-best small block for my 53 merc??

[merc53man]

i dont know all that much about the different ford small blocks, or big blocks for that matter i'm building a custom 53 merc and i want a simple reliable engine, and now im thinking one that's ok on gas. now im considering a 289 or 302, but i wanted some input from more experienced wrenchers and that any of you recommend. i want carburated, most likely from the 60's or early 70's, and low budget-style.
thanks
merc53man

[canadianal]

i am partial to the 289 but one can also get a good used l302 motor from the late model ford cars and put a carb and intake onit and have a very reliable strong runner for cheap.

[techinspector1]

"i want a simple reliable engine"

How about the simple, reliable 255 cubic inch underhead valve motor that's in it now?

[merc53man]

i'd love the orig. 255 from my car...got a running one w/o a crack?

[techinspector1]

No, sorry .
In a swap, I'd tend to agree with canadianal. A Mercury in a Mercury. Fuel prices aren't likely to come back to a sane level in the forseeable future, so I might be thinkin' one of the smaller motors from Ford like the 221 or 260.

I had a 260 in a '63 Mercury Meteor and it was one of the sweetest running little motors I ever owned. It was a real good balance between performance and mileage. Bore, 3.800", stroke 2.870".

[w2zero]

Go with a roller cam late model 302. You can put a small four barrel and a Performer intake on it with an aod trans and get 25+ mpg on the freeway with 3.55 gears.

But that's my opinion because I got 27+ mpg at eighty mph with that combo in a 64 Fairlane.

Sure the 221 or 260 sounds like a good deal but they are in short supply lately. Any that are rebuildable are wrapped in plastic in garages in case their owner decides to pull the roller 302 and do a full restoration.

[R Pope]

302's are commonly available, and cheap. That'd be my choice (or a favorite of mine, a 351W!). Be sure you get a motor and trans from the same donor car to avoid balance problems! These engines are "Detroit balanced" with weights on the ring gear, and they changed them often.