You don't tell us what model your '69 Merc is....Cyclone? Montego? Cougar? X100? Parklane? You got yourself a Mercury and your gonna cruise on down the road....but it would be helpful to know a little more.

The stick bellhousing that FE equipped unibody FoMoCo vehicles ('66-'70) came with is a C6OZ.....although I've seen many that have no casting #s on them. They do not have the external ribbing as the pickup stick bells have. It's true that the pickup/truck bell is 7/16" deeper than the unibody FE bell.

The truck bellhousing is a common item on eBay. Often times misrepresented as a passenger car stick bellhousing. As with all of eBay...Buyer Beware.

As to whether you will have any problems running the external rib/truck bell between your 428/RUG-AE2? I'm not going to profess personal knowledge. However if your toploader's input shaft is seated & supported properly in the pilot bushing of your flywheel there shouldn't be any failures.

I hope someone with personal experience and knowledge of running this transmission with the pickup/truck bell will give us some reinforcement.

Speeking from experience, a "big in big out" toploader will not reach a standard pilot bushing in an FE with a C5TE bellhousing.

Dave,to answer your question about the externally ribbed bell it is a truck unit .58-62 pass cars useda bell that was smooth externally and had a deep starter pocket and will not accept an 11.5 or larger clutch 63-64 pass cars used a smooth bell with a C3AA casting # which also had a deep starter pocket but apparently will accept a large clutch because that is the bell 427s used and they supposedly had an 11.5 clutch.65 and later full sized pass cars used a C5AA bell that was smooth externally had the shallow starter pocket and would accept the large clutch and also has a boss cast into the side of it to accept the engine side equalizer shaft pivot needed for forward placement of the engine used in 65 and later full sized cars.66 and later unibody cars ie. fairlane, mustang and their cousins used a C6OA bell that is smooth externally and has the shallow starter pocket and accepts the large clutch and looks identical to the C5AA bell with the exception that the boss cast into the side of it is finished at an angle with no hole drilled or tapped.That pretty much covers them with a common theme that none of them are ribbed externally and they are all meant to be used with big block and y block specific input shaft length so to sum it up either the C5AA or the C6OA bells will work for you though the C5AA bell may require the side boss to be trimmed.To be safe it may be prudent for you to bite the bullet and change the bell to ensure proper pilot engagement.Out of curiosity what clutch fork are you using with the big input tranny?

http://fomoco.com/ford-forum-FE/results.asp?Page=1&Max=20&Option=0&Name=on&Email=on&Key=c8ae%20h

Try this, should answer most questions, I do believe c8ae h to be common on later 390 and 428's 67-70cc with thermactor, with 8 bolt exhaust?
Charlie

Send them to Joe Bunetic and they will work right from now on.

You need specifically calibrated correctly. Repro 8V carbs are available too at:

http://www.carlsfordparts.com

I guess there's no one wanting to help someone with a Ford question, though a similar question asked later was answered with at least five replies. What's up with that? BTW, I found my answer at a much more helpful Ford forum...Guess if it isn't Mustang-related, is isn't answered!

Go to a local starter/alternator rebuild shop and deal with them directly. Get to know them and over the years they will be able to answer all your questions about auto electric problems. As you modify your cars, they will be helpful in custom building starters and alternators to fit your needs.

I learned this long ago and have never been sorry for a single cent I have spent at my local rebuilder. They have always been there when I needed them. Even for some of my off the wall ideas.

the easiest way to spot a correct 68 1/2 air cleaner base is to look at the nuts that are crimped to the housing for the snorkel screws. the 68 parts have a round machined piece about 3/8 X 3/8 X 3/8 but the 69 has a rectangular piece about 3/8 X 1/2 and it is very thin maybe 1/8 thick. the bottom of the air cleaner looks like any 68-70 428 or a 67 GT390. here is a 429 SCJ torino base from a 70 but it is extremely similar. the 68 won't have a plastic nipple (it will have a metal one), the plastic plug, and the extra ring on the top but the bottom center 12 or so inches is the same!
http://www.torinocobra.com/parts/scj-shaker3.jpg
hawkrod

I could only find that number for one year, in the '67 Ford Car Service Specifications book. Says it's for a '67 Ford w/ a 427 4V, standard trans. Holley 4160-C, 1.688" primary bore, 1.688" sec. bore, 1.375" primary venturi, 1.437" sec. venturi, 73 main jets, 85 sec. jets, 65 power valve, 57MI choke spring.

Phil,I believe that carb is for 1965-67 427 4-V in full size and Fairlanes and Comets.I think they are a 780 cfm like their C5AF-BT and BU dual quad cousins.I believe the normal 427-8v had C3 600cfm holleys while the more exotic stuff like SOHC and tunnel ports and maybe some of the last drag race hi-risers got the BT and BU 780s.But I'm thinking most if not all the 4vs from 65-67 got the BV,lets face it the 65 and later 427 MR had evolved to the point where the old LR 600cfm 4v would not feed all those wild ponies.I'm sure someone out there probably has the exact applications,but I think 65-67 427 4v in all car lines would be a safe bet.BTW that is not to say its not a rare carb 427 4vs were in the minority,I don't have production #s thats just based on how many cars you see out there,seems like you see at least twice as many R code cars as you do 4v coded cars.Anybody else got an opinion or heaven forbid some facts to shed on this subject.

I would think it would fit since it is pretty much the same as the one used on the GT500 shelby's. I have one brand new it is the 2x4v design made to fit a 1x4v carb with the air filter that i got with a motor i bought if you are interested email me at cj428mach@yahoo.com

i HAVE A 428 IN MY 67 Mustang with the Edel. Performer RPm, stock Holley #matching carb and The oval air cleaner will not fit with the hood closed. If you had the shelby hood, I'm sure it would. But my hood will not close without touching air cleaner( by touching, dimpling... ouch)
I have to use the stock GTA air cleaner for clearance.

It would greatly depend on the final drive and tire size. Go to smokeemup.com for a rpm/speed calculator (once you have the info). You'll quickly discover that engine size is not an input parameter.

Yes,
FPA, hooker etc. I don't know about the FPA but you have to use a lowering bracket on your ps cylinder with the hooker headers, but they do clear all the rest of the ps, and 4 speed pieces if thats the case. Do a search on the forum here you'll see most people like the FPA, I plan to use them on my next rebuild.