68 mercury build

Post progress reports on your project truck(s)

Moderator: FORDification

Post Reply
Mercury100
New Member
New Member
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:31 pm

68 mercury build

Post by 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]
User avatar
basketcase0302
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 6805
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:11 am
Location: Hawthorne, Florida

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by 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? :hmm:
Jeff
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=46251
SOLD-71 F-350 dually flatbed, 302 / .030 over V-8 with a "baby"C-6, B & M truckshifter, Dana70/4.11 ratio, intermittent wipers, tilt steering, full LED lighting on the flat bed, and no stereo yet (this way I can hear the rattles to diagnose)! SOLD!
Many Ford bumps / one 76' EB / and several dents through the years.
A lot of "oddball" Ford parts collected from working on them for 34 years now!
2008 Ford Escape 4 x 4
User avatar
cdnwillyg
Preferred User
Preferred User
Posts: 364
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 7:17 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by 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!
1968 Mercury M250 Camper Special
FE-390,570CFM 4bbl, C6 Automatic, PS, PB front disk.
Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
:drive:Willy
Marccustom
New Member
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:35 pm
Location: Fort Saskatchewan Alberta Canada

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by Marccustom »

Nice looking truck!
User avatar
basketcase0302
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 6805
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:11 am
Location: Hawthorne, Florida

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by 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/
Jeff
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=46251
SOLD-71 F-350 dually flatbed, 302 / .030 over V-8 with a "baby"C-6, B & M truckshifter, Dana70/4.11 ratio, intermittent wipers, tilt steering, full LED lighting on the flat bed, and no stereo yet (this way I can hear the rattles to diagnose)! SOLD!
Many Ford bumps / one 76' EB / and several dents through the years.
A lot of "oddball" Ford parts collected from working on them for 34 years now!
2008 Ford Escape 4 x 4
Mercury100
New Member
New Member
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:31 pm

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by 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.
User avatar
Manny
Blue Oval Guru
Blue Oval Guru
Posts: 1190
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:15 pm
Location: Georgia, Lake City
Contact:

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by Manny »

Mercury100 wrote: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... :lol:
Just another Ford fool named Dan.
The Junk that hangs around
67' F-250 highboy Camper special cross breed currently under way
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=86706
1974 Bronco 302 3 speed
1984 bronco 302 c6 35's
1994 F350 7.3 5spd dually.
woods wrote: The rust holes in my truck were a factory install (very rare).
Mercury100
New Member
New Member
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:31 pm

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by 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.
User avatar
Bullitt74
Preferred User
Preferred User
Posts: 430
Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2016 5:34 pm
Location: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by 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.
Steve F.
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
'72 Ranger XLT, 4x2, 390-2V, C6, Wind blue & Wimbledon White (‘Smokey’)
8)
2016 F150 Lariat FX4 Supercrew, Ruby Red
Follow my build thread for 'Smokey': http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... 22&t=85070
Mercury100
New Member
New Member
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:31 pm

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by 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
User avatar
cdnwillyg
Preferred User
Preferred User
Posts: 364
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 7:17 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by cdnwillyg »

You are right on '68 as the last year of the Mercury truck. :thup:
1968 Mercury M250 Camper Special
FE-390,570CFM 4bbl, C6 Automatic, PS, PB front disk.
Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada
:drive:Willy
Mercury100
New Member
New Member
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:31 pm

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by 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
New Member
New Member
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:31 pm

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by 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
New Member
New Member
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:31 pm

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by 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.
User avatar
popeyes71
Blue Oval Guru
Blue Oval Guru
Posts: 1176
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:46 pm
Location: Bay Area, Ca.

Re: 68 mercury build

Post by popeyes71 »

Cool 8) ! Progress on your truck! keep us posted how the rust repair goes.
-Popeye-
1971 F-250 4x4 Highboy
1966 Chevy Nova, 8 second 10.5 car
Post Reply