ClassicCar

mercrising

I saved a 51 merc from the junk yard for a couple hundred bucks with the original 255 flattie, the frame is good of course all brake lines and accessories need to be changed. the only thing is the body from the quarters down are pretty much gone as well as the floor board from the firewall to the rear bumper. I question to you all is about the fiberglass body you can purchase. Does anyone have any pro's and con's to using this body vs the completely rebiulding the body to stay original? any opinions welcomed here.

Oldcar_Mechanic

That's very interesting that you were able to find a fiberglass body for a 51 Merc. I would be interested in know who has these.

Thanks

Ron

mercrising

Sorry for the misunderstanding I've got a 51' but the fiberglass body is a 49'

Oldcar_Mechanic

Still interesting

Ron

Lee ODell

Oldcar_Mechanic wrote:

That's very interesting that you were able to find a fiberglass body for a 51 Merc. I would be interested in know who has these.

Thanks

Ron

Gene Winfield, one of the great customizers of cars, makes the fiberglass mercury body. He has moved to Mohave. If I can fine his address I will post it for you. I saw one he had on display at the L. A. Roadster Show. It is a very fine piece of work. From the discription you gave of your car I think you would be better off getting one of his bodies. No more rust to deal with, not to mention the cost of rust rot repairs and all the hidden places rust hides its ugly head only to return after the car is painted. Good luck on your project. Lee

mercrising

Not sure if he has sold the mold for his fiberglass body but the companies I have found that make these bodies are:

ACAuto

http://www.acautos.com/49-50-mercury/

1949 mercury replica

http://www.1949-mercury.com/photo-gallery-of-1949-mercury-body

This way I can do up my frame the way I want to under the original body and once I am ready I can order the body complete from the company of my choice. A little easier, still just as much to do it this way as if it was a steel body but not as much labor for body work. Ya know?

And thank you wishing me luck on my biuld. Definitely a project and one I would like to tackle.

Lee ODell

mercrising wrote:

Not sure if he has sold the mold for his fiberglass body but the companies I have found that make these bodies are:

ACAuto
http://www.acautos.com/49-50-mercury/

1949 mercury replica
http://www.1949-mercury.com/photo-gallery-of-1949-mercury-body

This way I can do up my frame the way I want to under the original body and once I am ready I can order the body complete from the company of my choice. A little easier, still just as much to do it this way as if it was a steel body but not as much labor for body work. Ya know?

And thank you wishing me luck on my biuld. Definitely a project and one I would like to tackle.

I finally found Gene Winfield's address and phone number for you. Winfields Rod & Custom, 8201 Mojave, Ca. 93501. 661-824-4728. Sorry it took so long getting this information to you. I'm looking forward to reading more about your plans for your car. I like your enthusiasm. Keep us posted on your project when you can. Lee

mercrising

Well I am down to the Frame and have allmost all the Air ride suspension ordered just got to find the time to play with her. I do have a question for some older gear heads. What kind of rear end came in the 49-51 mercury. Was it a Dana 41 or soemthing else? Also thanks for the info on Gene. I cant believe I lived so close to where he was at and never new he was there. Now I am half way across the country. O well I will drop him a line and see if he is still in the business of glass bodies.

Lee ODell

Welcome back. Are you going to stay with the oiriginal drive train or go with something else?

There are a few issues I want to bring to your attention to avoid some mistakes others have made.

Be aware that every time you change the ride height of the car with the airbag system the wheel alignment changes. Results, rapid tire wear in weeks not years. Drive the car at the same ride height as when you have the wheel alignment done.

If you haven't already ridden in a car with airbags, you might want to ride in one to see how well you like the ride. Some are pretty harsh riding.

As an alignment mechanic one of the biggest airbag installation problems I would see was, not enough clearance between the air bags and the frame, suspension parts and exhaust systems. Another was no frame reiformcement where the frames were butchard. Unfortunately, most of the air bag modifications that came into the shop were butcher jobs. A few were well done but still had wheel alignment issues to live with.

Also, make allowance for any air leak problems down the road. If an air line or bag should leak, you still want to be able to limp home without something draging the ground or the whole car dead on the ground or a tire wedged against the body or frame. I've see it happen.

With careful attention to details you will have a great ride.

I wish you the best on your project. Keep us posted. Lee

mercrising

Yeah I helped a friend of mine install a airride on his 92 chevy pickup. the rear was the most concerning because we notched the frame biuld doublers for the frame from 1/4 in mild steel so it was definietly solid. I am not using the original drive train I have a 91 pontiac firebird that I am takingthe engine/tranny out of. also the drive shaft I will take to a company to get the original axle u joint welded on and balance to the pontiac drivshaft. This way it will fit to the original axle under the merc which is great shape for the age.

I am replacing the rear section of the car due to the fact that the pass. side is rotten thru so I got a replacement rear section and will have it welded on at a frame shop that has a frame rack with the specs to be straight. The bags will be mounted jsut inside of the frame rail on the rear and the front will utilize the shocktower mount with the cup installed.

My goal is to be totally aired down and sit on the ground and the ride hieght will be 4 to 6 inchs up from there. We'll see if I reach my gaol of this.

Yes i understand utilizing the same ride hieght for alignment issues due to the fact that my friends pickup had that problem till we realized the different ride hieghts changed the geometry of the tires.

Thanks for the motivation and I will keep updaeing as I get a chance to work on the car and make headway.

Lee ODell

It sounds like you are well on your way and have some experience doing this modification.

Is it the frame rail that you are replacing? Are you boxing the frame where the mount will be mounted on the inside edge? I have seen cars that weren't and the frame rails twisted. If you can tie the two inner brackets together, that will increace the strength considerably and help prevent the frame rail from twisting.

What are you doing for front suspension? Are you going to use the Pontiac front suspension? I recently saw a complete pontiac front suspension and subframe installed in a early 40's Hudson coupe. It looked good and well reiforced. That gave it p/s and power disc brakes. Also, he installed the p/b pedal and booster assembly. It handled great. It's the type of suspension I have considered for my 47 Hudson pu.

I'm looking forward to future updates. Have a good day. Lee

mercrising

Yes I will be boxing the frame probably most of it. I will box the rear support where the shocks mount to all the wa up to where the X frame connects to the outer frame rail du to having put in a triangulated four link.

Yes the frame rail I am replacing. I needed a replacement upper control arm cause my driver side mounting points threads were broke off so I went and found a replacement and the guy had a rear section for 20 bucks so I figured why not do it this way instead of trying to fab up a whole new completly different rear section.

In regards to the front suspension no, I will be using the stock front end. Since I am droping in the TPI engine from the pontiac it will have P/S I have aquired a isuzu trooper P/S gearbox to fab in to replace the manual box. I also have disc brakes fro the front with gm calipers I havent gotten the booster and proportional valves as of yet becasue I want to get one the will be firewall mounted. I dont want the frame mounted one due to the fact that I wouldn't be able to get the exhaust past it.

This is the car I have always wanted the whole James Dean "Rebel Without A Cause" . I figure I would do a whole frame restoration, do it right ya know.

Lee ODell

You have a dream and a plan. Keep at it and it will come true.

Will you be changing the steering collum to mate with the Isuzu Trooper P/S gear box?

Thanks for keeping us posted on your plans and progress.

Lee

mercrising

Thanks

Yes probably flaming river unsure yet

mercrising

Set back after set back.

Well I went to get the frame aligned on the frame rack and have them weld my replacement rear on and they wanted $600 bucks to do the work. I said you can have the frame. I aquired another Frame for $200 bucks that was in much better shape. Straight as an arrow. I thought I was on my way to atleast getting a rolling chassis by years end. I was wrong. Found out wife was pregnant with twins and now I am not working on it at all. Maybe just for a while she will sit. Need the money for the new ones so will have to deal with what I got right now. Just need some heim joints for the four link and I could, when I have the time that is, start mocking up the four link.

Oldcar_Mechanic

Congratts on the twins.

Best of luck on the car.

Ron

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