Projects My 1951 Mercury Restoration Part II

The first set of 2 showed up, with black centers:









What do y'all think? The other set I have coming include one with a red center, I think the red will look better. I will take pics when they show up.

 

Major difference! The Hub caps really aged your Merc and I think that is the look that
you are after. Very kool!!

Happy Trails, Mick

 

I want to see if the red center ones pop more and then go from there.

I still have to get these polished. This dark center set is very nice, one has 2 small creases/dings on the very edge, I would think these are hard to get out since the metal is folded over there. I wish to get those creases out.

The red center ones are the the ones that really got my attention at first, so I think I might like them better. If that's the case I need to see about repainting the center red I have no idea how that works for hubcaps.

And yeah Mick, I'm going for a 1951-1954 look with my car. I do like the Spider caps but that's kinda of a WCC thing.

 

I love the Spiders and I ran them on my Merc for a week. It look good just wasn't the look
that I wanted. Both of us are chasing the same '50 to '54 styling and spiders don't belong.
I love the caps.

Happy Trails, Mick

 

Those are just right.

 

I think the red will pop more, I'll take pics when they show up hopefully tonight!!!

Pic as a reference:

 

You just mask off the outside edge of the area to be painted, paint a very light coat of spray paint over the center, and then use a rag on your finger that is damp with lacquer thinner to wipe the paint back off the raised edges. Once the paint dries you can then use some polishing compound to clean up those raised edges even more.
It might take a few tries but it's not the hardest thing in the world. Use lacquer paint if you can find it. You might have to put the rag over the end of a paint stick if your finger is too big.

Good call on the spiders: I never saw a pair of those in my life until they started showing up a few years ago on the HAMB and in magazines. Definitely NOT early 1950s!

Your car is really looking good.

 

Goal!

 

Yes!!! those caps are beautiful, those have always been one of my favorites. Perfect!!!

Any pinstriper could repaint the centers for you.

 

I just love how they bulge out like that, really blows me away.

Red ones show up today please!!!!

 

I love thos hupcaps PSJ. Just the right touch I think. You're never gonna get that 51-54 look you seek though with those radials.

 

This other set bulges out more!!!







I hear you on the radials but I take my car up to 80-90mph so I'll keep these.

 

Score, those are just like the 16s I have that I PM'd you about, killer!

 

"I hear you on the radials but I take my car up to 80-90mph so I'll keep these"............ quote;



Ya so did Gil Ayala

 

And so do I...on two different cars .

PSJ, wasn't trying to beat you up about the tires, just an observation. I think I like the first pair of caps better. Just my opinion.

 

Not Gil Ayala.. but he went well over 80mph. John you know im just breakin your balls a little bit.

 

Yup I know hehe.

More pics:





The black/blue pair almost just need to be polished, 1 or 2 very small creases on the lip of one... Really great shape.

The red pair need more work, a few sizable dings. I prefer the red pair they 'pop' more for me but I think Rik thinks they are older than 1950?

 

I've seen quite a few pics of those red ones on cars taken in the 40's. There is a pic of a '36 ford wearing a set with 1949 tags visible in the shot. Then again I've also seen them on hot rods taken in the early 50s.

 

I used to say I was going for a pre 1955 look with the car, but based on the pics that R&C Ron shared of the 1953 GNRS show, I think I can say that I'm still going for a pre 1954 look. The cars are still rockin' wide whites, no scallops etc.

In person the black set with the more sunk in center sections look too conservative for me. I like how the red set is even more bulgy. But I think I have to get them all professionally polished because right now they have no depth.

I need some hubcap restoration tech help now!

 

Those wood sticks were killin. me. I didn't touch anything in the photo except paste in the hubcaps. interesting the whitewalls look bigger and better to me.

 

Hehe, to take off the spider caps I have to take all the lug nuts off to get the backing plate off.

 

John, a couple of things too consider for the heat problem. Block/cover all openings around the radiator so that all air has to pass thru the radiator and use a fan shroud. One other thing have you considered flipping the AC condensor end for end and losing all that extra hose? You have a great looking car and it would really clean up the look in the grille opening.

 

Thanks yeah the AC condenser does look crappy, and those are great ideas. I can fit something like a 19x28 radiator so I want to get a new one and incorporate your suggestions at that point.

I'll be in Grand Haven for Easter, in-laws live there. We hit your beach once or twice a year. I'm looking for OT LS1 parts if you ever come across any up there.

 

We'll have to get together some time when you're up here, or when I get down to Chicago. Do you ever drive the Merc when you come to grand Haven?

 

I like the red ones best John. I'd mount the red ones up front and put the black ones in back under the skirts...you'll never see the centers back there, so I wouldn't bother painting them. You may need the flatter centers in the back to clear the skirts anyhow....even still they may have too much dome to them and not clear anyhow. Guess you'll just have to lower it more in the back so the wheels never show.

 

...Or maybe get some cheapo rings or something for the back....

I haven't driven to Grand Haven in the Merc yet but I'd like to try to make the Coast Guard Weekend car show there this year.

 

I'm looking for a factory safety latch, like this one (Thanks Matt for the pic):



Hood flew up on the highway, I'm very lucky I stopped before it bent backwards and shattered my windshield. Barely any visible damage but the passenger side fender has a spot that is bent up a wee bit, but I need to repaint the top of it anyway as that received a three inch long scratch. This was last Thursday so I've already finished the mourning process.

 

Nice.....your buddy Matt,did that to mine before he handed it over to me,hahaha. That latch is a MUST!!!!!

 

I like those,John...

 

i told john that too bob! what really sucked is yours had the catch and it got passed it!!