Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I bought this '51 Merc a few months ago, and all I've been able to do due to the weather is remove the lake pipes and the dummy spots.

I'm giving some thought to swapping in an LS-based engine into the car... What do you guys think? Right now it's a crate SBC and a automatic valve body TH350.





Removing the old paint, and layers of bondo:


Yikes:


Primer:



EDIT 12 4 11 -----

I did end up repainting the car in 2010, looks like this now:

rao

iTrader: (18)

That looks GREAT!!!

I would put a LS1 in it; with a 6 speed

Leave it with me for a while and I will do it

bczee

iTrader: (12)

John
I thought we all voted for you to do a swap ! I have been waiting for some threads from you on starting ! LOL..

I would go with a carb setup to keep the old school look ! or go with with the EFI and fab up a cover over the coils and intake!...

And even if it was only a mild stocker. It would be a great cruising car and good mpg'!

IMO.. I would keep it as must as possible to the old school classic / Lead Sled look..!

Turbo LS1 SS

iTrader: (7)

definitely has potential. need to clean up the grill and bumper. i can't tell whether the paint is flat or really glossy. i wouldn't really worry about speed, just cruise it!

Lason

iTrader: (1)

Leave it the way it is and throw some flame throwers on that lead sled!

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Car is also getting repainted, grill will be stripped or replaced, and the bumpers are being replaced with a '50 front and a '51 rear.

McMerc could use some weight reduction, if I found a good deal on a LS1 or LS2 that was stock I'd probably just swap in a good sounding cam and do that.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

+1 on the cruising and just the mild Cam for the sound, This is a classic and great car that should be kept and treated with good intentions. Not Hot Rodded around any more..! but a little bit more speed never hurt anything

White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

I smell a twin turbo lsx build up with a 6 speed

Andy

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Haha um no. I can't put too much tire under it and keep the classic look so 400hp is fine.

The Cobra movie car as a comparo:

ulakovic22

iTrader: (12)

Repainted the same color or a different color? Throw in a LSx, keep it auto and maybe some nice modern updated classic looking wheels.

subtlez28

iTrader: (15)

I have one L92 left. That would put you at 403hp stock (w lotsa torque).

And +1 on deleting/swapping out those ribbed bumpers, they just don't look right.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Car will be black or red most likely.

Current bumpers are aftermarket and really wrong for the car, they are coming off.

Scooter70

iTrader: (1)

Meh, I was never big on led sleds. The McDonald's theme has to go though. They should be flat black and flames are optional. Personally, I think of them the same way I do "pro-street"... They're way overdone and their time has passed. I'm trying to figure out what you could do to be different but I'm not coming up with anything. The body looks pretty straight. The door handles are already shaved, so what is there to do other than paint and trim? Do it all flat black with flat black steel wheels, no whitewalls. I don't think it matters whether or not you go LSx, as long as it has a big bumping cam.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

That brings up a point.. with the handles shaved.. they will never let you on a saction race track.. so, unless you put the handles back on... you may as well consider your plans with at lease one more thought.

ssduane

iTrader: (3)

that thing needs some black DP primer, bumpers gone with some early style and a 540 ci BBC, with a slight minitub and 13" wide rear meats.

Keith

John, I saw you're over on the HAMB getting what looks like good help and suggestions for the car.

I think a stock LS2, LQ4 or LQ9 would do just fine in there. You could add a 200-4R if you wanted an OD trans as well. It's overall length is identical to the short tailshaft TH350, if thats what you have in there. Set it up to turn 2000rpm at 70-75mph and you'll have a sweet looking Merc that will go like stink and still cruise very well.

Codprice

sweet! Cobra is the first thing I thought of. It was my dreamcar for quite awhile till I got a current version of a lead sled, a 94 caprice.

+1 on flat black. Those mooncaps would look sweet ont he wheels maybe with a brushed alum finish

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I'll do flat black if 6,000 members each send me a dollar.

It's gonna cost a lot to strip the car to bare metal, it's really at this point a 10 footer. So gloss black or red is the plan, having some folks do some photoshops for me.

This one is not going to be a drag car, I might get a 60's car and make that a drag car, it's already lighter and it's already a low 10 second car with a 250 shot (the other car).

BLWN1

iTrader: (6)

Im sure you made enough off this site..

4 valve carb'd motor, build i to drive, I love the lsx, but keep it fomoco.. they look neat, it doesnt have to be the fastest thing does it?

Keith

Please for the love of god, don't do flat black!

I vote Tangelo.