I have a good rust free front crossmember for '54-'56 Ford or Mercury. For me to cut it out of my parts car I need $200.00 for it which will include shipping to the lower 48. There is one on Ebay right now for more than twice that much once shipping is added. I don't think that the repros. are available anymore. Thanks, Alan S. Freeman
Ford and Mercury use different front cross members. And they are also different from year to year. So be sure to know which one you need. I ran into this problem when replacing mine in a 54 Mercury. The front end radiator suport is different between Ford and Merc. Also the lower A-Frame bolts are in a different location between years. I bought a replacement aftermarket and it fit perfect. Most all Front cross members are rotted out from the inside out and you won't know it untill you remove it. I checked out 4-5 crossmembers and everyone was rusted out inside and looked good on the outside. And yes repos are availible. I think I paid about 300.00 for a new one about a year ago. Ken
Thanks for you advise Kenymac but there must be a lot of people who disagree with you about the interchangeability on these crossmembers from '54-'56. Maybe all of the crossmembers are rotten where you come from but mine is from a dry desert California car. And furthermore, if I discovered that mine was rusted out after I removed it, I would never sell it to an unsuspecting buyer. Therefore, I take issue with all of your comments and I suspect that you think that you know more about these cars than you actually do. I have been restoring 50's Fords ands Mercurys for 30+ years. Alan S. Freeman
I got my new repo off ebay over the summer for $329 shipped . Very nice and fit perfect ! Very happy with it . There is only one company making them anymore as far as I have seen . Jim
Anyone that has bought parts from Alan knows He is a stand up guy and won't sell you junk,I have bought from Him myself.In Kenymacs defense I did not take it that He was making claims against Alan only that He was pointing out the fact that these crossmembers are an issue with these years of Fords and that many of them are in bad shape.
I'm sorry that allenfreeman got his ******* in a bunch for the info I posted about the front crossmembers on 54-56 Ford & Mercury. He is very wrong about them being the same! THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!!! and they will not fit between Ford and Mercury. Maybe the one you have is fine and I did not say it was bad!! I just said that most all of them that I have come across are rotted out from the inside out and you won't know it untill it is removed as they had no drain for the moisture to escape. They also changed the lower A Frame bolt hole location between years, I'm not to sure as to which years are different and I may even be wrong about that part of it. But I was told by the company that builds them that the holes are in a different location as one is higher than the other. I bought mine and when it arrived it was for a 54 Ford and was completly wrong and would not even come close for a Mercury of the same year. I sent my old one to the company so they could use it for pattern so the could start making them for a Mercury. They now make one for 54 Mercury. So Allen They are not all the same. Maybe before you bad mouth somebody you should do your homework! I also have been doing old Fords, Mercs, and Gm cars for 50 + years. I will post the pics of the diffence between Ford and Mercury in my photos go check it out. Ken
My sincere apologies to Kennymac. He is correct. '54 Ford is a one year only front crossmember. '55-'56 are different. I checked my parts book to verify this. There are a lot of sellers that have been selling these crossmembers over the years as fitting '54-'56 Ford and Mercury including one for sale right now on Ebay for $275.00. I should have checked my books first. So....what I have is a rust free front crossmember for '54 Ford only. Alan S. Freeman
Glad you guys have p***ed the peacepipe! Just goes to show you are never to old to learn new things and that is what this forum is all about ,sharing information as a help to all of us '52-56 Ford lovers.
Apologie Totally accepted here on this end Allen! I just didn't want somebody to buy one for a Mercury or a Later Ford and then findout later that it wouldn't work. Then all the shipping back and forth, I've been there before with crossmembers and the shipping ain't cheap. Everybody that owns one of these old Fords should be sure to check them out for rusted out crossmembers as the lower A-arms are attached to them and they take a beating. A quick way to check them is to tap on the bottom side and then just listen for loose stuff bouncing around inside if so then you should think about checking it out a little closer. Well at least anybody else that is looking to replace a crossmember will now know that there are different ones and to be sure and find the right one for their Ford or Merc. The more info here helps us all enjoy our toys!
I bought mine from Ebay and mine will fit a 55/56 Ford . They were both the same . I do know the other years are very differents along with Mercurys . Glad to see people getting along ! Jim
ok so there is a 55 merc 2-dr turned over in the woods behind my house. The owner said i could cut the crossmember out. So youre telling me the 55 merc is NOT the same as my 56 ford??
I'll second what kenymac said about actually tapping the bottom. When I was first checking out the '55 I bought last summer, I knew enough to check the condition of the crossmember. When I got underneath there it was immediately apparent the original had been replaced at least once (it was a pretty rough weld job). I felt around and it seemed solid to the touch so i took note and moved on. This fall, after dragging it home, I checked it again with a ballpeen. I got a nice, soft thud and it didn't bounce. It looked and felt solid, but a couple of taps of metal on metal told a different story. It's gonna get it's 3rd crossmember transplant this spring.
Okay, to support and perhaps help clarify the above comments, here's what Henry's Parts Book says: '52-'53 front X-member is Part # AB-5019-B '54 front X-member is Part # B4A-5019-A '55-'56 front X-member is Part # B5A-5019-C
fullsizejohn I really don't know what the difference might be between a 55-56 Merc and Ford. The 54 ford and the 54 merc are different as to how the front radiator support and the front sheetmetal go together. They could possibly be modified to be used either way. In the 55 -56 they changed the lower A-Arm bolt locations from the 54's. But as to interchange between the Merc and Ford of those years I'm not sure. The best thing would be to just take measurements of yours and then check the Merc and check how the radiator suport is mounted to it. If the crossmember is a good one you got lucky!! Even if it's not a fit for you and it's a good one grab it anyway somebody on here will need it!!!
With the donor being up side down you might just make out OK . At least the water isn't sitting in the bottom of the cross member ! I would take a hammer and punch to test the crossmember out with . Also check the front and rear sides as well . They rust out too ! The best way to cut the crossmember out will be cutting the main frame . You will need a grinder to grind down the factory weld to remove the crossmember . Cutting with a saw doesn't work well at all . One thing to consider , if he is letting you have is for nothing or close to , if it doesn't fit you can always resell it and make some money from it ! Good Luck and let us know how you make out . Jim
Goodell Fabrications still make the crossmember for the 54 Ford. $299 which includes shipping. They had to charge $329 on Ebay, to cover fees. They're out of Coweta OK. I called them yesterday to confirm. They also make ones for the 55-56 Ford.
Goodell fabrications is who I went thru to have one made for my 54 Mercury, At the time they didn't have a pattern for a 54 merc so I sent my old one to them after we tried the 54 Ford and it wouldn't fit. They are great people to deal with!! and Retro Jim is right on the money about the way to go about getting one out without damage to it. I have some pics under my profile in my 54 pics that show one from goodell it fit perfect. Ken
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