50-53 Merc rear ends

[Ethan52]

Hey guys so the rear end in my 53 Monterey Hardtop gave way a couple weeks back, my friend has a 1950 Mercury sedan rear end that he would give me, my question is will the 50 rear end bolt up without modification and is the track width the same? also with the front hubs interchange they are both kingpin cars and I read the bolt patterns were different but my friend sold his merc so he would give me a lot of his spare parts including the rear end front hubs and new wheels.


thanks in advance! - Ethan

 

[rotorwrench]

I think the 53 used a Ford integral type rear axle assembly. They have a standard Ford 4.5" on 5-lug pattern for the wheels where the 50/51 Merc had a Dana 44 with the 5.5" on 5-lug pattern like the older fords and pickups. The axles are too different so you can't swap any parts. The Ford axle has the advantage of a removable center section so it may be easier to repair it. There should be replacement parts available for the Ford type axle assemblies depending on what's wrong with yours. I think the 50/51 Dana 44 is a tad bit wider that the 49/56 Ford axle but I don't have info to back that up for certain.

The front suspension uses different components so it would not be an easy swap.The 52 & 53 Mercury cars more closely resemble the Ford cars of the same years when comparing frame, suspension, and drive train. The 49/51 Mercs had larger king pins, different A-arms, and also different steering knuckles. The 49/51 Merc front brake drums are hard to source too since no one reproduces them.