progress pics of my 49 merc convertable

[lefturn]

well last week it was a 4 door sedan.This week its a 2 door carson top converable.Almost.Here are a couple of photos i took. Moved the b pillar back about 10 ins. and hung a 2 door door on the car. took the skin from the rear door of the car and cut it doow to fit the opening that was left. Going to chop the front glass 3 ins.v but windshield.lsao a pic of one of my 2 door cars that i got sandblasted this week. the guy charged me only $180 canadian $138 u.s. not bad at all,and did a good job.didn't warp anything.
I also found 1 4 door 49 merc and 2 4 door 51s oonly 10 miles from here. i bought them all. may have more merc parts to sell.Thats what i did this week besides my regular job...ray

[lefturn]

more

[lefturn]

sandblasted merc

[Fat Hack]

I always enjoy watching your Mercs go together...thanks for the new pics! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Kustm52]

You are getting way too much done...do you ever sleep? Wish I had some of that nice Mercury tin to play with...all mine looks like swiss cheese. Which leads up to a good question...what chassis/floorpan are you using in all these? Is this the late '70's/early '80s gm? If so, which makes and models will fit? Looks like you have odne the process a few times...any info and advice would be appreciated.

Brian

[lefturn]

I use 78-84 olds regency 98 or buick park ave. These are the only 2 cars that have the exact wheel base and inner rocker dimentions that fit. the fire walls line up exactly. The olds and buick are built on the same pan. It don't matter which one.I retain the olds gas tank ,steering and all suspension stock. I lower the car by channelling it over the inner rockers of the olds and welding it at the hieght i want. I think the convert picture shows the channel on the opening of the door.If this convert turns out i will build another one. Its a long winter up here so evenings are spent in the shop. about 3 hrs a day is all i spend on cars. The wife is #1.
Must allways remenber that.----ray

[hightest]

it was good to talk to you at the swap this morning Ray, the cars are looking killer! I'll remember that Winterburn guy for the blasting, the car looks real clean.

joel

[mr57]

Since you got a couple 51's, I am looking for a driver's side Monarch tail light housing, passenger side front signal housing and a center strip for the grille on a Monarch. I still got the skirts..... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Terry]

Looking at the pictures gave me a idea. I wonder if you could cut down the rear door to fit in that little hole you have left, hinge it, and use it like the new Sport coupes are doing. Like the Mazda RX8?

[lefturn]

MR 57 i will look for those parts as soon as cars get here. later this week.
The back door can be still used if you cut it down.Don't know what it would look like but it is different.Maybe i'll try it on the next car.-------ray

[mikes51]

Nice work on those Mercs, you make it look easy.

What kind of tools are you using to do all that cutting?
Cutoff wheels? plasma cutter?

[Dat Dirty Rat]

I'm loving that 2-door..I only wish it was mine...Dirty

[MercMan1951]

Lefturn, when you run your supports under the roof, do you only go through the door opening or do you have to go through the quarter window openings as well? I can't tell from past pics, and your latest is a 4 door...so that doesn't help me. (I have a 2 door). I am almost ready to lift the body over the new chassis, got my camper jacks, etc.. but I was wondering if the back end would make it tip towards the back if you ony support it in the door openings... Any more pics? Also, when do you cut out the Merc floor? After you have it supported by the camper jacks?

Thanks!

[lefturn]

To answer a few questions. I use a plasma cutter and also .045 x 5" cutting wheels on an angle grinder to cut all my bodys. The camper jacks are used in both door window and small rear side window . here are better pics of how its done.

[lefturn]

another

[lefturn]

i cut 95% of the floor before i but jacks on it . it is much easyier when you can work with doors open. once the jacks are in place you have to go in a window.

[briggs&strattonChev]

that convert is gonna be SWEET. It would take me weeks to get that cut apart and put back together

[lefturn]

here is a picture of the panel i put in today. now to do the othe side.

[ratster]

[ QUOTE ]
i cut 95% of the floor before i but jacks on it . it is much easyier when you can work with doors open. once the jacks are in place you have to go in a window.

[/ QUOTE ]leftturn, do you have any close up shots of the floor and the firewall.

When I done my merc, I welded some one inch angle iron inside of it so I could keep the doors opened, I'm to damn fat to crawl thru a window.

[lefturn]

front

[MercMan1951]

Thanks again, Ray! I was hopin' I wouldn't have to pull the side windows, as my rubber isn't even cracked or weathered and I'm afraid I'll destroy them...but I figured that's how you must be doing it. I called in sick today http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif so I'm gonna fab up the cross-bars and start the lifting process.

Do you begin cutting your floor out after you have it lifted by the camper jacks?

For the other guys, I have been using a 5" wheel on my angle grinder as well, and a sawzall. Haven't touched the torches yet, and some of you may have read my attempts with the plasma. I bought the Henrob, but haven't needed it. The sawzall makes clean cuts rather quickly, but you will go through a ton of blades. I'll post some of my pics shortly...

[MercMan1951]

Disregard the question about the cutting, Ray...din't see the post went on...still early...

[lefturn]

Take out the 1/4 window completelty.It comes out in one piece with the inside garnish molding removed.It wont hurt the rubber that way.--------ray

[MercMan1951]

Hey everyone...Ray's idea works GREAT! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I did the same thing, and with his help and info, I built my own body lift using the camper jacks. (The rear windows came out easy Ray.) Got them built and had the car in the air off the buck in less than 2 hours. Works great!

While cutting the floor, I stabilized it at the four corners using jackstands to keep it from rocking.

[MercMan1951]

Another view...

[MercMan1951]

one more...

[AHotRod]

WOW !

[lefturn]

You follow instructions well. I told you it was easy. Hope that will help others too. Glad to share with this fine group-----------ray

[Tim]

hmmmm maybe thats the secret!! if you cant get one car done at a time do three at once!

[MercMan1951]

Can't thank you enough, Ray. Saved me lots of time and aggrevation. Never heard of "camper jacks" until I saw some of your posts a long ways back...

[lefturn]

glad to help....i will post pics of my home made metal brake. easy and cheap.

[**MCQUEEN**]

[ QUOTE ]
glad to help....i will post pics of my home made metal brake. easy and cheap.

[/ QUOTE ]

Got any more pics of your blade arrangement ? Did you use some sort of regular stock for the press blades, like angle or T channel or actual V cut press brake blades ?

Brian

[glassguy]

i thought i was the only one!!!!! great job!! this was a 4dr too.

[ChuckleHead_Al]

You see this is why I love the H.A.M.B. Great work man, that is a bad a$$ ride..

[Hellbilly_Buzzard]

[ QUOTE ]
glad to help....i will post pics of my home made metal brake. easy and cheap.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have a tech on your home made brake. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I bet you would get a lot of love for it.

[SlowandLow63]

you know guys making 4 doors into 2 is what we call cheating and my mommy told me cheaters never win but they sure as hell make it look good