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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Mercury Discussion / Starting the restoration, 1939 Mercury

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Discussion Topic: Starting the restoration, 1939 Mercury -- page: 1 2

1939mercurysedan

12-25-2015 @ 9:36 AM

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Hello guys, todays the day I stop hiding in the weeds and start asking some questions. I have done some searching on the site.

I inherited my grandfather's 1939 mercury 4 door sedan. Gramps bought it from the showroom floor in 1938 in Minneapolis, MN and drove it until 1969. Odometer at 56,300. Could be 156k or 256k, not sure. Rusty floor pan. Engine runs- though it's out for a rebuild. Body is mosty solid, but the Minnesota rust cancer has taken a toll.

My intentions: Get it running and have fun with it. I am no perfectionist and have not the time nor budget for a garage princess- with all due respect to the guys keeping it original. I want to do a reasonable, body-off restoration and drive it. I'm ok with powder coating, POR-15, a couple of dents and scratches, and imperfections. I also want to keep it 6V positive ground as Henry intended.

First question: Floor pans are really shot (need pics?). Do any of the Ford patch/floor panels work for repair or do I need to fabricate? The body is about to come off the frame.

Any other thoughts as I get this project underway? Get the divorce now?

Merry Christmas.

Dayton

42oink

12-26-2015 @ 7:02 AM

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Welcome to the club! Oh, not just the EFv8 club, but also the club that just is going to do a simple restoration and gets hooked into doing more and more and... well, you get the idea. Do it, but to your specs. If you are happy with it, that's what counts. Many people who "know how it should be done" haven't done it or paid someone else to do it. Restorers, street rodders, we're all alike. But have fun, and ask us old folks any time you like, if even for moral support. Best of luck and keep us informed as to your progress and frustrations. SMILE!!! 42oink.

cliftford

12-26-2015 @ 7:26 AM

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Congratulations on owning a fine old car. It sounds like it has not run for a while. So several things should be done for safety and reliability. For example the entire brake system from the master cylinder to the shoes should be inspected and and probably replaced. The fuel system from the tank to the fuel pump should be cleaned or replaced. All wiring should be inspected. This is not a complete list of what you should look at. Be aware that many of the replacement parts available are foreign made and are of inferior quality.

TomO

12-26-2015 @ 7:58 AM

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That is a nice project and it is too bad about the floor pans.

The 39 and 40 Mercury did not share any body parts with the Ford cars. The body is wider than the Ford, so the floor pans will not fit as delivered from the vendor and would take quite a bit of custom work to make them fit.

Give Paul Bradley a call and see what he has to offer in products and advice, but you may end up fabricating the pieces that you need. Don't just install flat pieces as they will not have the strength to hold the body secure to the frame.

http://www.bradleyfloorpans.com/contact.html

If this is your first restoration, I would be very cautious about removing the body from the frame. Get lots of advice from experienced restorers in your area, about bracing the body and shimming it when you put it back on the frame. It would probably be a good idea to repair the floor pan before you remove the body from the frame.

You may be able to find parts for your floor pan at one of the Montana recyclers that advertise in Hemmings or French Lake Auto Parts in MN.

I would also contact the Twin Cities RG as there are some guys in that group that are very good at fixing tin worm problems and have a lot of knowledge about the cars.

Again, if this is your first restoration, you might think about making it a driving restoration. That is make the car safe and drivable and enjoy it during the summer months and fix or restore it during the winter months. What ever you do with the car, do the best that you can and get it as close to original as possible. Join a Club that has guys that have restored cars of the era, so they can support you if you get in over your head.

Good luck in your restoration and if I can be of any help, just ask questions on the Forum.

Tom

This message was edited by TomO on 12-26-15 @ 9:32 AM

1939mercurysedan

12-26-2015 @ 12:42 PM

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Thank you gentlemen. I appreciate the advice, and I'll let you know how it's going.

D

shoebox

01-04-2016 @ 7:51 AM

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Hello 39 Merc,
As others have stated, "welcome to the club!" I too have a '39 Merc Sedan with similar mileage. Purchased in '69 at age 15 with paper route money. Forced to sell later same year due to lack of garage space. Spent 45 years in private collection, reacquired 2 years ago.

You have been given some awesome advice by others already.This is not a small car, when you remove the body you are embarking on a long and expensive journey.I would strongly consider a "body on" repair of floor and move on to other must do items mentioned by others. Tom O is fantastic source of information, and in the last year I have replaced brakes, fuel lines, complete original type wiring harness, and shock rebuilding. I would be happy to answer any questions, sources of quality parts, etc, and I am not far away in Wisconsin.
Question for YOU, my Merc has no wiper arms, if yours does..... could you post a pic or two?

Best Regards,

Scott

TomO

01-04-2016 @ 8:13 AM

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Scott, do you mean the outside arms or the linkage?

The 39 and 40 Mercs used the same parts.

Tom

shoebox

01-04-2016 @ 9:40 AM

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Tom,
I need the OUTSIDE wiper arms.

Thanks,

Scott

TomO

01-05-2016 @ 8:08 AM

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Scott, I will post some photos soon.

Tom

shoebox

01-06-2016 @ 1:37 PM

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I'll keep checking in!

Scott

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