I have recently acquired an M47 and this sure looks like the place to get details on restoration. I am planning to get this truck judged through the AACA. Not a. Lot of books out there detailing how these things rolled off the line.

Should I put out a list of questions or do one per thread? Most finish questions that I hope will be the same for Ford as Merc (but there are a lot of Mercury trucks here too).

It is a one owner truck that was given a Body of frame restoration in 1994 and hasn't seen a lot of action since then. I need to detail the engine bay for a start.



Just before getting the livery on the doors



<br/><br/>Right off the truck from BC



Nice bright metal work through out

 

If they are related questions, I would post them all in one thread, but number them, so people would make a reference to the number and reply.

Best wishes to your new project. Sounds interesting.

 

There can't be much more to do on that truck, it is very clean !

Have you tried this site: www.mercurypickup.com

Again, nice truck !

Tom

 

Ed, welcome to FTE, the best Ford Truck Forum on the world wide Web! You've already endeared yourself to us by showing us pictures of your truck. It sure is a beauty. There are a lot of guys here that prefer stock trucks.

Keep showing us more pics, like of the interior and good luck!

 

That truck looks pretty amazing already - I'd love to see more pics, and understand what you plan to do. How stock is it, and is that the direction you intend to go?


There's at least a couple other 49/50 merc truck owners hanging out here from BC - looking forward to more about your truck.


Dave

 

I see on your profile that you are in NY state - that truck travelled some distance.

 

Took a long time to get that truck from the middle of nowhere to Western NY. But is it pretty special being one owner. It was very properly restored in 94. Wiring is all correct. Interior is spotless and authentic (the original radio still works). I had a few obvious items to fix like the hex head bolts on the front bumper (why?!). But now I am getting down to judging.

1. How is the box to be finished? I am assuming flat black on the wood and metal strips.

2. The fender bolt heads in the box. Mine are black. Something tells me Ford likely left them raw.

3. I know my hose clamps are wrong. What was Ford using in the 50's?

4. Engine color. Lots of controversy here. Was it a Canadian Mercury color or a US Ford color.....It is either really dark green or black right now. It needs a refresh so I might as well get it right.

As I get into it there will be more. Judging is May 13 in Auburn IN if all goes well!

Then.....on July 1, I have a big party planned for the truck in Canada.

 

What a Great Truck !! I am sure there is someone on this site can help you with your project. I would also go over to the Ford Barn. Thanks for sharing your truck with us.

 

1. Not sure if this holds true for Mercs or not but Ford truck beds (wood and strips) were painted body color. Probably painted the same time the bed was painted.

2. Not sure, but I painted mine body color. But if the fenders were painted separately from the bed then the fender bolts may not have been painted.... Hmmm.

3. Hose clamps. Places like Mid Fifty sell reproduction vintage hose clamps. I'll include pics below, if I remember to do it!

4. Engine color. Can't help you here. Sorry.



My only remaining original clamps on my 54.



Repops I bought from MidFifty, I think. Others would sell them too.

 

I saw a couple of green ones when I was looking. One in North Van too. The one I bought, the grey one, was listed on Kijiji as Vancouver but ended up being Prince George. Not quite as easy to fly to Seattle and drive north to inspect.

I needed a green one, but the grey was just too amazing to pass up. My auto restorer passed on or it would have been stripped and repainted. As it is, I don't have anyone to trust so it stays grey.

 

Super nice truck. Since you're asking us to "pick nits" in preparation for judging, I'll ask our Canadian members to say whether the stainless windshield trim is correct, or was it, as here, a 51/52 feature as part of the Canadian equal of our Five Star Extra package. Stu

 

Wasn't the bed of the 50 F-1 steel over the wood and painted body color?

 

Good catch. It could easily be over restored. He drove it until 58. Started collecting parts in 68. Restored it in 94. He may well have 'upgraded'. I got a number of items out of him knowledge wise but some things he is not up on. I do have a pick from when it was bought but it is just a shot from the side.

 

Ugh. You might be right. The LMC truck catalog shows a steel bed for 48-52. Wood beds are listed as kits. That might be more work than fits between now and May 12.

Anybody else know for sure?

 

Welcome to the forum. Beautiful truck. I would suggest you examine AACA judging sheets carefully. You may find differences between what your research reveals and AACA documents show. Document your research and the credence thereof. All judges are not equal and do not know everything. Judging something like your truck is not like judging a model A. Most of all, enjoy the truck. Detail pictures of various areas may turn up some obvious problems.