Projects Bought a Mercury on purpose

Plan B 283 adapter.
Picked up 10 years ago for $50 at a swap. Didn’t need it. But wanted it just in case one day.

This flatty in the parts 51 looks decent so far

And a decent alternative bumper if I need it.

and a clean merc carb. Not stuck.

 

Make sure you get the U shaped spacers that go between the frame and the water pump. The Merc pumps on the engine you show are narrow belts that are like wide belt truck pumps but the mounting tabs are different heights which is why you need the U shaped spacers. If the engine is toast the pumps are worth something - no one repops them. And the 1/2 bell is used when installing an earlier trans to an 8ba.

 

I’ll hang on to all of it. And my other merc engine has the narrow belts. Pumps still turn. Should be buildable.
block looked much better than I thought it would. It’s been sitting for at least 40 years. Cracked? Don’t know. Has 8cm heads and should have the merc crank
I pulled a flatty out of a 48 f5. It also had the 1/2 bell

 

The Merc 1/2 bell is stamped steel. Should have a 10 inch clutch. The 1/2 bell out of the f5 is cast and an 11 inch clutch will fit until like the Merc 1/2 bell which maxes out at 10 inch.

 

Really cool build thread. Nice job.

.

 

Scrounging/cleaning in the shop I got a message from @Jakob H. He inquired about the bumper guards, the smaller ones for a 51. Yesterday, I decided that I’d run the bumper I pulled from the parts car. The more I looked at it, the better I liked it over the large bumper guards.


If any you guys have a standard set of 51 bumper guards in driver quality, send him a PM.
Thanks.
Cleaning up the trans, gears look good. Super clean inside. Scrounged up the flywheel.

 

It occurs to me that you, @anthony myrick , have been bitten by the custom bug ( y’all got it bad, don’t ya?)

 

Been saving up for a while.
I’ve had a merc since the mid 90s. Rough. Never started on it. I had a couple local guys that messes with them call me to pick up their left overs. A 51 and 49 parts cars.
Finally started using the pieces.
And finally bought one I dont have to totally rebuild

 

This is the wise thing to do instead of the big project I am starting on. My only saving grace is that I have a couple others that I can play with while building this one.

 

Another possible dumb move. Bought this 3 deuce intake years ago. Early small port.

we started welding it to enlarge the ports to add gasket room to work with the larger port heads.
Wouldn’t take much to finish.
Good or bad idea?

 

For the cool factor, good idea. For a daily, I would just run a single four since 3 carburetors can be a pain at times.

 

Ive got an early cb intake and a 4 jet carb.
I’d like to run the 3 deuce.
Finish working the intake ports and gasket match.
I’ve got 3 or 4 ford 3 bolt carbs.
I’d need a couple more 2 jets to use them.
A friend of mine runs 3 Rochesters on a 348. Runs well. He worked with the 2 end carbs with valve compound on the butterflys. They seal up very good. Using a progressive linkage.

 

Me too and that is what I would run on something like that with a hood that will likely always stay shut.

 

Multiple carbs rule.

 

You *could* run the three carb intake on just the center carb, with non-functional dummy carbs on the ends. You would not be the first person that has done this. Especially for a SBC with the stock trans, the reduced power of one carb will still be more than the flathead had.

 

We ain’t looking to out run anyone.
Just cruise.
I don’t mind getting passed

 

Three Two barrel manifold with one working carb = cool looks (if you don’t look too close), and great fuel economy. An added bonus pissing off the anal’s, that take life too seriously!

 

So,, just where the heck is this twilight zone. yer killing me.

 

Somewherein Alabama

 

^^^^^ close to that “Sweet home”?

 

Too far for me to drive and buy some pieces, good song though.

 

Welding the manifold is fine. Run what you have.
You can do what I did, run the 3x2 setup on the center carb at first and later, when you feel like it, start working on making the end carbs work right. I found extra carburetors and worked on them while driving the car.
Multiple carburetors rule, even with a full hood.

 

Did some interior cleaning

this week we have 9th graders that think they want to take our classes spend a class period with us.
Turned em loose with buffers.
2000-3000 buff- polish.

first time to do this for these 9th graders.

 

I like that gunmetal gray paint ,looks good with red upholstery!

 

Your Merc paint cleaned up way better than the paint on my Stude pickup has so far. Looks good! Seats look good too. That's shaping up to be one snazzy old car.

 

? Tag on the flathead.

looks clean behind the fenders. Small easy piece needed at the bottom

 

That is probably a rebuilder's tag on your engine.

 

Pay extra attention to the water passages in the block. They can have heavy corrosion deposits in them from years of people running water in them during the warm weather back before anti-freeze became common. Guys rebuild them and chase their tails with overheating problems when it turned out to be clog block passages. Just something to keep in mind. Good luck with the project! Larry

 

what success looks like

 

Congratulations! Man, I know the feeling. I kept the broken stud in my toolbox as a reminder.