"lil red" 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente
- Thread starter sugarmaker
- Start date
sugarmaker
Well-known member
Sal, folks,
Yes this Comet has a 289 with stock 2V carb. It does have duals and glass packs. Also has C4 auto transmission. (information hidden in post number 1)
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
Yes this Comet has a 289 with stock 2V carb. It does have duals and glass packs. Also has C4 auto transmission. (information hidden in post number 1)
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
Last edited:
sugarmaker
Well-known member
Folks,
We have been tuning and testing and learning about the 2 barrel carb on the Comet. Good instructions have helped get the choke settings much closer. The car is starting better, and not stalling.
Adjusted the trunk and hood. Some new parts coming to help clean up some details.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
We have been tuning and testing and learning about the 2 barrel carb on the Comet. Good instructions have helped get the choke settings much closer. The car is starting better, and not stalling.
Adjusted the trunk and hood. Some new parts coming to help clean up some details.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
Last edited:
sugarmaker
Well-known member
rj,
Thanks! The seat refurbishment will be a large project for the car this spring. New foam and improved seat springs for the front buckets too. I didnt realize these seats were so worn and sagging. They have been covered once in material that matches the original style very well. The plan is to reuse the current covers.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
Thanks! The seat refurbishment will be a large project for the car this spring. New foam and improved seat springs for the front buckets too. I didnt realize these seats were so worn and sagging. They have been covered once in material that matches the original style very well. The plan is to reuse the current covers.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
sugarmaker
Well-known member
Ford Barn folks,
New seat foam and the right back up light lens:
John helped look at the lens today.
Old:
new:
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
New seat foam and the right back up light lens:
John helped look at the lens today.
Old:
new:
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
sugarmaker
Well-known member
KULTULZ, 5851a,
Thanks for the positive comments. Cheryl would be tickled! We have been together since we were kids. The Comet may help us relive a few of those memories.
We are doing an oil change, filter, and maybe fuel filter change also. Then carb rebuild and the seat project. We hope to be ready for spring car cruises.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
Thanks for the positive comments. Cheryl would be tickled! We have been together since we were kids. The Comet may help us relive a few of those memories.
We are doing an oil change, filter, and maybe fuel filter change also. Then carb rebuild and the seat project. We hope to be ready for spring car cruises.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
sugarmaker
Well-known member
Ford Barn folks,
The Comet project is moving along nicely.
Changed the oil and filter. Also changed the fuel filter canister.
The seats are being reupholstered, improving the spring system and new foam. Also going to move the seat back a couple inches and try it.
Carb has been rebuilt with new gaskets and a good cleaning. The car is running much better on several starts:
Adjusted the drivers door latch post on the door jam just a smidge. Working like a new one!
In the shop living room for a needed bath.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
The Comet project is moving along nicely.
Changed the oil and filter. Also changed the fuel filter canister.
The seats are being reupholstered, improving the spring system and new foam. Also going to move the seat back a couple inches and try it.
Carb has been rebuilt with new gaskets and a good cleaning. The car is running much better on several starts:
Adjusted the drivers door latch post on the door jam just a smidge. Working like a new one!
In the shop living room for a needed bath.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
slumlord44
Senior Member
Love it. I’ve had 3 65’s over the years back in the day. I had both a Calante and a Cyclone. Am I wrong or is this a Caliente with a Cycone interior? I’m not criticizing just relating my experience.
Jeff Norwell
Senior Member
That is one beautiful Merc. Just Lovely.
Greg Rogers
Junior Member
Love that car!!
sugarmaker
Well-known member
Oldmics2, slumlord 44th, Jeff, Greg, Folks,
Mic,
Thanks for the compliments on the old Comet.
Slumlord 44th,
I believe that the interior is correct factory buckets and console from the factory.
Jeff,
Thanks! Wow you do amazing work! Might need a Comet drawing added to your works too! Just saying.....
Greg,
Thanks, We have talked somewhere?? Maybe on the 32??
Update on the Comet:
cleaned up the back of the center console
The wood insert is my own creation. Black Walnut shaped to fit in where the unobtainable plastic insert went.
Had new foam installed over the old springs and under the old covers. Local shop did a nice job making this happen and look good in a couple weeks. Seats are now much more supportive. Spring was broke and repaired.
I made custom rails to set the seats rearward 3 inches. Rails can be removed to return seats to stock positions.
Re stripped the arm rest and painted it again with SEm white.
Installed a repro mirror on the passengers door today. I even moved it back from the more correct position so I could see out of it:
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
Mic,
Thanks for the compliments on the old Comet.
Slumlord 44th,
I believe that the interior is correct factory buckets and console from the factory.
Jeff,
Thanks! Wow you do amazing work! Might need a Comet drawing added to your works too! Just saying.....
Greg,
Thanks, We have talked somewhere?? Maybe on the 32??
Update on the Comet:
cleaned up the back of the center console
The wood insert is my own creation. Black Walnut shaped to fit in where the unobtainable plastic insert went.
Had new foam installed over the old springs and under the old covers. Local shop did a nice job making this happen and look good in a couple weeks. Seats are now much more supportive. Spring was broke and repaired.
I made custom rails to set the seats rearward 3 inches. Rails can be removed to return seats to stock positions.
Re stripped the arm rest and painted it again with SEm white.
Installed a repro mirror on the passengers door today. I even moved it back from the more correct position so I could see out of it:
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
Last edited:
sugarmaker
Well-known member
Folks,
Continuing to make minor improvements to the 65. The carb needed the float reset, to allow more fuel in the bowl. That seems to allow it to run better.
Cheryl and I have driven to several local ice cream shops! It always gets looks and comments.
Yesterday I reworked the door weather strip that was falling off.
Also added a little brake fluid. Washed the exterior and Adam cleaned some of the chrome with a nevrdull polish.
Getting ready for car cruise ins, and several car shows.
My tractor events may take a back seat as I need to spend much more time with Cheryl.
Hope things are good in Ford land!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
Continuing to make minor improvements to the 65. The carb needed the float reset, to allow more fuel in the bowl. That seems to allow it to run better.
Cheryl and I have driven to several local ice cream shops! It always gets looks and comments.
Yesterday I reworked the door weather strip that was falling off.
Also added a little brake fluid. Washed the exterior and Adam cleaned some of the chrome with a nevrdull polish.
Getting ready for car cruise ins, and several car shows.
My tractor events may take a back seat as I need to spend much more time with Cheryl.
Hope things are good in Ford land!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
sugarmaker
Well-known member
Folks,
Several 50 mile rides with friends and to ice cream stops along the way too.
Still tuning but getting better and still learning!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
Several 50 mile rides with friends and to ice cream stops along the way too.
Still tuning but getting better and still learning!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
sugarmaker
Well-known member
RKS.PA, folks,
The ice cream trips with lots of 50's music seem to be a good thing for both of us!
We have a car show in our little town this Saturday but the weather is not going to be great. So we may travel to the tractor plow day with the Allis D17 and two bottom Dearborn plows attached? Will try to get some pictures too.
I still feel that the Comet has a slight miss at various times. More checking and tuning required I guess?
Noticed differential leak on right rear wheel. Ordered seals and gaskets from NAPA for that project. Have never pulled an axle on a car before. So that should be fun.
John and I did manage to remove the chrome eyelids on the headlights. I think I like it better with just the full bulb look.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
The ice cream trips with lots of 50's music seem to be a good thing for both of us!
We have a car show in our little town this Saturday but the weather is not going to be great. So we may travel to the tractor plow day with the Allis D17 and two bottom Dearborn plows attached? Will try to get some pictures too.
I still feel that the Comet has a slight miss at various times. More checking and tuning required I guess?
Noticed differential leak on right rear wheel. Ordered seals and gaskets from NAPA for that project. Have never pulled an axle on a car before. So that should be fun.
John and I did manage to remove the chrome eyelids on the headlights. I think I like it better with just the full bulb look.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
RKS.PA
Well-known member
Hi, Chris,
Pulling your right axle is no big deal compared with pulling one on John's coupe!!! At least I'm hoping that's the case for you!!!
By the way, you might pose a quiz on here to see how many of us know what a "two bottom plow" is. (I'm a farm kid and I know!!!)
Regards,
Dick.
Pulling your right axle is no big deal compared with pulling one on John's coupe!!! At least I'm hoping that's the case for you!!!
By the way, you might pose a quiz on here to see how many of us know what a "two bottom plow" is. (I'm a farm kid and I know!!!)
Regards,
Dick.