Mercury Update

Post by **AndyClary** » Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:48 am

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

Andy

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

Post by **JTT3** » Thu Mar 21, 2024 10:07 am

Sounds Awesome

Post by **AndyClary** » Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:04 pm

You should hear it without the auger in the pipe.

Andy

Post by **AndyClary** » Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:25 am

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

Post by **NorthSouth** » Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:10 pm

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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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Post by **AndyClary** » Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:22 pm

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

Post by **RajoRacer** » Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:26 pm

Quite spiffy there, Andy !

Post by **AndyClary** » Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:29 pm

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

Andy

Dan McEachern · Post by **Dan McEachern** » Sun Mar 24, 2024 11:05 pm

Being able to stop is over rated.

Wayne Sheldon · Post by **Wayne Sheldon** » Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:37 am

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

Post by **speedytinc** » Mon Mar 25, 2024 8:15 am

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>

Wayne Sheldon · Post by **Wayne Sheldon** » Mon Mar 25, 2024 3:31 pm

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

Post by **Craig Leach** » Mon Mar 25, 2024 3:48 pm

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.

Post by **TeveS-Nor Cal** » Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:03 pm

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

Mike Penserini · Post by **Mike Penserini** » Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:49 pm

Looking great Andy !

Post by **AndyClary** » Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:37 pm

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

Post by **Craig Leach** » Tue Mar 26, 2024 10:40 pm

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

DustySpokes · Post by **DustySpokes** » Wed Mar 27, 2024 1:53 pm

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

Post by **AndyClary** » Tue Apr 02, 2024 7:13 pm

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

Post by **TeveS-Nor Cal** » Tue Apr 02, 2024 8:27 pm

Looks good!

Post by **Hap_Tucker** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 4:50 pm

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

Post by **AndyClary** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 8:01 pm

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

Post by **Craig Leach** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 11:26 pm

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.

Post by **AndyClary** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 7:12 pm

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

Post by **RajoRacer** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 7:36 pm

Looking good there, Andy !

Post by **Dollisdad** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 7:55 pm

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!

Post by **Hap_Tucker** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:58 pm

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

Post by **AndyClary** » Mon Apr 29, 2024 8:42 pm

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

Post by **AndyClary** » Sat May 04, 2024 7:15 pm

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

Wayne Sheldon · Post by **Wayne Sheldon** » Sat May 04, 2024 7:22 pm

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)

Post by **AndyClary** » Mon May 06, 2024 7:16 pm

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

Post by **AndyClary** » Mon May 13, 2024 11:16 pm

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

Andy

Post by **TeveS-Nor Cal** » Mon May 13, 2024 11:28 pm

What do you charge an hour?

Post by **AndyClary** » Tue May 14, 2024 8:43 am

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

Andy

Stephen1915 · Post by **Stephen1915** » Tue May 14, 2024 2:41 pm

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

Post by **AndyClary** » Tue May 14, 2024 5:31 pm

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

Andy

Post by **AndyClary** » Thu May 16, 2024 9:30 pm

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

Allan · Post by **Allan** » Thu May 16, 2024 11:31 pm

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.

Post by **AndyClary** » Tue May 21, 2024 11:08 am

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

Kevin Pharis · Post by **Kevin Pharis** » Tue May 21, 2024 12:23 pm

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

Post by **AndyClary** » Mon Jun 03, 2024 9:38 pm

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

Shannon_in_Texas · Post by **Shannon_in_Texas** » Mon Jun 03, 2024 10:18 pm

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

Post by **AndyClary** » Wed Jun 05, 2024 10:25 pm

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

Tim Williams · Post by **Tim Williams** » Thu Jun 06, 2024 12:26 am

Oh I am sorry Andy.

Post by **Hap_Tucker** » Thu Jun 06, 2024 8:58 pm

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