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Projects 52 Merc monteray

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by bryanyeskie, Sep 19, 2016.

  1. bryanyeskie
    Joined: Jun 13, 2016
    Posts: 157

    bryanyeskie
    Member
    from Hixton

    image.jpeg honestly what can I guy do to make this ugly turd cool. Now what I would like is a 50's custom cruzer without spending $50gs. Just remember I'm looking for ideas.
    It has the original flathead merc engine 3 on the tree. Stock ride height with aftermarket skirts on rear. Basically a stock car... I just want it cooler
     
  2. Put an AC in.....Cool,sorry.:)
     
    bobss396 and kiwijeff like this.
  3. i.rant
    Joined: Nov 23, 2009
    Posts: 4,301

    i.rant
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. 1940 Ford

    Could start with shaving and lowering,more pics would help.
     
  4. southerncad
    Joined: Feb 5, 2008
    Posts: 949

    southerncad
    Member

    First thing I'd do is remove that dumb V8 decal on the hood!
     
    X38 likes this.

  5. bryanyeskie
    Joined: Jun 13, 2016
    Posts: 157

    bryanyeskie
    Member
    from Hixton

    . No shit it's painted on but has to go
     
  6. bryanyeskie
    Joined: Jun 13, 2016
    Posts: 157

    bryanyeskie
    Member
    from Hixton

  7. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,174

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    paint looks good so, nothing radical planned I would guess - certainly is not a ugly turd - do some lowering, maybe Caddy hubcaps, some pin striping, etc - see if '54 Merc tail lights will work - my first car was a '53 Merc - V8 Flathead - 3 spd with overdrive, which is great to have.
     
  8. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    Read about the Aerostar coil interchange. Basically $100 worth of parts from the parts store and an afternoon gives you a 3" lowering with a really nice ride.
     
    JeffB2 likes this.
  9. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,795

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If the V8 on the hood isn't clearcoated you can take off pinstripping painted on with EZ Off oven cleaner and a 1/2" paintbrush cut to 1/2" of brush. Be gentle, it always worked for me and others here.
     
  10. Slopok
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,919

    Slopok
    Member

    That's not ugly my friend and the fact that you still have the Flathead makes your Monterey cool!
     
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  11. 29tudor
    Joined: Jul 16, 2007
    Posts: 303

    29tudor
    Member

    Slam it, paint those skirts to match and find some hub caps for the front. Put some nice sounding mufflers on it or just take off the stock mufflers and run it open. It sounds GREAT if you just ditch the mufflers on a flathead. Great start to a cool custom and certainly no ugly turd!


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    kiwijeff likes this.
  12. AlkyWagon
    Joined: Aug 13, 2014
    Posts: 99

    AlkyWagon

    I'd want the bumper guards/mini dagmars back on the front bumper
     
  13. Nothing wrong with that, a little cash and some spare time, and you got yourself a cool cruiser.
    Do it right, and you'll get sick of people trying to buy it from you.
     
  14. footbrake
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 148

    footbrake
    Member

    Do not touch it, but drive the hell out of it
     
    bryanyeskie likes this.
  15. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    If it were mine, in addition to lowering it, I'd get a quart of paint mixed up to match to repaint the hood and the fender skirts. I'd weld up the holes for the hood emblem where the V8 thing is now and I'd open up the hood scoop using round rod to create the opening, maybe with a peak in the center.

    Dual carbs and headers on the flathead wouldn't hurt either.
     
  16. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    HAMB'er Eric H nicely finished the Merc scoop on his Shoebox Ford, extending it forward for some much needed overhang.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Similar job on a Merc.

    [​IMG]

    BTW, those early Mercs were cool to begin with!
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2016
    low budget likes this.
  17. Model A Gomez
    Joined: Aug 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,695

    Model A Gomez
    Member

    A friend of mine has a 53 Merc I customized about 20 years ago. Lowered, nosed and decked, painted the stainless on the hood scoop, lower front bumper and rear bumper and taillight housing. Chrome was bad and was cheaper to paint the chrome rather than rechrome. Always liked the 52 -54 Merc and Ford.
     

    Attached Files:

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  18. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,814

    BJR
    Member

    Change the tail lights. That is the only thing that is ugly.
     
  19. bryanyeskie
    Joined: Jun 13, 2016
    Posts: 157

    bryanyeskie
    Member
    from Hixton

  20. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,138

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    It's a 2 door, so to start, you're on the right track already. First things first; you have to hit the basics. That's nose, deck, shave and lower. Instantly, that will make the car better looking. If you want to go further, then shave that antenna and that badge on the quarter. I'd keep the skirts. A set of WWWs and a better hubcap and you're basically there unless you want to really start cutting the car up.

    Other than that, make the car a good runner. Invest a few bucks in just going through the car; carb, an electronic ignition conversion, converting to 12v... drive it and enjoy. Cool car, definitely something to work with
     
  21. bryanyeskie
    Joined: Jun 13, 2016
    Posts: 157

    bryanyeskie
    Member
    from Hixton

    Will not disagree with you there.. The only reason I bought the car was for the flathead.
    I do like it it's a blast to drive buy the green is... Also why I call it the turd ( green turd to be exact).
     
  22. bryanyeskie
    Joined: Jun 13, 2016
    Posts: 157

    bryanyeskie
    Member
    from Hixton

    Boss I'm new to the customizing I do know what shaving is but nose-deck you got me..!
     
  23. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,138

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    All good, you're onto customizing 101! Nosing means you take the emblems and badges off the hood, and decking means you take the emblems and badges off of the trunk lid. Frenching means you recess/tunnel something into the body. Nosing, decking, shaving and lowering are the 4 basics to a custom car. Virtually every mild custom will have these done
     
  24. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    I like the grille treatment. (clean, just the way it is) Agree with:
    shaving hood and deck, lose the door handles. Keep the skirts, match 'em with the body color when done.
    LOWER the rear with block kit, or better, flatten the rear springs (de-arch) by taking them apart and pushing them the opposite way every 1.5", on a press.
    Before you do this, draw an arc on a table (or cement floor) and match each leaf to it.
    My pretty wife did mine on the front of my F100, easy job.
    GREAT suggestion on the front coil springs (Aerostar) Just be sure the back's a little lower than the front.
    A 'rake' with skirts becomes very "Cobra", yuck... (B picture, starring Sly Stallone and one (2) unfortunate Mercs!)
     
  25. 56longroof
    Joined: Aug 1, 2011
    Posts: 2,348

    56longroof
    Member

    Nose,deck,and shave it. Lower it 3",get some Caddy or Olds wheel covers and a set of Deluxe Champions with 2.75 whitewalls. I also think the bullets need to return on the front bumper.

    Sent from my SM-G900R4 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  26. UNSHINED 2
    Joined: Oct 30, 2006
    Posts: 1,164

    UNSHINED 2
    Member

    Hello neighbor......I like what youre doing. And the flatties still in there! Cool! I have a 52 Mercury myself and live just down the road from you by Sparta.....
     
  27. What he said....turd....dude it's a 2 door Merc...far from a turd and a car that takes minimal work to make a nice little mild Kustom
     
  28. bryanyeskie
    Joined: Jun 13, 2016
    Posts: 157

    bryanyeskie
    Member
    from Hixton

    What about floor pans for one of these. The out side of the car isn't bad but the floors are kind of sketchy. I've looked around and found the ems? Pans. Is there any full floor pan available for one or do you gotta piece it together?
     

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