8BA to 39 Trans.

[jimvette59]

How is a 39 type Trans. adapted to a 8 BA . My first time Flathead experience.

[Ken/Alabama]

Truck bell housing that has the round transmission bolt pattern.

[tubman]

Or a '49 to early '51 Mercury "half-bell" which is stamped steel (which I prefer). Whatever one you get, make sure it comes with the proper starter plate; (the housings are much easier to find than the plates). The Mercury will not accomdate an 11" clutch (the truck bell will) which keeps you from making the mistake of using the heavy truck clutch, which you don't need.

[Newc]

Make sure you get the correct 'starter plate' with the bellhousing. Newc

[marko39]

Should also need the 8rt truck water pumps and truck oil pan.

[marko39]

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If installing in a 30s car.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Newc

Make sure you get the correct 'starter plate' with the bellhousing. Newc

This is the '49 thru early '51 Mercury stamped steel half bellhousing that "tubman" mentioned above, along with the correct starter plate.

Coop





ANOTHER VIEW




Cast Iron Truck Version BELOW

[tubman]

Hey Coop, the starter plates for the stamped Merc half-bell and the cast truck unit in your pictures look the same. Do you know if they are? (I'm a little short of knowledge on the cast bells).

[36fordguy]

You forgot the front pulley change and the oil pump pick change 36fordguy

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by tubman

Hey Coop, the starter plates for the stamped Merc half-bell and the cast truck unit in your pictures look the same. Do you know if they are? (I'm a little short of knowledge on the cast bells).

Denny ..... Honestly, I was not SURE, but that tremendous site that "V8Bob" and partner put together eons ago states that "The starter plates can be interchanged on the cast & stamped half bells", although it should be noted that the truck bells (cast iron) will not have the tab with three bolt holes that the Merc plates have for bolting them to the pan. But what do I know?

Coopman

.

[tubman]

As I have said before : "Actually, quite a bit".

Thanks for the info; it might make finding a missing plate for one a bit easier; I went throught the process many years ago when I stupidly bought an "Early to Late Flathead Adapter" from Speedway Motors for $89.95. It was a sandblasted Merc half-bell without a starter pate.

[51504bat]

Just make sure you get one from a V8 not a six. They are different.

[Krylon32]

I have a couple 6 cylinder bell housings I bought as V8's. Sellers didn't know the difference.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Krylon32

I have a couple 6 cylinder bell housings I bought as V8's. Sellers didn't know the difference.

That is a common mistake that both sellers and buyers sometimes make. Maybe someone could post pics of a side by side comparison that points out the differences between the cast iron versions of the 6 cyl vs. the 8 cylinder truck bell housings.

[deuce5wndw]

Originally Posted by tubman

Hey Coop, the starter plates for the stamped Merc half-bell and the cast truck unit in your pictures look the same. Do you know if they are? (I'm a little short of knowledge on the cast bells).

It has been my experience that the cast bell plate is recessed like in Coop's photo for the diecast seal retainer to bolt to the rear pan bolts and the Mercury plate is flat. they will interchange but you wouldn't be able to use the retainer on the flat plat.

[jimvette59]

I have the cast bellhousing on the engine and the fingers on the pressure plate do not reach the throughout bearing.

[19Fordy]

jimvette59: Many years ago (1972) I installed an 8BA in my 40 Ford. Read all the info. and links in the thread below about how it's done. 1949-53 Ford and Merc engine blocks are the same size.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ht=8ba+40+ford

[Krylon32]

I started manufacturing the flat starter plates that work with the Merc bell housing. I've also bought quite a selection of starter plates from guys on the BARN and HAMB along with several Merc bell housings

[jimvette59]

Thank you for the reply. I am trying to install a 39 transmission on my 8 BA . My problem is the pressure fingers does not reach the through out bearing.

[jimvette59]

Thank you for the reply. I am trying to mate up a 39 transmission to a 8BA and the pressure plate fingers does not meet up with the throw out bearing.

[51504bat]

Not sure what the pressure plate/throw out issue is. I had an 8ba in a '40 big truck with an 11 inch clutch and truck 4 speed with cast iron 1/2 bell. No clutch issues. I currently have an 8ba with a '39 trans using a Merc stamped steel 1/2 bell. 9 1/2" pressure plate and 9" disk in my '39 p/u. Again no problems. Are you using the 8ba flywheel?

[tubman]

What clutch are you using. I think you need a Mercury clutch.