50 merc, bad chop, how do i fix it?

Not sure why, but we started with a different back window, probably to have more sheet metal attached to work with.
Cut out the whole deal and started to "eyeball" in the new one.

 

Once we thought we got the angle of the window right, moved up quite a bit from where it previously ended, and angled upward a bit, we made some sheet metal fillers for the C pillars. It WAS a bit of work to restore the body line at the bottom of the roof, but we felt the car needed the break in the roof/quarter panel to look right.

 

The rest of the time was welding in the new sheet metal, keeping the contour of the C pillars right, and then finishing and priming.
I think it was a good repair and well worth the effort.
I hope you can see how much work it is, though, so you don't get in over your head!

 

i'm not an expert, but i'm learning
i'm not afraid to ask for direction before trying something

 

it looks good, this is why i'm asking a few questions before i get started.
thanks

 

when you get ALL the mud and paint off you may get really sick. before i'd start i'd line up a donor roof just in case it's really bad. i recently fixed a bad chop on a 50 ford and found terrible welds mud half inch thick in places, oil canning everywhere. i saved the roof by making four panels but a roof would have been alot easier.

 

get you window sitting where you like it, tack some braces to the package tray and make your self up a template for the filler pieces. i just use a slip roll to give the shape,just did this the othr day ill post up a couple of pics too if ya like

 

absolutely!!
post em when you get a chance

 

here ya go a few pics to stare at. the "c" pillar takes a little beating and wheeling to get the correct shape but you dont necessarily need to wheel it out if you spend some time with a dolly

 

Nope,but it resembles it alot,huh!

 

He didn't want to go with the '51 window! That's interesting.

 

yep he likes the look of the 50 better. i kinda go back and forth....

 

its just my 2 cents but mine has a 50 ford glass in it. its a lot flatter than the merc. and dont have the curved sides to it. i havent measured it but i believe the ford glass is bigger and would help fill in some of that dip in the body.

 

i like the smooth transition from the bottom of the window to the top of the trunk opening, gives a real streamlined look, much better than the notched transition that i have presently.
these pics will help a lot, thanks.
there has been a lot of discussion on rear window types on this thread, is my rear window an original 50 merc, or from something else?
thanks

 

clearly, i am going to have to slant the b pillar as well.
after seeing pics of them slanted, i can't even look at mine

 

Can you post some pics?

 

I have the notch on mine and I think it works. When leaving the notch, I put in several relief cuts along the edge of the window frame to flatten it out some. If the relief cuts would have been done on your, the bump below the window could have been removed.

You have a 50 Merc window.

Alot more work is involved if you change the b pillars. If you want to put the gutters back on, may as well add that to the list of "to do's" at the same time.

Also about your bumpers. I haven't done it but I have one laying here and with some cutting and welding, a Desoto front bumper would fit on the back of a 50 Merc better than the Desoto rear bumper, which you have on there now. I think the Desoto bumpers tie the car and the Desoto grill together well. But that is just one opinion and as you have read in these posts, there are alot of different opinions.

As I wrote before, I would take my time before making any changes to the roof. It could be down for awhile. Drive it as is for a year or two to get some more ideas on what changes you want to make.

Neal

 

i won't drive it until its done
i'll start looking for some bumpers, i've got some time

 

---------------------------------------------------------------
Stock rear bumper with 55 Pontiac override looks good.

 

that looks great, is that a stock front bumper on the back?

 

you could always spend hours making some and then get exstremly pissed when you brake one and start again!!