Projects Bought a Mercury on purpose

I've got to say I have never seen that switch. It's kind of like a belt and suspenders. The unit should not be in OD if you are setting still shifting into reverse. However, if the governor had failed and kept the unit in OD, this would break the solenoid circuit and keep you from damaging the pawl and/or OD gear train. Learn something new every day.

 

Same here. I’ve assembled 2 R10s. Have yet to hook one up. This one will be the first. Learning as I go

 

Just a little update. Been posting a few engine build pics on the “what ya working on thread”
Realized I haven’t been here in a while. Assembling the 283 at the house. Students have been polishing on the intake and valve covers at school. Undecided on running these covers. I kinda prefer the no holes look.

didn’t want to use the fit all thick head gaskets. Gave my local parts guy a number for a shim gasket with a 4.0 bore. Guy said no problem. I got a standard thick composite with a 4.125 bore .
The part number crossed over. Called our local engine parts supplier. Got closer this time. Shim with a 4.1 bore. Close enough for a cruiser.

figured out the progressive linkage. (Rod will clear the dizzy after trimming)
Hogged out the 55/56 manifolds to match the later exhaust port size.
Waiting on me blasting the pan and timing cover.

 

Will need to clean up the manifolds and paint.
My machinist gave me these PP heads. Some guy left em there years ago. Previous owner ported and polished em.
I’m sure these performance manifolds will appreciate that

 

And here’s what we did to the early tri power manifold

we cranked up our spool gun and ruined it

 

Picked up a desoto grill

just spot balling. Removed one tooth and scooted the blinker over.

just propped up for grins and giggles.
Want to keep the end blinker teeth. Gotta move up a bit.
And no cutting untill all the sheet metal is fitted up. But a plan starts somewhere

 

Well sometimes you just say fornicate it and cut it.
Made a rough educated adjustment just so I can start working out a plan

teeth are around 4 5/8 centers. So losing a tooth or keeping all 9 will require reshaping the grill surround.

 

There's a design rule that says using an odd number of things is more visually appealing. I think it called the rule of odds or something. It's not a law like gravity, more of a suggestion .

 

That is absolutely correct! Odd number looks natural while even number looks off.

 

Yes. Meant losing 1 tooth per side.
It fits the opening better but really doesn’t save any work.
So I’ll probably use the entire grill.

 

My vote is entire grille. The more teeth the better, right?

 

Lot prieter than mine but I like this look

 

Seems you're at that tough spot of, how to work with what you have and how to make it look good. I'm not doing this job but if I were I'd explore removing the end of the bar totally up to the Lense retainer making the actual end of the Grill with it. Then build a hand shaped cavity to house it in and have the Lense directly under the headlight much like the Stock 49 one was. Then I would do what I could to add back the 2 teeth you removed. Doing that will also give you less overbite of the total unit drawing the Bumper back into a little more appealing look overall. Good balance is a tough deal with Kustoms. Just food for thought being that's what you're doing at this point.

 

I see most of em running 11 teeth. The first one I seen using the desoto market light I loved it

I dig the Freddie Mercury overbite of the 51.
Plan to keep the front hood trim minus the ornament with non rounded corners.
The end marker bar can be trimmed to fit whatever in the corners.

 

I like the use of 11 teeth the best and would be my first choice, otherwise having the trim continue on to the fender as on this one, looks pretty good to me and would be second choice.

 

Couple more

 

A little contrast between 9 and 11 teeth. For me the Grill, Bumper and 49 park lights make the Olds headlight doors look out of place.

 

I’m digging the desoto bumper

 

I agree on the Desoto bumper up front, then you come to the back end and you think your looking at a total different car. To me a good Kustom needs to be a total package, not a Quilt of pieces all piled together because it was the easy way. Flush mount skirts are not an easy thing to do so what made the builder stop short?

 

I kinda prefer non flush mount skirts more.
Can’t explain why.
Just do
Got to remove the desoto rear bumper next.
See how it fits the Merc

 

I agree with you on the skirts. Merc's have a flavor that belongs on them, kind of like the dip in the door and a few other things that need to remain for me. Someday I'll build my own so people know the right way, LOL. Yes, I actually have one.

 

Found a vid clip of a merc with the desoto rear bumper

would like to see a better pic.
The merc bumper busted look cool on it.

 

I like the 54 Merc taillights too!

 

I wrecked my 51 merc coup in 1960 on a icy road. I was 14

 

Old cal customs vs old MTs

 

I like the Cal Customs best…but that’s just me. I have the same ones for my sons 283 for his 51 Chevy pu.

 

I dig em. Look d at using some but decided to mess with the original

I like how the rear bumper wraps around the qtr end
Wonder if I could do a desoto/merc hybrid

merc ends on the desito center.
Or modify the desoto to wrap around more on the inside corners

 

The MTs are too squared off I think

 

Yep, more of a 70’s or 80’s vibe to me.

 

Glad that doesn't work for engines though there are some OT 5's out there. Plus a V3, V5, V7, V9, Etc. would harmonically shake itself to a quick death.