Hi,

I am considering buying a 1956 Mercury.  The engine has the small base intake, but it has a Carter WCFB rather than a Holley hightop.  Did the Mercury's use a Carter rather than a Holley?  Was the Mercury HP rating the same as Ford?

Thanks,

James

1962 Fairlane, 1954 Customline, 1949 IH Pickup

I'm familiar with some of the Mercs having the Carter carb so your particular carb could very well be correct.  Horsepower ratings for the Mercs were typically higher than the Fords but wasn't necessarily due to just a carb difference but a higher compression ratio and other engine variables.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I bought a 56 merc (engine only). From all indications it was stock and had a Carter on it.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

 I owned a beautiful custom 56 merc 2dr HT with the factory holley tea pot carb and three on the tree and several with the carter and they were automatics. I recently purchased a somewhat rough but restorable 56 merc montclare convertible with the carter and fordomatic. The carter is rated with alittle more HP and I believe the cam has a little more lift.

-Gary Burnette-

sorry about the misspell of Montclair

-Gary Burnette-

Thanks for the replies.

I have seen varying HP ratings for a 56 312.  The automatic vs manual may explain that.  Was the automatic rated at 215 or 225 HP?

1962 Fairlane, 1954 Customline, 1949 IH Pickup

Fairlane:

In Fords, the automatic was rated 225, but that would be with a T-pot.  I remember seeing a bulletin of some kind stating that the Merc had a different cam, as Gary said, and was rated 235 horse.  The color of the block and valve covers was the identification method for the 235 vs the 225.  Wish I knew where I read that.  But back to your original question, yes, the Carter is likely the original carb.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

The correct Carter carb for the 56 Merc 312 was a Carter WCFB (Will Carter Four Barrell) and had a 2361 identification marking both cast on the top of the carb and also as the carb tag number.

Hoosier,your memory is excellent.

It was Mercury Service Letter #20.Dated March 19,1956

It was part of the identification for the M260 setup.Apparently the Merc used this hotter cam as a part of the M260 setup. This 235 H.P. camshaft along with the distributor,heads and springs and the dual quad setup made up the M260 option.

This "Service Letter" identifies the visual differences between engines containing the earlier milder cam and this hotter 235 H.P. camshaft.

I can send you a copy if you like,but I"ll bet you got it stashed in your files somewhere.You may have orginally seen this info in "Y Blocker"Magazine.

Oldmics

Oldmics:

Thanks for the compliment about my memory.  You're right, I probably have a copy of that bulletin, and it is probably in one of my Y Block Magazines.  I've just forgotten where.  See my memory is probably typical of most 66 year old car nuts.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I'd be curious to know what the specs on the 235 HP cam were



Interesting that the automatic Mercs had the Carter WCFB carbs.

Best regards,



Paul Menten

Meridian, Idaho