Hello,
I picked up a 56 Tbird about three years ago and it’s been sitting Ever since. It didn’t come with the motor and transmission and looked like someone had installed something else at one time due to the custom welded motor mounts. I just picked up a low miles 1955 Mercury 292 with Merc- O-Matic from a fellow who was going total hot rod and was wondering what I would need to do to put this engine and transmission into my Thunderbird ? Original motor was 312/automatic according to firewall tag and transmission cross member is still intact. Any suggestions and help is greatly appreciated thanks

a lot of t bird stuff needed.base, timing cover a truck one will fit, front mount water pump spacer.a lot of other parts but that will let you get it in.

Thanks. What is a base?

I wonder if the passenger car damper, and water pump without the spacer would work if one of Mummert's Alternator brackets were used.

It definitely won't work if "correct" is the goal.


Lawrenceville, GA

Just off the top of my head

Tbird or truck front cover. Or the aluminum one if Mummert has it in stock.
Tbird front engine mount
Tbird rear sump oil pan-the truck one won’t clear the steering I believe.
Tbird steady rest side mounts and rods. I think these are available, or could be readily fabricated
Tbird thermostat mount. Mummert may have these in aluminum.
Water pump spacer. Some bird owners have done away with this and just spaced the pulley out 1 inch. They are also available.
Tbird drivers side exhaust manifold is different and unique. Or headers
As mentioned, an alternator bracket or a bird generator bracket.

You’ll have to block off the front oil breather, and modify a valley pan for the rear draft tube. Perfect time to fit a PCV system.

I don’t know about the throttle linkage/transmission kick down, but it can probably be modified if it came with the new unit.

The bird distributor has a tach drive, but a 3 3/8” inch electric can be modified to fit. This is another upgrade chance to fit a 57 up distributor, and possibly a more modern carb.

The oil pan with the pickup and the front mount are probably the toughest to source, but they’re out there. If your a good welder you could fab them.

You’ll need a bird or aftermarket air cleaner that clears the hood.

So it won’t be a restoration unless you go to some lengths, but a drivable car is doable.

I’m assuming the Merc trans is the same as to the rear mount as a fordo.



miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

"I’m assuming the Merc trans is the same as to the rear mount as a fordo."

Now that is a good question as the MOM had a larger main case. And will the MOM fit within the BIRD tunnel?

Now where is that MERC MPC I need but keep forgetting to order ...

____________________________

What are your intentions for the car?  If "correct" as Charlie mentioned, then you have a few parts to obtain.  The above mentioned timing cover and water pump spacer, T-Bird only vibration damper/pulley, water pump pulley, generator pulley.  The Bird used a tach drive distributor, the left manifold is shaped different to clear the steering column.  A T-Bird oil pan is needed, it is rear sump.  Thermostat housing is also T-Bird only.  T-Bird had a motor mount in front, under the damper, and steady rods between the block and frame on both sides.  Dipstick tube and stick are Bird.  The Merc-o-matic is column shift, the Bird is floor shift, so the lever on the transmission has to be modified or exchanged for a Bird lever.  If you only want a driver, you can probably get by with the passenger car engine with a Bird oil pan and converting to an alternator.  You would also need the truck or Bird timing cover and front mount, as well as the steady rods.  Only T-Bird purists would recognize the passenger car engine, but the "Mercury" lettered valve covers would be a give away if you don't change them.  Good luck with whatever you choose to do. 

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Miker typed faster than I, but at least we didn't give conflicting information.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

And Paul beat me with his answer too.  I'm just getting too slow in my old age.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I’m not sure, but I don’t think the bird front mount will clear the pass car damper. Been too long since I looked at them side by side.

The comment on the mercomatic case will need to be looked into, there’s not a lot of room in the 55 bird tunnel. In 56 it was modified to get the T-85 in behind the 312. I didn’t know that when I put a T-85 od in a 55 bird back in 1967. I guess it fit because I didn’t know. There’s your chance to upgrade to an AOD.

Some of the items I missed like the oil dip stick have been covered. You’ll have an accurate list when the rest chime in. But don’t get discouraged, it can be done a lot easier than other options, like an FE.

FWIW, if it’s got the “Mercury” script valve covers and they’re in good enough shape to chrome they are worth a pretty penny.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ