46 Merc PU Engine overhaul
- Thread starter e-tek
- Start date
green.bubbly
Well-known member
Personally, I am interested in that Datsun. My first car was a '71 240Z. I can not tell you much about that Ford but I can tell you how to stop vapor lock on the 240's fuel lines with wood clothes pins.
Ya - vapour lock! The Datsun is a 71 that was the parts car for Mrs E-tek's race car. (That's her in my Av working on the racer). It has a good suspension and engine, original interior and no rust on the shock towers. But it needs floors, which is where I am. It's last in line through, so it won't get much love for a while!
Flathead Youngin'
Well-known member
boy, she shure is purdy......
too late now, but i'm not sure on what color it should be/have been.....
too late now, but i'm not sure on what color it should be/have been.....
HOTFR8
Banned
Here's the "new" engine all prettied up. It'll get installed this weekend!! Yeeha!
I am impressed.
have to ask why did you paint it blue. I believe the usual color green for that motor ?ironheadtom
Well-known member
This is a great thread. Can't believe I haven't seen it before. Looks like a fun project.
I am impressed.
"As for original paint colors, the Ford and Mercury engines through 1940 were a dark green. Ford cars continued the color until 1942. Mercury engine had a dark blue color from 1941 thru 1948. Postwar Ford engines were dark blue thru 1948. Ford truck engines were generally the same as Ford cars during the years of this group. "
From VanPelt Flathead Sales website...
I also decided to swap ther waterpumps to get the right mounts. Not sure why my flathead guy said to build a bracket, when swapping them is SO easy! Oh well - gotta think for yourself sometimes!
****** was cleaned and opened today - all gears look reall good. I'll be installing it on Good Friday - GOOD indeed!!!
gsport
Well-known member
looks real good...
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Hi e-tek.
It DOES looks good. I am not criticizing at all because it looks clean, clean, clean but do you have any plans to jazz up the engine with, I don't know...chrome, maybe chrome acorn nuts on head studs, etc?
What other plans do you have for the truck? What do you generally use it for? My '46 Chevy is just a plaything. I still intend to get it totally reliable mechanically and somewhat detailed out - at least inside - for comfortable cruising here and there on weekends.
It DOES looks good. I am not criticizing at all because it looks clean, clean, clean but do you have any plans to jazz up the engine with, I don't know...chrome, maybe chrome acorn nuts on head studs, etc?
What other plans do you have for the truck? What do you generally use it for? My '46 Chevy is just a plaything. I still intend to get it totally reliable mechanically and somewhat detailed out - at least inside - for comfortable cruising here and there on weekends.
rockchucker
Well-known member
Nice Build thread! I am still in awe over the crack in the Block. The new Engine looks purdy though!
G1K
Well-known member
The engine looks great. That sure is one nice truck you have, I bet it'll be real fun to cruise around in.
Ryan
Ryan
HOTFR8
Banned
Well I learnt something. I hope you did not take my post the wrong why as the Blue looks good. So was it a GOOD day as you expected ??? Sorry I forget I am a day ahead of you
across the international date line.No more plans for the engine...I love the truck in it's original "patina" colors, but I have taken a few measures to abate the rust, like POR15 on the undersides and cab floor....
I mostly use it for a yard truck, for cruising and take it to the occasional show. It'll be fun to pull the hood open now and have it all purdy!
Actually - we both learned something. Although "Blue" is correct, I found the ACTUAL CORRECT color is a much darker blue than the newer FORD blue I used....oh well...
So was it a GOOD day as you expected ??? Sorry I forget I am a day ahead of you
It was so-so....it didn't quite get finsihed that day, due to needing a few small items....but now she is back on the road, plated and runnning smooth again!
Thanks to all for looking!!!
HOTFR8
Banned
jayrush13
Well-known member
Boy that L24 brings back memories. Thoses SU's bring back nightmares ;-) A motor so simple even I could build one. My first car was a '72. I had no idea what I was doing...cam and headers killed any hope for low end torque, but I could brag I had a big cam ;-) Loved that car. Maybe I'll get another one day...v8 swap...hmmmm.
Just for your information you can crack your block by mounting it to an engine stand the normal way it should be mounted to one of the exhaust flanges
Nice. Mine was a '72. Puke green with the orangie looking interior. My dad always talked about getting one for himself but never did. Then when I was looking a VW squarebacks he was out looking for Z's behind my back. He found this one with a blown head gasket. I was like...um but Dad I really want a VW. He was paying so guess what I got? Hey it was cool. I learned to do a lot on that car. My sister's boyfriend was a mechanic and helped me learn a bunch including rebuilding the motor and installing headers. I still dislike those SU carbs
I have to admit I really messed up the looks. 80's tri color stripes with centerline wheels and an airdam. I blacked out the interior with vinyl paint and splurged on nice recaro seats. Wish I had it back. I think someday I'll get another one...maybe drop a 350 in it
My neighbor has two originals sitting in his back yard. I keep bugging him..haha.
Not mine, but what it would have looked like originally.
HOTFR8
Banned
e-tek, What are you doing with the old engine ? I have dummied up the 6BT Cummins that failed me and set it up on an Engine Trolley to use for a display purposes. Will post pictures under my F4 project thread when it is done.
HOTFR8
Banned
I under rated the size of the wheels for the 6BT so even though I have it built I will have to put more wheels under it. hope you post photos of your when finished.Finally got started rebuilding the block I got to replace the original. It's circa 46 (distributor on front) and looks OK....so far. Once I strip the valve-train out I can have it magnafluxed to be sure. Removing the valves is the toughest part of rebuilding these engines, consisting of prying on the valvesprings with a long forked bar and then pulling out horse-shoe retainer clips with a tool (I made) that bends around the block top and hooks into them.
Out with old:
Getting started on the "new":
Out with old:
Getting started on the "new":
Last edited:
HOTFR8
Banned
About time we got to see how that is going
Flathead Youngin'
Well-known member
keep us posted....i'm still subscribed...
switch that dist. out to a crab style....much easier to contend with...
switch that dist. out to a crab style....much easier to contend with...
jktruck150
Well-known member
Hey E-tek, any pics of that shiny engine sitting in the Patina'd truck? Great build. Should have commented sooner, as this is my 10-12 time to look through this thread.
realvc
Well-known member
Great thread. I have spent way to much time reading it.
You have one of the coolest trucks ever.
I had a 46 Stude back in the 70s and 80s that was a blast to drive.
It had a flat head six in it that I replaced the same way you did your replacement engine.
The old dude at the wrecking yard did not like it that we brought a battery and gas and started it up before we bought it. When he pulled it, he hooked his wrecker to the engine and started cutting everything loose with a torch until it came out.
Old trucks with flatheads are still cool.
You have one of the coolest trucks ever.
I had a 46 Stude back in the 70s and 80s that was a blast to drive.
It had a flat head six in it that I replaced the same way you did your replacement engine.
The old dude at the wrecking yard did not like it that we brought a battery and gas and started it up before we bought it. When he pulled it, he hooked his wrecker to the engine and started cutting everything loose with a torch until it came out.
Old trucks with flatheads are still cool.
Flathead Youngin'
Well-known member
i must have missed something....is the blue engine the one you are putting in?
the cruddy one with the valve tools in the pics is the one that came out?
....so my crab dist. doesn't apply to the late model engine that went in...sorry
the cruddy one with the valve tools in the pics is the one that came out?
....so my crab dist. doesn't apply to the late model engine that went in...sorry
Ya - I scratched my head when I read that, but figured I think on it....
The blue engine is a 53 I got out of a guys 53 truck just to keep mine moving while I hunted for a hard-to-find pre-49 block. One thing I try to avoid is vehicles that don't run. It's just a personality quirk....Around these parts the natives have yards full of non-runners.
The 53 engine has been great. I put it in early last summer and worked it hard all summer. It's my yard truck and I do lots of hauling with our big yard and a few rental homes. I likely won't even put the early engine back in right away - I just want to have it done.
Flathead Youngin'
Well-known member
oh, ok.....i'm slow you have to draw me a pic.....we'll you did
yeah, on that pre49 block (59ab??) use a crab distributor, you'll like it much better than that bail type......
all you need, and you may know this, is a different dist. cap, rotor button and some of the clips to replace the bail.....cheap quick and easy....
yeah, on that pre49 block (59ab??) use a crab distributor, you'll like it much better than that bail type......
all you need, and you may know this, is a different dist. cap, rotor button and some of the clips to replace the bail.....cheap quick and easy....
jktruck150
Well-known member
I love the look of the new engine in the old truck!! Looks great!
When I sprayed the ('53) replacement engine (above), I used a No-Name High-Temp engine paint. Unfortunately, I found - after only one summer - that there is already some wrinkling and seperation showing. I can't see it lasting much longer, which is not only a shame, but it pisses me off something royal!! No one wants to put a bunch of work into an engine (or anything) and have it look like **** a few months later!
So I did some research and ordered Eastwood's Specialty Engine Paint in old-Ford Blue (Seafoam). It's an activated (2-part) paint which should hold up MUCH better than any single-stage product, high-temp or not.
So I did some research and ordered Eastwood's Specialty Engine Paint in old-Ford Blue (Seafoam). It's an activated (2-part) paint which should hold up MUCH better than any single-stage product, high-temp or not.
sellersrodshop
Well-known member
the por-15 engine paint really holds up well too. i painted the block in my 40 ford coupe when i had it apart (2002) & when i sold it in 07 it still looked like new.
HOTFR8
Banned
You should ask about that on the HAMB. Wish I could help you.
oilslick
Well-known member
Sort of related to your build , just wanted to tell you about the time my friend bought a 32 ford with a 49 merc flattie, The guy told him it was magnafluxed and had the receipt to prove it, friend bought it I was given the job of getting necessary odds and ends to fire it, got it running good and decided to add coolant , it went right into the oil pan!! I pulled heads and the block was cracked everywhere I looked, lesson learned to ask what the results were on the magnaflux!!!!!!!!!!! We searched the whole state of illinois for a year for a good block and ended up finding one only a few miles from home!!!!! I built it and it is so cool, dual carbs cammed up and headers.
