Projects Unfinished Business: A 1951 Mercury Build Thread

Looks great, your going all out this time. It will be beautiful.

 

Killer build DD. Really like the gold flattie. Be sure and watch thier eyes when you open the hood.

 

Congrats on getting another one.
Very nice looking car. the engine looks Killer!
MrC.

 

The best motivation for moving your build along is to keep it at work where it can be easily seen. Then you don't want people seeing it sit there without any work being done. Excellent motivation to stay at work after hours and make progress. Having access to a hoist and forklift for heavy stuff also makes short work out of a big job. I can't tell you how many times I've stayed at work past midnight working on it, only to have to be to work the next morning.

 

I'm looking for a replacement right front fender and right rear quarter. Mine are in okay condition, but they have body damage on them. If anybody has them, feel free to pm me.

Edit: No longer looking

 

You got a great build going. I love the details. Late nights are what being a rodder is all about. When you sit behind the wheel and start it for the first time, you won't remember those nights.

 

As far as details go, I have a short term and a long term plan. Short term includes getting this back on the road so I can have some fun with it. Which is a majority of the work, since nearly every piece is being diassembled, blasted, painted, reassembled, or replaced, etc. Short term have it painted satin black, and I'll do some pin striping on it. Long term plan includes chopping it, that will wait a year or two. I need to take care of some bodywork, like repairing the passenger side fender and quarter because something brushed along the whole side of this thing. The door has been repaired. After it's chopped, and bodywork is completed, it will probably be gloss black. I'll retain the Merc grille and '51 window after the chop. I'm also thinking of not slanting the posts either. I like a straight post.

 

very nice and I like your approach.

 

Two thumbs up from me - I really like them with the 51 window.

 

My all-time favourite model shoebox. Keep it comin'.

 

Shoebox?
I must have missed something ...

 

Looking GOOD !!!!!!!

 

Here are a few pictures that I use for inspiration - and the direction of my build. I just can't stop looking at them - most of which I've stolen off the HAMB. I've printed them out and have them hanging in my toolbox and office. You can see a few common themes.... chopped Mercs, mostly 51's, 51 grilles and 51 rear windows, bad ass flames on the black one. No skirts on mine, I really like the exposed rear tire. If any of these cars are yours, feel free to send me more pictures!

 

Red merc in the top row middle was built and is owned by Ron Box London Ontario. The workmanship on this car is amazing and its driven every where.

 

amazing build! keep us updated

 

Here's an update.... Finally finished mounting the upgraded master cylinder. Figured all of my brake line lengths and routing. Cleaned off the driveshaft and fuel tank with a wire wheel and rust/paint stripper wheel. They look nearly new.

 

Damn that thing is clean!

 

Here's an old Boyd Coddington '51 Merc. chopper now in Napa.
Normbc9

 

I'm going to need some pointers on converting this to 12 volt soon. I've got a new rebuilt 12V Generator on the way, and I plan to use a Rebel Wire 9+3 harness. I've also subscribed to some 12 volt conversion threads, but I'm sure I'm going to have questions when I am wiring this thing up - I've never done it before.

I'll have the instrument panel completely apart, so should I change bulbs to 12V bulbs, or should I do something different?

Besides the 12V generator, is there anything that is Flathead specific I need to do or change?

Should I get 12 volt mufflers? (juuuuust kidding)

Any advice, suggestions, links, etc are appreciated.

 

I like this build,reminds me of my old mercs i have had,all '51s.keep going like the approach your taking on this project.

 

Great job!

 

Hello Doctor,
As far as instruments go I've seen it done a few different ways some use a 12 - 6V stepdown power supply to power the whole cluster, some go through and convert all the bulbs to 12V and fit 6V regulators to any electric guages you might have, and don't forget your ignition coil, we used to change them apparently some people ballast them with big resistors but that sounds unreliable to me.

Best regards
Rick

 

This thread and Normbc9s' merc,which looks like one i sold in 1983,are tempting me.It is a dead ringer.down to the tailights and the slanted posts.your merc picture sure did move me towards selling my current project and getting another '51 merc coupe.

 

Very nice.

 

I thought you might appreciate this Watson painted beauty.

 

looking sweet

 

love the copper! cant wait to see the Merc finished!

 

Here are a few more great Mercury related threads on the HAMB:

1949, 1950, 1951 Mercury Pictures
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=192705

Best 49-51 Merc chops? Side profile pics?
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=213641

Anyone have old pictures of 49-51 mercurys in junkyards or ones that you saved
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=573752

What was the FIRST chopped 1949-50 MERCURY
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=588520

 

Get thread - this is going to be a really nice Merc when done. Wish I still had my '50 Merc. Keep the updates coming!

 

Great Looking Merc! keep up the Good Work
and you will be Driving it Soon.