Plowboy Posted January 5, 2021 Author Posted January 5, 2021 Thanx for the feedback guys! Right now, I'm leaning more towards leaving the bumper guards. I lowered the front bumper down by simply drilling new locating holes in the splash pan. Now, the guards aren't as intrusive as before and the bumper hides the splash pan at the bottom. I want to see it in paint before I decide to omit the guards. The grille is all wonky in this photo. Here's a better photo with the grille placed better. As you can see, the grille is now opened. This took a good while to accomplish! Around five minutes per slot and there's 46 or 48 of them! The radiator and support are from the Caddy. I had to add the radiator detail to the front using the one from the Mercury. The floor pan and frame are completely fitted. I'm real happy with how they now fit. It just falls together! Dash is fitted and inner fenderwells added. I still need to add some strengthening ribs to them. I added the firewall detail from the Caddy. I'm going to whittle down that huge flange. Engine is finally fitted. Still have to check for headers clearance. I figured there would be an issue with the breather. But, no problem! I may still lower it down a bit as it looks too high IMO. The package tray is now added to the interior. The interior is now completely fitted and ready for primer. I still have to make the hinges for the trunk and get a final fitment on it. I got enough of the rearend put together so that I can see exactly how the stance is going to be. I like it! It has just a touch of rake. Almost unnoticeable. The frame barely peeks below the rockers. I wish it didn’t show at all. But, I can live with it. I should have the hard stuff done. I'm ready for the fun stuff!
Bullybeef Posted January 5, 2021 Posted January 5, 2021 Nice update, I’ve been following along, bit above my skill level but learning techniques is always good, excited to see this in primer!
misterNNL Posted January 5, 2021 Posted January 5, 2021 56 minutes ago, Plowboy said: Thanx for the feedback guys! Right now, I'm leaning more towards leaving the bumper guards. I lowered the front bumper down by simply drilling new locating holes in the splash pan. Now, the guards aren't as intrusive as before and the bumper hides the splash pan at the bottom. I want to see it in paint before I decide to omit the guards. The grille is all wonky in this photo. Here's a better photo with the grille placed better. As you can see, the grille is now opened. This took a good while to accomplish! Around five minutes per slot and there's 46 or 48 of them! The radiator and support are from the Caddy. I had to add the radiator detail to the front using the one from the Mercury. The floor pan and frame are completely fitted. I'm real happy with how they now fit. It just falls together! Dash is fitted and inner fenderwells added. I still need to add some strengthening ribs to them. I added the firewall detail from the Caddy. I'm going to whittle down that huge flange. Engine is finally fitted. Still have to check for headers clearance. I figured there would be an issue with the breather. But, no problem! I may still lower it down a bit as it looks too high IMO. The package tray is now added to the interior. The interior is now completely fitted and ready for primer. I still have to make the hinges for the trunk and get a final fitment on it. I got enough of the rearend put together so that I can see exactly how the stance is going to be. I like it! It has just a touch of rake. Almost unnoticeable. The frame barely peeks below the rockers. I wish it didn’t show at all. But, I can live with it. I should have the hard stuff done. I'm ready for the fun stuff! Very subtle rake. Kind of like the front tires have two pounds less air than the rears:)
NOBLNG Posted January 6, 2021 Posted January 6, 2021 Very nice. Makes me want to dig out my merc kit....not that I would be doing a fantastic job on it like this one.
gotnitro? Posted January 6, 2021 Posted January 6, 2021 Love how subtle the changes are yet so dramatic
slusher Posted January 6, 2021 Posted January 6, 2021 Really neat work Roger, that Caddy engine looks fantastic in your Mercury...
Plowboy Posted January 6, 2021 Author Posted January 6, 2021 Thanx guys! Before I got too carried away, I figured that I better check all of the clearances on the engine. So, I installed everything with Elmer's glue and set it back in the frame. That thing really fills up the engine bay! Everything was good except for the alternator. I twisted it over and got the clearance. But, I don't like how it looks and it will be a PIA to make brackets for it. I'm either going to have to rework this setup or find a different belt and pulley setup. I may just lower the engine a little. I have plenty of clearance at the front. One thing that is bugging me about this model more and more is the relation of the wheels to the wheel openings. When I did the section on the body, the wheel openings got raised the same amount. I think that was a mistake. The wheels aren't tucked up like I would like them to be. Even though it sets fairly low, it doesn’t look low. I think I'll lower the wheel openings a couple of mms and see if that helps. If I don't like it, I can simply cut them back out. But, I think it will visually lower it without actually lowering it. We'll see.
espo Posted January 6, 2021 Posted January 6, 2021 I really like the way you have massaged to body on this. The Chopped Top especially since it gives the overall body shape a much more modern look to my eye anyway. You mention the front wheel openings being to high up into the fender. I think that if you start covering the front wheels it might start looking like a car on air and it's aired down. or at rest. You could spray some paper with the same grey primer and cutout the wheel well opening shape. Then move it around on the side of the body before any body surgery.
Paul Payne Posted January 6, 2021 Posted January 6, 2021 Personally, I like the look of a rolled pan front and rear- often 40's-50's bumpers look way to heavy and prominent- not in harmony with the clean smooth lines you have achieved.
misterNNL Posted January 6, 2021 Posted January 6, 2021 IMHO the only detractor of this project is the "toothy" look of the grille. Maybe it's the photo angle, looks out of kilter to my old eyes.
Plowboy Posted January 6, 2021 Author Posted January 6, 2021 6 hours ago, espo said: I really like the way you have massaged to body on this. The Chopped Top especially since it gives the overall body shape a much more modern look to my eye anyway. You mention the front wheel openings being to high up into the fender. I think that if you start covering the front wheels it might start looking like a car on air and it's aired down. or at rest. You could spray some paper with the same grey primer and cutout the wheel well opening shape. Then move it around on the side of the body before any body surgery. Thanx David! I already filled them back in and it made a huge difference in the looks of it! When I get it kinda smoothed back out, I'll post a photo.
Plowboy Posted January 6, 2021 Author Posted January 6, 2021 5 hours ago, Paul Payne said: Personally, I like the look of a rolled pan front and rear- often 40's-50's bumpers look way to heavy and prominent- not in harmony with the clean smooth lines you have achieved. That's so common on a Mercury. I want mine to be different.
Plowboy Posted January 6, 2021 Author Posted January 6, 2021 2 hours ago, misterNNL said: IMHO the only detractor of this project is the "toothy" look of the grille. Maybe it's the photo angle, looks out of kilter to my old eyes. That's because it isn't glued in. The front wants to drop down because of the shape of it.
misterNNL Posted January 6, 2021 Posted January 6, 2021 1 hour ago, Plowboy said: That's because it isn't glued in. The front wants to drop down because of the shape of it. I figured it was something like that. Your surgical approach tp the custom work is refreshing to watch.
BIGTRUCK Posted January 7, 2021 Posted January 7, 2021 Very clean work. That era of Mercury is always pure good.
Plowboy Posted January 7, 2021 Author Posted January 7, 2021 I got the wheel wells filled and roughed in. The difference is dramatic! Now, it looks low!
Kit Karson Posted January 7, 2021 Posted January 7, 2021 11 hours ago, Plowboy said: I got the wheel wells filled and roughed in. The difference is dramatic! Now, it looks low! Buddy, I take a minute away and you make massive changes come to life! All I can say is:
geemoney Posted January 7, 2021 Posted January 7, 2021 On 12/6/2020 at 2:15 PM, DonW said: The Pharoahs would've loved this! The profile reminds me in a way of the Mk1 Jag: the Pharoahs!!!!! that merc was CUT!!! i remember an article in street rodder at the time showing the wickedly fast-rough cut job to make the deadline...
gotnitro? Posted January 7, 2021 Posted January 7, 2021 Now thats a cool change! Wasn't sure it needed the wheel well mod , but as usual wrong again Nice work
slusher Posted January 7, 2021 Posted January 7, 2021 3 hours ago, Koellefornia Kid said: Great stance now! Nice! I totally agree!
Dave72 Posted January 8, 2021 Posted January 8, 2021 Looking great! The added material to the wheel wells did the trick. IMHO, the motor does look like it is sitting a bit too high. I just seen on an auction the frame and suspension from the Caddy kit. I think I’m going to get that for something in the future seeing as how you have used it so well!
Dennis Lacy Posted January 8, 2021 Posted January 8, 2021 The new wheel opening shape looks really good!
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