| W.B.Ervin | -- 06-21-2012 @ 5:47 PM |
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There's a long story that goes along with this car, but for now a picture of the '50 Merc I bought 27 years ago when I was a kid. I'm certainly no expert but hope I can help and add to the discussion. Bill
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| ford38v8 | -- 06-21-2012 @ 8:12 PM |
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Hi Bill, and welcome to the EV8 Forum. Good looking survivor you have there... Where do you hale from? Great if you put your location in your profile! Alan
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| W.B.Ervin | -- 06-21-2012 @ 8:51 PM |
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Thank you Alan, still fumbling my way around the site but think the profile was updated. If not I'm from Las Vegas. The car was built in Los Angeles and was purchased in 1985 from a gentleman who had it since 1952 (I'm the third owner). Drove it back to Vegas and had it on the road for several years. Then started a family and that was the end of my weekend cruisin! The Merc has been sitting for longer than I care to admit. It's time to get her back on the road.
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| W.B.Ervin | -- 06-21-2012 @ 8:55 PM |
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A radio was never installed, original owner decided not to spring for the extravagance.
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| W.B.Ervin | -- 06-21-2012 @ 8:56 PM |
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Cigarette lighter and ashtray have never been used.
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| ford38v8 | -- 06-21-2012 @ 9:05 PM |
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Bill, I know you're gonna want to drive her up to Tahoe next year for the Grand National. From what I see, your'e a shoe-in for a Rouge Award. Are you a member of the EFV8CA? Alan
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| W.B.Ervin | -- 06-21-2012 @ 9:43 PM |
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Man that sounds like fun Alan. Okay, I better come clean, We (me and the car) have been REALLY out of touch for about 2 decades. I'm embarrassed to say I'm not sure what EFV8CA and "rouge award" means. Guessing it's the California chapter of early Ford V-8 assoc.? And a Rouge Award is for a car that's been unrestored? Got the next week off, let me see if I can get the car running, next will be a trip around the neighborhood. I appreciate your taking the time to post a comment Alan. I now have 1 friend in the classic car hobby and you're him. Yours,Bill
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| ford38v8 | -- 06-21-2012 @ 11:29 PM |
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Bill, you may consider that you have one car friend now, but I promise you, join the Early Ford V8 Club Of America, and you'll have 10,000 friends worldwide. At Tahoe next year, or at Branson Missouri this August, or Redmond Oregon this September, At each location you'll find more than a few 1950 Mercurys and meet their proud owners. This week was the Eastern meet, in Hiawassee Georgia, too late for that one. All Ford Motor products from 1932 to 1953 are represented by our club, and you'll find them all at our meets. I wish I could have good news for you about a Regional Group in your area, but it looks like the closest Group is in Mesa Az. You're kinda out there, you know. OK, now that I have got your attention, look at the header on the page you're reading. That's us. The Home Page is here: http://www.earlyfordv8.org/index.cfm You'll find how to join and much more. Oh, yes, you're right, the Rouge Award is for unrestored vehicles. There are three areas to consider, any one of which can earn you a Rouge: Exterior; Interior; and Chassis. You mentioned that you'd be willing to offer your expertise to our Forum. You'll be welcome there, and of course to also pose your own questions. Just bring 'em on as you get them, and we'll be glad to help get your Merc running again. Alan
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| TomO | -- 06-22-2012 @ 7:47 AM |
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Bill, Welcome to the Forum. I enjoyed the photos of your Mercury. It isn't often that we see a survivor in such great condition. You will be able to answer many questions on this forum, just by looking at your car. I am sure that all 49-51 Mercury owners will appreciate any information that you can give on these cars. Your help will also be appreciated on any other topic that you feel qualified to comment on. Alan is correct in saying that your car would be welcome at any Early Ford V-8 Club function. There is also a Regional Group in Carson City, NV. There are several Club members that live around Las Vegas. Once you join and get a Roster, try contacting them and see if you can get a RG together. Tom
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| W.B.Ervin | -- 07-13-2012 @ 11:06 AM |
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Tom, thank you, sorry for the late response. Been up to my elbows into the car, locating parts, getting up to speed etc.. Forgot the satisfaction of turning wrenches on these things. Here's a pic from Dec. 1985 right after picking up my new pride and joy. This must have been a day or two after driving her home from Van Nuys to Las Vegas, would have been 22 that year but I don't remember ever being that skinny. Still got the old California plates on her. Bill
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| ford38v8 | -- 07-13-2012 @ 12:18 PM |
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Bill, before you turn too many wrenches, you need to know that some things have changed since you last drove your car. Batteries, fuel system parts, oil, all these have changed, so ask questions before you buy stuff that is not gonna be the best for today's driving. Have you joined the club yet? Alan
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| W.B.Ervin | -- 07-13-2012 @ 5:11 PM |
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Appreciate the sound advice Alan. All I've really done is locate parts at the various online stores. I found the Vanpelt site very helpful, it even has a methodical procedure spelled out step by step for starting up a flathead that's been sitting a long time. I was going to spring for the rebuilt fuel pump because that was bad even when I bought the car. Previous owner installed an electric back-up pump controlled by toggle under the dash. This is the battery I was going to purchase: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_x_2020041-P_x_x?cm_mmc=CSE-_-NexTag-_-VALUE3-_-VALUE4&srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=33-64588965-2#utm_source=cse&utm_medium=nextag&utm_campaign=value3&utm_content=value4 And the membership is pending receipt of the snail mail application.
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| ford38v8 | -- 07-14-2012 @ 12:10 AM |
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Bill, your pick for a battery is good, but I will give you a couple of alternatives: http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/batteries/ford/2LM.html The above link to Antique Auto Battery shows a Concourse correct battery for your car. You may wish this level of correctness. http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_products/redtop/specs.php The above link to Optima shows the best quality battery available, but will require camoflage as installed. Some of the batteries offered by the previous link are actually the Optima with camoflage. Yours is not one of those. I advise comparison of the manufacturers specs and warranties. The electric pump installed by the previous oiwner is likely not serviceable for gasoline laced with ethanol as supplied in today's market. You must specify "alcohol resistant" when ordering your pump. Use a fuel filter before, and a pressure regulator after: set it to 2psi. Use worm gear clamps, never use spring clamps as provided with pumps and filters. The same alcohol resistant requirement applies to mechanical pump diaphrams, flex fuel lines, and carburetor rebuild parts. The best flex line is available through the club magazine V8 Times, mechanical pump diaphrams from several suppliers, and carburetor rebuilds must be with original leather for accelerator pumps, steel for inlet valves, and the modern power valves must be modified (machined) flat at the base of the threads to make an effective seal. You may at some point in the future have issues with rust in your tank and/or fuel line. Original copper plated steel fuel lines are available, and alcohol resistant gas tank slosh sealers are available. Key to all of this is to specify alcohol resistant parts. Do not use teflon thread sealers, not needed, and will clog passages. Alan This message was edited by ford38v8 on 7-14-12 @ 12:25 AM
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| W.B.Ervin | -- 07-15-2012 @ 8:15 AM |
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That's a ton of useful information Alan! I'll give the vintage battery replica outfit a call Monday when they're open. Thank you, Bill
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| TomO | -- 07-15-2012 @ 5:57 PM |
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Bill, Alan gave you some very good information, but some of it may not apply to your car. Alan and most of the rest of us on this Forum are more familiar with the 32-48 Ford and Mercury cars, than the 49-53 cars. The 49-53 cars are quite different than the earlier cars and the Mercury is not just a stretched Ford. Ford went to steel lines with an aluminum colored coating some time after 1948. Before you buy a copper coated fuel line check with the V-8 Clubs 49-51 Mercury adviser. It is very likely that your line has rust on the inside and your tank probably rusted on the inside also. The carburetor information that he gave does not apply to your carburetor, except for buying alcohol resistant parts. Because you car is so original, I would have the fuel pump rebuilt. If yours is the dual action pump, I suggest someone like Ken Isador in Connecticut. The dual pumps are difficult to get right. Ken can also rebuild your carburetor if necessary. I suggest that you have your core rebuilt, rather than an exchange. The 49-51 Mercury carburetor core are hard to find and there are more junk ones than serviceable ones available. Alan did not explain why most of us prefer the Optima battery. It is a sealed gel cell battery. The wet cell batteries seem to generate rust on the battery tray and surrounding metal, no matter how diligent you are in keeping the area clean. The gel cell batteries do not do this and have the additional advantage of more cold cranking power available. The gel cell batteries tak much longer to self discharge that the wet cell batteries. In fact they take so long to show any discharge, that most people think that they do not self discharge. They must be charged a slower rate that the wet cell batteries, especially when the have lost half of their charge. Tom
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| ford38v8 | -- 07-15-2012 @ 7:05 PM |
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Bill, Tom is right about my area of knowledge, my car is a '38 Ford and the last time I had a post war Ford was when I was a kid! Tom's the guy to listen to on this stuff anyway, he's a fighter, I'm a lover. Alan
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| TomO | -- 07-16-2012 @ 6:17 AM |
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Alan, You usually have very good advice, but as you know, the 49-53 Mercury carburetors are quite different than the Fords. I am not a fighter, just like to have information as correct as I know how. Bill, I forgot to add the basic rule of wrench turning on these old cars. It "if it is not broke, don't fix it". The new parts available for these cars may not work as advertised, so replacing a part just because it is old can lead to problems. Only change one part (8 plugs is considered one part) and then test the car before proceeding with any other parts replacement. Tom
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| W.B.Ervin | -- 07-17-2012 @ 8:08 AM |
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Thanks guys, plenty to consider and keep me busy. Tom, I'm a runway repairman for the Dept. of Aviation, our rule of thumb (jokingly) is "If it ain't broke we'll keep fixing it until it is!" Maybe the battery solution is to simply replace the red-top 6 volt Optima with another because I can do that locally, return the core etc. Then, if I do ever attend a Merc/Ford rally in the future, pick up the period-correct battery for show use. Bill
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| TomO | -- 07-17-2012 @ 9:49 AM |
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Bill, My Optima is installed inside a Ford wet cell battery case, so it looks original. Check with Antique Auto Battery to see if they offer this option on the Mercury battery. If not see if they will sell you a case. You can make the top. They do offer it with the Ford Script battery. Here is a link to an outfit that offers the Optima in the Mercury case. http://restorationbattery.com/2hm.html Tom This message was edited by TomO on 7-17-12 @ 9:55 AM
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| EFV-8 Club Forum : | https://www.earlyfordv8.org/forum |
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