors, so would have to use Lincoln C6, but that has weird CV/slip joint output shaft. Can rear of trans be changed to normal splined output shorter tail, and how hard is that? FE is probably the easiest to use, but neither 352 or 360 are very snappy motors. Anyone who has put any of above motors into 54-58 Ford or Merc chassis, please opine. Am most in the dark with prospects of using either 5.0 motor, the 351 Cleveland, 400M (believe me, the 400's can cheaply put out triple the power they came from factory with), or 460 into this chassis. Input from anyone who has tried installing these in this chassis? I have put both an FE and a 430 Merc motor (MEL series) into a 54 Ford wagon before. Both bolt in, but FE manifolds can hit a frame if engine not spaced up a tad. Thanks, Mike MN

Last edited by fordguy57 : Today at 04:47 PM. Reason: too long