Projects 1951 mercury build

That's some funny stuff right there! I had to click out of sheer curiosity and those are 100% rat rods, back to the 50's circa 2003 lol.

Agreed, but both of you guys should take a note and spell Merc not Merk!

Now, as a Merc fan I am excited to see this come together. I can say first and foremost, if you care about another opinion on the webernet , I think you have a pretty nice starting car, focusing on the positives. If this car turns out to be a top notch car like it looks so far, then honestly if this thing is 20 lugnuts removed and reinstalled from being traditional on the outside, it could be a helluva lot worse. I watched that ebay auction that Matt posted above, and as hideous as the car was, I agree the work was top notch, quality of work that most of us will never accomplish, just ass ugly. I think I even really liked the chop on the car if I remember correctly.

Now, onto your chop, obviously its hard to tell without the window installed, and I see you arent happy with the quality of work, but I think the top looks dynamite. It seems to have a really nice shape to it, and I am imagining with the 51 rear window in thats going to look pretty nice, I could be wrong. If I may though, you may want to address the rear radius of the quarter window, its a little sharp. I cant tell from the pics and a quick look but it may be similar sharpness on the upper radius of the quarter window on the roof side. Its not an extreme chop so theres no real reason to make all the radiuses so tight to sneak out extra length, but all in all it does have a good look to it.

Best of luck with the car, it looks like its off to a good start and you are sparing no expense to do it right. As a word of advice, do your homework and get the body styling right, and there are plenty of members here who have Mercs I frequently oogle over, the wheels can always change, but a technically well done chop with terrible styling cues can not.

 

I have to agree. If all that you don't like is the wheels, then buy it and change the wheels!

I have seen some cars on e(vil)bay that have literally been cut up so much that they can never be brought back again. They might as well have been crushed.

That being said, you buy a car, you buy the right to do whatever you want to it. The only person who needs to like it is you.

 

Nice build.

Better be sure and run 6 volt, bias plies, and non detergent oil because the traditional Nazis (not everyone!) here will bash you for YOUR style of car!! LoL! Oh, and the stainless tank will have to go too, that's not trad also!

Sheesh, it gets old sometimes. All the people hollering "not traditional, not traditional!!". Like Gomer yelling "citizens arrest, citizens arrest!!"

 

had to laugh at that one.

 

Crafty b's caps are pretty nice, do you have any side pics of your merc?

 

It's sad too say but 90% of most customs are built that way or worse especaily if they were built on a tight budget and or with plan's to flip them. I have 2 e-bay bought Merc's in the shop that look like they were built by the same builder that did yours.

These pic's should make you feel better as this one has the worst metal fab i have seen in a long time. Oh it does have Packard tail lights to look at

 

I like them too do you know of any other nice caps like that?
I only have a quick side view but I have attached the webb site for the builder and it shows it on the home page in the slide show.
http://easternrodandcustoms.com/
also it has build video's on youtube here are the links. It has a video of the engine as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0DnHeNQRDg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbSJxPwJwZc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKCMBfKZhwo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kj8gIpIhls

 

I eat,drink,and sleep,Mercurys! That's why I started the HAMB Merc Club. I prefer the more traditional style Mercs. Notice I said "style"! Meaning,a traditional look. I wish mine would have had all original drive train,but it runs what it came with. I have another frame that I plan on putting back under it,with an original flatty,C4 and 9". But it will still look traditional from the outside.
I admit I tend to bash non-traditional built Mercs,but that's just because that's what I like. Just an opinion....
I don't care for those Billet,57 Caddy,looking wheels myself. That orange, Rick Dore Merc,i've seen in person at LARS,and it looks like a Streetrod Mercury!
There is NO Billet wheel that looks better than a Sombrero or 57 Caddy cap on a Custom.

Another thing...It sounds stupid when a guy says,"It's been done before". NO SHIT! It's all been done before! Do it cause you want it that way! NOT because you want to be different.....YOU CAN'T! Different,doesn't always mean,better! Most of the time,it just spells disaster. If you want to post pic's of your Billet wheeled,Streetrod Mercury,on a Traditional website,don't get pissed when the guys on this website don't like it! Just stick to your plan,and take your lumps,hahaha!

 

Wow!!! That is some nice metal work!! LOL!! I have zero skills (except sarcasm!) and I think I could do that!!

 

Well said Bob!.

My 51 chevy isn't traditional at all. The body mods and the parts i use for it are pre 54. i have air bags, sbc,t350, and 69 camera rear end. The bags are coming off for springs and leafs. Tired of the bags.

Look just build like you want. You are paying for it. Some of use wont like things on it and some of will. Thats what im doing with mine. If people don't like it. Thats cool with me. I can take it. Just don't get don't act like a your the shit. Im not saying your are acting that way. Also don't get all butt hurt if you post a picture of something and folks don't like it.

By the way the chop looks pretty good. With the pictures you have posted it look like it flow good.

 

I fell in love with chopped merc's back in 1961 when I was 6!! I am now 55!! I have been shave and decking and chopping and flameing car,trucks, and harley's since 1971! I have owned my merc since1998, when I got it was a mild traditional custom with a bad chop. I rechopped it, tunnel french the headlites and tunneled in 54 chevy taillite's with lee lense's. sprayed an even coat of black seude on it. and gave it a nasty rake of big and little tire's and weld draglite's and hung the shirt's on the wall because all my car's have alway's been built with custom body work and paint an a nasty hotrod/ drag car style! Because that is "MY STYLE". I pulled it of the road because I like to drive it hard and long distance's and am now up dateing the chassis with rack and pinion steering coil over's and a 4 bar rear with a built 428 and 5 speed and 4 wheel disc!!! I have only been on this site a couple month's myself , but there are probley tool's in my shop older than most of ya. GREAT WORK ON THIS MERC SO FAR AND PLEASE KEEP SHAREING IT WITH THOSE OF US WHO LOVE SEEING A WELL EXACUTED BUILD COME TOGETHER!! And for all of you who only want to look at traditioal stuff click to another thread. { by the way my dad is 78 and was a hot rodder and cruiser in the late forty's and early fifties in milwaukee wi. i show him picture's of what some people think are traditional and he laugh's and say's even back then they would be consider crap. so each his own. larry

 

Thanks for all the good threads as of late. I really enjoy listening to all the talk, and yes I did get butt hurt over the billet stuff. I wanted to use this thread to show off how proud I am to be in the shadows of such great cars, and I wanted to give my build the same treatment, but I don't just want to lurk in the shadows. I will apoligize to whoever I pissed off, but when you live like I do over here you sort of live on edge all the time. I have been over here 4 years and this is my only out to the outside world. With the jobs the way they are in the states I have to work here just to have a job. My state in at 10% unemployment and I don't and will not be part of that number. I have sacfriced alot over here. I put my life with my family on hold because of this economy bullshit, and this car is all I want besides my life with my family back. So with that said I do aploigize again for getting butt hurt.
I understand that I maybe building a car that is way over kill for some, but I believe in do it once and do it right. My dream is to break the hot rod scene with a tradtional merk in there magizine, and please this car is being built to be driven. I plan on driving the shit out of it, but I also like to look good when I do show. I am into the clean and polished cars, and as this build progresses you will see that come to light. I hope to have more picture this week of the rear quarters being replaced and the fender skirts being flushed in. they don't make any lower quarters for a 51 so having to rework a set of 49-50 ones. Thanks for all the input and I will keep posting as the build progresses.

 

Thanks JOHN, FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!
I just have a good feelin',.............THAT MERC is gonna turn out great! U can't go wrong, OR spend too many $$$$, on "THA MERC-Q-UREEE", an drive all over the town. Heard that somewhere B4 .
Good Luck,.........Oh!, got my Dr. Lic Tag at fourteen.........At Mt Pleasant. KOOL.

SMOKIN'.........in the Smokies

 

Ditto on that ...

 

The closest thing to a "finished" Traditiomal Merc that I know of,is Leff Nepl's '50(jeffsled). So,you don't have to have modern stuff to get respect from anybody at any show! Check out his Merc. Do a search for "Jeff Nepl's Merc" on the main page.
You don't have to build a traditional Merc,but don't be all proud to post pic's of something that doesn't belong on this website. It's just not gonna be welcomed by most guys here. In NC it's probably gonna fit right in,but on the West coast,there's just too many nice Mercs around to get attention.

 

so what you are saying is that the East Coast can not build a merk to compete with the West Coast builds? IS THAT WHAT I HEARD COME FROM YOUR FINGERS?.......

 

Dont strive to build a car so it makes it in a magazine. Finish the car take it to shows and if someone from a magazine likes it they will come to you . So far it sounds like its not going to be a traditional mercury. So your not going to break into the hot rod scene with it. This scene is very harsh. You might break into the street rod scene better. You gotta do what you have to for money. Have to put food on the table some how. Good luck over there. I couldn't do it. Your a better man then me for doing it.

0NE BAD 51 MERC { by the way my dad is 78 and was a hot rodder and cruiser in the late forty's and early fifties in milwaukee wi. i show him picture's of what some people think are traditional and he laugh's and say's even back then they would be consider crap. so each his own.} There is a big difference in what was tradition from areas. I grew up around the west coast style of hot rods, customs, and lowriders. So what we consider traditional is soooooooooo different the milwaukee,wi. Never liked the eastern styles. To me they west is where it started and where the style is the best.

Once again good luck over there with your job and good luck on your build how ever the end result is going to be.

 

This is why I love the HAMB, now that is funny!

 

To answer your post and pm on tail lights. First off the Packard tail lights can look fairly nice but imop they are a little to heavy. When done right the 54 lincoln tail lights looks just right on a 51 merc but it's been done alot. Also the stock 1951 merc tail lights are very nice and if you extened and reprofile your rear fenders the combination would look killer imop. Here is some pics of tail lights i made that you liked. I hand made the openings and lens for that merc. The rear fenders were also extended and reprofiled at the same time.

 

What color is that Blue? Beautiful color that looks like a candy paint. What bumper will you use? I really like the tail light treatment and extended quarters and tail pan.

 

Wow! That rear looks dead sexy!! More pics!!!

 

Guys, guys, we're all on the same team?

I think..

 

endfieldjoe yes it is a kustom candy color. To get that color of blue to realy pop i mixed up a kustom blue silver base color with very fine blue & purple mica overlay. The art work was done in hoc black gold pearl with gold glass overlay. To get that blule candy color i mixed up a few shades of blues, purple and green consentrates. Then i topped it with about 8 coats of candy and then burried it in a clear top coat.

 

Rick:
You should start a build thread on that Blue Merc. Need more pix.

 

If anybody knows how to build a merc I would have to say Flamedabone's merc has got to be one of the best in existance.... Where is he from again Bob??

 

The billet rims are cool but I wouldnt post pics of them on this website... This site is a getaway from the billet goodies, people here like to escape back to the 'good ol days' when it was simpler.. but who cares! fuck it! post more pics!

 

I agree with you. FlamedAbone's Merc is a nice Custom. He is from the Charleston, SC area.

 

Well we have got some more work done on my Merk. They have got the wheel tubs made and the lower rear quarters cut out. We had it blast in the spots that were covered by the quarters and stuff. We also got the 54 dash blasted and getting read to cut in and fit it into the 51.

 

Hey good to see your making some good progress. I like your 54 dash idea and hope you are keeping the wrap around part of the 54 dash and door moldings. Hopefully you have the 54 door moldings to graph onto your mercs or your builder will hate you. I know been there done that

 

Holy Smokes Rick , that is one beautiful dash setup.. Sheesh, you never mentioned this idea when we were planning my Merc.. hahaha. Dont worry no more changes.....