Laughing Coyote

Thanks Roger, It's going to take a bit of time, but at least I will know for sure what was under all that crud. Removed some more today. Your Lincoln model is looking fantastic. Keep up the good work. I have all the pistons cleaned and will be ringing and installing them next week. I'm also rebuilding the steering control valve, but waiting on a new sleeve and that will be ready to go. Have a tranny and differential guy lined up. Hoping by this time next year the engine, trans and all the driveline will be in and the car will be back on the frame.

Thanks Geoff, The color is going to be the factory color. Tawny Beige with the gold interior.

Well the weather has been great and work has been crazy. I did manage to start cleaning up the bottom of the car pan. It's a little slow going. It's mainly dirt, grease, and grime an some under coating, but not to bad to remove. Like trying to drain the ocean with a teaspoon, but at least it's a scoop at a time and there is progress. Going to have my father in law start helping with the motor. He was a heavy equipment mechanic up in Oregon. They're down here for the winter so extra help is always appreciated.

Eddie, I'm using a product that I got from my local steel store of all places. It's called Cast blast made by Seymour paints. It's not a high heat product, but I have been using it on all my cast steering parts and it covers great and looks nice. Dries really fast too. They also make an aluminum blast also. I may pick up a can of that the next time I go. The manifolds are the original cast color with a high heat (2000 degree) clear coat. I may just stick with that and see how it looks after awhile of driving it. When I get to drive it.

Ouch. That is a little costly. A little time and some simple tools and you can get it done. Doesn't look that hard of a tray to make. Looking forward to see how it comes out.

edhd58, If the new tray is the same size and style as the old one and if the old brackets can be reused can't you just have your welder guy swap the brackets onto the new plate??? Just a thought, The car is coming along.

Thanks Chuck! I really enjoy doing this kind of work. It's my "get away from the world for awhile project". I know it's going to take some time to do, but I can't wait to hear that motor fire back up. Can't wait to have it all done and get in the front seat and look over the hood and enjoy a nice ride in a classic car on a spring day. Thanks again Chuck and have a Happy Thanksgiving Too!

Well after long discussions with the better half (the Mrs) about the model T's I have been looking at. The final verdict is not right now. She told me I have one I'm working on right now and when it's done we will see. So I guess I will have to work a little faster and get the Mercury done then persue another project. I guess it's for the best, but I do want to thank you all on this post for the comments and information regarding the model T series cars. There is just so many cars out there that I come across that I would like to restore and bring back to the way they were. I really enjoy doing the work and learning about the parts and how the car was built. I hate to see them get junked or modernized so much. Granted everyone has their own taste. Oh well, I will press on with the Merc and post as I go. :cool:

That is a nice looking one. Not too bad on price either. I appreciate all the commets and info on the subject. I'm one of those guys that is pretty handy with the tools. I joined the military right out of high school and went into a mechanical field. I was a aircraft ground support mechanic. Worked on diesel, gas, and turbine engines. Also electrical generator, air comoressors, A/C, heating and pneumatic systems. Did that for 20 plus years for the Air Guard and ended up my last 3 years as a F-16 machinist/ welder. Started a thriving metal fabrication business 7 years ago. Now retired and still doing the metal business.

Found another one that may be a little nicer. It even runs. May have to look at that one too. http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/4758640544.html

I can't believe that it's already been a year since I started this venture. Time just flys by. I did managed to get my new idler bushings in and get one drag link cleaned up. One more to go. I will be ordering the rebuild kit for the control valve and get that done next. Also I need to get under the body and get to cleaning that up too. I sent off the transmission mount to Barry Wolks guy that rebuilds them. Can't wait to see the end result on that. My sticker guy also made me some 1961 Arizona license plates. They may not be the stamped ones, but they sure look original enough for me.

I found one on the Phoenix CL. Here is the link http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/4697422576.html

Thanks for all the input! I will contact them and see where it's located intown and take a look see. If the car is a true Arizona car the wood should be in pretty good shape. Is there any particular areas to look for wood rot or areas that would have held water?

Here are some pics

I have been looking at a 1923 Model T and was wanting to know if parts are available for that car. It does need a drivers door and a headlight, but everything else is there. Is there any specific things to look for? Thanks for any input.

After a morning of working around the house and getting some things done I decided to work on the car after lunch for a bit. I was able to pull off the steering linkage and steering gear assy. Got that all broken down. THe center link was cleaned up and painted. The tie rods need to be cleaned up and painted next. They are in really good condition. The grease was really nice inside. Not all hard and nasty. The steering gear is also tight and responsive, but I will need to replace the oil seals on it. The cross member cleaned up nice and looks like new. Glad all the oily dirt and grime that came off of it was just that and not rust. There was a big pile of it.

Well it was a bone chilling 86 degrees today. Worked for about a half of the day and then decided to shift gears and work on the car a bit. I sand blasted some suspension mounts and the idler link and got them all painted and looking good. Sand blasted the exhaust manifolds and then used a wire wheel on a drill and brought back that original cast finish. To keep them looking like that I purchased some high temp clear coat at Wally world. Little shinny, but looks better than the rusted look. Finally got one piston apart and did some deep cleaning of the grooves and what not. Ready to start measuring the rings and start getting the pistons back into the block. Working on the drag links and steering gear so I can get those cleaned up.

I finally got the pistons all cleaned up and now comes the task of disassembly and checking the wrist pins and all the other measurements. Then start the process of checking the ring gaps in the cylinders per the assembly manual. That will take some time. After exhausting research I will have to get the transmission mount reworked. Barry Wolk has a fella that did his mount for his Lincoln so I will be sending mine out shortly to get it repaired. Other than that sill plugging away on smaller stuff. Going to start on the pistons and rings later this week. That's the plan anyway.

Ah yes. The memories of what my engine looked liked. I can smell it from here.

Thats the one that everyone is selling as a replacement. The one I have is two plates molded together.

Thanks again keiser. I sent him a PM.

Just looked it up. No go. Same rubber mount that everybody else is showing. The original is all one piece. Thanks for the help keiser.

Once again I'm requesting some knowledge for my Mercury restore project. I pulled of the cross member for the transmission and started to clean it up. I removed the trans mount and noticed that it is pretty well shot. I have been researching a replacement and all I have been finding is a rubber mount that is nothing like what is on the car. I have attached pictures of what it looks like. If anyone knows where I may be able to find one or part numbers I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks :cool:

It's been a bit since I posted an update. I have the pistons at the neighbors house waiting to get cleaned up. He has been busy building two 1950's VW 35hp engines for a shop in town. I guess two people are restoring some old bugs. He's retired so it's on his time. Mean while I pushed the car out and spent a good hour with an air compressor and vacuum. Blew out and vacuumed all the dirt from inside the frame rails. Got about 10 pounds of dirt out. I pulled off the cross member and started to clean that up. Pretty nasty. I'm going to have to post some pictures on the general discussion page in regaurds to the transmission mount. All the ones I have been coming across as a replacement are not the right ones?? I'm sure someone would know where I could get one. Other than that life seems to be winning on the car restoration side, but I will keep at it. It will get done. One piece at a time.

One day when I was thinking of a company name I heard a big pack of coyotes out in the back property howling and carrying on. Sounded like they were laughing. So that's what the company's name became to be. Laughing Coyote.