MERC guys, I need your pics!

[MercMan1951]

Hi All,

I am rebuilding the hind quarters on the Merc, the quarters that are BEHIND the bolt-on quarter panels...mine are all rusted out.

Things have moved around a little in the process of cutting out the stock trunk floor and rewelding it to the new Lincoln floor...which changes the geometry on the outermost surfaces of the remaining quarter panel areas
(the non-un-boltable) part. I am replacing sheetmetal both in this area and eventually on the bolt-on part of the rear quarter panels and am seeking pictures for reference of your rear end sides WITHOUT the quarters attached.

I have already gone thru my Tex Smith books, and the pictures aren't clear enough to see the angles associated with how the inner quarters were welded to the trunk floors.

This may sound confusing, but a 1/4 inch pressure (in or out) on the lower rear inner quarter panel (where it would be welded to the trunk floor) affects how the whole outer skin (the non-removeable part) bows in or out. I need to make sure I weld it together right in order to make sure my outer quarter panels (when welded in place) follow the contour of the portion that isn't removable. Any pics you can provide would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kev

[MercMan1951]

Here is a pic to give you a more visual idea of the area in question...full side view quarter shots without the bolt-on quarter panel installed would be good too.

[CharlieLed]

I have a nice NOS upper left quarter that I could take some pics of if you need them...here's one I happen to have on file...

[CharlieLed]

Here's a shot of the inside of my Merc trunk...let me know if you need more pics or measurements.

[tokyo]

will this help?
tok

[tokyo]

[MercMan1951]

That works guys, thanks! Not as much of mine missing as I thought, and the inner rear panel does seem to bow in slightly.

Thanks again guys!

Kevin

[CharlieLed]

[ QUOTE ]
That works guys, thanks! Not as much of mine missing as I thought, and the inner rear panel does seem to bow in slightly.

Thanks again guys!

Kevin

[/ QUOTE ]
Kevin, I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that the rear inner section bows in. In the pic that I posted the quarter panel was just laying on the driveway, the front inner section is longer the the rear so it is propped up more making the rear section appear to bow in. These panels are very flexible when not installed on the car, those lower sections are just tacked on and provide little in the way of support for the fender.

[MercMan1951]

Charlie,


This is hard to explain without showing, but I'll try:

Well, what I was looking for was "at rest" pictures...which is what I got (big thanks!)...since my rear qtrs are completely free (as of this moment) of any sort of structure or attachment to surrounding wheel wells or flooring, they bow outwards. I am replacing the wheel tubs with my own custom fabbed trailer fender units, as well as replacing a good portion of the inner qtr. structures on both sides of the openings (due to rot) AND a small bit of the outer quarter and upper lip (above the actual wheel opening). I noticed that the quarters bowed out, but when I put a level across the side of the car, and pushed it in, it went flat like it was supoosed to be, telling me that when I cut out the original trunk floor, the quarters moved out a bit. It needs to be flat to install the outer quarters (the un-boltable part), so I just have to make sure when welding everything back up solid, that I push on the outer quarter until it's flat, before securing the end to the trunk pan.

After replacing many structural parts on cars at the body shop, I realize that there is quite a bit of movement to be expected. Car bodies are sort of in a state of "tension" until you start relieving them of their attaching components. I just wanted to make sure that in 40 years of car body manufacturing the same rules applied that I was framiliar with in today's cars. It is... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[mikes51]

Mercman, you completely lost me on that last explanation.

I threw a straight edge on my rear quarter and this is what I got.

[mikes51]

another view. Just a suggestion, but if the track of your new rear axle is more or equal to the original, you'll find the rear tire comes real close to that joint where the quarters bolt together. This might be a chance to cheat a bit and bow the quarter out a little more than stock if you need clearance.

[MercMan1951]

Thanks for the pics, Charlie. I was using a 4 foot level centered directly above the wheel opening (to use as a straightedge.) I pushed it inwards to make my quarters in this area flat, and the inner quarters move outwards, away from from my trunk floor, (the area I circled in red) in compensation for the sheetmetal movement topside. The area I am discussing primarily concerns how I should weld the rear inner quarters to the new 1987 Lincoln trunk floor; natural or pressed in with a straightedge? I believe I am going in the right direciton by pushing in on the quarters to obtain the correct amount of "tension" prior to welding them to the floor.

I don't have issues with the stock '79 FoMoCo aluminum rims clearing the quarters on it now for mock-up purposes, but I've determined that with bubble skirts (as I plan to use for now) the tires rub, (even with the bow), so my plan was for offset rear rims...

The pictures I have seen on the web of various Mercs all have the quarters basically flat above the wheel opening area, I know the overall profile is that it bows out a little from the doors, and then back again to taper in towards the taillights. It's hard to explain. Can you jump on a plane and come out and see what I'm dealing with/finish off my quarters for me? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[mikes51]

I see what you're talking about now. Well, I eyeballed the removable quarter on mine, below the joint, and right at the top of the wheel well opening. It looks bowed out there like at the joint. Sounds like it's time to get those bubble skirts, place the skirts against the fender, then adjust your inners until you get a perfect match between the removable quarter and the skirts?

[MercMan1951]

I do have the bubbles already, the seemed to fit the contour of the bolt-on part of the quarter quite well...but that was before I started paying attention to all this stuff, so I guess I have to go back and look now...thanks for your help, Charlie.

[MercMan1951]

And thank-you too, to MIKE, for taking the time to put a straightedge to your Merc and snap a couple pics! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif