FORD/MERCURY 1939-1948...Differences (Re-Boot)

Just real quick & not looking at drawing on phone. I think frame rails maybe the same & front cross member moved ahead. That’s why the engine mounts are behind cross member. Steering box also moved ahead & has longer shaft( guess how I know). After rebuilding a box. That’s what it looks like just observing my 41 Merc. Without front sheet metal on it.
 
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Here are comparison pictures of a 1939 Ford Deluxe Sedan and a 1939 Mercury Sedan. You can see how much different they are. No body panel interchanges.
 
Hopefully, all of you with any real interest will see that I was NOW able to add the dimensional drawings of the four basic frame types utilized during this '39-'48 time frame. Karl Wescott kindly made these drawings available to us. I've arranged the pics so that you should be able to easily compare differences between Ford & Merc frames of like years. Good stuff! And thank you again, Karl. DD
 
KiWinUS said:
Just real quick & not looking at drawing on phone. I think frame rails maybe the same & front cross member moved ahead. That’s why the engine mounts are behind cross member. Steering box also moved ahead & has longer shaft( guess how I know). After rebuilding a box. That’s what it looks like just observing my 41 Merc. Without front sheet metal on it.
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Greetings from Canada .

I just found your post about a longer shaft steering box . Are you referring to the shaft that exits the side of the frame rail?
If so can you tell me what years and model had the longer shaft . Not sure from your post .

Thanks so much for your time

Beantoad
 
beantoad said:
Greetings from Canada .

I just found your post about a longer shaft steering box . Are you referring to the shaft that exits the side of the frame rail?
If so can you tell me what years and model had the longer shaft . Not sure from your post .

Thanks so much for your time

Beantoad
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I'm also interested in this as my 1947 Merc may need to have the box rebuilt. I'd like to know if Ford box with shaft is the same length.
 
justanotherguy said:
I'm also interested in this as my 1947 Merc may need to have the box rebuilt. I'd like to know if Ford box with shaft is the same length.
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With 99.9% certainty, the boxes themselves are the same. The shafts/tubes are longer because the Mercs had 4" longer wheelbases than the like-year Fords, the difference being in front of the firewall. DD
 
V8Coopman
As you have stated the 39 & 40 Merc's are on an Island ALL to themselves as, again you stated, afterward the Fords & Merc's started becoming more "A LIKE" as far as crossover usage. IT still totally amazes me just "how different" in just about "every" aspect the 39 & 40 Mercury's are (body wise) than the Ford counterparts.......NOTHING will crossover, NOT Floorboards, Floorboard seals, Floor mats, Obviously NOT the doors, hoods, glass....NOTHING!!!!! I would also bet you could go as far as the seats too!!!!


GREAT STUFF V8Coopman!!!
 
For humor sake....The ONLY thing that is for sure Ford/Mercury!!!!
 

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V8COOPMAN said:
Perhaps there are a few that would appreciate knowing how rare those caps really are, and WHY! DD


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V8Coopman
I hate using the term "rare" as it is SO often misused its become the "cry wolf" AND I don't want to sound braggadocios either as some may think........BUT......Yes the ones pictured are very unusual a minimum and I would say argue the platitude of "rare". Fortunately I just recently score a set of 4, rough to say the least BUT not a total loss either!!!! IF you want to talk about "bonafide" RARE........The below picture is it!!!! That is rarefied air!!!! The FULL SS Ford/Mercury cap.
To your point of the "why" (for those not in the know) the infamous "Ford/Mercury" hub caps were "about" a 3 week (Or SO) production run (basically) by mid to late October 1938 (as Ford Lore goes). I personally have questions about that time frame as I have a "back in the day" picture of a 39 Mercury Conv with them on it.....NOW I have heard that the 39 Merc Conv was a 12/39 release date (whether true or not I do not know) BUT IF it is true then WHY or how did it end up with Ford/Mercury hub caps??? Leftovers?? Possibly. Someone thought they were cool and added them maybe SO. OR the Convertible was released way earlier than 12/38.
 

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SAID 39 Mercury Convertible with the infamous Ford/Mercury hub caps for those inquiring minds!!!! IF memory serves me correct in the publication I scanned this picture from stated that the 2 & 4 door Sedans were the first models produced and that the convertibles & coupes followed with a December of 1938 introduction!!!
 

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This is a great piece of info. I have both a 46 Ford and 46 Merc chassis to look at but now I won't have to.

Thanks,
JWL
 
Can anyone confirm that the 1941-1948 Ford & Mercury Station Wagon (woodie) frames are the same dimensions as the other passenger cars? My original Merc parts catalog has the same part number as the passenger vehicles, but I have heard differing accounts.
 
Just to ADD or throw a monkey wrench into the whole Ford/Mercury production AND what is "correct". The subject of wire loom covers on the firewall came about a few months back and what color they were "originally". Here is a "Factory" photo on the Assembly line of the 39 Merc "CLEARLY" showing it to be "Body Color" and NOT "Black" as was the "common" consensus. ALSO Clearly body color on our "early" 39 Merc as well!!!!!
 

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Not sure, how late did 38 production run for pick up's?? We know that Mercury started on Sept 21st (??/23rd??) SO it would have to be at least late Sept of 38, early October maybe??? I found that same fact very interesting as well V8Coopman
 
rockfla said:
I found that same fact very interesting as well V8Coopman
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OK, how about this (and I NEVER even thought about Merc production facilities) .....were Mercurys built in Ford assembly plants back then? Were they built in a Merc-ONLY facility? The picture above kind of suggests otherwise. DD
 
rockfla said:
Just to ADD or throw a monkey wrench into the whole Ford/Mercury production AND what is "correct". The subject of wire loom covers on the firewall came about a few months back and what color they were "originally". Here is a "Factory" photo on the Assembly line of the 39 Merc "CLEARLY" showing it to be "Body Color" and NOT "Black" as was the "common" consensus. ALSO Clearly body color on our "early" 39 Merc as well!!!!!
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You're so fortunate to have that body number 'plate! I've never seen one on a firewall that was screwed on!!! Always riveted for obvious purpose(s) hmmmm. Could this have been 'donated' from/by another car? And if so why!

My '33 3w has no body number 'plate' nor any evidence that there ever was one! Very disappointing. Maybe it was 'donated'; the 4 rivet holes filled. The firewall is black paint.

Fortunately the back window is FoMoCo Safety glass, 6/33, so I have some idea of its production time frame.

Also, the Ford patent 'plate' is drilled through the center for the heater hose. Bummer.
 
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