Late 2013, I get a text from my dear friend Eddie, giving me a heads up, that the 40 Merc project, he had bought just a few years earlier, from Jon Fisher (Burbank Choppers) might become available. Eddie needed space in his garage in Burbank CA. I wasn't looking for a Merc but I always loved them, considering 40 Mercs and 36 Ford 3 window coupes the ultimate customs. But financially I couldn't justify it. A few month go by and I just couldn't let this one go. "When are you gonna find another one" I kept thinking. Finally a deal was struck. I was pretty broke, having just built a 2400 square foot shop in Austin TX, so a payment plan was negotiated. The car is in pretty good shape for being 75 year old, after all it spent many years in storage, at a aircraft hanger in Van Nuys CA, from 1952 on, until the 80's (correct me if I'm wrong, Jon). Some repair work was done to the body by an old timer later on, revealing some rocker panel and lower door repair. The guy knew his shit, as he gas welded everything, beautifully. I'm stoked. In Burbank: Eddie and I had to make it a roller again since the front axle and rear end where no longer attached to the car. I added some temporary front wheels. All loaded up in Hollywood CA, the night before leaving for Texas. Somewhere in Arizona.
After it sat for about one year (I had a roadster to build first) I pulled the body off. The plan is to completely build and finish the frame, including paint, brake lines, exhaust etc etc first, paint the underside of the car, the firewall then, set the body back on the frame and start chopping.
You suck. Mostly due to the fact that you have just about every desirable car known to man and they all turn out to be sensational.
I decided to install parallel leaves. Any of the "kits" out there don't lower the car enough, so I made my own brackets. After mocking up the parallel leafs, I reinstalled the body to see where we stand, stance wise. Lower but not low enough, so I decided to install 3" lowering blocks. Without lowering blocks. With 3" lowering blocks. I'm digging how this one sits, I'm hoping to get that stance. Or this one.
I mounted mine inboard Chris, but mounted the rear shackles off a rear crossmember (2x3 box fits inside the rear channel x member). Shackles going upwards. It's a 38 Ford frame. No, tank won't fit now
I installed a dropped axle in front and bent the spindle arms. To lower the front even more, I reversed the main leaf, using my hydraulic press.
I'm sure this one, along with everything else you have built, will be awesome. As a side note.............it's hard to believe how ugly the stock roof on those cars is.
Look's like the Loves Truck Stop across the hwy from Firebird Raceway. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The Jalopy Journal
