Would a 368 from a 57 Lincoln fit in a 56 Mercury Montclair that originally had a 312. Would it fit easy or what modifications would have to be done?

Although I haven’t seen a 368 in a “56 Mercury, the 368 LYB was a very limited factory option in the ’56 Fords.  I’ve only seen documention showing this being done on the California built Ford cars and these had a ‘S’ engine code when the 368 was installed.  With that in mind though, a 368 should be doable in the ’56 Mercs.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

there were quite a few in 57 mercs.most all turnpikes had them.you should get a set of mounts from one of these.the lincoln mounts are a whole different animal.

I had heard of the same story of the 368 engines being in the 1956 cars with the letter "S" in the serial number however when reading the TSB's (Technical Service Bulletin) from 1956 found something different.



In TSB 366 dated 8/6/56 there is a paragraph about the "S" code cars.



Para D*2

312 Cubic inch eight cylinder engines - 1956 Fairlane, Customline, and Mainline Models

We have been advised that approximately sixty-five 312 cubic inch engines with automatic transmissions and four hundred and fifty-five 312 cubic inch engines with standard transmissions have been used in 1956 Fairlane, Customline, and Mainline models in place of the 292 cubic inch engine with the four barrel carburetor.



Since these engines were shipped with the regular passenger car decals on the rocker covers it will not be possible to identify them by this means. The identification of such 1956 units with these engines in this case is made by the letter "S" in the vehicle serial number and a daub of yellow heat resisting paint about two inches square on the forward portion of the engine.



marv

Thanks Marv.  That’s good stuff.  That TSB should help greatly in explaining the S engine code on the ’56 Fords.  With the TSB info, the California car in question could have possibly been a 312 originally before a 368 was placed between the control arms.  Because it was not a one owner car so that the history on the car could be verified and the 368 installation looked professional and not cobbled in regards to wiring or accessory installation, the S code for the engine was taken as a factory nuance that wasn’t listed in the service manuals.  Heard stories of '56 Ford police cars with 368's but haven't seen any documention supporting this either.  In regards to the TSB, it does make you wonder though why the S code was used in lieu of the P code just on these particular 312's.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks Ted:



The way I read it is that these cars with 312's were wolves in sheep's clothing in that they were scheduled to be 292's and somehow the engines were trimmed in 292 parts (ie) rocker covers and installed before caught. Why they did not change the data tag to a "P" I don't know unless all the power train was 292 equipment. Just a guess.



I have heard of 368's being installed in the 55/56's, have never seen one. Story being told as a real wild ride.



Apparently some 57's were ordered (I do not have any documentation as to fact) with the 361 Edsel engine for Highway Patrol pursuit vehicles. That 305 HP stock engine could catch anything.

marv

since the 361 didnt show until 58 models i doubt it.

the 55-56 fords you read about with 368's were usually modifyed stock cars. they never came stock that way. at datona bill stroppe put a 368 in a new 56 merc, called the thumper, with hilborn inj. for the flying mile in 56. a lot of the ford guys used the 335 HP 368's in there modifyed stock cars.  the engine is 1 in. longer than a y-block, about the same as a FE.

 lincoln/merc. y-blocks &mel's                                                               bucyrus, ohio.