MTFCA Forum

Finally some progress. Motor running just need everything else. Sorry for the mess.

Andy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJHNeYxmlrw

Sounds Awesome

You should hear it without the auger in the pipe.

Andy

In response to Dusty (you email kicked back), the cylinder head is a Chaffin Rajo and the carburetor is a Carter BB1. I may well end up with a Winfield if I can get a big enough one.

Andy

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How about a recent picture of that beautiful Mercury body Andy? Does that ferocious red add horsepower?
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Steven, the body is currently covered for safe keeping while I finish the chassis. Here’s a photo of the body mocked up on the bare chassis.

The red paint adds about 13%.

Andy

Quite spiffy there, Andy !

Now that the motor runs I have to remember where all this brake stuff went.


Andy

Being able to stop is over rated.

Wait a minute! Those look like real brakes? What are they doing near a model T?

Dan McEachern wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 24, 2024 11:05 pm

Being able to stop is over rated.

Where's the fun in that? Safety last I say>

"Safety Last", a GREAT Harold Lloyd movie, and probably his most famous film (Harold hanging from the big clock scene).

OK Andrew,
There is something terribly wrong with just showing most of the parts on a project and leaving us hanging. Let's see the rest of the brakes.
Craig.

I would have thought RED would add more that 13%~!

Looking great Andy !

Here is a mostly assembled brake and a shot of the cast drum sandwiched between a McEachern safety hub and a Pharis buffalo hub. I got the brakes from Dan McEachern, he makes the required modifications to work with a large drum rear axle.

Andy

Yes now I recognize those, not having the other parts threw me off. Thanks.
Craig.

Hi Andy, my IN-Box was full when you emailed me so it kicked back at ya. A wonderful brake setup you have ! Chat soon -Dusty

Finally got around to finishing the brakes, still have to bleed them but I think it will be easier with the master cylinder mounted. Finished moving the brake levers inboard. Wanted to keep stuff passing through the skirts to a minimum and I hate brake rod rattle

Andy

Looks good!

Andy,

Beautiful car! Red to go fast and brakes to stop - great combination. Thank you for posting the updates -- it helps encourage some of the rest of us to open the garage and "get'er done".

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

Thanks Hap, but I need someone to motivate me. This has been a long project and I’m pretty close to calling Chip Foose to come finish it in time for the Santa Clara endurance run.


Andy

Motivation? Motivation? Santa Clara is like the Indy 500 of speedster runs. You don't have to qualify in the top 33 to participate just sign up,
show up & enjoy. I've made it twice & it's still at the top of my bucket list. ( because I did get to fly a biplane )
Craig.

We’ll I made it through all the little chassis details I had to get done before installing the body. I may have gotten carried away because nothing on this car is a bolt on. But, here it is half clothed.


Andy

Looking good there, Andy !

I think it looks great. When the body goes on your big step closer to the finish line. Nice color, clean build and I like the suicide door with hidden hinges. Sharp!

Andy,

Again thanks for posting the updates! Your Mercury has some really nice lines to it and with that motor you won't have any problems keeping up with traffic.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

I have a lot to do to make the Santa Clara endurance run next month. Part of the problem is getting things done in the right order. Believe it or not the first thing was getting the dash panel made. It has to go on before the steering column, which has to go on before the skirts which have to go on before the radiator. I was nervous about cutting out the panel and punching the gauge holes, they don’t give away that engine turned material. It looks crooked but that’s actually the edge of the cockpit.

Andy

Got quite a bit done this week. I have to get the hood on yet and a couple body mounts redone. I moved the body back so the #4 exhaust tube would clear the firewall. Beyond that I’m down to fuel system, exhaust and electrical. If I can get two of those done this week I’ll be in good shape.

Andy

Oh, yeah, Andy C, that is going to look really nice!
Just don't go out and put any tie rods through the cowl! (inside joke)

One of those mornings. Showing a friend a photo of the car and realized I hadn’t put the emblem on the radiator shell. Fair amount of disassembly and reassembly but got it done before lunch.

Andy

Been working but nothing shows. So here is an accessory I installed courtesy of my friend Steve Chase.


Andy

What do you charge an hour?

I’m not doing side work anymore Steve. After 30 years as a mechanic I just want to play with my stuff.

Andy

Andy, what are the drums and shoes from? Thanks!

Dan McEachern makes the brake kit. We’ll thought out, requires large drum rear axle.

Andy

Finally did something that shows, got the gauges in and the dash is done. Unfortunately I discovered that none of the old floorboards will work now so I get to build new ones. Floors are always a pain in the a$$.


Andy

Andy, start at the back with the floor boards. If you stuff that one up, you can use it to cut the smaller next one on the rise. Don't ask how I know this.

Beautiful work you are doing.

Allan from down under.

And sometimes you have to steal something from the Model A guys. I turned the headlight thimble down to fit into the Model A ferrule. They’re just long enough.


Andy

Lookin good Andy! Hope to see it on the road soon

I don’t have any new pictures but I did drive my Mercury for the first time in 8 years. I still need to adjust and recheck a lot of things but I made it to the gas station and back. And I gotta say, it was a quick trip.

Andy

Andy, which was the quick trip— your drive or the gas station? (QuikTrip is a chain of convenience stores, mostly in the South). Just kidding— I stop at QT almost every morning on my way to work and I thought it was funny the way you could interpret your description either way. Glad you are to the point of enjoying your efforts and the red color is very eye-catching!

https://developinglafayette.com/wp-cont ... at.png.jpg

Final update. Couldn’t get low band to grip. Went to change it and in 20 miles I cracked a low drum.
Oh well, it goes to the back of the line for autopsy. I have a pretty good idea what happened.


Andy

Oh I am sorry Andy.

Andy,

So sorry to hear that happened. But you are still years ahead of me on getting my Ts going again. If you find out what the likely cause was of the trouble, please let us know so some of us don't have to discover it for ourselves.

And thank you so much for posting the many photos of your Mercury. It is beautiful -- you have been doing a great job! It maybe one step back ... but you have made so many steps forward! You are still an inspiration to me and I'm sure others.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off