A BIG BLOCK!! is the current motor in the Merc, I built it in 1997. It's a 460 that I salvaged from a `78 Lincoln. The motor has been bored .030 over. I used the stock crank and rods. The rods were floated and new ARP Wavelock rod bolts installed. I used TRW SpeedPro Power Forged domed pistons. The rotating assembly was then balanced. The heads were the factory D3 heads that I ported and a 3 angle valve job. New TRW valves with Crane Cams roller rockers and springs. The camshaft is a Cran Cams Powermax hydraulic unit with .556I-.563E lift and 296*I-300*E duration. The intake is a Edelbrock Victor 460 and topped off with a Holley 850 double pumper. The ignition is a complete MSD system, 6AL box , MSD billet distributor, 8.5 Super Conducter wires. I used the Hooker Headers engine swap kit which included a set of 2" SuperComp long tube headers. The exhaust is 2 1/2" all the way out the back going through a set of DynoMax Super Turbo's. I used an aluminum BeCool bolt in radiator to keep the temps down.
Drivetrain:
Transmission is a C6 that I bought from Godley Bros. Racing w/ a 2500 stall converter. It has a reverse manual valve body.
The rear end is a Ford Motorsport bolt in 9" housing. Inside is a 3.91 gear on a 31 splineTraction-Loc mounted inside a Ford nodular case. Also a set of Ford Motorsport 31 spline hardend axels with ARP wheel studs.
Notes:
I bought this car in 1991. It came with a 2.3 four cylinder. I bought with an end result of a strictly drag race machine in mind. My goal has not been reached as of yet but I get closer every year. This coming year will be an exciting year as I'm starting on the race motor. A 547 c.i.d. stroker.
