I just picked her up. Dream car for me, never had something of this vintage. Quite the experience. Seems like the driver's side of the cab is excessively warm. Not sure if I'm not operating/understanding the heating/ventilation system properly, or if something is busted. Thoughts?
Check the drivers side fresh air vent, make sure the valve is operating properly and all seals and insulation are present and in good repair. If the under-hood duct is leaking, you can get engine heat into the cab. Nice Merc....
Your left vent intake comes from behind the grille to a large tube that runs over the inner fender. There is a flex joint in the tube and it could be broken or missing. Also the control cable that operates the vent could be disconnected or frozen. If the cable is frozen that runs the driver's vent, I've had good luck removing the cable and lubing it. I hang the cable and make a sort of funnel out of craft paper and tape it to one end. Fill the "funnel" with Marvel Mystery Oil and let it sit until oil comes out the bottom. Works like a champ.
I forgot to mention that a 56 Montclair is one of my dream cars. It looks like you have a real beauty.
Look at the door seal and the dogleg seal if there is one. If those are worn/missing they can let in engine compartment heat.
Great car, if your a tinkerer it will be a dream. The right and left side both have air vents from the front. Heat from the left makes no sense to me as they only let in outside air from behind the grille unless it’s picking up under hood engine heat which it should not do. The right side feeds the heater OR the right outside vent not both at the same time from the controller. Ford and Merc used some crazy monkey motion on the right side. You can look under the dash on the left side and see the vent directional louver and move the lever to hear if it’s moving. The flapper is under the hood in the feeder tube.
Side note, what kind of gas should I be pumping? Only e10 available in CA. As far as octane, would 91 be appropriate? I'm not sure what the compression ratio is on my engine. Not sure which engine I have!
I have a 56 in CA also. Always ran ol regular 87. If your vent is open to the engine bay it will blow engine heat air right on your left foot. Sort of right by the high beam floor switch. This should have a tube that goes all the way to the firewall so it gets fresh air from the front. Or it can be closed so no air comes in.
8.4 comp with an auto trans. I use regular 87. I CHOOSE to use an additive, Stabil Marine 1oz, with every tank fill for 9-1/2 years. There is only 6” of flexible hose in my fuel system and my tank was new when I bought the car. I have not had any carb problems so far.. good luck.
A picture from under the hood of the driver's side inner fender of the area that's crudely circled in this picture will help.
The car is not repairable but I would be happy to take it off your hands. Nice Merc! One of my favorite cars.
That cable operates an almost round flapper with a rubber type seal. Slightly different from a Ford. Behind the grille at the left edge there should be a screen; there should be only ambient air flowing thru when it’s open and no engine sound anytime. The cable looks new or replaced. There looks like a cork gasket where there should be a rubber sleeve over the 2 tubes where they meet.
I think that is a random internet picture that @Squablow posted. We have not seen OP's engine bay yet. That would sure help a lot.
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