I want to upgrade my 54 Merc and get rid of the original Tea Pot carb and load-o-matic distributor. I have had many problems with the t-pot and really poor overall performance and mileage. I am not into racing or super high performance, but I do know this y-block should be much more reliable and fun to drive. I have upgraded other y-blocks in the past by switching to the 57 manifold, and disrtibutor and using the Holley or Autolite 4100 carb. The problem with the 54, both Ford 239 and Merc 256, is that they used the smaller ported heads. So its not feasible to just change intake and carb.I am having a 57 distributor with the much improved vac/mechanical advance, modified by Bubbas in Indianapolis, to fit my older style oil pump drive and cam gear. He does a "butt change" as he calls it, grafting on the olde rstyle lower end to the newer 57 upper end. So that part will be upgraded.
My question then deals with what carb to use? I know that the later model Holley, edelbrock and Autolite 4100 are all good carbs, but they all would require me to use an adapter plate between the carb and the existing 54 intake manifold. What about the Carter WFBC 4 bbl carb that Merc used in 55/56? It has the same smaller square 4 bolt pattern that the existing 54 Merc intake has, so I could use it as a direct bolt on without having to use an adapter. I have access to one that looks to be in good running condition. Would this carb serve me well with the newer distributor? Will it respond to the vac/mechanical advance that I will be using? Am I gaining anything by using it vrs the Autolite or edelbrock with adapter plate.??
If anybody has done this change on the 54 Merc 256 or even the 54 Ford 239, I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions. Thanks!
Steve

I don't know if this is true for all EBY 256 blocks, but i have one here that takes the small cam bearings and therefore late style distributor gear.Have you checked yours or were they made both ways?

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

John makes a good point regarding the '54 239 and 256 engines. My recollection is that there were early and late series engine blocks. The early ones had a different size cam bearing, for one.


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Sounds like you already have the distributor part fixed unless you fixed something that wasn't broke. As far as the WCFB I see no reason why it wouldn't work if you don't want to run a later carburetor & an adapter. I ran them on my Chevy back in the 50's & 60's & they worked fine. Lots of cars had them back then.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

Thanks for the comments so far. I am OK with the distributor changes , using a 57 style distributor with mechanical/vacuum advance. Bubbas will do the modifications by grafting a 54 distributor lower end onto the 57 distributor top end. That way the lower end will mate up with my older 54 style cam gear and older spade type oil pump drive. My question really deals with the Carter WCFB carb , does it use the same advance system as the later model holley, edelbrock and autolite carbs? Will it be compatible with the later 57 style distributor for vacuum advance??
Thanks again!
Steve

The Carter WCFB for the ’56 Mercury has a vacuum signal suited for the L-O-M distributor which makes it incompatible with the ’57 and up distributors if attempting to use the vacuum chamber on those distributors. While the conversion for the Teapot carbs is now reasonably straight forward for changing the ‘venturi assisted’ vacuum signal to a true ported or staged vacuum signal that’s suitable with the late model distributors, I haven’t even looked at a Mercury WCFB to see what’s involved in converting that particular signal.

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Here’s the link to the article showing the necessary modification that permits the Holley Teapot carburetor to be compatible with the late model distributor. By looking at this, you may be able to determine what is required of theWCFB to do the same.

HolleyTeapot Mods For Late Model Distributor Usage

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Another alternative option would be to use the WCFB off of a mid-Fifties Olds, Buick, or Cadillac as they would have the correct ported vacuum signal for the ’57 and up Y distributor and still have that small base pattern that would fit your Teapot flanged intake.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I used Teds modifications on Holley 94 carbs to use ported vacuum with the later model dist & it works great. Im sure his modification to the Teapot will work fine also.

Dan      Kingman Az.      86409

I use a 52 Cadillac WCFB on my 56 292 and am very pleased with it. I use the later distributor also. I can e-mail you pictures of the installation. The smallest Cad was a 331 and Olds was a 303. There are guys out there who have the jets and metering rods for these. Cadillac also used a Rochester 4GC which is supposed to be a step up from the Carter but I have 2 early restored ones and cannot make them perform as well as the Carter.

I have heard the 56 Cad that had the 2 four barrels was the best one but have no evidence. Plymouths, Dodges, and Packards also used the small base 4 barrels. Kits are available for all of them and the Cad had a very easy hook up using stock parts or or stuff I bought at the hardware store, online or parts house...Good Luck

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

DryLakes Racer.....can you email me at smjfritz@charter.net please. I would like to see your pictures and talk about carb rebuilding. Thanks!

Steve

Have everything on my home computer and will do it when I get off work.............

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.