Question for Kiwi /Aussie/ UK Barners 46/48's

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Fellas my starter motor locked up so I rocked the car and it broke free but the bendix won't engage now.

I have tried to remove the starter motor but I can't get it to clear the steering box. It only just hangs up. Should I remove the chatter rod so I can get more upward movement or does the steering box have to be loosened off at the chassis........ what do you blokes do?

I'm almost tempted to fettle the side of the sump with a ball peen hammer as it is raised in places and has probably been hammered before. I dont need much clearance in order to remove it by moving it out and down.

GB

[mercman from oz]

You should have bought a Mercury, as will the Longer 118" Wheelbase, together with Right Hand Drive, there is no problem. However, you don't have this luxury.
My Dad had a 47 Ford Super Deluxe Fordor Sedan that needed the Starter Motor removed. From memory, I believe that we undid the front Engine Mount on the Drivers Side & jacked up the Motor on this one side. We also loosened the Bolts that holds the Steering Box where it bolts onto the Dash & lowered it to the seat. This was over 40 years ago, so my memory may be a little hazy, but it is not an easy job. At the same time, I owned a 46 Mercury, & when I needed to remove the Starter Motor on the Mercury, it was an easy task. Hope that this info helps. Some other Barner may be able to give more specific details? Best of luck.

[FlatheadTed]

Graeme Henry didn't have much sympathy for us down here when it came to starter motors , .I have seen a lot of butchered up pans /sumps ,The steering box move wont help .You will need to bash it in more on the end or corner, on the lower side .

[66miles]

Graeme. I have a 47 Merc (with a starter motor that is OK). We could do a swap! I will even bring my Merc down to your place free of charge.

[GEOFFNZ]

The sump modification seems the simplest way and is not detrimental to the engine.It works better with heat.If you undo engine stabiliser bars,exhausts ,and radiator hoses you should be able to lever the motor over enough to remove starter.Trouble is the engine can be put in with un modified sump and starter in place.Good luck. Geoff.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

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Thanks all. The sump already has had a modification but it could have done with a little more. The starter is only just hanging up on the steering box. For a start I'm going to undo the engine mounts, jack it up and use a bit of 4 x 2 to try and lever the motor to the left ...it doesn't need to move much. Yes I'll have to unbolt the fronts of the anti chatter rods too.

GB

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Well what a "rigmarole" to get the starter off my car. Old Henry Ford was not kind to us that have the steering on the right side. In order to get clearance from the steering box I ended up having to move the engine to the right. This is what I had to do.
1) unhook chatter rods at front cross member.
2) undo engine mounts (and jack engine).
3) undo exhaust.
4) undo bottom radiators hoses.

so this is virtually as Mercman from OZ says.

I then cut a length of 4x2 (2X4 for those at the top of the world) and placed it between the chassis rail and engine to lever it away from the steering box ( thanks to 52 Merc - Trev for this idea a worthwhile phone call).
That is the downside...all that extra work.

The upside is I'll replace the exhaust manifold to pipe gaskets as both were burn't and The engine mount biscuits one of which was a bit perished. I note both biscuits are marked "made in England", so they a pretty old.

I'll also do the bottom rad hoses as one is rooted.

Before the starter goes back in I will get a propane torch and fettle the sump where the starter was hanging up.

Now questions?

1) the exhaust flange to manifold gasket should they be mounted dry or with exhaust sealant?

2) Engine mounts any advice about replacement ones, ie quality v chinese "junk" etc?

Thanks

GB

[HamerAuto]

Are the australian merc all 118 or did they also get the 114 mercs. as well. In Canada we had both.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Aussie Mercs are all 118. Same here in NZ.

GB

[HamerAuto]

Here in Canada also got mercury trucks as well as 114 mercs.

[Old Col]

Hi Graeme, you might want to rethink the idea of heating the oilpan.....engine oil usually has a bit of fuel contamination , heat it up and it might go bang ....we had an apprentice mechanic where I worked who did just that on early Holden , got it hot and the oil ignited and blew the snot out of the engine...didn't do much for the apprentice either . Even if you drain the oil ,the vapours can still ignite. Use a bigger hammer if you feel you have to readjust the pan's shape ,or leave it until the engine is out and the pan is off, regards, Colin.

[49fordv8f4]

Yes, very good point about heating an oil pan on the engine. I brazed a pin hole in a pan for a friend several years ago. We had it drained and left the drain plug out. There was enough fuel vapors in the pan that when I was almost done it blew. It spewed flames and hot oil out the drain hole. I wasn't hurt, just startled but, it scared my friend enough that he grabbed my feet and drug me out from under the car before I knew what happened.
Mark

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Colin and Mark very valid and possibly "life saving" points... I've rethought this.

Thanks
GB