The Ford Barn

cars2cool · 03-25-2018, 09:30 PM

I found an 8BA block yesterday that still had the crankshaft in it. I pulled the pan today and was able to slide the shaft of a 31/64 drill bit into the crank pin soft plug. Is that an accurate way to visually ID a Mercury crankshaft? The seller did not know the history of the engine. I eventually plan on tearing it down further for a complete rebuild. Are the water pump housings the same for a '53 Mercury and a '53 F100 8BA? It also came with a pair of heads already off the block that are Merc. EAC with date codes of G20 3 and H17 3, an 8BA 8RT intake manifold in factory red with a date code on the underside of the heat riser surface of C270. The block and heads are blue/green. The carb. is a 7RT Ford/Holley 94. The future project is a '53 F100 with a warmed up 8BA and a 3 speed w/overdrive or a Fordamatic. I have figured it is a mismatch collection of parts. Any help ID'ing my purchase is welcome.

flatheadmurre · 03-25-2018, 10:04 PM

Measure the counterweights of the crankshaft.
A ford measures about 5 1/2 and the merc measures about 6.

cars2cool · 03-25-2018, 10:20 PM

I'll do it tomorrow, it's getting late on this side of the ocean.

JSeery · 03-26-2018, 07:55 AM

Post some photos.

V8 Bob · 03-26-2018, 09:15 AM

The '53 F-100 uses a front centered engine mount, with straddle-mounted rear mounts on the '53-only bell housing. The wide-belt water pumps are the same as '49 Ford car. The '52-'53 Mercury (and '50-'53 Ford car) pumps are similar, but use narrow belt pulleys that are offset for the belts to clear each other.
Some pictures will help ID what you have.

Ol' Ron · 03-26-2018, 09:28 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The EAC heads are the loest compression heads Ford made.

cars2cool · 03-26-2018, 07:47 PM

I took some pictures today and measured the counterweight, it's at 6 inches across. What cast iron heads should I be looking for since mine are pooches?

flatjack9 · 03-26-2018, 09:21 PM

EAB's.

JM 35 Sedan · 03-26-2018, 10:08 PM

Based on pictures posted, its my opinion that water pumps, crankshaft pulley, and oil pan are pick up truck rather than Mercury. Not sure what the numbers cast or stamped in block actually mean and any FOMOCO records of those numbers are probably long gone.
I would suggest measuring the actual crankshaft stroke, as mentioned in the article link posted below, to determine if it's a 4", 3-3/4", or some other stroke produced by off center grinding.

https://web.archive.org/web/20160317...omer/crank.htm

flatjack9 · 03-26-2018, 10:28 PM

With 6" counterweigts, it is a Merc 4" crank.

cars2cool · 03-27-2018, 03:50 PM

Here is another angle of the treasure. I do plan on a complete disassemble and cleaning and magnaflux and pressure test before I do anything else to it. At that time I'll have the crank shaft cleaned and checked as well. Thanks for all the great info, so far.

big deuce · 03-30-2018, 11:03 PM

I have some Merc water pump cores if you need some.

cars2cool · 03-31-2018, 10:13 PM

Thanks for the offer, I have posted over on the wanted board a wants list for the parts needed to put this in a '53 F100. I have gotten a lot of responses from members offering me their treasures. I am very thankful for everybody's support to insure the needed parts are located. I have gained a lot of knowledge in this one search. I am sure more questions will be asked in the future.

03-25-2018, 09:30 PM	#1
cars2cool Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sioux City Iowa Posts: 196	8BA crank and water pump ?'s I found an 8BA block yesterday that still had the crankshaft in it. I pulled the pan today and was able to slide the shaft of a 31/64 drill bit into the crank pin soft plug. Is that an accurate way to visually ID a Mercury crankshaft? The seller did not know the history of the engine. I eventually plan on tearing it down further for a complete rebuild. Are the water pump housings the same for a '53 Mercury and a '53 F100 8BA? It also came with a pair of heads already off the block that are Merc. EAC with date codes of G20 3 and H17 3, an 8BA 8RT intake manifold in factory red with a date code on the underside of the heat riser surface of C270. The block and heads are blue/green. The carb. is a 7RT Ford/Holley 94. The future project is a '53 F100 with a warmed up 8BA and a 3 speed w/overdrive or a Fordamatic. I have figured it is a mismatch collection of parts. Any help ID'ing my purchase is welcome.

03-25-2018, 10:04 PM	#2
flatheadmurre Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,045	Re: 8BA crank and water pump ?'s Measure the counterweights of the crankshaft. A ford measures about 5 1/2 and the merc measures about 6.

03-25-2018, 10:20 PM	#3
cars2cool Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sioux City Iowa Posts: 196	Re: 8BA crank and water pump ?'s I'll do it tomorrow, it's getting late on this side of the ocean.

03-26-2018, 07:55 AM	#4
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: 8BA crank and water pump ?'s Post some photos.

03-26-2018, 09:15 AM	#5
V8 Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granger (Northern) Indiana Posts: 1,520	Re: 8BA crank and water pump ?'s The '53 F-100 uses a front centered engine mount, with straddle-mounted rear mounts on the '53-only bell housing. The wide-belt water pumps are the same as '49 Ford car. The '52-'53 Mercury (and '50-'53 Ford car) pumps are similar, but use narrow belt pulleys that are offset for the belts to clear each other. Some pictures will help ID what you have. Last edited by V8 Bob; 03-26-2018 at 09:39 AM.

03-26-2018, 09:28 AM	#6
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: 8BA crank and water pump ?'s Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The EAC heads are the loest compression heads Ford made.

03-26-2018, 09:21 PM	#8
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: 8BA crank and water pump ?'s EAB's.

03-26-2018, 10:08 PM	#9
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: 8BA crank and water pump ?'s Based on pictures posted, its my opinion that water pumps, crankshaft pulley, and oil pan are pick up truck rather than Mercury. Not sure what the numbers cast or stamped in block actually mean and any FOMOCO records of those numbers are probably long gone. I would suggest measuring the actual crankshaft stroke, as mentioned in the article link posted below, to determine if it's a 4", 3-3/4", or some other stroke produced by off center grinding. https://web.archive.org/web/20160317...omer/crank.htm __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein* Last edited by JM 35 Sedan; 03-27-2018 at 01:09 AM.

03-26-2018, 10:28 PM	#10
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: 8BA crank and water pump ?'s With 6" counterweigts, it is a Merc 4" crank.

03-30-2018, 11:03 PM	#12
big deuce Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 397	Re: 8BA crank and water pump ?'s I have some Merc water pump cores if you need some.

03-31-2018, 10:13 PM	#13
cars2cool Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sioux City Iowa Posts: 196	Re: 8BA crank and water pump ?'s Thanks for the offer, I have posted over on the wanted board a wants list for the parts needed to put this in a '53 F100. I have gotten a lot of responses from members offering me their treasures. I am very thankful for everybody's support to insure the needed parts are located. I have gained a lot of knowledge in this one search. I am sure more questions will be asked in the future.