I started on my 53 merc last week. Trying to get it done for round up. The motor has been rebuilt prior to me buying the car but it was never driven because the drive shaft was never modified to fit the trans that was installed. I repaired the rust that was in the floor and then cleaned up and painted the motor. Working on smoothing out the firewall, not too many holes to weld shut. look how clean the back of the gauges are, still look new. now im waiting on the paint and primer to show up. Roof will be the original color green and the body will be wimbelton white.
After a lot of sanding i was finally able to primer the car. I used Kustom Shop 2k high build primer and i loved it! Thats all ill ever use now. Now its time to block it down and do the body work.
well, makes me feel like a pansy for waiting to start my project in a garage. Looks like theres a few dingers in the rear around the filler neck. Just talking from experience, but they would drive me crazy, knowing that I had a chance to fix them and took the easy route. Looks like a solid start. Good find!
I thought those were dings also but that where the liscene plate bumpers hit. I do have a few dings to fill in and figure out how to straighten out the b-piller skin " door folded backwards."
Touche. I wouldn't worry about it either if its going to be hidden. good luck on the b-pillar. had to do that once when the rear door was open and a (thankfully) O/T car got backed out of the garage. Never did get that thing quite right.
Bondo does not go well over paint. Take your time. Don't rush it and cut sorners. Love the dash. I fit one into my 54 ford cuz I like them so much.
ok,i was cleaning up the dash pod to primer it and i was thinking should i get the whole "pod" chrome? here is a piece cleaned up with a wire wheel so it has a shine to it. Should I?
well it took a few days of chemical stripers and wire wheel but i got all the bondo and flaking paint off the hood. I also got the replacement door in, it fits great but as you can see at the top its bent out, how would i bend that back in, just grab and pull?
Re door alignment, the top hinge needs to go in more.....since the door was "folded backwards", the hinges and or hinge pockets may be fubar. Did you get extra hinges with the new door? I wouldn't yank on the door top until you get the hinges sorted out. Line up all your body lines and edge gaps first, then go from there. Car is coming along nice....
I got my paint booth set up and I was able to paint the roof, tops of doors and door jambs last night. Not bad considering I havent painted a car in 6 years, nothing a little bit of buffing cant fix. In the morning I will be painted to rest of the car.
I ran out of paint back in march and i haven't bought any more, not until i sell my Studebaker, so i only have one coat on it now.
You were listening when they said, buy me a Mercury and cruz up and down the road. Great color choices and the Merc is lookin damn sweet. ~sololobo~
Well thanks to "abone1930" coming by and spraying the car for me, its nice and perdy now, he did a great job. Ive been working on getting it wired up this week and trying to figure out what to do with the wheels. Next week, lake pipes, headliner, and all sorts of goodies will be in. And yes the dents on the back are where the liscence plate bumpers hit so they wont be seen.
The Jalopy Journal
