Laughing Coyote

I'm glad it's not covered in heavy undercoating or rusted badly Kieser. Once the frame is out of the way I can get it done easier. Roger. I'm going to strip the frame of what I can and then roll it out from under the car with wheeled flat carts. Did some more demo on the frame today. Getting closer to getting it down to just the frame. The rear differential and leafs are ready to come out too. A lot going on now. Can't wait to get it blasted and painted. Once it's out I have to hunt for any markings so I can re add them after paint. The coils have some nice ones on them still. Got to get them cleaned up and see what the colors are. It's all in the details.

Well I have decided to pull the frame out from under the body and get it sand blasted. I already pulled the wheels and started to tear into it. The lower ball joints have been unseated and the springs are ready to come out and then I can tear down the entire front suspension. Have to get a spring compressor since all the weight is out of the front of the car. The rear diff is just about ready to come out also. The weather has been great. In the mid 80's (sorry to rub it in for the folks that are in the cold parts of the country). I should have it all out in a week or two. I have a little project to do for the powder coater so I'm hoping we can work it out in a trade deal. I'm also in the process of putting in a 400 sq ft garden. Want to try growing some good natural veggies. So, needless to say I'm very busy all the way around. I guess that keeps me out of trouble.

Here is a nice one in Tucson AZ. Not the same body style ,but a coupe that is rust free and probably cheaper than doing all the repair work one that one. Just my opinion. https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5433935859.html

Yes Roger they add a little pop of color. I received my power brake booster earlier this week and it looks great. Power brake booster exchange in Portland OR. rebuilt it for me. There number is 503-238-8882 if anyone is looking for a booster rebuild source. I also cleaned up my wiper cowl and put a coat of primer on it. Waiting for the heater core to come back so I can finish up with the heater box that I took out and refinished a while back. Got to get back on cleaning the under side of the body so I can get that part done.

Actually I have one and I use it quite a bit. Mainly for engraving aluminum, but I have used it for cutting out aluminum pieces that I designed. Some pieces were 1/2" thick. You take lighter cuts, not like a full size mill. They do work pretty good and hold tolerances. I bought a 2D software program that you design the part in and it will convert it to G code so you can cut. They also offer a 3D software program so you can do 3D stuff. This is what I have. http://www.taigtools.com/mmill.html

Since the weather has warmed up a bit and dried out I was able to get my hood hinges cleaned up and painted. I also received the new springs for them too. Had to put a coat of red paint on them. That's the color on the old springs that came on the car and I had some pictures of the exact same car with 18K on the clock. So I would say they are suppose to be red. The booster has been shipped out along with the heater core. Can't wait to get them back. Then off the transmission goes to get checked out.

Yes they are 14".

Roger, are you saying that the windows are going to be operable too? How will they be operated? (switches in the doors like the original car, remotely by switches and wire???) I still can't believe the workmanship and detail. Just amazing!!!

That's a lot of hubcaps Keiser. You wouldn't happen to have any nice 1961 Mercury ones would you?

Thanks Scott. I plan on moving on it more this year than last. Just got to keep focused on what part I want to get done and do it. I will post pictures of the items I get back.

Well it's been a while since I posted anything on the Mercury front. I ordered my starter drive and new hood hinge springs yesterday. I'm also sending out the heater core to get rebuilt and the power brake booster as well. Those items will go out next week. I'm also looking at taking the transmission down to the transmission shop in a week or two and get it checked out. Other than that it's been really cold and wet. Doesn't make for a fun time to work on anything.

When driving home today after running some errands I saw this old Dodge convertible on a trailer heading east on interstate 10. Tried to get a better picture, but kinda hard while driving and raining to boot. I know not the smartest thing to do, but was a cool looking old Dodge. Did notice the rockers were pretty rusted. Wonder where he picked that one up. I know it was a Dodge something Royal. Anyone know the year?

Wow Scott! Nice work on the van. I just came across your thread. I know what you mean about the gazing part of the project. Do it a lot my self. Seems like life just always pops up when you want to do something on it. Keep plugging away at it. Every part finished is a part closer to the final product.

Found this on CL. Maybe it could be some use to someone out there. https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5368302066.html

Thanks Tristan. It's been a busy holiday season for me so far so I really haven't had much time to work on the car. I did manage to put another coat of sealer on the areas that were repaired on the floor pan. I've been picking up little things here and there on Ebay and other places. I did manage to score another NOS "Meteor 800" door script. Now I have two new ones for when the car gets done. Can't have enough of those fragile script emblems. I'm planning on shutting down between Christmas and New Years to work on the shop and do equipment maintenance. Maybe I will have some time to finish up the under side and coat it.

I haven't had much time to work on the car again. Slammed with ironwork orders and everyone wants their stuff for the holidays.....of course. Plus El Nino has been making things wet around here to where I can't get the car out and work on the under side again. I did manage to get a new parking brake pad made. The original one was falling apart and didn't have any part numbers on it. One of those hard to find parts. I sent the old one to Mike at Then and Now automotive. H That was the company that did my transmission mount. I just got it back today and looks great. Fits nice too. They do great work. Hoping to get a break in the weather and schedule to get back on the car.

Here is a car that is unique. Looks like a Datsun mixed with a Corvette. Little pricey too. https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/5278787332.html

Hey Jersey Mike. Yes there are lots of nice finds out here in the southwest (Arizona area) Here are some that I just came across while trolling the local CL. https://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/5256506883.html https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5285118118.html https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5258749302.html https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5274658746.html

I don't know how you do it. I would be cross eyed and crazy by now. Looking good!

Thanks for the comments guys. Steve, you are correct about the life story part. I see so many nice cars that just need a little TLC and would make a nice restore, but cash flow is the biggest player in that game. I'm hoping to have the Mercury done in 5 yrs, but that time line is not set in stone. Sounds like you have a nice project to do. Hope to see a restore thread on it if you haven't started one already.

Here is a big piece of lawn art I came across today on some property for sale. Don't know what year this is, but I know it's pretty darn old. Maybe Dandy Dave will know.

While searching for items on Ebay I came across a neat little fuel filter for the carb. It's actually a filter for a motorcycle, but it's the same diameter as one of those big silver or plastic ones. It's very thin and streamline. I hate big clunking things. It's a little bit longer than an 1" so it doesn't take up much room. The car had a plastic canister type on it when I bought it, but it was pushing the steel fuel line way out from where it needs to be. Looked goofy. I just wanted more filtration before the carb. There is a filter on the tank sender, but one more shouldn't hurt. The weather is suppose to be getting unsettled so I will wait for another day yo finish up the under side of the car.

Well I finally took some time for the Mercury today. It was a nice warm day and not windy so I pushed out the old girl and put her up on stands and got to work on the under side. I used a drill and a wire wheel to see if I can speed it up some and get the old under coating and dirt off. It worked pretty good. Still have some areas where they put it on heavy, but I'm just going to leave it. I went over the areas that I scraped and then continued to the back. I had to stop just in front of where the front of the differential is. My arms were killing me. A 5 lb. drill gets pretty heavy holding it over your head. I did wear one of my "bunny suits" and a full face respirator. I could roll around and let everything fly and not get dirty or breath any of that nasty stuff. I did have one other little rust spot that I had to cut out. That went well and only took a few minutes to do. Once I had some feeling back in my arms I wiped down the under side with laquer thinner and put a coat of sealer on all the patch seams. I still have to add a little more in places so when I do the rhino coating that it doesn't show that it was patched. was a long day, but productive. Not really the funnest part of the restore. Can't get the car done if I don't work on it.

Here's a nice project for somebody. I bet you don't see many of these around. https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5232889792.html

Nice find. Good luck on your restoration adventure.