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By JPotter57 - 12 Years Ago
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I finally got around to tearing down my 312. I bought this last year from a gentleman who told me it came out of his `56 Mercury, had 65000 miles on it, and only removed it because it smoked badly and he had another low mileage running 312 to go in. Wehn i got the heads off today, I verified the smoking, as the pistons were pretty carbon coated, like from burned oil. Rings and valve seals toast. Any way, this 312 is likely that low mileage, as it is standard bore, factory ECZ pistons. The original FoMoCo head gaskets, steel shim type, still in place, the original FoMoCo timing gear, chain and counterweight still in place, original FoMoCo standard main and rod bearings still in place. The only thing I could see that was not original, was the thermostat housing gasket had some old Indian Head looking sealer on it. I think I did alright with the $500 purchase price. The bore has a slight lip, would probably be ok to go back standard with, but I am boring it .030 and getting a set of Mummert's forged flattops and rods for it. This will be the starting point for my F-Code build. My 471 heads will be on the way when I pay Pat for them, but until I get all the parts for the Paxton that I am still missing, I will run it naturally aspirated with a set of modified "G" heads. Once I have everything I need to get the Paxton installed, I will put on the 471's and get it ready to go. Seriously, I am glad this turned out to be a good 312, I had put off tearing it down, afraid of what I'd find. The crank looks like a new one, and for the most part, it is clean inside, so I am happy with it.
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By Oldmics - 12 Years Ago
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As much as I wish you well-your not outta the woods as of yet. They are only good once they pass a magnaflux and pressure test. Unfortunatly I have had more than a few look good till I get them to the machine shop.Sometimes they just wont pass both tests. As I said I do wish you success in getting a good block.There getting tough to find. Oldmics
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By mctim64 - 12 Years Ago
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Sounds like you got a pretty solid engine for your money, at least it was a 312 and not a 272 like the last 312 I bought. lol (yes I knew it was a 272 when I took it home, got the price down a bit) I have a feeling that it will turn out good if it was an un-molested engine, I wish you well on the magnaflux. 
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By JPotter57 - 12 Years Ago
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The guy I bought it from has owned the car for over 20 years. It is a 56 Mercury convertible. It is a beautiful car, white, white top, white interior. He also has a `56 Montclair Phaeton. The convertible he always keeps it indoors, said it had about 50k on it when he bought it, and in the 20 odd years he's owned it, he only put around 15k on it. It's always stored in his heated attached garage. It looked really clean when I got it from him, which is the only reason I was suspicious of it...Seems like the clean ones are the ones bored to death, run ragged, etc. This one so far, is really a gem. I'll find out when I take it to the shop for vatting and crack checking.
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By Richard - 12 Years Ago
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Send us pictures of it and keep those positive waves going.
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By JPotter57 - 12 Years Ago
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Well, I got it to the machine shop a week ago, and the machinist was excited about it. He said it was the first standard bore, standard rod and main crank y block he had ever seen. After checking, he said the block could probably be honed and ran standard if I wanted to, but I told him I wanted to bore it .030 or .040. He said the crank was so nice, all it needed was polishing and it would be perfect. He said it truly was a rare find to be all untouched original, down to the stock bearings and head gaskets, timing set, etc. So, the gloom and doom have been sent packing, and I am happily getting on with my project. Ordering pistons and rods after the first of the year.....
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By speedpro56 - 12 Years Ago
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Great job on the find and it was well worth the $500 you spent. I would go for the .040 overbore which will not hurt a supercharged engine because the 56 312s have nice thick walls to begin with and .040 is not really that much anyway.
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By Glen Henderson - 12 Years Ago
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Good deal James, sounds like a great start. By the way I've been checking out your blog, you may want to post the link over here for the members that don't frequent your site. Can't wait to see some updated pictures.
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By mctim64 - 12 Years Ago
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Glen Henderson (12/16/2012)
Good deal James, sounds like a great start. By the way I've been checking out your blog, you may want to post the link over here for the members that don't frequent your site. Can't wait to see some updated pictures.I'd like to see! 
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