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By Poly318 - 16 Years Ago
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Anybody have info, or better yet pictures, of the 1956 Merc "M260" option? I know it featured two 4V carbs and a cam, maybe even heads.
Always had a dream of owning a '56 Medalist with the M260 setup, 3-speed stick + overdrive...
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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Poly: You'll probably hear from Old Mics. He sent me a picture of an M-260 a long time ago. If he doesn't come through, let me know, I may be able to retrieve and send the pic. I'm not very good at computers though.
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By Oldmics - 16 Years Ago
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I gotta dig up the pics of the M260 setup. The setup was different than the Ford 260 H.P. FYI-I am having the camshafts for the M260 reproduced this moment by Isky.Putting one into an engine that I"m building.If you want to purchase one lemmie know! Send me your eMail address and I"ll get you more info. Took me years to find out this old race stuff. Oldmics
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By PF Arcand - 16 Years Ago
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Just for info, there is specs given on Merc cams in the Ford Y-block book by James Eickman, on page 111 & 117 for the M260 kit.
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By Poly318 - 16 Years Ago
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Thanks for the replies!
I'm still waiting for a '56 Merc to drop from the sky and fall into my driveway.  Probably my favorite car of all time, though I would also love to have a '56 Plymouth Fury (the first year for the Fury model, two years before "Christine").
Found this beauty online:
http://www.rrclassiccars.com/1956bluemontclair.html
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By Gordie T - 16 Years Ago
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Here's another 56 Merc for you to look at. http://www.carsonline-ads.com/colsite/col?use=UC3_ViewPosting&cmd=showPosting&postingID=32181
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By Gordie T - 16 Years Ago
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Next weekend, April 3,4,5 I'm going to Toronto where RM is having an auction. There is a sweet 56 Merc  in it. Want me to buy it for you? src="http://www.y-blocksforever.com/forums/Skins/Classic/Images/EmotIcons/Tongue.gif" width=20 border=0>http://www.rmauctions.com/search-upcoming.cfm?parentsection=search&SortBy=AL&searchSubmit=1&Sale=TS09&yearFrom=1956&yearTo=&LotNum2=&Make=Mercury&Model=#
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By Oldmics - 16 Years Ago
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PF Those listed specs in Eickmans book you refer to are not for the M260. I also originally thought they were the M260 specs until I researched a bit deeper. Oldmics
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By Poly318 - 16 Years Ago
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Problem is, I buy any old car, I'll be living in it. 
My wife simply doesn't share my passion for old vehicles.
Now my daughter, on the other hand...
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By PF Arcand - 16 Years Ago
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Oldmics: Yes, you are correct, it refers to the M260 kit but does not give the cam spec. My mistake. There are 3 cams for Merc's referred to. One is an upgraded 235 H.P. 1956 one, part number EDB-6250-B. I'm curious as to whether some Ford & Merc 260 h.p engines used the supercharger spec cam or the sometimes referred to Isky E2. It seems like no one knows for sure, not even Bruce Young at YBM.
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By Oldmics - 16 Years Ago
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To make things a bit more confusing,the M260 cam had two variations.The more common one may have been the Isky E2. The blower cam was definatly not used in the M260 setup. The blower cam was ground on a different centerline than the M260 camshaft. The way the specs were measured by both Ford and Isky were different from each other, so a clear answer is not easy math to do. I should have a definitive answer shortly from Ron Isky as to weather or not the M260 cam was an Isky E2. All of the information that I have points to it being the first version grind on the Isky E2. FYI-I am also having the original blower cams remade along with the M260 cam.  Oldmics
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By Poly318 - 16 Years Ago
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I know this is obvious, but there is some FANTASTICALLY good knowledge on this forum...
Thanks everyone!
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By PF Arcand - 16 Years Ago
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Oldmics: the name escapes me at the moment, but you probably know it. Who ran the Merc racing teams around 56-57? If you could connect with somebody who was with them at the time, maybe you could get some definite info?. Also, John Mummert has I believe, speculated that some of Fords 260 or 285 h.p. cams may have come from Clay Smith's shop. But I'm not positive on that info..
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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I suspect that back in the day, different race teams experimented with various aftermarket cams, and when they found one they liked, they told Ford, and Ford said, "yep, that's the correct cam, here's a part number for it". At one point Holman-Moody began grinding their own cams, not sure about Bill Stroppe. Smaller independent teams probably experimented with aftermarket cams also. Anything to keep the scrubs at bay.
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By PF Arcand - 16 Years Ago
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Probably true in some cases John, but in 56 when the Fords started winning late in the year, Keikhaefer would file protests on the engines, so using an unauthorized cam could get you disqualified.
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By Oldmics - 16 Years Ago
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PF I searched everywhere that I could think of including the old team members. Unfortunatly,the majority are at the Christmas tree lites in the sky. The few that I had communication with had vague recollections of those days. I even contacted Buddy Barr casting to no availe. I"m open to suggestions. Oldmics
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By Ted - 16 Years Ago
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Oldmics. Have you tried contacting Verne Shumann or Gordon Payne? Both of these ran these engines during their heyday and if they don’t know the answer, they can potentially gives names of others still around that might.
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By PF Arcand - 16 Years Ago
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Oldmics:Got to thinking about the M260 engines. Are we talking 1956 or 57? Not sure, but in the Fords, it is my understanding that the regular 1957 E code engines used the standard "D" code cam, from the 245 H.P. rated engine. It was the race kit engine that was nominally rated at 285 H.P. that used a different cam. Years ago I remember it being referred to as an E2 cam, but I can't confirm it. Maybe you are asking the wrong questions?
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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Paul: The M260 was '56. The dual quad Merc for '57 was called M335, it was a 368 Lincoln engine. Your statement about the '57 Ford engines agrees with what the consensus seems to be regarding the two engines.
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By Oldmics - 16 Years Ago
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Also from Merc availiable in 1957 was the same setup that the "E" code Fords used. I have a Holly carb spec sheet that is dedicated to the Merc setup.Its the same spec sheet as for the Fords but with Mercury in the title. Theres an interesting piece of trivia-What American auto manufactor offered two different dual quad equipted engines in 1957-Answer Mercury Oldmics
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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Oldmics: I had never heard of 312 dual fours on '57 Mercs. What was the horsepower rating, same as Ford?
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By Oldmics - 16 Years Ago
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John It does not list the H.P. ratings on the Merc sheet from Holley. It does list the H.P. on the same style Holley information sheet for the Ford as 270 OR 285.That is Holley carb spec sheet ,Form No. F-136,Issue No.1 (1-57) Remember these are carb spec sheets.Its Holley Form No. M-210,Issue #1 (1-57) 1957 Mercury,Maxium Duty Kit,8 Cylinder,Stand. & Auto. Transmissions (312 cubic inch engine). Can send you a copy of either the Ford,the Merc,or both sheets if you like  As I previously said,its all of the same carburator specs and part numbers as for the "E" code Fords. Oldmics
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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Oldmics: Thanks for your offer. I have the Ford sheet, and if the Merc is identical except for the heading, it would be of no benefit to me. By the way, the Ford 260 setup on my Bird is running great. Now if the weather would clear up so I can drive it more. I have too many "fair weather" cars. My F engined Ranchero is a year round car, and I have replaced the frame in it TWICE. Whoever invented salt for winter roads anyway??
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By Poly318 - 16 Years Ago
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Here in WI, we simply made our roads out of salt instead of pavement. Saves us from having to buy all those dump trucks and stuff.
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By yalincoln - 16 Years Ago
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hey John, wasn't the 56 ford with 2x4's 255 HP. the stock cars i've seen had 255 on the hood.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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yalincoln: The only ratings I have heard of for the 2-4 motors are 230 and 260. The 230 was a 292, 260 was 312. There could have been other ratings, or the NASCAR boys could have painted any number on it they wanted, I suppose.
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