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Projects Finding an old Kustom

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Sum54ford, Aug 8, 2025.

  1. Dan Hay
    Joined: Mar 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,380

    Dan Hay
    Member

    The history and all the pictures really makes it special!
     
  2. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 8,049

    RodStRace
    Member

    Brakes and fuel, check.
    I'd look at the cooling system too. 20 years with dissimilar metals does funny things.
    The Ford distributors tend to lock up over time, too. Give the base a little spray.
    I remember that mag! It's probably on the shelf, but I know better than to start diggin'.
     
  3. Sum54ford
    Joined: May 24, 2012
    Posts: 366

    Sum54ford
    Member
    from St. Louis

    IMG_7207.jpeg
    Here is the Low Rider in the KKOA book. Gene was member #59 so he must’ve been an original guy to join.
     
    Besty34, Squablow, porkshop and 13 others like this.
  4. tbirddragracer
    Joined: Jul 25, 2013
    Posts: 132

    tbirddragracer
    Member

    Man, what a great find.
    E
     
    porkshop and Sum54ford like this.
  5. Hubnut
    Joined: May 7, 2002
    Posts: 1,049

    Hubnut
    Member

    Pretty certain I have a photo or two of this Merc somewhere. Most likely from the Hangin Dice Nationals in the late 90s. If I run across them I will post them up for ya.
     
    porkshop, Sum54ford and 54delray like this.
  6. rob-redm
    Joined: Nov 15, 2005
    Posts: 6,511

    rob-redm
    Member

    Congrats !
     
    porkshop and Sum54ford like this.
  7. T. Turtle
    Joined: May 20, 2018
    Posts: 605

    T. Turtle

    Nice car done right. Honestly I would not have said it's an 80 build, it could have come straight out of the early 50s.
     
  8. Sum54ford
    Joined: May 24, 2012
    Posts: 366

    Sum54ford
    Member
    from St. Louis

    IMG_5942.jpeg
    I got the Merc up in the air to start tearing into it. I got the old gas tank and fuel lines out. I’m going to turn the brake drums today and replace all the brake parts. IMG_7292.jpeg
    I took out all the rear suspension too. I’ve got new 4” dropped leaf springs coming. So it will get new springs, blocks, u-bolts, shocks and bushings. IMG_7293.jpeg The car had these really old lowering blocks double stacked on each side. IMG_7294.jpeg
    Her is how the back of the master cylinder looked. Nice and toasty.
     
  9. 54delray
    Joined: Dec 18, 2004
    Posts: 1,770

    54delray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Fremont NE

    Holy master cylinder, Batman!
     
    porkshop, guthriesmith and Sum54ford like this.
  10. sideswipe
    Joined: Sep 27, 2012
    Posts: 207

    sideswipe
    Member

    I remember Gene. He and my dad became good friends. They met at the first merc/deuce reunion in 79 and stayed in touch after. The merc was purple back then. I'm glad to see the old girl coming back. Well done!
     
  11. Sum54ford
    Joined: May 24, 2012
    Posts: 366

    Sum54ford
    Member
    from St. Louis

    That is awesome, your Dad had some great Mercs!
    IMG_5982.jpeg
    Here is the Merc at the 79’ Merc Deuce Reunion.
     
  12. Sum54ford
    Joined: May 24, 2012
    Posts: 366

    Sum54ford
    Member
    from St. Louis

    IMG_5984.jpeg
    I got the new 4” dropped springs from St. Louis Spring today. Here is a side by side comparison. I also turned all 4 drums over the weekend and cleaned and painted underneath the car to prepare for the new gas tank to go in. I pulled the radiator out to have it cleaned and started to clear parts out of the way to remove the engine for a good clean and re gasket and paint.
     
    Squablow, RodStRace, porkshop and 8 others like this.
  13. Saweeet! Congrats,it's really :cool:!!
     
    porkshop, 54delray and Sum54ford like this.
  14. Sum54ford
    Joined: May 24, 2012
    Posts: 366

    Sum54ford
    Member
    from St. Louis

    IMG_5799.jpeg IMG_5800.jpeg IMG_5804.jpeg IMG_5805.jpeg IMG_5806.jpeg IMG_5798.jpeg
    Here are some more build pics of the Merc. Here it is getting the top chopped at Custom Jim’s Shop in I believe 1981.
     
    Squablow, drdave, 54delray and 6 others like this.
  15. Sum54ford
    Joined: May 24, 2012
    Posts: 366

    Sum54ford
    Member
    from St. Louis

    IMG_5803.jpeg IMG_5809.jpeg IMG_5808.jpeg IMG_5807.jpeg
    It also got a new hood to replace the louvered one that was on it when it was purple. The hood corners were also rounded.
     
  16. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,684

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    So cool that you got all that history with the car! That is priceless! :cool:
     
    Okie Pete, drdave, 54delray and 4 others like this.
  17. Kid Rocker
    Joined: Mar 26, 2002
    Posts: 458

    Kid Rocker
    Member

  18. Austinrod
    Joined: Jun 14, 2012
    Posts: 2,374

    Austinrod
    Member
    from Austin

  19. Sum54ford
    Joined: May 24, 2012
    Posts: 366

    Sum54ford
    Member
    from St. Louis

    IMG_6069.jpeg
    I pulled the engine and transmission this weekend to install all new gaskets and clean and paint everything. Things are moving right along.
     
  20. drdave
    Joined: Jan 3, 2006
    Posts: 5,208

    drdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You are a busy little beaver!!!
     
  21. Sum54ford
    Joined: May 24, 2012
    Posts: 366

    Sum54ford
    Member
    from St. Louis

    IMG_6104.jpeg IMG_6106.jpeg
    Pushed the Merc out of the garage this weekend to power wash everything under the hood and frame so it can all be repainted. So I washed the car too. Can’t wait to get it back on the road.
     
  22. glendale
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 2,274

    glendale
    Member

    man what a cool find. and way to keep making progress so fast!
     
    Sum54ford and 54delray like this.
  23. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,684

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Making good progress! :cool:
     
    Sum54ford likes this.
  24. 59sedandelivery
    Joined: Sep 5, 2005
    Posts: 85

    59sedandelivery
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Damn that BABY is Gorgeous!!!!!!!
     
    Sum54ford likes this.

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