The Ford Barn

Ralph Moore · 02-12-2015, 09:37 PM

Is this a direct bolt on? If not can it be made to work?
Thanks,
Ralph

mercman from oz · 02-12-2015, 10:00 PM

Yes, it will work, however, you must fit a Mercury front Clip. The Ford sits on a 114" wheelbase, while the Mercury sits on a 118" wheelbase. The extra length is ahead of the Firewall. On the other hand, if you are talking about the Canadian Mercury 114, you are is luck, as this Canadian Mercury 114 shares the same wheelbase as the Ford. As the name suggests, it sits on a shared 114" wheelbase with the Ford.

59ab · 02-12-2015, 10:04 PM

Yes it will work but the Merc. frame is 4 " longer so you will have to use the Merc. hood and fenders.

JSeery · 02-12-2015, 10:06 PM

Is it that difficult to shorten the frame? I have no idea, know nothing about these years frame and body wise.

Ralph Moore · 02-12-2015, 10:18 PM

I have a chance to get a frame, and know where a body is, I have a couple spare 46-7Ford front clips. So shortening the frame would be my first choice in this case.

47Merc · 02-13-2015, 01:37 AM

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Nothing is impossible but you would have to take the 4 inches out somewhere between the front firewall body mount and the front cross member.

Unfortunately the rails are tapered right through this area so it would needs some serious work and a very good welder.

Ralph Moore · 02-13-2015, 09:49 AM

I'm assuming this will change the front suspension as well. The radius rods must be longer on a Merc, if the distance between ball mount and front spring mount are 4" forward? Better to use a Ford wishbone.

JSeery · 02-13-2015, 10:04 AM

Or just cut the wishbones, not much different than a lot of wishbone mods.

Bruce Lancaster · 02-13-2015, 10:49 AM

As far as I know, you do NOT need to cut to use Ford front metal. The basic frame is the same, with the front crossmember shoved forward and a bracket added to move the radius rod ball the same amount.
Most frames have both sets of crossmember holes...look at crossmember attachment, then look just behind that to confirm.
I believe you only need to drill out the rivets and re-rivet in the other set of holes.
You might need the little non-structural crossmember that supports the radiator cradle on Ford.

Barlea · 02-13-2015, 11:34 AM

The Merc steering column is also longer than the Ford. ..B.

Karl Wolf · 02-13-2015, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

Yes, it will work, however, you must fit a Mercury front Clip. The Ford sits on a 114" wheelbase, while the Mercury sits on a 118" wheelbase. The extra length is ahead of the Firewall. On the other hand, if you are talking about the Canadian Mercury 114, you are is luck, as this Canadian Mercury 114 shares the same wheelbase as the Ford. As the name suggests, it sits on a shared 114" wheelbase with the Ford.

The ONE 1947 Merc frame that I was given had two sets of factory holes for the front cross member to fasten to. There is an adapter for the rear of the wishbone that extends that forward. That is how they got the 4 inch wheel base difference. The steering shaft may be 4" longer in the Merc- I still have it and never measured it.

So, In my opinion there is a very good chance that it's a bolt in change over to put the Ford body (including the Ford front sheet metal) on the Merc frame.

Karl

Bruce Lancaster · 02-13-2015, 01:38 PM

Everything aft of the fan is same as Ford (don't know about steering column, so see note above!) as far as I know, move back crossmember to alternate holes and discard the engine mount extensions riveted in there and I think you're done. From Barlea's comment, likely steering mount needs to go back too...that's a separate part on frame held by its own set of rivets. Wishbone is the same, it has a simple added bracket on frame that gives a ball socket ahead of the Ford location.
It's been a long time since I could study an upside-down Merc in a junkyard, but I'm pretty sure this is basically correct.

Ralph Moore · 02-13-2015, 05:11 PM

Sounds very doable , thanks all.

02-12-2015, 09:37 PM	#1
Ralph Moore Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 1,470	42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? Is this a direct bolt on? If not can it be made to work? Thanks, Ralph

02-12-2015, 10:00 PM	#2
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,361	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? Yes, it will work, however, you must fit a Mercury front Clip. The Ford sits on a 114" wheelbase, while the Mercury sits on a 118" wheelbase. The extra length is ahead of the Firewall. On the other hand, if you are talking about the Canadian Mercury 114, you are is luck, as this Canadian Mercury 114 shares the same wheelbase as the Ford. As the name suggests, it sits on a shared 114" wheelbase with the Ford.

02-12-2015, 10:04 PM	#3
59ab Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Huntsville,Alabama Posts: 247	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? Yes it will work but the Merc. frame is 4 " longer so you will have to use the Merc. hood and fenders.

02-12-2015, 10:06 PM	#4
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? Is it that difficult to shorten the frame? I have no idea, know nothing about these years frame and body wise.

02-12-2015, 10:18 PM	#5
Ralph Moore Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 1,470	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? I have a chance to get a frame, and know where a body is, I have a couple spare 46-7Ford front clips. So shortening the frame would be my first choice in this case.

02-13-2015, 01:37 AM	#6
47Merc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 362	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Nothing is impossible but you would have to take the 4 inches out somewhere between the front firewall body mount and the front cross member. Unfortunately the rails are tapered right through this area so it would needs some serious work and a very good welder.

02-13-2015, 09:49 AM	#7
Ralph Moore Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 1,470	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? I'm assuming this will change the front suspension as well. The radius rods must be longer on a Merc, if the distance between ball mount and front spring mount are 4" forward? Better to use a Ford wishbone.

02-13-2015, 10:04 AM	#8
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? Or just cut the wishbones, not much different than a lot of wishbone mods.

02-13-2015, 10:49 AM	#9
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? As far as I know, you do NOT need to cut to use Ford front metal. The basic frame is the same, with the front crossmember shoved forward and a bracket added to move the radius rod ball the same amount. Most frames have both sets of crossmember holes...look at crossmember attachment, then look just behind that to confirm. I believe you only need to drill out the rivets and re-rivet in the other set of holes. You might need the little non-structural crossmember that supports the radiator cradle on Ford.

02-13-2015, 11:34 AM	#10
Barlea Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Central Alberta Posts: 441	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? The Merc steering column is also longer than the Ford. ..B.

02-13-2015, 01:38 PM	#12
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? Everything aft of the fan is same as Ford (don't know about steering column, so see note above!) as far as I know, move back crossmember to alternate holes and discard the engine mount extensions riveted in there and I think you're done. From Barlea's comment, likely steering mount needs to go back too...that's a separate part on frame held by its own set of rivets. Wishbone is the same, it has a simple added bracket on frame that gives a ball socket ahead of the Ford location. It's been a long time since I could study an upside-down Merc in a junkyard, but I'm pretty sure this is basically correct.

02-13-2015, 05:11 PM	#13
Ralph Moore Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 1,470	Re: 42-48 Ford Coupe body on 47 Merc 4 door frame? Sounds very doable , thanks all.