Merc questions?

[TP]

OK, I traded for a 50 merc that needs floor pans.Now would be the time to do a chassis swap.What fits?Or do you put stock pans back in and clip or mustang 2 it? I need suggestions. I'm like any one else, I'd like to do it as cost worthy as I can. Whats the best route?TP

[lefturn]

save yourselve lots of work sell me the car--------or use a 79-84 olds 98 under it. i've done lots of the merc swaps. check my web site for pics of the swap.
Its a fast swap and you get a reliable safe driver that you can get parts anywhere. www.koolkustom.com (http://www.koolkustom.com)
good luck
ray

[old beet]

The wife's 49 is on the stock frame. 460 Ford C-6. Cut a coil and spaced the spring pockets, blocks in rear. WWW bias tires, goes down the road like a dream and rides good also. I saw no reason to clip..........OLDBEET

[smittyshotrods]

I do like the chassis swaps but man thats alot of work. Contact JAMCO and convert your A-arms to balljoints then you can run late model dropped spindals.

[FLAT-TOP BOB]

like smitty said, check out the jamco stuff!

[Greazer]

Mabey you could PM MercMan1951 with his '81 Lincoln runnin' gear. Apparently anything is possible when it comes to chassis swaps. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

MercMan's site (chassis swap progress with pics):

http://landyachts.homestead.com/index.html

[MercMan1951]

Go here:
http://landyachts.homestead.com/index.html

It's my progress pics site.

I am doing a '51 on an '88 Lincoln Town car chassis (same 118" wheelbase.) It's been pretty straightforward so far, a lot of stuff lines up as if the two cars were only years apart, not decades...but it still takes a lot of figurrin'.

This IS a LOT of work, but I think in the end, it will all be woth it.

I have the chassis welded solid to the flooring now, so it's oficially one car and not 2 anymore. Why a 1988 Town Car? Several reasons: 1) Parts are cheap and they are an easy chassis to work on. 2) That "Lincoln" ride. 3) EFI for daily driver status. 4) Same wheelbase. This is the key. I didn't want to get into lenghthening or shortening ANYTHING.
5) The doner car was only $400 bucks. Had good seats. The rest I sold off that I wasn't using and made $$$. 6) I wanted to stay all Ford. PM me with questions, if the non-chassis-swappers haven't steered you away!

[MercMan1951]

Thanks Greazer, but it's an '88 DAMNIT!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And, hey, yer so damn close, why don't you stop by an help?!?!?!?!? Can't get my supposedly "old" friend RocketJ2 to get here, he keeps makin up stories about having his appendix out... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[Greazer]

LOL. (Before I posted, I checked to see if you were on line, but didn't see you)

An '88? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I was quoting the paragraph in "Step #1."

Anytime you want help, PM me and I'll come runnin' http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[MercMan1951]

Greazer- Yeah...when I first got it I thought it was an '87...then I looked at some of the part numbers and found it was an early '88...'87-88, same difference...

I'll take you up on your offer. I could use some help with the rear wheel tubs. Maybe next weekend or first weekend in March...I'll have plenty of suds.

[CharlieLed]

Tex Smith has a book called "How to Build Custom Cars", in it you will find a section on swapping out the Merc chassis with a 77 or later GM. The key is finding a model with a 118" wheelbase.
Since you only said that the floors were rusted, I would keep the Merc chassis and just replace the floor pans...however, most Mercs with bad floors also have the rockers ate out. If your rockers are shot then you may want to consider the chassis swap.
The stock brakes and suspension on these Mercs were hot shit for the day, but that day has long since passed. A chassis swap buys you a later model suspension that will provide a lot better ride and be a helluva lot safer on the freeway.
I was fortunate to find a rust-free Merc in ND but I am still replacing the suspensions and brakes...good luck, you'll have a lot of fun with this project! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[RileyRacing]

This week it'll be that Vanessa is havin the baby!!! so there! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The lincoln does look good under there, I have seen it at least once, and the minor fitments that kevin has had to do almost make it look like it is supposed to be under there!

Jay

[50mercfan]

mine has a 68 nova clip. it slides right in the merc frame and fits perfectly between the factory x member. looks like it grew there. the olds frame swap works well. don't use the camaro clip, it's too wide and you will have to use reverse offset wheels to clear the fenders. how about some pics of yours?

[Roothawg]

I have heard Olds 88 chassis are close the big ole ugly 80ish ones. I think there is something in Tex Smiths book. Sorry if this has already been said....I don't read about half of the stuff....

[JimC]

Check with Fatman's on their front frame stub.
The stub is set up for your front sheet metal
It is a fairly strait forward instllation.

Jim

[TP]

Yep, the rockers are gone too.Every thing else is there. Floors would piss off Fred Flintstone though. All trim, dash, steering wheel, horn ring, stainless, bumpers , overiders, grill, garnish molding and all are there.It needs work ,but thats the fun of it. This will probably be my last to do. Unless I sneek up on a 32-34.I'm not in a hurry.I'm misssing the gas door if anyone has one.No rust on the body , around windows or where fenders bolt to quarters. Still has factory hood ornament. Has four olds 3 bar hubcaps with wide whites. I found Bill a car and we are going after it saturday. It's a chopped top 59 ranchero.I'll ask a ton of questions. I want to chop it and slant the 'B' pillars. Thanks for all the input. I was nearly burned out on the car dael then this fell in my lap.I found another 50 2 door by the house sunday. I'm gonna find out if it's for sell . TP

[smittyshotrods]

TP are you collecting projects again? When do I get to see the Merc? I'll have to dig through my parts pile and see what Merc parts I have left---maybe something there you need.

[TP]

Me and Moon are going to take it to the farm saturday and put it in storage till I'm ready for it. I think Jerry took some pictures of it at Bill's house. I'll take some regular pictures of it before it goes.I found another one sunday. TP