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Discussion Topic:
Old guy, old Merc, new member
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ford38v8 |
07-13-2012 @ 12:18 PM
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Senior
Posts: 2763
Joined: Oct 2009
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Bill, before you turn too many wrenches, you need to know that some things have changed since you last drove your car. Batteries, fuel system parts, oil, all these have changed, so ask questions before you buy stuff that is not gonna be the best for today's driving. Have you joined the club yet?
Alan
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W.B.Ervin |
07-13-2012 @ 5:11 PM
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Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Jun 2012
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Appreciate the sound advice Alan. All I've really done is locate parts at the various online stores. I found the Vanpelt site very helpful, it even has a methodical procedure spelled out step by step for starting up a flathead that's been sitting a long time. I was going to spring for the rebuilt fuel pump because that was bad even when I bought the car. Previous owner installed an electric back-up pump controlled by toggle under the dash. This is the battery I was going to purchase: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_x_2020041-P_x_x?cm_mmc=CSE-_-NexTag-_-VALUE3-_-VALUE4&srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=33-64588965-2#utm_source=cse&utm_medium=nextag&utm_campaign=value3&utm_content=value4 And the membership is pending receipt of the snail mail application.
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ford38v8 |
07-14-2012 @ 12:10 AM
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Senior
Posts: 2763
Joined: Oct 2009
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Bill, your pick for a battery is good, but I will give you a couple of alternatives: http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/batteries/ford/2LM.html The above link to Antique Auto Battery shows a Concourse correct battery for your car. You may wish this level of correctness. http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_products/redtop/specs.php The above link to Optima shows the best quality battery available, but will require camoflage as installed. Some of the batteries offered by the previous link are actually the Optima with camoflage. Yours is not one of those. I advise comparison of the manufacturers specs and warranties. The electric pump installed by the previous oiwner is likely not serviceable for gasoline laced with ethanol as supplied in today's market. You must specify "alcohol resistant" when ordering your pump. Use a fuel filter before, and a pressure regulator after: set it to 2psi. Use worm gear clamps, never use spring clamps as provided with pumps and filters. The same alcohol resistant requirement applies to mechanical pump diaphrams, flex fuel lines, and carburetor rebuild parts. The best flex line is available through the club magazine V8 Times, mechanical pump diaphrams from several suppliers, and carburetor rebuilds must be with original leather for accelerator pumps, steel for inlet valves, and the modern power valves must be modified (machined) flat at the base of the threads to make an effective seal. You may at some point in the future have issues with rust in your tank and/or fuel line. Original copper plated steel fuel lines are available, and alcohol resistant gas tank slosh sealers are available. Key to all of this is to specify alcohol resistant parts. Do not use teflon thread sealers, not needed, and will clog passages. Alan
This message was edited by ford38v8 on 7-14-12 @ 12:25 AM
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W.B.Ervin |
07-15-2012 @ 8:15 AM
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Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Jun 2012
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That's a ton of useful information Alan! I'll give the vintage battery replica outfit a call Monday when they're open. Thank you, Bill
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TomO |
07-15-2012 @ 5:57 PM
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Senior
Posts: 7256
Joined: Oct 2009
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Bill, Alan gave you some very good information, but some of it may not apply to your car. Alan and most of the rest of us on this Forum are more familiar with the 32-48 Ford and Mercury cars, than the 49-53 cars. The 49-53 cars are quite different than the earlier cars and the Mercury is not just a stretched Ford. Ford went to steel lines with an aluminum colored coating some time after 1948. Before you buy a copper coated fuel line check with the V-8 Clubs 49-51 Mercury adviser. It is very likely that your line has rust on the inside and your tank probably rusted on the inside also. The carburetor information that he gave does not apply to your carburetor, except for buying alcohol resistant parts. Because you car is so original, I would have the fuel pump rebuilt. If yours is the dual action pump, I suggest someone like Ken Isador in Connecticut. The dual pumps are difficult to get right. Ken can also rebuild your carburetor if necessary. I suggest that you have your core rebuilt, rather than an exchange. The 49-51 Mercury carburetor core are hard to find and there are more junk ones than serviceable ones available. Alan did not explain why most of us prefer the Optima battery. It is a sealed gel cell battery. The wet cell batteries seem to generate rust on the battery tray and surrounding metal, no matter how diligent you are in keeping the area clean. The gel cell batteries do not do this and have the additional advantage of more cold cranking power available. The gel cell batteries tak much longer to self discharge that the wet cell batteries. In fact they take so long to show any discharge, that most people think that they do not self discharge. They must be charged a slower rate that the wet cell batteries, especially when the have lost half of their charge.
Tom
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ford38v8 |
07-15-2012 @ 7:05 PM
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Senior
Posts: 2763
Joined: Oct 2009
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Bill, Tom is right about my area of knowledge, my car is a '38 Ford and the last time I had a post war Ford was when I was a kid! Tom's the guy to listen to on this stuff anyway, he's a fighter, I'm a lover.
Alan
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TomO |
07-16-2012 @ 6:17 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7256
Joined: Oct 2009
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Alan, You usually have very good advice, but as you know, the 49-53 Mercury carburetors are quite different than the Fords. I am not a fighter, just like to have information as correct as I know how. Bill, I forgot to add the basic rule of wrench turning on these old cars. It "if it is not broke, don't fix it". The new parts available for these cars may not work as advertised, so replacing a part just because it is old can lead to problems. Only change one part (8 plugs is considered one part) and then test the car before proceeding with any other parts replacement.
Tom
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W.B.Ervin |
07-17-2012 @ 8:08 AM
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Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Jun 2012
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Thanks guys, plenty to consider and keep me busy. Tom, I'm a runway repairman for the Dept. of Aviation, our rule of thumb (jokingly) is "If it ain't broke we'll keep fixing it until it is!" Maybe the battery solution is to simply replace the red-top 6 volt Optima with another because I can do that locally, return the core etc. Then, if I do ever attend a Merc/Ford rally in the future, pick up the period-correct battery for show use. Bill
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TomO |
07-17-2012 @ 9:49 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7256
Joined: Oct 2009
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Bill, My Optima is installed inside a Ford wet cell battery case, so it looks original. Check with Antique Auto Battery to see if they offer this option on the Mercury battery. If not see if they will sell you a case. You can make the top. They do offer it with the Ford Script battery. Here is a link to an outfit that offers the Optima in the Mercury case. http://restorationbattery.com/2hm.html Tom
This message was edited by TomO on 7-17-12 @ 9:55 AM
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