Sled: Looks much more clean now,and lot of weight saved also....by the time you guys see these pix all the welding is done. Note the Fatman clip comes narrower vertically,and they provide an extra triangle to add on,to be cutted on size...
Sled: also new leafsprings kit mounted....dearched ones.Probably lowers straight off like 5/6 inches here,will see ....gotta have on the wheels and check it out on lowering blocks then.. Choose Chassis engineering products here,have no previous experience with them... Lookin now for a 9" rear end from a local junkyard... With the 454 b.block wanna be sure to cruise without any problem...
Sled: Roof time too...started to shape all necessary countor metal around the back window..is totally gone and rusted... Need to redo it all around and make the glass fitting perfectly before bracing for the top chop...this process is very fiddly, you can't rush here... Also gotta create the internal roof braket, rusted out...
Today i'm rollin...already built a jig to bring back in place the original roof line,and it fits perfectly with the previous made metal contour i made..i'm happy about! so,all is tack welded and tight,now i can proceed to cut the original rusted lip and start puttin the new one around,to create the new base....also the inner bracket on the headliner...let's keep going....
Sled: is a productive day,things are rollin smooth and nice..more shaped metal on the back window...suits kinda clean,and it finally makes me smile to se som shiny spots on the thing.. Still undecided which way of proceeding on the lips..above or under the perimetral countour... BTW,i'll keep going ....more on the go!
Message from Sled: Tryin to recreate the full countour on the back window.But i did not want to cut the curves anyway.Have to be heated,hammered and patiently set in place..takes time,but it will be done!
Wow very interesting work, looks bitchin, good to know. I love mercs so much I have to put myself into forceful denial about wanting one.
Timmy Z,will keep going ...no worries!Actually these Easter holidays will get stucked here to get the more work done as possible without interruption... This extra job you guys are seein now is cause the car was really the worse one i had... Did not looked so bad until the sandblast...where the real truth showed up!! But ok...there is no way back....at list will be another Merc on the road soon!
Message from Sled: after the careful bending is time to spot weld the 2 curvatures and have em fit togheter....then carefully preventing warping is grindin time...the 1mm disc will do,but takes his time...the curves needed to be heated up and pushed in place,not so easy with only 1 full piece...tends to go all over,but hey...it will go!!
Sleds message: Finally some updates on the Merc...been busy with this beibi among other stuff but here we go... First Fatman IFS kit mock up,just to see how it looks...sweet and clean!! Also a big save on weight ...Wont do much here for now,just a fast look. I'm pretty happy about the alignment too,1 mill tolerance overall... Going back to the bodywork,wanna have this thing cutted soon...
Wow...I have been missing out! That is some impressive work there to save that car! Looks like 1/2 of it will be brand spanking new! Awesome.
Sleds message: Due to the rusted out top 3/4 panels before the top chop i gotta replace that area,in both sides...kinda fiddly cause there is no space to hammer and dolly from underneath...but ok,gotta be done!! i can't imagine what an hard life this car has had... can't wait to cut it,let's move on....
Chopping time. Message from Sled: ok,markin up time.I wanna have a dinamic line on this one,so slanted B pillars.settin all up,and it will be 4" in the front and 5" 1/2 in the back...will cut first 5" in one side just to see the visual difference too,and compare the other side. Due to need of replacement metal on the top base i don't care cuttin a bit more..gotta be reworked anyway... as you see a lot more work is involved cause first i had to fully recreate the rear glass metal countour,was nothin there to place the window...build it from scratch also. But i'm ready to go now...
Sleds message: Roof is gone finally...angled cuts on B pillars to the slanted posts.As said 4" in the front....still undecided how many inches in the back but i would like a nice flow.Never liked the even cut tops... Next i need the relief cuts on front to align the top back again... The rear roof above the rear window will be totally replaced too ,as usual..but this came later.Mine is rusted as usual... Have some ideas on for the drip rails too,will see....
Absolute masterpiece, I've not seen this thread before just spent an hour feeling hoplessly inadequate with a welder, you sir are a genius. Can't wait to see it finished!!!
Just like KoppaK i hadnt seen this thread either until now. This is a true testamony to hard work and what good skills can do. Totally Impressed! I will definitely be waiting for more updates. One of my favorite things about this is how many of us are very motivated by this thread. after reading basically all of it, its cool to think that sleds pheonominal work on this Merc probably contributed to some of us getting reenergized on something we are working on. Just a thought i had... Awesome...
Thanx for the support guys...thing is the real condition on "Swiss Cheese" came up truly after the sand blast... I was fooled before,did not look so bad before... Oh well,is only metal after all...so,anything can be fixed.. The great thing here on Hamb is many of us are getting inspired by lookin at someone else... There are great talented guys around here,and is good to learn all the time.. Tomorrow you'll see more updates,did some more work done by now... BTW,at the end of the story i feel 80/85% of the whole metal will be replaced... Doorskins off...half of the roof will go etc... Actually i bought the car by pix,and took the chance only because is a 50 ...the rarest to find down here.Many 51 in comparison,no idea why, beeing only 1 year difference... Let's keep the donkey show going .....
Looks like it's coming along great. I still can't believe the amount of metal work you are doing on that car! You sure are a visionary. Most would've passed on that one. Hope you keep it,cause you're damn near building a completely new car. NOBODY else will ever appreciate it like you. Except maybe those of us who have been following your journey.
Message from Sled: I cutted the rear base of the roof 5" as a start,to see visually how it looks...i knew i wanted more but just to compare.Took my time lookin on different angles and to get the general idea..no hurry here!!Placed the roof just on and well,starts to look like a kustom now.... But i'm still wantin go for more...i have a Hudson 49 coupe close by and the roof line seemed to me almost conservative.... So,let's keep cutting....
Sled: My last decision is 5" 1/2 in the back...looks a good fllow to me especially in relation with the slanted B pillars.No way back,i'm kinda satisfied how it looks by now.But still before place the roof in place can only align and tack welding the A pillars,just to keep the whole roof in place... Then as you see again i had to replace the top of the 3/4 panels all the way to set in place the roff again... Man,is the never ending story... But i'm motivated by the new lines.... Also as you see guys i had lot more work to just top chop the thing.... For anyone in need of pix i have tons more to share ,in case... I don't wanna stress you out here with many tech details,but just ask....
I saw the beginnings of this thread but didn't reply or subscribe to it, so it got lost in the maelstrom that is the HAMB of today. Amazing work guys. I just don't know whether it's inspirational, or crazy. Judging by the response, I'd say the former.
Sled, how are you thinking about doing your rear side windows? Are you going to round the backs off or have them just go down into the quarter, like you first chop pictures?
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