Projects Does this dress make my butt look big?

Years of running in primer I'm thinking this winter it is time for paint. What a big decision and an exciting step forward to finishing the Merc. Before I can paint I want to make sure I'm happy with my current modifications. This weekend, Dr. Dave and I was at The Gathering and I asked him to pick on my profile. I've not been happy with it but not sure what I need. Man was that fun. I've never asked Dave to give me some suggestions. So it goes back to my title. Never ask someone a question you don't want to hear the answer. Lol! Like when your wife ask, does this dress make my butt look big.

Current (before)



After some of the improvements



Dave gave me some great suggestions on how to clean up the body lines. Here was some of the suggestions.

• The rear quarter windows are odd shaped
• Rain gutters need shortened
• Front bumper needs tucked in an inch or so
• Front of the stock '51 skirts need to be straighten

We had a blast discussing the Mercs issues and I appreciate Dave giving me an honest answer. Some of them may seem to be nick picking but that is what Kustom guys do. trying to come up with the purrfect flow. I can fix some of them without to much of a hassle. The rear quarter windows, although I agree with him it is just not worth the hassle. Sometimes you have to get to the point with a project and just say okay I'm done...

When a friend ask you what should I do? You should always give him a true answer.

 

Might I inquire as to the color you are considering?

 

Some observations:
The front of the fender/headlight area appears to "suddenly drop off".
Flush mount the skirts so that the top edge of the skirt is parallel to the sheet metal rear quarter panel line.
Would look even better if about 2 in. was removed from the top of the skirts.
Rain gutter appears to have a "kink" bending downward about 2/3 of the way from the front edge of the rear quarter window.

 

I wish i knew. I've narrowed it down to less than ten colors. Lol! They are from dark to light tones. It would be easier to say what color it wont be. yellow, orange, pink, green, black or white. I'll let you know when I decide.

 

I agree with your comment about the 1/4 windows being a lot of work and the time comes to "just be done." I should learn a lesson from that myself. LOL

Can't wait to see it in color. I thought about it all the way home and haven't landed on the obvious "why didn't we think of that" color yet, but I'm still thinkin'. Fun weekend and always fun to talk "what if". Thanks for letting be babble and think out loud.

 

I think taking the two kinks out of the rain gutter would really make the quarter window look better with out having to actually mess with the window itself.

 

They don't all have to look the same !
Shorten the gutters like suggested, and the rest is fine.
Paint it, enjoy it as usual, change it up in about 10 years if you start itching.
I think it looks damn good.

 

We saw a Merc at the Gathering that was purrfect and the workmanship was just over the top. Loved it but it was just too nice. He has flush mounted the skirts although they look too kool, it isn't worth the effort for my Merc. My Merc will always have an issue or more. Just have to weigh the work to fix some of them. The rain gutters are getting resolved the kink really bothers me. We talked about the headlights and you are right. Might be more than I want to tackle. Love your idea about the skirts going to have to look into that one. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I agree with you, it should help a lot. Sorry I missed seeing ya this weekend. Thanks for the feedback.

 

Thank you, I don't want it to look like other Mercs. This is the best part of Kustoms. Only limitation is your imagination. This one is close to being done. I have a scallop idea that maybe ten years it will have enough road rash by then it could use some touch up.. Thanks again

 

I had one of the best weekends that I've had in years. Thank you for the entertainment and putting up with my squirrel chasing mind. I'm sure I wore you out trying to keep up with my thought process.

I think all projects (especially kustoms) you can chase perfection and run out of gas. The one at The Roc was the best built Merc I've ever seen. It blew me away the attention to detail and the talent involved with the build yet it still had some issues. Fortunately I don't have that kind of budget. I just want to get closer calling it done...

 

Done in my eyes, but if you did shorten those gutters....

 

Candy brandywine would make those curves pop. If you are not into that level of paint punishment, then a dark red, not maroon.

 

Paint will be something factory so it will be easy to match. Paint or Suede, I'm still driving the wheels off of it. Dummy spots will not be going back on, I already have them sold. Great minds. Lol!

 

Personally I don't care for the shortened rain gutter look. Either take them off completely (like they should be on a custom ) or just try and fix the upper kink. Shortened looks like someone fell asleep before they were finished the job.

First thing I noticed was the top of the skirt not following the body line so I would change that if it was mine as currently it looks like it is sagging.

Although flush fit this shot of the Ruggiero merc shows how nice a more parallel line between the top of the skirt and the body line looks.

And some sort of side trim would go a long way to making it not look like one big monochromatic slab.

Rounding the bottom rear corner of the door would be a nice touch as well. ease that sharp line.

 

Whatever you do, do not say I don't think it's the pants!
Ask me how I know.

 

I have to have rain gutters although my top has been sectioned so I cold possible pull it off. Plan is to fix them. I drive it too much not to have the rain gutters. I've heard too many wet stories from guys driving kustoms without them. My Merc was originally a four door, Ralph Schindel extended the existing doors six inches. This made my doors four inches shorter than an original two door. The rain gutter wasn't changed during that process so they stand out more than it did. "Did the guy fall asleep working on them" it sure looks like it. Lol!

I like your suggestion and the skirts will match the body line. Flush mounting them to me is not worth the effort. They are kool but not for this Merc.

I like the color of the Ruggiero Merc......

 

Something like this color?

 

I knew we would agree on some things and flush fit skirts is not on my list. Lol! Doesn't the Hirohata have flush fit skirts? I didn't realize it was considered a modern modification. Learn something everyday....... Considering the paint to be a 60's style kustom. Dark red or maroon is on the list. Thanks for the feedback.

Lol! could be a good story..... I've been married 39 years, proud to say my dad taught me at a young age...

 

Local merc for color ideas in that range I saw you a bunch but never got to say hi. I don’t think I got more than a few words in with anyone at any one time this weekend. Was a lot to take in!

 

There was a dark red or marron Merc In American Rodder that I liked a lot. I'll have to see If I can find it.

 

Yours is a beautifully done '51. I didn't snap to it being a former-for-dor 'til you mentioned it!
Yeah, some skirt adjustment, like @19Fordy said. Likewise with the rain gutters, just 'adjust' them.
I didn't want to mention the front fenders' dropping off like that, How in hell did that happen???
(Kids're gonna wanna slide down those...)
Lovely kustom '51. Agree on loss of the spotlights

 

The drip rails don't need shortening but they do need to be as smooth as a French curve. I haven't seen the passenger's side, but that driver's side just needs a block of hickory, a hammer, and whisper "one 32nth, please" in one or two places.
The 'B' pillar is nice and parallel on the door half but dips thin a midge on the rear window half of the pillar. I don't know if the word "Bondo" is a cuss word where you come from, but it is traditional. It only needs a "skim" of less than a 1/8th of filler at the thickest point........ mostly feathered thin from there.
The fender skirt just needs to pivot up a touch in the back end to be more parallel with the accent line of the body. There's nothing wrong with the overall shape of the skirt. The photo is dark shadow at the back end of the quarter panel so I can't say how that lower corner of the skirt would align. (?)
I had a buddy that would tease, "It's not perfect.......... but it's very, very close".

 

Definitely would put some side trim to help break things up and lengthen the car out, may even help with the look of the quarter window. Some Merc teeth would help the skirts also

 

Dave knows how brain fried I am considering color. One of the colors on my list is Paul Bragg built Moon Fire for Frank Livingston. Love this color... One of many colors on my list.

 

"Done in my eyes, but if you did shorten those gutters . . ." -- It would look like they didn't fit over the windows, which they do. Either have them or not -- don't half-ass them.

 

Bondo isn't a cuss word around here and with a little massaging the drip rails could look a lot better. Jeff Myers was going to do a smooth transition the drip rail that would round off the back. I'll look at the French curve that is something I hadn't thought of. Thank you for the help