[rotorwrench]

On the 8BA family of engines, the pans and bell housings should be kept together since they were designed to fit as a set. The truck bell (cast iron) works with the truck type pan and dust seal. The Mercury pan works with the Merc pressed steel bell housing. These will accept the early Ford type top shift transmissions. The center sump pan and bell housing won't. The starter plates are all different too. Keep truck with truck and Merc with Merc. Forget the center sump.

There is a clearance problem with the tie rod if a center sump pan is fitted. The Merc pan will work with ease and the truck pan will have less clearance but will work. Dropped axles can also be added into this mix but the amount of drop can affect clearance as well. Steering arms may need adjustment.