1952-59 Ford New Member from N. Texas

Sorry just read the request to do an intro before posting. My Dad and I have a '55 Mercury Monterrey that has a fresh 292 y block. The car is mostly stock with plans of adding a 3x2 intake and maybe lower it a bit. I'd like to put it on airride / 'bags.

The car was purchased by my grandfather in '55 in Mt. Pleasant, TX and has been in his possession ever since. My grandfather p***ed away a couple years ago so we will never get rid of his car. This was my Dad's car when he first started driving. My parents also dated in this car during high school.

We are excited to find similar cars and resources. My dad has a stock Model A that he has had for 45 years and I have a '53 Chevy truck so we don't know much about the mid-50s Fords. But we are learning and enjoy the car a lot.

Here's a pic:

 

Here's how I'd like her to sit soon before 'bags. Or I may need to add helper bags in the rear.

 

No bags...please!

3" lowering springs with 1" blocks will get the rear down w/o the need to c-notch the frame or cut the floor for driveshaft clearance in most cases. You'll need to add heavy duty gas-filled shocks to control the jounce/rebound adequately to avoid hard contact with the snubbers.

In the front you can use Aerostar coils - trimmed a bit if you want to go even lower - and heavy duty gas-filled shocks.

BTW: The "motorboat" stance you show in your photoshoped photo was out of style long before the '56 Mercury was introduced. The West Coast customs of the era (trend setters of the time) were low and level.

Heavy duty anti-sway bars front and rear will improve the handling and cornering of the car as well. Bagging the car will ruin the handling and cornering...but a lot of guys just don't care about that stuff as long as it sits "cool". Great way to ruin a perfectly good car in my humble opinion.

I'm doing pretty much what I've said to my '54 Monterey. See my album for photos. It's at its final curb height now, but the HD shocks and anti-sway bars are yet to be installed.

Nice car! Good luck!

 

Thanks for all the info! I've heard the aerostar coils are a great mod! What kind of sway bars do you use for these cars? I added them to my '53 Chevy truck and it was a huge help!

Here's another photoshop of a more level stance:

 

Better! Another inch or so down in back would be just about right.

Anti-sway bars are easy: Addco #2138 front, Addco #2147 rear.

 

Welcome from WI! That is one sweet looking car and the provenance is amazing. Like Eric said, it would be a crying shame to put bags on that car. I can attest to the success of the Aerostar spring swap- can't beat it.

 

Welcome from So Cal. Nice looking Merc. I had bags on the front of my F100. Never liked the ride and went back to springs.

 

sweet looking ride. i agree with missysdad and skoh. no bags..... PLEASE!!!

 

At this point I would really just consider "helper" bags to help get the rear bumper up for certain situations.

Thanks for all the kind words.

 

Welcome from SoCal.