Technical '49 Merc frame cracks...common? pics inside

All these are up front. It looks like previous repair was done for some reason. Was this a common thing on Mercs? I assume it repairable... I'm not wrong am I?

 

grind em out and weld em up!!!

 

Could be caused by a accident but you should be able to weld them up. HRP

 

IF (and this a big if, therefore capitalized) you decide to vee out the cracks and weld them up, FIEST and foremost:
1. Examine the cracks to find their absolute ends.
2. Mark the visible ends, then clean out the crack with a die grinder and 1/16" X 2" disc.
3. DRILL a hole at the end of the crack: otherwise, after welding up the crack, it will open up alongside the weld, and crack beyond where you should have drilled it.
4. Begin welding with a good rosette weld at the hole; stop there, and begin stitching from opposite (cold) end.
5. Finish stitching (3/4" to 1" stitches, spaced same amount, skipping around) Finally, fill between stitches.
Allowing ample time to cool slowly is paramount. Ford frames were 'case-hardened', weldable if done carefully, and allowed to cool naturally. Fast cooling will make the weld brittle...

 

Good info that Mike put out in post 4. My old 51 Merc had several cracks around the front crossmember and that was the primary reason I subframed it. I attributed part of that to it running around on heated coils for most of it's life.

 

Out of 5 49 - 50 merc frames I have 4 have cracks in the front suspension area, the one without cracks in the front suspension area had cracks by the rear spring shackle area. I think FoMoCo had some metalurgy issues and a frame that was not heavy enough for their new independant suspension. Combine that with all the gravel roads of the day and they had some probs. However a good repair and paved roads should be better. I would post pics of mine but they look just like yours.

 

My 51 had cracks thru the coil spring buckets. I dont know if the kingpins seize but i do remember loading it on the trailer to bring it home, when straping it down the front end did not compress. I always thought thats probably what did the damage. X2 on why I have a nova stub on the car.

 

My 51 also had them around the front cross member and coil spring buckets, had the sketchy stick welder repairs too

 

guess i better check mine when it comes home.

 

Thanx guys!

 

Ya they usually have cracks at one time or another by the spring pockets like others have said

 

Well shit I'm glad I saw this post, was starting to think mine had been in a bad prang but had no other evidence

So with this in mind should all us 49-51 Merc builders working on cars with little to no floors, rockers and cracked frames, be spending a bit of extra time to check things are still square before too much cutting and welding?