Customs Barn (Garage) Find '52 Merc.

Thanks, we think alike. I too was thinking Lancers.

 

My outings with the Merc. are getting longer and longer. Its back in stock form with the original wheels and tires back on for now. The test today was a gas station stop. All in all about a 20 mile round trip without any problems including a hot soak and easy restart at the filling station. I adjusted the carb. accel. pump for more squirt but still having a dead spot on throttle tip in. I need to get the revs up before taking off from a stop or she will stall. Purrs like a kitten at idle and cruising. Maybe fatten up the idle mixture just a tad. The carb is clean and the transfer ports should be flowing fuel. This seems to be the only issue I am having. Cruising 50-60mph is not too bad but its a bit squirly with the rotten old bias tires.

 

Be extremely careful about driving at speed with those old tires. A buddy brought a Chevy out of garage retirement a few years ago and drove it about 20 miles out to a big cruise in. When he got close he started to feel some shaking in the wheels. He made it to the cruise in okay but noticed a big chunk of sidewall sticking out of one of the old tires. He decided to call AAA and have it towed home rather than risk the drive. As they were maneuvering the car to the rollback, that tire let loose with an explosion right a****st all the people. You should have seen everyone jump. He was grateful it happened in the parking lot instead of on the highway at 60 mph.

 

Thanks for the warnings! I agree and have it in mind.

Boxes of goodies are starting to arrive. Thanks to Shoebox Central for having the Posie supersliders....I thought I was gonna have a long wait, but they have what I need. For what it's worth, I checked with Eaton Springs....their prices were insane and they don't give a discount to Alliance Members (they are listed as a participating vendor here). Got a box from Wilwood today. Dropped uprights should arrive soon from Fatman. In the meantime, I have the clay and Meguiares #7 and the Flitz metal polish. Gonna get busy on the paint and chrome this weekend.

Need opinions on shocks. Trying to figure out the Bilstein options without having to buy them from Jamco. Does anybody have a source or part numbers? Or are the Bilstein's overkill and over priced?

 

The P1900 made it to the shop yesterday.

 

Found some time to work on the Mercury's paint. Gave the top and the trunk a clay bath and a rub down with Meguiars #7.

 

Awesome car! I just went through a similar process with a 53 Ford that sat for 20 years. I plan on aerostar springs and blocks on mine although I ran out of time to get it done for a show were headed to this weekend. I used auto city cl***ics brake kit and it was pretty decent but I had some issues with the bearing spacers and some other odds in ends. I made a video about it on my YT channel or you can check out my build thread where info into details about it. I used a 70 mustang master and a proportioning valve from speedway motors.

 

Thanks! I have read thru your '53 Ford thread and have seen your video. Great job and your '53 looks very cool. Love the wheel covers!
What is the bore size on the master cylinder that you used....1"? I am looking at the Wilwood options. They offer a master cylinder for the "Mustang" in two bore sizes of 7/8" or 15/16". By my calculations, the Mercury has a brake pedal ratio of 5.0-1 so I am leaning towards the 7/8" to get the hydraulic pressures needed. It may be splitting hairs, not sure. How does your pedal feel and how does your brakes perform with the master cylinder that you used. Did you use a residual valve for the rears or just use the proportioning valve only?

 

Merc seems to be coming along nicely. I wouldn't mind the blackwalls if they were all 15" like the fronts in that one pic, but it seems like you've got that sorted out already anyway. I do think Bilstein shocks are unnecessary, you just need new regular gas shocks, I don't think you're going to gain anything with fancy, pricey shocks, it's not like you're going to road race this thing.