TOPIC: '57 Merc Refresh

And we've finally hit the bottom . . . . . not much left to disassemble here . . .



The mounts themselves actually looked good and just needed some elbow grease . . . and replace whatever those rusty bits used to be.

Bottom end is all buttoned up . . . crank end play checked within spec so I just reused the old shims. Time for a cold one . . .



Shift shaft I welded up ground down and then brazed . . . I could've replaced it ( thanks for the offer RickG ) but I wanted to see if I could fix what I had. Hell I couldn't make it any worse! I did give it a coat of black enamel afterwards. If the original lasted 60 + years, this one will too and I don't figure I'll make it to 100 years old.

MercurySpecialist wrote: I have been extremely hectic, so slow to see and reply. Yes, the 1960-1961 Merc 400 short shaft upper shift shaft, and the 1957 Mark 55 short shaft upper shift shaft, are the same part number. We do inventory the coated foam carburetor floats @ 5.49 each.

No worries Joe! I'll compile a list of what I need here shortly and shoot you a PM.

buzzerbaits wrote: Holy crap..... I cant believe the condition of that motor. Just amazing. That float looks like something "DAN" would call a Indian pounding stone......

Well from what the previous owner told me he had two MK 55's and made one. I am really only showing you the bad stuff. For a 60+ year old engine she's pretty good, I know I probably couldn't pull start this thing with the compression it's got.

I have been extremely hectic, so slow to see and reply. Yes, the 1960-1961 Merc 400 short shaft upper shift shaft, and the 1957 Mark 55 short shaft upper shift shaft, are the same part number. We do inventory the coated foam carburetor floats @ 5.49 each.

Regards,
Joe
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www.fergusonpoolemarine.com

Holy crap..... I cant believe the condition of that motor. Just amazing. That float looks like something "DAN" would call a Indian pounding stone......

RickG wrote: Hey Moe,
I've got a better looking shift shaft from a later Merc 400 parts motor that you're welcome to if they're the same. I think they are, but maybe Joe can confirm.

Thanks, I just may take you up on that. This one might be repairable but I need to talk to one of the guys I work with who has a tig setup.
I'll get some basic dimensions off of mine tonight after work though.

jmhyatt wrote: That's impressive work you're doing. By the time you get done with that motor, it's going to be worth at least twice what you paid for it!

Thanks! I think I'll have twice what I paid just in gaskets and small stuff!

Cracked open one of the carbs and she's gonna need floats . . . hopefully I can find some phenolic resin ones as opposed to cork.

Hey Moe,
I've got a better looking shift shaft from a later Merc 400 parts motor that you're welcome to if they're the same. I think they are, but maybe Joe can confirm.

That's impressive work you're doing. By the time you get done with that motor, it's going to be worth at least twice what you paid for it!