Front doors won't open far enough and won't stay open on my 51 merc

[50Trucking]

Just Received delivery of my 1951 Mercury 4 door Sports Sedan as the 4th owner from Waboom who did a great job caring for it for over 3 Years in Minnesota. It now resides in Ponte Vedra Florida.



I have owned a 1950 and a 1952 F-1 Ford and the doors open wide for entry. On the Merc they do not seem to open very wide and they will not stay open for entry.


The door check stop arm does not seem long enough to let the door open enough. Was there anything that held the door open and if not are there any mods or tricks to install something that will hold the doors open? I know that newer cars had rubber grommets in the hinge or detents in the door check stop arm to keep them open.



Sure would like to hear from Mercury owners out there about this problem.

[WABOOM]

Welcome to Ford Barn, good Sir!
Hopefully someone will follow up with help on the doors.

[petehoovie]

[mercman from oz]

Love your "new" 1951 Mercury Sport Sedan. Wish that it was in my garage. Welcome to Ford Barn.

[mercman from oz]

Cover of the original Sales Brochure for the 1951 Mercury.

[19Fordy]

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If you disconnect the door strap will doors open further? If so, lengthen the metal strap but, then make sure it will close completely.

[rotorwrench]

From my recollection, the check straps are a basic door check that has a rubber bump stop at the tip of the strap to arrest further movement a bit more gently. There is no provision to hold the door in open position as many modern cars have. The doors are heavy so the weight applied to the hinges is all that there is to slow movement of the doors when in any open position.

My 51 doors don't open out to 90 degrees but they open out far enough to enter and egress. If they open too far, they will contact the fender so the strap is intended to stop them a good bit before that could happen.

Your car may have incorrect straps but I would have to see one to compare it to one of mine. The rear doors are generally the ones that have problems due to the nature of the suicide door design. I have repaired two rear doors due to fender contact and both were on the driver side. The door trim panels have to be removed to inspect the check strap bumper stops.

[1931 flamingo]

That's a beautiful Merc ! !
Paul in CT

[fordor41]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

From my recollection, the check straps are a basic door check that has a rubber bump stop at the tip of the strap to arrest further movement a bit more gently. There is no provision to hold the door in open position as many modern cars have. The doors are heavy so the weight applied to the hinges is all that there is to slow movement of the doors when in any open position.

My 51 doors don't open out to 90 degrees but they open out far enough to enter and egress. If they open too far, they will contact the fender so the strap is intended to stop them a good bit before that could happen.

Your car may have incorrect straps but I would have to see one to compare it to one of mine. The rear doors are generally the ones that have problems due to the nature of the suicide door design. I have repaired two rear doors due to fender contact and both were on the driver side. The door trim panels have to be removed to inspect the check strap bumper stops.

If I remember correctly, my '41 doors would stay open on their own.

[50Trucking]

Rotowrench, with the door wide open, would you mind measuring your drivers side front door at the very top back to the body and tell me what it measures. Mine measures 32 1/2" to the inside where door would close to.


You are correct, the the flat metal check straps are a basic door check that has a rubber bump stop at the tip, same as on my 52 pickup but the 52 door opens wide enough to stay open on level ground where as the Merc door doesn't open far enough for the door to balance.

[51 MERC-CT]

Pay attention to the gap between the fender and the front of the door moulding when fully open.
It should be as shown and if too close it could lead to denting the moulding on the door if the door was opened with excess force.
Also the door stop should have a detent to hold it open and can be reworked to original operation.
If these standards are held to, that is as far as the door is going to open and it is something you will have to live with.

[50Trucking]

51 Merc-ct, Could you post a picture of the door stop with the door open and measure from the top of the door to the body and post the demension. I think for some reason, my door is not opening because the detent is holding the door from opening

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by 50Trucking

51 Merc-ct, Could you post a picture of the door stop with the door open and measure from the top of the door to the body and post the demension. I think for some reason, my door is not opening because the detent is holding the door from opening

I have a 2 dr. coupe and the doors are longer.
Considering the difference in door lengths at a point 10 3/4" from my door post forward and under the drip rail to a point 10 3/4" from the rear top of the door, my door opening measures 34"
That's just 1 1/2" different than your 32 1/2"

[rotorwrench]

Those detents didn't last a long time and will have to be reshaped to get them back. They would hold fairly well unless your parked uphill on a steep slope. Those doors are heavy and the coupe doors are even heavier. I'll have to check mine as soon as I can get out to the shop. I've had a lot of other things to tend to. The 32.5" is likely pretty close. I've never had a problem getting in and out on the fordor cars.