Projects 50 Merc--Fresh from Cali

Larry: Yeah, I still kick myself on that one. Plus the flathead deal. Never got the money from the POS HAMBer!!!!

 

Some eye candy. Merc and Coupe, what could be better?

 

Joe, Did you happen to put him on the BAD BOY list on the HAMB. He sure had me fooled, I thought he was a very trustworthy guy. Larry

 

Yeah, he is long gone. Just can't tell a "book by it's cover". He took some other local SC guys for the same type of ride. Oh well....

 

Killer lookin' Merc! I wouldn't change a thing except get it reliable and drive the hell out of it.

 

Thats perfect! I wouldn't paint it, chop it or run skirts of any kind EVER if it was mine.

 

Just curious if you had to pay that new California Classic Car Export fee to the state? From what I hear you will be billed 10% of the value of the car in finished condition as in conjunction with the state of California automotive insurance commissioner and Barret Jackson auctions. Pretty high fee for taking a classic out of the state I think?

 

No, did not pay any CA tax. Left Palmdale, CA in the nick of time. Crazy money to live there now, but I miss the Hot Rods, Customs, and weather.

 

I couldn't edit my post. Just now saw your block technique of bending the hinges. Good info.

 

I also posted a more detailed description with pix on Pro Stock John's Merc parts thread.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=331564

 

Been working some on the Merc. Today, I primed the entire underside of the body and chassis. Really solid body.

I ordered 4" drop rear leaf springs and bushings. Going to replace the lowering blocks. Received the springs in short order, but not the bushings. Chasing JAMCO for the bushing order. Still has not shipped !!!!

 

Originally Posted by Metaltwister
Just curious if you had to pay that new California Classic Car Export fee to the state? From what I hear you will be billed 10% of the value of the car in finished condition as in conjunction with the state of California automotive insurance commissioner and Barret Jackson auctions. Pretty high fee for taking a classic out of the state I think?


What is this? anyone got the details on this?

 

PM Sent.

 

Those '51 skirts are intentional-everybody back then knew they looked better than the '49-'50 skirts. That was one of the easist custom tricks o pull off. Even the shoebox Ford guys used them but they had to trim the top to allow the skirt to fit below the molding on the side of the car.

 

Only place I found to be honest and say they have 49-51 merc bushings is Mercuryland. C&G Early Ford was out of them and Jamco has horrible customer service.

Those stock bushings are a pain in the ass to work back into the chassis once they are on the leafsprings. I had to disc sand the surface down just to squeeze the leafsprings back on my 51.

 

sub'd, sweet ride.

 

I ordered the uretheane bushings, not the stock rubber. Hope I don't have to work them for fitment. Well, now I only have to beg JAMCO to ship them! Ordered them on 11 May2012. Still have not shipped.

 

I have heard horror stories with JAMCO. You might be waiting for awhile if they are out of stock. I had a urethane set on my drop leafs when I got ahold of them but the guy I got them from torched the bolts off to get the springs out and the urethane was a little melted and un usable... anyways the urethane bushings fit way better, but I couldnt find them elsewhere for sale besides JAMCO. Good luck with your order.

 

Just received the rear leaf spring urethane bushings from JAMCO. Ordered them on 11 May 2012. JAMCO charged me $11.50 for UPS Ground. Parts were shipped via USPS flat rate box. Hmmmm, JAMCO owes me some shipping money refund?

Lousy customer service and now collecting more for shipping than really being used???? JAMCO is OFF my list.

 

Super solid looking underside, I love your Merc !

 

That 50 Merc with the red wheels looks great. I could look at pictures of that all day. How much is it lowered? I love it with no chop and no skirts. I think I'm going to run my 51 without a chop for a few years.

If I want to order something from Jamco, I call them and ask if it's in stock and ready to ship first.

 

i`d drive it just like that, my first born his middle name is Mercury.

 

Lowered too much, lousy ride,but looks sinister! Going to install the St Louis Spring 4" rear leaf springs and JAMCO urethane bushings today. Ordered Aerostart front coils from Rock Auto. Taking out the 1" lowering blocks when I install the Aerostar springs.

Will post pix of the new ride height when finished.

 

That thing looks great man... Like the look of it with out the skirts as it sits now... To me no hub caps looks better with no skirts, Id say if you put some shiny caps on it, it would probably look better with skirts. But I love it as it is now, nice!

 

I would love to have a mer.

 

Damn.. wish that Merc was in my driveway. The board in the door alignment is described in the old Ford "Green Book" also, used it for my 46'.

 

Installed the 4" dropped rear leaf springs and urethane bushings today. JAMCO urethane busines don't fit worth a S...T !!! Never buy those turds again.

Prior owner had 4" lowering blocks and only 3 leafs on the springs! Not a very safe suspension IMO.

 

Finished both the front and rear suspension upgrade.

Removed the stock springs and 2" lowering blocks in the front. Replaced the stock springs with Moog CC850 springs.

Removed the 4" lowering blocks with only 3 leafs left on the stock springs. Replaced with St Louis Spring Co. 4" leaf springs and urethane bushings from JAMCO.

Made one mistake. If you look closely at the rear suspension picture, you will notice, I have the spring shackles pointing down, not UP. It is fixed now.

 

Did some fine tuning on the front and rear suspension to get it right.

Added Mr. Gasket coil spring spacer PN 1285 on top of front coils. You can add the spacer to either the top or bottom of the coil spring. Front was too low and did not have enough travel IMO.

Added DJM Suspension PN LB2LK lowering blocks to rear leaf springs. Rear was sitting a bit too high with 4" dropped St Louis leaf springs. Any more than a 2" lowering block will affect ability to change a flat tire. Also affects rear suspension travel. 2" lowering blocks with 4" dropped rear leaf springs are the end result.

Now the front and rear suspension have enough travel, can change a flat tire, and is SAFE.

 

Wow, the Merc looks great. Thanks for the part number info. I think you helped me work out what lowering blocks to use in the rear as well. Where did those rear shock brackets under your lowering blocks come from? They look new, but are different than mine.