My Friend's 51 Merc Project

[NealinCA]

A good friend of mine has had a 51 Merc sitting in his barn for quite a few years. He finally pulled it out, and hosed it off...

http://photo.starblvd.net/~Dewar_FAST/6-1-2.jpg

And after a little attitude adjustment...

http://photo.starblvd.net/~Dewar_FAST/6-1-3.jpg

http://photo.starblvd.net/~Dewar_FAST/6-1-4.jpg

It is amazing what stance can do for a car. I think he is off to a neat project.

Neal

[HAAS]

The other day in our local paper, there was a 1949 Merc, Running and driving with a title for 2,500 bucks. Damn I wish I had the cash, but it was probably gone in an instant.

[old beet]

If mine was that nice, I'd just buff it out. Nice Merc.....OLDBEET

[raaf]

bttt - it's a looker.

[johndanger]

its getting there

[MercMan1951]

Nice rockers! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[badpat]

looks good- my budy has one in his shop, belongs to a gold chainer- and i shit you not, the guy is having it converted to an electric motor- the slowest car in town to be

[tokyo]

if mine looked that nice, i'd have a boner....

[HAAS]

If I had a merc, or any running car for that matter I would have a boner...

[hatch]

It seems like everything has been done to those poor old Mercs.....I really like it lowered with the hubcabs on the front only....I might just leave it alone and drive everyone crazy tryin to buy it when you stop for gas or burgers...big fun with small cash. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Donzie]

I haven't been out in my "barn" for some time. Maybe I got one those too. I'm gonna go check.............

[spudz]

I really like it. I would almost.....dare I say.... NOT CHOP IT!!! I never seen one that wasn't chopped. I REALLY like it unchoped and slammed. I'll be damned....

[Humboldt Cat]

Sweet- so is he getting ready to continue the project? What're the plans?

[Mai Ki-Ki]

*cough* http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Josh]

What did he do to lower it? It has a really good stance.

[AHotRod]

NOW, don't change it anymore!

[whitewallslick]

The 2nd picture is close to what I'd have ... no skirts, no caps, & no chop. Nice lowering job, nosed, decked, shaved handles. I've always dug the Merc from the movie 'Cobra' since it's done in a hotrod style rather than an overdone poodleskirt hauler. WWS

[mytlo56]

[ QUOTE ]
The 2nd picture is close to what I'd have ... no skirts, no caps, & no chop. Nice lowering job, nosed, decked, shaved handles. I've always dug the Merc from the movie 'Cobra' since it's done in a hotrod style rather than an overdone poodleskirt hauler. WWS

[/ QUOTE ]

I second the motion. Blast the wheels and get them powdercoated a nice, smooth black. Nose, deck, and shave. Get the chrome bits rechromed, the interior in good order, and get her mechanically sound. That'd be the perfect Merc., in my humble opinion. Not too many custom features, frenching, venting, blah, balh, blah. Just clean, simple, and sanded down.

[NealinCA]

[ QUOTE ]
What did he do to lower it? It has a really good stance.

[/ QUOTE ]

He was just mocking up ride height. He removed the front springs completely and most of the rear leaves. The car is getting subframed with bags.

He is a hot rod guy, so it won't be a taildragger, it will probably look about like the second pic, but with a fresh coat of primer.

I will post progress pics when I get them, maybe he will even start posting on the HAMB if I can get him over to the dark side http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Neal

[JK]

Please don't chop it! Mine isn't cut and never will be as long as I own it. I like looking at the faces of people when they see it. They always look like "Why aren't those windows smaller?!?"

[Kilroy]

Take a look at what all the old (30's-40's) hot rodders dragged there hot rods to the lakes with and tell me if hot rodders can't drive tail-draggers.

[Kevin Lee]

They can't. It's impossible now and it never happened before.

Nice Merc by the way.

[Dirty Dug]

What's the process on the back window of a '51 when it's chopped? Does the window need to be changed out to a '50. Anyone ever see a chopped '51 with a '51 rear window?

[kustomd]

I have and if your not carefull it will look like crap. but you can do it depending on how much the chop is, lean the back glass so it will flow smoothly into the top and also sink it then cut your new rubber and glue it to the back glass where it is suppose to be it will look like you cut the back glass down when you do it this way if that makes any sense. There's alot more to it than that but thats mainly what you are doing.

[long island vic]

i know of two of them for under 6000 each. wish i had some spare bucks sigh

[NealinCA]

Mike just sent me an update pic after a little scrotchbtite polish job.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~Dewar_FAST/6-2-1.jpg

Looking pretty good already.

Neal