Projects All The Twos: 1962 Mercury, 352cui, 2bbl, Too Many Doors.

When properly tuned, the 2bbl 352 has quite nice acceleration, indeed.
Feels like cup of strong tea.

 

Where is your distributor vacuum advance connected? If you're using ported vacuum, try switching it to full manifold vacuum and see how it responds. All this "fine tuning" should get you better fuel mileage as well.

 

There’s only one vac take off on the Autolite carb which I thought was ported but at idle it pulls in vac advance so I guess I was wrong.

 

Usually, but probably not always, when a carb has more than one vacuum connection port the one mounted lowest on the carb tends to be full manifold vacuum. A port mounted up higher on the carb is usually ported vacuum, though it's easy enough to check either port with a vacuum gauge.

 

Gearbox is way better now. Pretty sure it’s working exactly how it should. Saves me a job crawling underneath

 

Went out of the house today to find the left rear air bag had collapsed on the OT daily so had to use the Mercury for getting around. Think I’ve found someone local who can have a look at the AC so going to try and get that booked for next week.

 

45f here this morning, so I took the car to the AC repair place!

The condenser is holed along with a couple of the rubber hoses, they’re going to get some bits and then I’ll take it back.

 

Been to Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb today, oldest motorsport venue still running.




Not a huge amount of HAMB friendly stuff but I think we’re allowed Allards in Mercury format:


And Cadillac



And a pretty Ford

 

New pipework, condenser and drier and we’ve got AC blowing at 39f, should keep the Mrs happy, I’ll need a jumper.

 

This might sound like a daft question, I want to take the bench seat out of the car to sort the padding in the base. Do you reckon it’ll come out through the door in one piece? It just looks a bit too big.

 

I am pretty sure the seat went in that way (one piece) so it should come out the same way.

 

It will come out. I'd recommend going out whatever side doesn't have the steering wheel.

I did the one in my OT Belair a few months ago.

 

Got a larger front sway bar, fingers crossed will try and fit it tomorrow morning

 

Nice, who had that? I have one in my Ford, it now handles like a Lotus..

 

It’s an Addco sway bar, my supplier over here got it for me but Summit etc have them. There’s 2 reviews on the Summit site that says they don’t fit but I got it on.

They are a right pain though both for removal and install.

Fuel pump off, front pulley off, generator off, drum and backing plate off and lift the engine a bit, but eventually got the old one out and new one in. Just putting it all back together.

 

It’s just touching the generator, going to try a shorter belt. If that doesn’t work there is scope for some packers under the mounts that’d move it lower.

 

I didn’t use the drop links that came with the sway bar as I’d put new ones on about 300 miles ago but looking at them they’re a fair bit shorter so will try them first see if it makes a difference

 

I’ve put a 1/2” shorter belt on and it’s sorted.

 

My links were way shorter too. I had to take out bumper bolts on each side to get the brackets on. The old bar, I just cut it off since I was working alone.

 

I thought about that but reckoned if I cut it something would be wrong with the new one and I’d need it!!

 

Got the front seat out, not very much exciting under it! Chewing gum wrapper, pair of gloves and a pebble.


There’s no broken springs, but the ones on the side have much less of an arch than the ones in the middle. Not really sure what to do now. Do I pull the cover off myself or give it to a pro? The seat is sagging so you lean a bit but there’s nothing obvious underneath

 

The springs might be available. In any case, I suggest NEW seat foam.

I had my Belair seats done over and I figured that NEW foam was part of the deal.

 

Fixed the broken spring by welding it




And got the seat cover back on with a lot of difficulty, eventually figured it was better to put the back on first then pull the front over.

 

I'm convinced that upholstery guys must have hands of steel.

 

I think you just need the knack to do it.

Seat is back in.

I’ve also pulled the carb off, I’m going to try a make a phenolic spacer to see if it makes hot starting a bit easier.

 

Looking better all the time. I’m fixing to make a phenolic spacer for my y-block as well for the same reason. These newer fuels in the states seem to be much more susceptible to the heat than older fuels were. Not sure what it is like that side.

 

I think it’s the same and I’m sure it’s that fuels now have got a lower boiling point. You can hear it boiling in the carb. I never used to have hot start issues on old cars.

I run the Vette on the same fuel as the Merc and it’s got a phenolic spacer and doesn’t have the issue although it does have an electric pump and an MSD box.

Hopefully a couple of weeks and they’ll have stopped salting the roads. Really miss driving an old car.

 

I finally plucked up the courage to have a go at the shift seals on the side of the box.

The answer to the question “can you get the shift forks out in the car?” Is yes.



Next question is “can you get them back in again?”

 

Back together. Wasn’t too bad. I was dreading trying to get the shift detent back in but because it’s a plunger rather than just a ball it only took a few goes. Not put oil in yet…..

 

Got the carb back on with a phenolic spacer instead of the aluminium one, hopefully will make hot starting easier.

And filled the transmission up, it made a terrible noise in park to start off with, I guess that’s something to do with lack of pressure somewhere but I was a shitting myself for a while! Will see if there’s a puddle under it tomorrow