Projects My 1951 Mercury Restoration

Mcvey is cheaper for the Caddy hubcaps, thanks for both links. To add bullet centers, do you guys glue them on or how are they secured, do they clip in?

Side chrome is something I have to think about. With all the money I'll spend fixing the sides of this thing, I feel funny drilling holes for side trim. I'll hold off for now.

If anyone has '51 rear sheetmetal, the section below the trunk lid, end to end, I am looking for a good part to weld in, mine is junky. Flat top Bob is checking for me on this and some other stuff I'd like to find.

 

Ah I see the '51 Packard trim needs to be redone to work, length has to be moved to the fender section....

 

Here is my Ford. The front fender trim is two pieces the front spear is one piece, then the long straight piece is one piece. The long piece just slides over a recess at the rear of the spear. Just cut the front of the long straight piece were you want, the the recess on the rear of the spear slides right back inside just as original. Mine the door pieces are not cut at all.

I second that

 

John, good to see your merc updates. My vote on the headlamps are to use 49 stock rims welded in smooth with the least amount of recess. I'm not into the big set back ones, just my opinion tho. I love the flush mount 51 skirts, they look super smooth but not to sure if I'll go to that much work. Keep your 51 rear window, be alittle different. If you come down this way again I can show you my friends headlight french that he just got done doing and it looks super. I'd love to see some in progrees photos. love that packard trim idea-----have no fear of drilling holes in that smooth body! actually you should do all your drilling and fitment before paint or in the case of your bumpers, chrome. Most of your nicest cars are fitted and assembled to perfection and then dissassembled for paint and chrome. Good luck and build it the way you dream to have it. TomCat1

 

The piece below the trunk above teh bumper is called a ....well I don't really know what it is called...I made mine out of 18ga with a shrinker/strecher. GIANT pain in the ass....why th ehell is no one re-poping those???

If your piece has some holes, I would recommend patching them instead of building a whole new one.

Keep us posted, -Abone.

 

I think its called the latch strip or lock strip. They aren't repopping them because God hates Merc owners haha. That and believe it or not 51 Merc strip is actually different than the 49 and 50...go FoMoCo...

 

whs

 

tom selleck is more of a man than you and bad bobby will ever be...while you two are cornholing each other?

 

Take a look at any of Tom Selleck's other posts. He's a smart mouth specialist, not a lot else going on.

Pro stock John, good for you for asking plenty of questions, and doing your homework. Good luck with pulling it off, sounds like you've got the right attitude.

 

John;
If you are modifying the bumpers, consider welding the bolts on the inside to match your brackets, and filling the holes (called "shaving"). Subtle, but very, very smooth.

 

What is the front bumper on this 51?
And i love mercs without skirts...

 

That bumper looks like a mid-fifties Ford, 55 or 56?. I with you on Mercurys without skirts, but in this ones case, I think I'd run them. The rear wheels sit in the wheel wells real weird. It's good looking other than that though.

 

54 chevy bumper i think.

 

Hey Mo my bud shaved the bolts on the front bumper, looks cool.

If I can I will take some 'during' shots you can see how rough the car looks right now.

 

flamedabone, my latch strip is pretty bad, but if I can't find one Paul will make me one.

 

I think it looks strange because of the angle of the photo...or he might have done something to the front wheel well have been opened up. But i could be wrong on both thoughts. The stance and whole package is really clean. And i got to agree on the no skirts...it seems to take away the lead sled feel and give it something else.

And your right on the 54 chevy bumper.

 

That low gloss red Merc looks hawt. I would prefer rear skirts. Looks like the wheels sit in more than stock, I'm assuming it's bagged with a c-notch or rolls on a newer or custom frame.

Thanks to Flat-Top Bob for some sheetmetal I need, will really help out my Merc.

So I will plan to flush mount the headlights, will keep the '51 rear windown, will not be flushing the skirts since I think mine are aftermarket and it's too much work right now, and am not sure on side trim.

 

Except he's wrong - it's '55-'56 Ford. Look at the almost pointed ends, and how much it flairs out in the middle. Close, but no cigar. (Not Chevy)

 

I think the bumper is flipped also,,,,,,,Sure does have a little wang to it, good though!!!

 

Quarter panel spears from a '55 Chevy should work nicely, and not be difficult to find re-popped.

 

I'll check it out Mo, thanks.

 

ITSALIVE55 - I'm posting a picture of you below. Bad Bob and Chili Phil are real cool HAMBERS unlike you.

CRUISER

 

Just came across this thread and your Merc sounds very cool. Post some pictures of your progress we would all like to see them.
I just love the look of this Merc in the picture so clean looking and the color is very cool.

CRUISER

 

A HAMBer with a picture of another guy,who isn't in the hobby...is just GAY!!!
If you're gonna be a "POSER" you might want to ride on the coat-tails of somebody that gets some respect on here...or at least in our hobby!

Now go back to watching Nick at night,LOL!!!!!

 

Could not have said it better Bob

 

It's neat to hear everyones 2 cents. But it's just a '56 Ford front bumper that was cut in half and peaked in the center, it follows the hood angle when looking down at it. There are a few thing that I still like about the car, but there are alot of things I will do differently on the next Merc. And that pic does make the rear wheels look weird for some reason but it was too narrow a rearend anyway.

 

51Gringo. I have always dug your car. The bumper and trim are particularly tasty.

The rearend is a tricky thing...Mine is real narrow also, if not the tires will rub the 1/4 panel mount flange. Stick a set of skirts on her and no one will ever notice...

-Abone.

 

Before shots, mix of mine and the sellers:

 

During:

 

Parts that I have purchased:
-used rear glass
-1953 Chrysler taillights
-1953 Chryser sheetmetal
-1951 Hudson fuel filler door
-used trunk lid
-used hood
-used and now rechromed 1951 rear bumper
-used and now rechromed 1950 front bumper
-Hired 51Gringo to rebuild my stock hinges (nicely done)

Buying a used hood was a recent decision, and I found one not too far from me. Once I have it, it will be sandblasted, and the front corners will be rounded. I might round the rear corners, not sure. Then the whole car will be in primer.

I'm still planning on black, but every once in a while I think red, and even green.

Thanks again to 'mo, Ether, 00 Mack, UnionvilleHaunt, Tomcat 1, kenglish, Bad Bob, and all you other Merc savvy dudes on the HAMB.