Projects Bought a Mercury on purpose

I agree, and the other thing is the Ring is flat on top and the fender has a crown. Where the two come together just looks wrong as well as from the side. I often refer to that fit as Nipples on a Pole dancer on a cold night, not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

Cams in
One piece this time.
this is why I buy as much local as possible. No hassle with issues. The local chain store parts places I deal with are great. But I give em part numbers.

I think we will cut those 52-3 ford/merc (not really sure) down tomorrow.
My tail lights are shot. I guess I need to modify them as well. I do like the baby Lincoln ones. Bolt in and slightly different.
I like 54 merc lights. Lenses are EZ to locate.
the 52-53 intrigue me. Trim em down to the bezel part.

Recess that section in or remove the reverse light and use the top 2/3rds
Hmmmmm

 

Is the cam for your 283? What are the specs?

 

nothing special. Just a simple cam.
We ain’t drag racin

 

If you French the tail lights, you almost have to French the headlights too. But what is impressive is that your new cam came in already. Last cam I ordered took just shy of a year to come in. The one I just ordered to replace the bent one will be two weeks. I'll believe it when it gets here.

 

We’re doing or highly considering the front first.
We”ll trim the ford/merc rings down and see how they look. If they pass, we will weld em in.
The tail lights will have to follow. just don’t know with what.
I was kinda wondering what this would look like recessed.

resembles the 51 merc shape.
The thinner bezel might look better frenched over the thicker 51

 

That’s the same cam I put in my 350. I like it very much, it really woke up the engine. I believe it’s the same specs as the Edelbrock Performer Cam. I wouldn’t be surprised if Melling made it for Edelbrock.

 

3/4 removed. Next mark is a 1 inch

 

That looks real good to me, it flows with the fender now!

 

With the grill

 

Looks good to me where it is and is SO much better than when it was 3/4” longer.

 

Looks good with the 3/4 off.
1" might make look too thin.

 

The joint profile at the top is much better. The outside radi needs a filler piece to smoothly blend from the widest part of the fender at 3:00 to the leading edge of new ring. You probably want to be really careful not to weld the ring to the upper grill surround.

 

It clears the grill surround.
The 3:00 position isn’t great.
A lot better than it was

 

I think you're at optimal depth now. The '51 grille really sticks out a long way, as does the front bumper with the accessory guard, so I think if you take any more off, it'll be out of proportion. A filler panel, or a couple of relief cuts to blend it into the fender seems like it's usually necessary to keep the amount of filler to a minimum, but that's normal.

It looks good, this is the way.

 

I hear ya.
I’ve seen the relief cuts. Friend had one leaded. I’m not stretching plastic fantastic that far.
Might have a slight “nipple look” mentioned at 3:00.
I’m ok with that for now.
Removed the trunk trim and considering decking it.
We started trimming the stock tail lights to see what they look like. Frenched, thinned down stock tail light bezels, flush with the body. I’ve seen the stock lense frenched but would like to see how the housing looks with the edges thinned.
I’ll probably cruise it with primered spots as we continue messing with it.
Heavily considering losing the door handles and install 2 Lincoln push buttons.

 

Trimmed 51 tail light. Factory inner brace removed.

just pushed sorta in place.
Undecided on chopping off the reflector.
But needed to see it.
Considering a flush or slight frenched installment with the stock chrome bezel.

 

Goofing off and picked up a front bezel.

Hmmmmmm

 

Thinned down and flush fit

 

Kinda wonder what the reflector section bring trimmed off would look like

 

Tape over it. Try a rattle can the tape the same as the car and step back.

 

Post a request on the photoshop thread! I like it with the reflector, but it would be good to see it both ways, with and without the reflector to be sure.

 

Radius?

possible compromise
Use something like this instead of the flat reflector

hmmmm

 

You'll have to cut through the reflector hole to keep the edges of the bezel all uniform, so there will be a gap at the bottom that you'll have to fill. But, it does look nice. In this example, I drop the light down toward the bumper by the same amount that was removed from the bezel. Could go down even further, maybe.

 

Yep. Would need dropped
Think I like the reflector end radiused the more I look at it

 

Yep, radiused works well.

 

You were talking about removing the Door Handles. How about losing the reflector and installing a Chrome push button in the hole for the door release? That bezel fits like it was made for it. To nice not to use it.

 

Really like the looks of this one, I felt I had enough chrome in the back with the bumper and rear window trim so didn’t use the bezel but I believe it’s all personal taste so whatever you do I’ll bet it looks great!

 

Just remember, imitation is a form of flattery. I like the flush look a lot and I like the longer Ford lens. I'm trying to visualize this exact combination on my 51 Chevy. hmmmmm