49 Merc tweaked frame question

[timdhawk]

Hey guys,

My frame had seen its fare share of bouncing thru farm fields and God only knows what else over its life. I took it in last month for some straightening work. While they did a good job reworking some troubled areas, after I got it home I ran some measurements and basicly the frame is out of square. Running a string line from front to back and checking measurements from R and L rear corners crosswise to the front body mount points shows I'm approx 5/8" off from one to the other. (does my description make sense?)
The shop said bring it back in and they'll look at it again.

I guess my real questions are how precise were these frames back in the day? If exactness can't be acheived, how much "not quite right" is acceptable for a 65 yr old frame, if any? How do I know when to throw in the towel on something like this?

thanx.

[Barry-ct]

Take it back and show them how far off you think it is. They should have been able to get it closer than that. Do you have a shop manual for the car? If so, there should be frame measurements in it. Give them a copy so they can check it as they re-straighten it. If you don't, then maybe someone here can help. I don't know how scarce that frame may be to find, so straightening may be your only option.

[V12Bill]

When I had my body shop, we always wanted measurements to be +- 1/8" There was someone here who had frame diagrams for the older Fords, he might have the newer Mercurys also. I think it was Northern Metal Specialties???

[V12Bill]

Take some diagonal measurements from symmetrical points. i.e. body mount holes suspension rivets etc. These should all be +- 1/8"

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by V12Bill

Take some diagonal measurements from symmetrical points. i.e. body mount holes suspension rivets etc. These should all be +- 1/8"

I agree with Bill, if you are checking the overall length of the frame, that measurement is of little value. When I check frames it is always between known reference points. I'm sure Ford specified specific frame markers as the reference points to use, but without that information I would check a number of different mounting points to see what is an average.

[rotorwrench]

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Get a copy of the Frame section from the 49/51 Lincoln Mercury Overhaul Manual. It has a diagram with all the measurements in it.

[JSeery]

If your interested in just the diagram there is one for sell on ebay.

[Binx]

Diagonal skew is an easy fix with a port-a-power but if the frame is twisted as measured from a flat floor from many points then definitely take it back.

Lonnie

[51 MERC-CT]

Here's a frame diagram.
Keep in mind that the body mounts are brackets mounted to the frame and they could be bent without the frame itself being bent out of alignment.