Last year we took the Merc on a pre-1940 Reliability Run over an 800km round trip which included a full-day driving event on Saturday. Luckily we had received an invite from the host family and we were able to bunk with them for the duration. The place was the Gold Coast, Palm Beach Australia. So with some intensive preparation, we were able to get there and back without any major break downs or glitches. This Easter we are now taking the Merc to the Australian Hot Rod Nationals. This time the trip is a 13 hour drive one way (1200km). Preparation has begun about a month ago. Complete service and replacement of oil, fluid levels, and coolant flush. Tidying up some electrical issues (replace cracked headlight) etc. The centre carb needed a new carby kit and fuel filter change out. All spark plug leads were replaced and timing as well. Underneath I have fitted a new 2" exhaust from the headers back. The old system was certainly in need of replacement. Next will be putting the car up on stands and cleaning the entire underneath front to rear and a complete nut and bolt check. It will be my very first Nationals, so I am hoping for a great experience. One of the reasons I am making the trip is that Mat Murray from Iron Trap Garage, PA is one of the international guests. Very much looking forward to meeting him and picking his brain. Reliability Run Gold Coast Oct 2022 Old photo from 2018 Follow the journey as we venture south to the Nationals and back again... OzMerc
This is EXACTLY the sort of things I plan to do when I get my 40 done! Very cool! Be sure to document the drive. Sounds like a blast to me! Oh, and thanks for the motivation to get to work on my Merc!
Hey mate... I'll give the document thing a crack as we go along. Firstly I'll be doing some of the prep over the next 7-10 days.... I'm glad that you will be able to get some motivation for your 40 !!!
Hey that's great... I am partial to '39s as a pre-Ford Mercury !! Do you have a thread I can follow along?
Have a great trip just plan that 1200km will take a lot longer than 13hrs. You have to be hauling ass to average that speed.
Hey there Vandenplas ... In fact they are completely custom hand made for an almost seamless flush fitting. They follow the natural curve of the fender but fit snugly at the point where they meet the wheel arch.
Wow that's a surprise !! Thank you @irontrapgarage ITG ... It's going to be a big event with lot's of entrant's I am sure the ASRF committee will have a full schedule for you. If I could just get 10 minutes to show you the car and tell you about it that would make my year !!! Glenn
First order of business.... With a tri-power Offenhauser intake there is no room on an 8BA for a generator in the center. The offset mount means the fan belt runs very close to spark plug wires. Vertex Mag sits high. As you can see the belt has been rubbing on the wires. So it was time to change them out and adjust the generator higher to tighten the belt. It's better and now I'll just have to run the leads lower and away from the belt flex. Next was to remove the center carb and rekit it. A few too many fuel leaks. Should run a lot better.... and less leaks. Tune and timing to follow. The Merc has had a cracked driver's side lamp since I've owned it. I figured that it was bad form to show up to the Nationals with a cracked one. I ordered a pair from the U.S. ...8 weeks later they arrived...so it's time to change it out. Oil change and fluid checks, wheel rotation, underneath nut and bolt check as well as scrub yet to happen. Ozmerc.
Well I can't believe you had to order the headlights from the US, figured you guys would have them over there as they fit something else but that's what I get for figuring LOL
I can't figure it out either. And LHD sealed lights are oriented to throw low/high the opposite to RHD. (Low beam dips away from the centre of the road. LHD low will dip to the oncoming lane in a RHD application. Some may say it is minimal)
The finished product after clean out and anti-rust treatment. Today was about four corner checks at each wheel station. Brakes, steering, suspension and differential. After that it was move on to degrease the underneath check cables and driveline. A check of the fuel pump and filler neck seal as it has given some problems before. Today was mainly the left hand side. Tomorrow I'll run down the right before getting onto the wheels and tyres. Rear drums cleaned up well. Fronts are good and travelling well since conversion. Compressed air blow out and then a good spray over with brake kleen did the trick. Pads have plenty on them. Vh44 is next. Tomorrow is another day and electrical checks to ensure a reasonably trouble free Nationals there and back.
Hey wheeltramp ... Try as I did, I could not get the same brand that is fitted to the car, here in Oz. I only needed one and Aussie suppliers were putting their ridiculous $$$ on top of the cost. In the end I grabbed some other items from the US to make the order worthwhile. Worked out very well.
Hey mate... They are Cadillac sombreros. Reproduction unfortunately. Originals are hard to come by and have significant $$$ tags. So I settled with these.
The Jalopy Journal
