Thread: 53 Merc....trying to get her going...need some advice

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Hello everyone! So I'm fairly new to the forum so please forgive me if I ask any questions that have been asked a million times already. Anyway, I have a 53 Merc in my 35 ford 5 window and it's been sitting for way too long. I want to get the motor running and I have a general idea of what steps i have to take to do so, but I'm in dire need of some advice.
The break down:
My father used to drive the car but he passed away about 24 years ago and it has been garaged ever since. So far I've rebuilt the carb (stromberg 97) and I drained all the fluids. I had the radiator serviced and bought a new gas tank(Bob Drake) + new fuel line. I also turned the crank bolt to see if the motor was seized and it wasn't thank god. I put new motor oil in and also removed the spark plugs and put mystery marvel oil in the spark plug holes and turned the crank bolt many times to get the oil circulating. After all that was done, the car sat for another few years, and now I'm back at it. In the past few weeks, I've started doing other things to the motor. I bought a mallory distributor + new coil because I'm doing a 12v conversion. I also bought a powergen alternator to go along with the 12v swap. While I was doing the distributor, I figured that I may as well take the heads off to see how everything looked and aside from some carbon build up on the pistons, the motor is all good just need to replace the head gaskets.

Questions:
-Coolant system: I plan on getting new water pumps for the motor, but not sure which brand to get. Also considered adding an overflow, but not sure if it's worth it....if so what type should I get? The stock generator had a fan that bolted onto the front of it, but since I got the powergen alternator, it doesn't fit. There are threads on the front of the powergen (for a fan I'm assuming) but not sure where to get the right fan & fittings to work with the powergen.
-Ignition: I bought new spark plugs and wires, the powergen alternator and coil, and I plan on getting a starter, but not sure which kind to get. was thining about a power xs starter. As I previously stated I purchased a mallory distributor and it's a dual point if I'm not mistaken. Just not sure if that is going to present a problem considering that the original 6v distributor has vacume advance on it. Also not sure if I need anything else to complete the 12v conversion on the ignition system.
-Fuel: This is my biggest problem area I purchased a bob drake gas tank but I don't know what kind of float/sender unit to get. I should mention that my car has a mechanical gas gauge that had a fuel line running into the cabin. I decided to replace it with an electric gauge that came out of the '35 delux model (I think) to eliminate the gas line in the cabin while still retaining the original gauges. Which kind of sender is should I use? Will the bob drake 12v/6v sender work with the stock gauge? I'm also presented with another problem because of the 12v conversion... I purchased runtz voltage reducers from speedway motors, but not sure if that's the right thing to use and I don't want to fry all my gauges. Here's the other problem. Do I go with an electric fuel pump or should I retain the original mechanical fuel pump? From what I understand the stock psi for the fuel is 3psi. So I'd need to buy an inline fuel pump and regulator if I wanted to go with an electric fuel pump. I'd also need a block off for the stock fuel pump on the manifold, but can't seem to find one. Considering all of this, I'm leaning towards installing a mechanical fuel pump to make things easier, but not sure which brand or model to get.

I know this alot of stuff to think about, but I'm a bit overwhelmed...especially considering that I'm not a mechanic. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Any other parts or work that should be done to get the motor running? I forgot to mention....here are a few pics of that electric gauge that I was talking about. Not sure how to wire it up....i'm assuming that one gets a 6v feed from the sender unit and the other is ground. Not sure which one is which and if I am correct about the wiring.

Here's a suggesion about your water pumps. Send your originals to Skip Haney and have them rebuilt. That way you get your originals back and no problems. He can be reached at 941-637-6698. Also, if you have not changed anything yet, get it running with the original equipment first before you start changing things. I find it much easier to change one thing at a time. That way if something doesn't work right you know where to look right away. Keep us posted.

Good advice on trying to get it started first before making all of the above stated changes.

Richard

That was exactly what I was going to post. Also from a financial standpoint I wouldn't be adding all those cool parts until you are sure the engine will crank and run. You could be bolting expensive stuff on an engine that is cracked, has frozen rings, or is otherwise unusable.

I would do the minimum to fire it up, like a simple fuel can and wiring, and go from there. Be sure to check to make sure the fuel pump diaphram isn't ruptured from age, as I think on this engine it will put fuel into the oil pan (I think).

Don

When you go to 12 volts, your starter motor will work just fine. As long as you don't have to crank, crank, crank....it will probably last forever. I bought a new Powermaster and still haven't had to install it!

Hey everyone! Thanks for all the advice....i wish i would have had it before...now i'm kind of comited to doing most of everything I mentioned. I guess for now I do want to get the motor running before I get I spend any more $ for no reason. the 12v conversion is a must for me so I'll figure that out as it comes...so now I'm a bit more confused about what I actually need to do just to get the motor going....aside from the 12v conversion i need to replace the head gaskets since the heads are already off....gas tank and lines will be done by this weekend. Anything else I should do? Thanks for the info on the starter Ford Guy

To just crank the motor up and get it running, I would just leave the original generator in position, but not hook it up. Just run off the 12 v. battery. The distributor will work just fine with a 12 v. coil. Unhook your gauges and don't worry about them now. Get fuel to the carb any way you can. Get a Speedway catalog for your water pumps and other stuff. I have an overflow tank on my truck, but nothing ever gets into it. I run the water in the radiator just above the core, leaving about 3" of space at the top of the tank. Coolant just doesn't expand that high in my case. When you get your head gaskets, you can re-use the head bolts...just put thread sealer on them, since some go into the water jackets. I would use a mechanical fuel pump for now, since you are staying with the stock intake manifold and carb.

Mac's offers a water pump rebuilding kit for $24.95 each, part# A8C-8591-KT comes with gaskets,seals bearing and shaft,and impeller.

I do not recommend rebuilding water pumps yourself. The pulleys are difficult to remove without breaking or bending and require a special puller. Save yourself a lot of trouble and either send them out to be rebuilt or buy new ones. I would have them rebuilt.

Sounds like a plan......i'm going to shoot for this weekend i'll try to take a video of the motor runing (if it does) keeping my fingers crossed ....Once again thank you for the advice everyone!

One last thing. Before you bolt the heads back on turn the motor over with a breaker bar and have someone watch each valve to make sure they are all opening and closing all the way. Sometimes valves freeze in an open position allowing the engine to turn freely but still not be correct.

Don

I think the 6v. system was positive ground....so be sure and hook up the 12v. as a negative ground. I wouldn't even worry about water pumps right now....you can fire the ol' flathead up and hear it run for few minutes even without a fan. Good advice on watching the valves move...I had to replace two of mine because they were bent...froze up and then I cranked it up. Oops!

just checked the valves...they all seem to be closing and opening properly....phew....that kinda scared me for a sec....just one less thing to worry about. Taking everyone's advice, I sent the original mechanical fuel pump out to be rebuilt, ordered new belts and a fuel sender rom Bob Drake....all the other parts are going to be put on hold as far as installation, but we'll see what a Sunday afternoon of elbow grease brings...hopefully she'll fire up and then I can commence with installing the other miscellanious parts

Made some progress over the weekend! After I took off the heads, I realized that the gaskets were caked on along with a bunch of crud. I cleaned all of the junk off + got rid of some of the carbon build up that was present on the pistons and the heads.....also painted the heads with some high temp paint....tomorrow the heads go back on, the distributer gets installed, and a new belt....i thought that i could get every thing done in one weekend boy was i in for a surprise....here got some before and after picks of the motor + the end results of the heads. I'll post more pics as they come.

Just a quick note...be careful "grinding" on those gasket surfaces. A couple of gouges and you will need to have them milled flat again. If you were'nt grinding, I'm sure you will be okay. Just a thought. They look very pretty, though!