Thanks for posting that before and after Mick. Quite the difference! I almost miss that flamed billet wheel and that smoothed dash with round gauges....not! I sold the dash with the gauges and the column with the wheel at the swap meet last year and almost made enough to pay for the horn ring on the new wheel. LOL
Well, no not really. Been driving the goof out of it....1500 miles on it since May. Brought it to Sleds in September (in August LOL) in Branson and Carl Green picked me for his award. I couldn't have been more surprised. He musta lost his glasses that day. LOL. I've just been enjoying driving it all summer, but I'm thinking about pulling the stained headliner this winter and redoing it. I have been wanting to pull the front and rear glass to put the chrome trim in and this would give me a chance to replace the headliner. I'm thinking that when the car was built, they didn't paint inside the roof, and perhaps surface rust has stained the headliner from the inside. But, then again, I'm enjoying driving it so much after a year and a half apart, I just might drive it all winter.
Thanks John. Any progress on figuring out a new radiator set up? Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
I can't believe I just found this thread. What a great read. Those before and after pictures really tell a story. I'd say you've successfully "un-dork-ified" this Merc. Never really understood throw pillows and dice, but to each his own. Somebody had fun building this thing and you're certainly doing it justice bringing it back around. Thanks for sharing this story.
That would be a great time to sort the whole pile out for sure. What kinda engine you thinking about? Funny, I was just thinking about that the other day. It came with the big tips on it. I'm not a fan of them, but they do sound good, so I waffle. LOL When it's not in the transmission shop...LOL I appreciate the kind words guys. It still has a looooooonnnnngggg way to go, but it is starting to turn the corner. At least it is now to the point it's a pretty dependable driver. I doubt it ever really was much of one before I got it. It had about 17k miles on it in the 10 years since being built when I got it. I put a little over 8k miles on it in two years since tearing it apart and now the 1500 miles back and forth to work and every where else I go since May. Next step when I can bring myself to tear back into it is to start making it purty.
Carbed 5.3 LS1 style engine, done up to look old. I basically just need the grille and the interior and the car is done, I just don't like the SBC combo in it right now. My buddy can do the grille whenev, just need to mock it up and bring it over to him.
It is hard to beat driving a Kustom to work. The only thing that I know that is better, is driving your Kustom back home. Dave has a lot of Kool things planned for the Merc looking forward to watching the transformation.
I think that will be a great choice for how you drive the car. Should keep up in Chicago traffic with no trouble. I have a 700R4 in mine that has been skittish from time to time and finally stopped shifting a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, was just some trash in a solenoid. It is finally working as it should. I think I will probably keep this trans when I swap back to the '56 Olds motor I have laying here. Mick, with any luck, it will be heading your way in a little more than a week. Surely I have it debugged enough to make it there.....and back.
Kool , I hope that you will be able to make it over. If you can't I'm planning on making a trip in your direction over the winter. I want to power park the Merc in front of your office. I have a question, why are you putting a '56 Olds in your Merc? It sounds like a kool idea but I would vote for a small block. If you plan on driving it all of the time I vote to keep it simple. Hoods are supposed to be shut on a Kustom at all times except for general maintance or checking stuff out before a trip. Just my opinion that you didn't ask for. Happy Trails, Mick
More undorkification please. The process remains incomplete, though obviously, you've come a long way so far. Cheers.
Well, see, it goes like this: My dad's first car was a '51 Merc. After having it a while, he decided he needed to go faster and that flatheads weren't it any more. So, he dumped the Merc and got an early 50's OHV Olds. He has said that was a terrible car and what he really should have done was put an Olds motor in his Merc and then he really woulda had something. As you know, I sacrificed a '56 Olds for a couch in the office and headlights for my Chevy, so I have this cool lookin' motor sittin' here....and then I went and got another one out of a car about to be crushed. The SBC in the Merc now is fine, but actually an unknown quantity. I'm doubting it was rebuilt when the car was built and really....how cool would it be to have a chopped Merc with that Olds motor in it? Mostly I drive the car around town, so it's not too big an issue. And really, it's only a 10 year older motor than the one in my Pontiac I've driven all over hill and dale, so what could go wrong? LOL More to come for sure. One day I will reach my limit on those Hagan headlights and then the sparks will fly and the remaining dork will hit the pile.
That reply just changed my mind, you have a kool story to go with the motor. So I think that its a good idea. Please just keep the hood shut it takes away from the profile. Happy Trails, Mick
LOL...no, not putting in a '53 Chevy grille. Although, strangely enough now that you mention it, my dad put that grille in his. I like the Chrysler bar in mine, but eventually I will put in a modified '51 Ford grille like the Hirohata Merc.
Question: What and how did you use to install your gas pedal? It seems like there isn't much room between the brake pedal and opening for the transmission tunnel. Mine is currently "Macgyvered" from the previous owner and I'm trying to figure out to fix the situation.
My gas pedal is currently some sort of after marked deal. It is a Macgyvered set up, too, but it was what was in the car when I got it and it is currently working, so I didn't really mess with it. Basically, it is mounted on two screws that come through the firewall, but it looks like mine is mounted a bit closer to the trans than yours....and at an angle. I expect one of these days I will work out something new.
The Jalopy Journal
