1948 Merc 114 rear end disaster!

Dyna

Dyna

Member
I purchased a 1948 Merc 114 almost a year ago. Interior gutted, wiring 50% complete. I could start it, and drive it around the yard,brakes worked. A lot of work had been done underneath, sills, rockers, fenders needed work, a lot of parts missing. Spent nine months getting it looking as I wanted and ready for safety inspection. Got it plated and took my wife for her first ride, out of nowhere, bang..Oh crap something broke..rear wheels locked up. Managed to get it moving and got home. Removed the fill plug of the diff and stuck my finger in, couldn't feel any oil, pulled the drain plug, nothing. Where did the oil go? I have no idea. The damage was done.
Now I have a dilemma. Had the diff torn down and got a quote to rebuild, I almost fainted. Gears, bearings the whole enchilada. I don't think that this transmission/rear end shop had done many banjos and he gave me the "I really don't want to do it price". Even though he wasn't super busy, he suggested I find another rear end that he could r&r. I have found a rear end on a '48 114 coupe.
The guy who has it is going to pull one side off the diff and have a look at the gears. I hope that there is someone on this forum who can voice an opinion as to whether I should bite the bullet on the rebuild or freshen up the other one and install it? Also, inevitably, there will be rust on the gears of the donor that haven't been covered with oil; any way to clean the rust off without tearing the diff apart?
Thanks for your input.View attachment 282805
 

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the 114 Canadian Merc is 100% Ford beneath, without even the front stretch of the longer Merc.
Go to the HAMB for its bigger and more active want ads and find a good '42-8 rear or just a good center. The chances are good that you can find one with good gears and bearings and greatly reduce the $$ needed. Trying to find NOS gears will be expensive, new repro gears can be expensive in setup. Find a good used unit!
 
Had to replace rear end on my '48 Ford car. Found one on Ebay that had laid out in the weeds for years. Looked rusty as all get out. Was only 60 miles from home. Ugly enough that nobody bid on it. Thought it was a gamble, but being the only bidder, got it for 40.00. Hauled it home and dismantling it found the inside rust free and completely serviceable.
 
On the cleanup...IF you have found a sound used unit, you can fully clean it without skilled work. Pull the axle housings, measure the thickness of the side gaskets, and use same thickness (probably the standard .010) on reassembly. Setup remains unchanged. You will really have to pull the axle housings off anyway to fully examine things AND to to replace the seals out at the ends of the housings...not replacing those is very likely to lead to a LOT of work 5 miles down the road!
 
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Here is an enlarged pictures of your Mercury 114 sedan. A few of these Canadian Mercury Coupes have been imported to Australia in recent years. There are 3 Coupes that I know of.
 
My opinion is that if a rear hasn't been stored outside with the torque tube above horizontal, it stands a good chance of being OK inside. If the torque tube has been up during one rain, it will be toast inside.
 
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I know that this doesn't answer your question regarding the Diff, but thought that you would like to see pictures of cars that have made it to Australia in recent years. This Mercury 114 Sedan Coupe has been in Australia for many years now and has been converted to Right Hand Drive. It is an absolute gem of a car. I believe that the Mercury 114 cars used the same rear Bumper on the front, as the Bumper from the 118" Mercurys was veed and would not fit the shorter wheelbase Mercurys. Am I correct?
 
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This is the third and final Mercury 114 that I know of in Australia. This car is the regular Coupe and is restored to near original.
I hope that enjoyed seeing these cars that have made the trip all the way to Australia.
 
Don't know where you're at in Ontario but if it's anywhere near London contact "johnny" from the barn. He is a wealth of information and advice. And no doubt knows the whereabouts of a rear end for your Merc... Tell him I sent you... Bill
 
Thanks Bill. I live in a small town about an hour from London. The fellow that has an old Merc 114 has a field full of old cars and also seems to be quite knowledgable. I wouldn't be surprised if he knows "Johnny" as his old car graveyard is not far from London. Greg
 
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