| mward | -- 08-20-2020 @ 10:10 AM |
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I have my great-grandparents' 41 Merc sedan. Until this year, it was last on the road in 1971. At some point before it was taken off the road, the trunk latch had quit working (evidenced by the fact that there is an old chunk of wood stuck in behind the latch that keeps the trunk from closing completely). I'm not sure if the problem is that the lock is actually locked, and that disconnects something to prevent it from retracting the latch, or if there is a pin missing that should lock the latch shaft into the handle shaft. I would like to take the handle off to see ans well as clean and lube parts, but I can't see how to get a wrench in to loosen the retaining nut on the back of the handle. It looks like it's just about a 2" retaining nut, and the design of the door doesn't have a cover that can be taken off to access it. The only access is a 1" by just over 4" slot on the opposite side from the latch. I've attached a couple images of the mechanism. The two screws visible when showing the latch shaft and the license plate light don't hold a cover. They appear to hold the latch assembly in place within the compartment.
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| carcrazy | -- 08-20-2020 @ 2:21 PM |
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Are you able to rotate the lock handle? Do you have an adjustable wrench which can accommodate a two inch nut? I would try to insert the wrench through the 1" x 4" slot and attempt to turn the retaining nut one 6th of a revolution at a time until it comes off. Once you have the nut off, the handle should come off. You might have to use some WD-40 or other penetrating oil to loosen it up.
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| TomO | -- 08-21-2020 @ 9:10 AM |
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The handle will not rotate unless the key is in the lock and the lock is not locked. Trying to force it will damage the pot metal base for the handle. Removing the nut will allow the handle to be removed. I believe that the nut on my 40 trunk handle is 1 1/8" and I think that your is the same. I will verify it later today. It looks like you can get a straight shot at yours, but an adjustable wrench may be too thick. If you cannot turn the key in the lock, squirt some penetrating oil in the lock and then insret and remove the key many times. Then try turning the key while moving the key up and down. Tom
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| mward | -- 08-21-2020 @ 2:04 PM |
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The trunk handle does rotate. I had it retracting the latch a couple times, but then I suspect my penetrating oil on the latch worked its way too far up and loosened whatever was allowing the handle shaft to grip the latch shaft. The nut appears to be larger than 1 1/8". I have a crescent wrench that size, and it was a good bit larger than that.
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| TomO | -- 08-22-2020 @ 10:11 AM |
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I measured the nut on my Mercury and it is 1 3/8" from flat to flat. Then I looked up the nut for your handle in the Standard Parts catalog and found a misprint and I agree that the nut must use a wrench size around 2 1/4". I doubt that an adjustable wrench, that will fit the nut, will fit in the space that you have to work in. The P/N is 356162 -s7. 1 3/16"-24 special nut. It was used from 1941-1948 on both the Ford and Mercury. The id of the nut is 1 3/16" and the book gives the od as 1 5/32". My issue of the catalog is January, 1948. If someone has a different issue it may be correct in it. Tom
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| mward | -- 08-22-2020 @ 12:10 PM |
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Thank you for finding that. It at least gives me a definite size. Can you tell from the catalog if they made a special tool to get in there, or do I need to try to find a 2 1/4" open ended wrench and hope I have some room to turn the but?
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| carcrazy | -- 08-22-2020 @ 1:58 PM |
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You may be able to buy a "crows foot" wrench you can use to remove the nut. You may have to modify this wrench to get it to fit within the available space. A crows foot wrench is an open end wrench that has a provision for the insertion of a ratchet extension.
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| TomO | -- 08-23-2020 @ 8:49 AM |
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Mward, you should contact one of the Club's 41-42 or 46-48 Advisers. They have restored the 41-48 cars and would have a good idea of how to remove the handle. It is different enough from my 40 Merc, that I cannot give good advice on it. Tom
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| mward | -- 08-26-2020 @ 3:44 PM |
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TomO, how do I go about doing that?
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| TomO | -- 08-27-2020 @ 7:27 AM |
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They have their contact information in every issue of the V-8 Times, the Club's publication. If you intend to keep the car and get it back on the road, joining the Club is a good idea. I would also join a Regional Group near your location so you can see other cars and get local advice on problems. Supereal had a nice convertible that was rear ended a few years ago, so you could do a search for his user name and send him a PM and ask him if he has any advice on how to remove the handle. Tom
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| mward | -- 08-31-2020 @ 8:55 AM |
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Thanks. I've been seriously considering joining because I do plan to keep it. I'll look them up and see if they can help. Thanks!
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| supereal | -- 08-31-2020 @ 12:02 PM |
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Yes, I have replaced the trunk handle on my '47 convertible a couple of times. The first was to install an expensive NOS handle, then to do it again with a good repro when an idiot rear ended me! After you remove the tab from the shank of the handle, the next step is to loosen the large nut that holds the body of the handle to the trunk lid. It is tricky because the space is limited. Once the big nut and serrated washer is free and removed, the handle can by pulled out of the base. I used a large pliers with a long nose for the job. I assume that your '40 Merc handle would have a 91A prefix, but I couldn't locate it in my library of parts. The instructions here are for the 41-48 Ford. I suggest that you contact C&G technical line at 760-871-0445 to get an answer. I couldn't get your photos to open.
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| mward | -- 08-31-2020 @ 12:17 PM |
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supereal, you mention removing a tab from the shank of the handle. I'm not sure I follow what that part would be? Looking at mine, it looks like if the big nut gets loosened, the handle pulls out of the shaft that has the cam to retract the latch.
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| supereal | -- 08-31-2020 @ 12:23 PM |
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I did finally get the photos to open, and it looks like the one showing the big nut is the same, or close, to my '47 Ford convertible. I would take a photo, but the car is now in storage. I mention a "tab" if there is one on the shaft held by a smaller screw. The square shaft may operate the latch if there is no tab there. After owning and enjoying the convertible for the past 25 years, I am putting it up for sale due to age and health considerations. Anyone wanting particulars can leave a private message on the Ford page. This message was edited by supereal on 8-31-20 @ 12:30 PM
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