Is it the olds 88 or the olds 98 that is the popular frame to use. i got a line on a 83 deville that is the same ch***is as the 98 but it seems to wide of a track width fo the merc. Thanks
I have no idea why those swaps are so popular. Must be because that's what **** Dean does and his cars are usually really *****n. Blakmerk did the Olds frame floorpan swap on this Merc. NEVER again. The track width is too wide, the welding of a complete floorpan ****s (add to the fact that the Olds floor was galvanized, cough cough..), plus lots of other issues. I did a Camero clip in mine and it sits just as low with out all the pain in the ***. Good luck, -Abone.
Here's some photos I take of Dean doing a frame swap . But with all the parts now available WHY? TwoChops
I'm not a big fan of Camaro/Nova deals, but it does do really well in this case. The way the front of the Merc frame swings in the C/N sub makes a nice connection. W/out too much trouble you can narrow the sub about 2" and it has a better track width for the car making for better wheel selection as well. You don't want that Camaro anyways, do ya?
Can anyone tell me here, whats wrong with the stock Merc frame? and why it needs to be changed? I just don't get it.
I think a Chevy Suburban frame might fit...and if you get one with a transfer case, you can drive it in Michigan!
nothing wrong with the stock merc frame, but when you swap the olds 88 frame under the merc, you get a modern suspension, modern brakes, and a modern drivetrain for less money than modifying the stock merc ch***is to get the same ride and handling qualities. not to mention the same braking quality. granted you usually end up with a gm engine in a ford body, and for some, like me, that is not really acceptable. but then i like to do silly things like put ford engines in ford bodies.
ford makes engines? and all this time all i thought there was were chevy 350's. but im a rebel and use 305's So back to ch***is swaps. is the olds 88 the same ch***is as a caprice. i suppose i could google and find out but its more fun having you all do it for me
Any 77-96 GM B-body will work as the ch***is are pretty much the same but with some different wheelbases.I used a 78 Delta 88 4dr.I lengthened the frame 2 inches to match the Mercury's 118 inch wheelbase.It's not a perfect swap.the track width on the Olds is wider than the 50 Merc.I have some tire rub on the inner front fenders that I need to take care of.If I were to have a set of wheels made with more offset,it would be better.If I were to do it again,I would not channel the body so much(4inches) .
Is the DeVille a 2 door or 4 door? (or are all DeVille's 4 doors? I don't remember). A 2 door might be too short. You need a car with a 118" wheelbase. And then pray that the engine setback isn't too far either way and that the cowl/firewall lines up. What the swap books talk about is the Olds "Regency" 98...from 77-85...it's a bigger car than the "Delta" 88, and I think the 88 went FWD sometime after 86 or 87, also can use the same years' Buick equivalent - a Park Ave? I heard they were too wide too, despite the popularity they got...you'll need custom offset wheels. If I had to do mine all over again, (regardless of the make of the doner car), I wouldn't do a frame swap again either. At the time I began, it made sense, but 7 years later the cost of upgrading the stock Merc ch***is has come way down. Unless you have no floor, trunk floor, or rockers, a full frame swap doesn't make much financial/economical/time sense these days. Between my $400.00 doner car, materials (sheetmetal, welding wire, gas, grinding discs), parts, time, and tools I needed to buy that I needed and didn't have, I could have upgraded the Merc suspension to what I wanted, dropped the 460 in that I already have, and probably have been running/driving around by now...but Nooooo....I wanted to be "different"...thought I had an easier way. HA!
I would challenge all of these statements. Modern in the sense of...80's parts that are starting to become obsolete? A 1988 anything is almost 20 years old now. Having to re-do the front end on a wiped-out 98 Olds Regency (with an alignment) has to be close to $300 alone... I thought it was a good idea too...but after doing it, I'm not so sure anymore. Back when I first dreamed of doing this, upgrade parts for the stock Merc frame were expensive and hard to find...now, it's a little different. How valuable is your time? There are lots of little things that pop up that nobody mentions when doing the swap...like, how are you going to fill your gas tank? Where was the stock filler in relation to the Merc filler? You'll have to re-engineer that part...or...how are you going to hang the front sheetmetal? Can't use the Merc stuff and you can't use the doner (without work), either. What are you using for inner front fenders (unless you don't care about water and road debris contaminating your engine bay?) Bumper mounts? Steering column (other than a old style GM?) For instance, all the aftermarket wiring kits are 60's-late 70's GM keyed and color coded...you're on your own after that. Dashboard? How will the steering column enter the cabin vs. the seats? Too far forward? Backward? How about the heater? Are you going to use the stock Merc stuff, or make the newer car stuff work (headache). All I'm saying is: Dropping the body over the ch***is is one thing. Making it all fit together is 10%. Making it all WORK is the other 90% of the story that I think largely gets left out. They show all the cutting and welding in the books, but it's the details that will kill you that I never read about...anywhere...
the deville 4 door and two door is the same wheel base 121.4" but track width is a hige diffrence. the caddy/olds is 61.7" front,60.7" rear to the mercs 58". thats a big diffrence to make up in off set wheels. i want my car to lay the rockers when aired out and i dont want to have to deal with clearence issues like i did on my chevy. i learned a lot from doing the herpie with the stock frame and all the up grades i made to it with modren componets. but then when i did my 51 ford with new stock componets it seemed to ride and drive and stop better then my chevy ever did. r right now at this point im looking at all my options and seeing what would be best. and what other poeple would rather have. Thanks for your opnions guys. Bryan
well, i hate to **** in here but once upon a time, i remember seeing an article about using a 68-72 4dr skylark/cutl***/chevelle frame under those... (4drs are 116" wb and 2 doors are 112")
'Self's onto something I've been considering as well for future projects. The front suspension on almost ALL newer Ford stuff drops out as a unit including the power rack, motor mounts, uppr suspension mounting points, etc. I see these all the time since I do crash and safety at work. I'll look for something close to what you want as far as track width and post it here. Maybe late 90s early 2000s explorer, Lincoln LS and counterparts, many others. Stay tuned as I won't get it figgerd out 'til Tues
EXACTLY!!!!WHY, WHY, WHY? Because you saw **** do it? It is wasted time and money. Plus the end result might be(stressing the word 'might') get the same results from either rebuilding what you already have and modifiying for bags or clip the frontend with a Camaro, if you don't like it. Time is money...you will indefinitly spend MORE money, I guarantee it. It sort of sounds like you don't posess the Merc ch***is, and you are looking for something to replace it with? Either way, it's apparent that you've already made up your mind, so, go for it. Another Merc bites the dust! quote=MrcMan1951]I would challenge all of these statementsModern in the sense of...80's parts that are starting to become obsolete? A 1988 anything is almost 20 years old now. Having to re-do the front end on a wiped-out 98 Olds Regency (with an alignment) has to be close to $300 alone... I thought it was a good idea too...but after doing it, I'm not so sure anymore. Back when I first dreamed of doing this, upgrade parts for the stock Merc frame were expensive and hard to find...now, it's a little different. How valuable is your time? There are lots of little things that pop up that nobody mentions when doing the swap...like, how are you going to fill your gas tank? Where was the stock filler in relation to the Merc filler? You'll have to re-engineer that part...or...how are you going to hang the front sheetmetal? Can't use the Merc stuff and you can't use the doner (without work), either. What are you using for inner front fenders (unless you don't care about water and road debris contaminating your engine bay?) Bumper mounts? Steering column (other than a old style GM?) For instance, all the aftermarket wiring kits are 60's-late 70's GM keyed and color coded...you're on your own after that. Dashboard? How will the steering column enter the cabin vs. the seats? Too far forward? Backward? How about the heater? Are you going to use the stock Merc stuff, or make the newer car stuff work (headache). All I'm saying is: Dropping the body over the ch***is is one thing. Making it all fit together is 10%. Making it all WORK is the other 90% of the story that I think largely gets left out. They show all the cutting and welding in the books, but it's the details that will kill you that I never read about...anywhere...[/quote]
Ya know,the more I think about it,the more I think that I would not do it this way again.I think MercMan1951 is right.It makes so much extra work.The little details that you have to overcome are what make a swap like this a real pain in the ***!I think thats why it took me so long to get my 50 on the road.I discovered that this might not have been the greatest choice for a ch***is/floor pan.
thats a nice clean install. i like the 4 link in the rear as well. how much did you notch the frame back there?
DON'T USE AN OLDS to wide in the front if you want to drive it on the ground my buddy is going thro that now . i was going to use the stock frame but i had a 62 4 door bel air in the back checked sum # 's and it will work .stock frame is to wide on the merc and you can't get the rockers to sit on the ground . i just cut out the drive shaft tunnel[ which your going to do anyway] ,over the rear end , and a nice fit, laying rocker on the ground NO C NOCTH NO DROP SPINDLES . they make air bag kits for impalas so no fabing that **** , all stock motor and trans mounts
I NEVER would have thought to use an X frame under a Merc..not that i have a Merc although i wish i did.. I'd love too see the progress on that car and how you mount the body to the frame. I'm impressed at how well it seem's to go together without having to hack the floor's free and re pan the whole car... Very interesting..
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