Hi,



I just acquired a very low miles 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser 368 motor along with its original automatic trans. I want to put in a model A sedan with a 5 speed behind it and I need to know what sort of bell housing and flywheel I need to make this happen.



Any advise is appreciated!



Thanks for your time!



Mike Powell

East Palestine, Ohio

So many cars, so little time.

Look at larger Ford trucks since they used the Lincoln Y blocks,I do know where a 58 to 60 F800 dump truck and 61 school bus are in a junkyard that should have the parts you need.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

You can start with the heavy truck bellhousing...Cut the ears off ...A muncie transmission will fit with some redrilling of holes. Truck flywheel must weigh 60 lb and it's drilled for a 12" clutch so it's not suitable. The Flywheel register hole is the same as an FE. Where an FE has one of the 6 holes clocked, The Lincoln holes are all evenly spaced at 60 degrees. Most guys will plug and redrill the one hole. Custom SFI flywheel is available for around $400 .



This problem has been discussed over on the Hamb on the Lincoln Y forum



http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=160

keep an eye on ebay they often have bellhousings for your engine.these are old after market alum,bells.

Yes, i brought a Cragar bellhousing years back to suit 368 but am missing the clutch fork, just a chance? would anyone have something to suit? thank you, regards bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

I want to thank everyone for there reply to my query. I guess I am on the hunt for what ever can get this done as inexpensively as possible. I like building my own pieces and modifying original parts over buying vintage speed equipment or high dollar modern hot rod stuff. I am not yet versed on how the starter mounts. Does it bolt to the block or the bell? If it bolts to the bell is the flywheel on the truck much larger than the car version? If it is only a little larger or just thicker I can easily mount it in my lathe and thin it down. I could also re drill it for a smaller pressure plate. The model T ford hot rod I just finished building in August has a H-D '51 Chevy bell, flywheel and pressure plate from a '51 Chevy 1 ton truck. All I modified in that case is the clutch fork (to clear the frame rail) and the rubber mounts (also to clear the T's narrow frame). One reason for the heavy truck parts in that car is a 50's period book recommended using them anytime a Chevy stove bolt motor is souped to 130+ HP Mine is about 140. Would there be any benefit in using the truck parts since this motor makes about 290 hp?



Thanks again!



Mike

So many cars, so little time.

If you are cheap and talented and have machining capabilities, then the redrilled FE flywheel is the ticket plentiful and cheap..The truck bell is your best bet... the aluminum ones are very rare and bring a lot of money.. Truck parts are not necessary, and the only truck part of any high performance value is the forged crank.. The cast crank and rods will take 400 hp with no problem. The starter is bell housing mounted. A Yblock starter works. The only ring gear available is the truck version. Automatics have a strange converter ring gear assembly

I was at the junkyard today that has the big trucks and someone yanked the motor out of the 58 to 60 big truck but left the bellhousing behind so no flywheel or clucth parts,there is a 61 to 64 scholl bus with the same motor and should have all the clutch parts.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

Close buy I have found what I believe to be a 1961 F600 dump truck. The motor is clearly a Y block with FORD embossed in the valve covers. How can I differentiate between the merc engine and the ford engine? Would they have used a ford marked valve cover on a merc engine to make it all look like ford stuff?



That bell and clutch does sound good. If the one i have found does not work out what would that cost me? PM me, OK!



Mike


So many cars, so little time.

Ha.Ha, i like that.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia