68 mercury build

[Mercury100]

I’ve been looking for a project for a while and a truck came along I could not resist.
1968 Mercury M100 shortbox fleetside.
It’s been modified to the point that it’s not worth going back to stock.
Antenna moved. Box pockets filled. Fuel tank removed and cab hole filled.
High compression 351C and c6 with. 2500 stall converter.
Power steering added from a 78 with beams and front disc brakes.
No power brakes though. Not sure why.
Got it home and started to tinker to make it run smoother.
Head gasket blown between 7-8.
Take the head off. Gasket has been blown for quite a while.
It over heated the block and head between 7-8 enough to crack both the head and the block.
The deck and head must have been not flat to blow between the cylinders.
All the other cylinder have 150 - 140 psi compression
Everything else in the engine is like new.
The search for a block starts. Took a bit but got one from a Ford fanatic in Cold Lake.
Got the core for a reasonable price.
It was already in pieces so everything is at Trev’s machine shop. One man shop with good quality control.
Took a few trips to get the right tools but I managed to get the front suspension out of a mercury grand marquis.
Nice that I was able to find mercury parts for a mercury truck.
Front clip will be removed next and the old suspension cut out.[image]420[/image]

[basketcase0302]

Shameful to let a cleveland to become scrap like that.
But I always say thing happen for a reason and it's now good to hear you've got a fresh block to start with.
I've always liked starting "from scratch" anyway on our old trucks as you never know what someone else cobbled together.
Mild build or going HP build? Can ya'll get ethanol free gas there Alberta still for our old vehicles?

[cdnwillyg]

Looks to be in great shape with the exception of the engine! Looks like you have a plan for that too.
Keep us posted on the progress with lots of pics.....didn't happen unless there are pics!

[Marccustom]

Nice looking truck!

[basketcase0302]

Guys I had it bookmarked on my last computer that I lost a hard drive one but...
There used to be a Mercury Truck club here on the web-this is the closest one I could find but I know it's not the same club / website I'd seen before years ago.

http://www.mercurypickup.com/

[Mercury100]

Good thing about having a scrap engine block is I can use it for fabricating engine mounts off the crown Vic suspension.
Cold as hell here. Just had a dump of snow.
Lost 4 hrs today moving the white stuff out of the way.
We have company coming for New Years.

[Manny]

Good thing about having a scrap engine block is I can use it for fabricating engine mounts off the crown Vic suspension.
Cold as hell here. Just had a dump of snow.
Lost 4 hrs today moving the white stuff out of the way.
We have company coming for New Years.

Like this thing already gonna be unique for a vicky front end with a cleveland! I think we have all been playing the normal holiday family time. My highboy is calling me from the garage to come work on it...

[Mercury100]

I’m ready to start removing old suspension.
Are there any diagrams any where for a rough positioning to mark the Center line of the wheel for the crown Vic install?
Do most people just wing it?
I think I will find the original wheel Center with a string line and square.

[Bullitt74]

This is going to be a really cool build, and I look forward to following! I had no idea that they made Mercury bump shortboxes.

[Mercury100]

68 was the last year for mercury trucks.
Please some one correct me if I’m wrong.
So only 2 years of mercury bump sides

[cdnwillyg]

You are right on '68 as the last year of the Mercury truck.

[Mercury100]

Fenders off to go to Glen at GM Autobody.
Bad news. He will have more time in them than a new set are worth.
New pair on the way.[image]443[/image]
Finding wheel center.
Did some measuring. Things not looking right.Back to Glen for advice.
Put it up on four jack stands. Used a plumb bob down off a known square and put a x on the floor.
Corner to corner measurement on the x marks on the floor. I’m out 1/2 inch. That means it’s out of square by 1/4 inch.
Back to Glen. He will take the truck in and put it on the frame bench and straighten it all.
When looking from behind the box and the cab are at different angles.
Lh gap between box and cab is more than the rh side.[image]440[/image]
A lot can happen to a truck in 50 years

[Mercury100]

My cab rear corners. Rear side of the corners have had a bondo fix at some point.
Not quite sure what the fix is for the front panels.
Let me know what others have done.[image]441[/image][image]442[/image]

[Mercury100]

I’m off working and the truck is at Glen’s shop to have the frame straightened.
Parts are on their way
When I’m back. Cab comes off and new
front cab mounts and maybe the rear corners..
Will be taking a wire wheel to the frame and treating it to por15.

[popeyes71]

Cool ! Progress on your truck! keep us posted how the rust repair goes.