New project - 65 Mercury Gasser

[Alan Mclennan]

Very nice find!!, and even better !, I now know what one will look like on mine!!

[turtle1056]

this is the pull truck, that I used to measure things up

[turtle1056]

not much to show for a months worth of work

Tranny mount is fabricated, cab is now readjusted so the cab lines sit properly in line with the box lines, and motor mounts are almost done.

two piece driveshaft is measured and off to the driveline shop to be shortened and balanced. Length was 1.5" too long to use a single shaft that wouldnt bend under 650 hp abuse cycles....... who me? nah.. ;o)

Copper/nickle (cool shiney) brake lines have been run to the master cylinder from under the master rather than beside, so one has to really look to see them. Couldnt afford stainless at almost $6.00 a foot with our sales taxes included.

Hydraulic clutch line has been run. Form fitted to follow the firewall along the horizontal cab seam. Unless you really look you cant see it, and once painted black - probably wont see it without really looking.

Next up is to re-route the heater lines so that instead of exiting the firewall in thier normal location they will exit on the angled portion of the firewall just above the cab seam, so when run to the motor it is a straight shot of about 6-8"... again so you dont see them without having to look.
Two pieces of 1/2" soft copper about 14" long and a couple 90 degree copper water fittings soldered to the shortend heater core lines so they run the inside of the cab, should do the job nicely.

New seats with integral retractable shoulder and seat belts are home and soon to be installed.

[turtle1056]

It is crazy how much time stuff takes when you are fabbing from scratch.

Finished the mounts, the fuel system, ignition, wired the starter, redid the throttle cable setup as I didnt like the first go round, shifter is in and working, re-routed the heater hoses........

everything is takin shape - hope to fire it for the first time, about Wednesday. Just have to run a few more wires, for the in tank fuel pump, and the gauges

[turtle1056]

Well , after 30 some years of hoping and wishing - one of my projects has hit the big time - Published.

My truck has a 2 page spread in "Garage Scene" in this months Canadian Hot Rods magazine.

The editor didnt use the edited and revised storey I had sent in, as he liked the short bus stuff from an earlier rough draft, but hey - its got ink

Apparrently when the truck is completed he wants to do a feature on it.

Special thanks to Terry Denomme for his indulgence, and his love of my truck, enough to allow it to grace the pages of a national magazine!!!

I cant thank Terry enough for making a life long dream come true!!!!!!!

[The Big M]

Congrats!

[jamesdfo]

Just only now opened this issue, which I had picked up last week:):0....and ironically, the altered wheelbase wagon on the pages previous to your Merc is owned by a fellow off another forum I belong to:)

congrats on the ink!

James

[turtle1056]

not a lot more accomplished - some wiring, new two piece driveshaft completed, re-arranged some fuel lines I didtn like, and ran a new return line for hte fuel system

and we needed in the shop so a first outdoor excursion since the build started

rear axle still needs to move forward another inch or so by the look of it.

[Hoofbeat Racer]

Congrats on the article. Truck is starting to come together great. Keep up the good work!

[Shiny]

Thats cool you got it in Terrys Rag!

-Shiny

[turtle1056]

A little more progress thsi weekend.

Finally found a tach that I liked and is retro enough to suit the truck.

Sunpro 5" all chrome bullet syle dash mount with a shift lite. Coulda done without the shift lite but hey, it still looks awesome.

Custom made for me, Hurst shifter. The guy used a custom machined NV3500 base, a Ford Mustang T5 centre section, and my specified Camaro shift handle. Love the white Hurst 5spd knob!

Taking a note from old Hurst shifters for dodges, I made the spacer to move the handle over and back 2.5" so it is more comfortable than the centred position that the NV3500 has.

This thing shifts like no other, 4.5" throw from gear to gear, and the gate is less than an 1" It is a far cry from the 12" throw from gear to gear and 4" gate that the stocker was.

Just waiting on the new chrome and black Hurst shifter boot to finish it off.

Got some fancy new carbs to replace the ugly ol green holleys too. These bad boys outa look awesome on the blower

[lo6fo]

bad ass truck bro. gonna look killer when your finished. post a video of that engine running

[turtle1056]

well its been five months of having to work on other projects, most notably the pulling truck in order to be ready for the season, so no work on the 65 Merc.

On holidays this week, and finally got some work done

In the last two days I have moved the rear axle forward 2" to make it look better in the wheelwell, installed the ladder bars, installed the rear support cover, working on the sheetmetal for the front clip, made my own version of a Mercury grille after reading that the Mercury's were just overlaid on the ford lettering, so I used a Turnpike Cruiser trunk emblem - works rather well .

The front wheel forward looks awesome for the gasser effect

This week I hope to have the rad mounted, and the motor running for the first time, which means the wiring will also be finished, might even get the powered tilt front clip done .. time will tell

[turtle1056]

oh and I forgot - gota love that brand new old stock big truck valence for $150.

[turtle1056]

and it is deceiving as all get out -the front end is actually some 5 inches lower than the rear of the truck

[turtle1056]

worst part is - I have to take everything apart when it is done and clean/paint it all... ;o(

[turtle1056]

well I had it running for the first time on Sunday - two or three rolls to get fuel through the blower and vroom, away she went

man there is nothing like the sound of a gear drive cam and blower whine at the same time, and the sound through the open headers is nothing short of music.

just gotta finish the tilt front end and install an emergency brake, then off to have the Safety Check doen so I can plate it and start drivin it

[Greg D]

That is an interesting solution to the shifter location.
I have the same problem except in the opposite direction - stock Mustang T-5 location is too close to the seat.
That feels OK shifting then?
I plan to use a stock handle mounted backwards (it will need heated & bent a little too) with a Mustang short throw shifter so I don't bust my knuckles on the dash or take out the back window with my elbow.

[ironminer]

dang guy, I'm jealous!! that looks awesome!

[turtle1056]

the shifter works awesome - and if you look on Ebay, you will see all kings of shifter offsets, designed for various cars oveer the years
yes - it shifts perfectly

the mustang short throe shifter guts that are in it give me a shift pattern that is maybe 4" front to back, and maybe 3/4" side to side