1970 Mercury Marquis: Complete Restoration

[sauceman]

Hey Dan,

I just went back on this thread after reading Barry's post and did not see a photo of the body off the frame with braces welded in. As Barry mentioned you really need to brace these convertibles up when doing metal replacement, even if the body is still bolted to the frame.

The 64 Impala I'm working on, we never took the body off the frame with this one.

cheers

[Dan Szwarc]

I haven't braced the body inside and probably should have.

[Barry Wolk]

Don't brace it now. It's likely not straight as your cutting has released built-in tensions.

[Dan Szwarc]

The body flexes a lot. The frame flexes.
If I get any sagging, I'll just have to un-sag it.

I haven't cut anything really structural. The rust certainly wasn't structural. If it was gonna sag, it did years ago.

[Barry Wolk]

OK.

[Dan Szwarc]

I have to hope that it won't be a problem. Otherwise, I'll be bending stuff back into place when I put it back together.

[Barry Wolk]

OK. You might luck out.

What would it take to set the frame on the floor and set the body back on it as a jig before tack welding. Your floor is flat, your frame is flat, but your current jig allows way too much movement. You could brace it then and take it back off before final welding.

I'd help gather some peeps to help. You're doing a great job, but you'll sure be pissed if your doors don't fit. You really can't make them fit if the body's crooked. The tolerances are much tighter than you think.

[LithiumCobalt]

Hey Dan, how has your Merc been progressing?

[Dan Szwarc]

I did nothing for 1.5 years, but a month ago, I bought a parts car. I post pics on FB occasionally.
It's all car tear-down again, until I can get rid of the car, but I am gaining a lot of good parts that I either damaged myself or needed replacement.
This winter I plan on getting back into cutting and welding, but I still have a LOT of work to do.

I'm re-motivated for the time being, but work is also cutting into my regular time.

[Dan Szwarc]

I stripped that car down to the bone in just under four months. I learned and relearned more about my car in the process and obtained a lot of useful and needed parts.

To those who buy junk cars, check those frames front to back. This car was BUSTED! The frame was severed in half, broken in two. I used this as an opportunity to practice welding since I wanted this thing towed out and not breaking in half in my garage or driveway.

I have much more parts than shown.

[navguy12]

Cool.

When does the conversion to e-drive start?

[LithiumCobalt]

Yikes.

[Dan Szwarc]

Electric drive would be awesome. Procure me a model 3 and 200kwhr of battery pack and I’ll do it.

[navguy12]

Okee dokee

[Dan Szwarc]

This is my last project. Once it’s done, no more car restorations. I’m done!