My new project. And introduction.

AZMerc39 said:
I will keep it as original as possible while making is usable for todays world. I saw one of these 39 sedans with way more done to it than i want to do to mine still go for $20,000. That was 350 SBC swap, positrac rear end, different steering column and wheel, two piece front seats, etc.

I just want modern day usability since i do not plan to make it a weekend only car. They are meant to be driven, and that's what i want to do. But the world is vastly different than almost 90 years ago.
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Ken, Yes, I agree with your need of air conditioning in Arizona, so I guess it's a SBC in the works for you. That's the easiest way to get where you need to be.
Something else did catch my eye, though, something that most rodders never consider... you mentioned two piece seats? I take that to mean buckets? Don't for a minute think that any seat replacement could be anywhere near as comfortable as your stock Ford/Mercury seats of the era. Think twice before replacing your armchair luxury.
 
knobsoup@gmail.com
Keith Lee

Keith makes great reproductions of knobs/steering wheels/horn button/etc. He made a '40 MERC button spare
for my car.
My son has my ' 40 4door convertible now. Love the car. Do you have the air heater? They are being reproduced now.
Clem
 
ford38v8 said:
Ken, Yes, I agree with your need of air conditioning in Arizona, so I guess it's a SBC in the works for you. That's the easiest way to get where you need to be.
Something else did catch my eye, though, something that most rodders never consider... you mentioned two piece seats? I take that to mean buckets? Don't for a minute think that any seat replacement could be anywhere near as comfortable as your stock Ford/Mercury seats of the era. Think twice before replacing your armchair luxury.
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Im going to keep a Flathead in it. Im just saying thats what i saw. I will see of I can find it again. They were still larger seats, but not racing bucket seats
 
ford38v8 said:
Ken, Yes, I agree with your need of air conditioning in Arizona, so I guess it's a SBC in the works for you. That's the easiest way to get where you need to be.
Something else did catch my eye, though, something that most rodders never consider... you mentioned two piece seats? I take that to mean buckets? Don't for a minute think that any seat replacement could be anywhere near as comfortable as your stock Ford/Mercury seats of the era. Think twice before replacing your armchair luxury.
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Oops, it was a coup, not a sedan. But it actually went for $40k.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1939-mercury-coupe-custom/
 
I saw a picture of a 40s Mercury once with a small a/c unit mounted on an 8BA/8CM engine once, don't remember where. The engine had a small 4 barrel carburetor & aluminum heads. Just saying; someone's done it.
 
mfirth said:
I saw a picture of a 40s Mercury once with a small a/c unit mounted on an 8BA/8CM engine once, don't remember where. The engine had a small 4 barrel carburetor & aluminum heads. Just saying; someone's done it.
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I know i saw some adapters for a compressor on speedway. But the Radiator is the bigger issue. I found some with condensers but not with the correct ports. So i am on the lookout for those still.
 
https://vintageair.com/ford-1937-1948-compressor-and-alternator-flathead-mount-bracket/

131002__77645.1728678228.webp
 
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showpost.php?p=690384&postcount=14

Default Re: air conditioning on a flathead?
I put A/C on my 40 Ford more than 10 years ago. I have driven anywhere I desired without engine overheating regardless of the terrain or temperature. That includes over the Rocky Mountains, in August, to Bonneville from southern Georgia. That trip was with STOCK Ford waterpumps and STOCK Ford radiator. I installed a blow-through electric fan on the condenser to help the exchange rate at low speeds to provide cold air from the A/C. The fan is not used at highway speed and it is a restriction to maximum air flow. But, still NO OVERHEATING. I have since changed to a Walker radiator with their condenser because the stock radiator braces repeatedly broke loose from the top tank. I think the extra weight of the condenser and blow-through fan contributed to the breakage. I still have the stock waterpumps in place. I suggest the Walker radiator with their condenser because the recovery rate of the radiator is superior and the condenser is a nice arrangement. I built my brackets and special reinforcement gadget at the front of my aluminum intake manifold. These days there are brackets advertised in magazines(as noted above) and they should work OK. I would only add that some aluminum intake manifolds are not well designed at the generator mount so they might not handle the additional loading. The Edmunds on my car was one such example.
 
glennpm said:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showpost.php?p=690384&postcount=14

Default Re: air conditioning on a flathead?
I put A/C on my 40 Ford more than 10 years ago. I have driven anywhere I desired without engine overheating regardless of the terrain or temperature. That includes over the Rocky Mountains, in August, to Bonneville from southern Georgia. That trip was with STOCK Ford waterpumps and STOCK Ford radiator. I installed a blow-through electric fan on the condenser to help the exchange rate at low speeds to provide cold air from the A/C. The fan is not used at highway speed and it is a restriction to maximum air flow. But, still NO OVERHEATING. I have since changed to a Walker radiator with their condenser because the stock radiator braces repeatedly broke loose from the top tank. I think the extra weight of the condenser and blow-through fan contributed to the breakage. I still have the stock waterpumps in place. I suggest the Walker radiator with their condenser because the recovery rate of the radiator is superior and the condenser is a nice arrangement. I built my brackets and special reinforcement gadget at the front of my aluminum intake manifold. These days there are brackets advertised in magazines(as noted above) and they should work OK. I would only add that some aluminum intake manifolds are not well designed at the generator mount so they might not handle the additional loading. The Edmunds on my car was one such example.
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Thank you. Im going to have to try to find out which he used.
 
About a decade ago one of the local car club members in Houston restored a 41 Mercury sedan and added air conditioning using the Vintage Air mounting kit. The engine ran hot. He found he had to make brackets and move the condenser forward of the radiator, towards the grill. After moving the condenser everything was good. He sold the car after his wife quit riding with him on tours.
The car is now owned by friends of mine in central Texas, the wife drives the car daily to work even in the summer.


The point is you can have a mostly stock Mercury that runs on pump gas, goes reasonably fast (65 with stock gearing, 80+ with overdrive), and has air conditioning. As everyone above has said, you need to plan ahead, but it is worth it when everything works out.
 
There was a '52 or so Ford pickup at Springfield - flathead with air. Did not look at setup close. I was likely getting too hot at the time with temp in the high 90's.
 
ford38v8 said:
Ken, Yes, I agree with your need of air conditioning in Arizona, so I guess it's a SBC in the works for you. That's the easiest way to get where you need to be.
Something else did catch my eye, though, something that most rodders never consider... you mentioned two piece seats? I take that to mean buckets? Don't for a minute think that any seat replacement could be anywhere near as comfortable as your stock Ford/Mercury seats of the era. Think twice before replacing your armchair luxury.
Click to expand...

i cant understand why people put in a diffrent seat in any old car, the ones they put in look very uncomfertable, and puts you into a weird position
 
38 coupe said:
About a decade ago one of the local car club members in Houston restored a 41 Mercury sedan and added air conditioning using the Vintage Air mounting kit. The engine ran hot. He found he had to make brackets and move the condenser forward of the radiator, towards the grill. After moving the condenser everything was good. He sold the car after his wife quit riding with him on tours.
The car is now owned by friends of mine in central Texas, the wife drives the car daily to work even in the summer.


The point is you can have a mostly stock Mercury that runs on pump gas, goes reasonably fast (65 with stock gearing, 80+ with overdrive), and has air conditioning. As everyone above has said, you need to plan ahead, but it is worth it when everything works out.
Click to expand...

It will be worth it to be able to drive in our summers here. I want to keep it mostly stock, but modern/daily usability is the goal. I have no idea if i have O/D or not. I will also need to upgrade the brakes, since it appears that i only have mechanical brakes. Someone up the road opted for the heater, but not the good brakes. I should also look to see if they came with any sort of insulation under the carpet, and headliner. If not, add some.
 
AZMerc39 said:
It will be worth it to be able to drive in our summers here. I want to keep it mostly stock, but modern/daily usability is the goal. I have no idea if i have O/D or not. I will also need to upgrade the brakes, since it appears that i only have mechanical brakes. Someone up the road opted for the heater, but not the good brakes. I should also look to see if they came with any sort of insulation under the carpet, and headliner. If not, add some.
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Every '39 Merc (or Ford for that matter) I've ever seen has hydraulic brakes. What makes you think you have mechanical brakes?
 
tubman said:
Every '39 Merc (or Ford for that matter) I've ever seen has hydraulic brakes. What makes you think you have mechanical brakes?
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Well, you see, I'm a bit of an idiot. I thought that because the res isn't where i'm used to them being. After doing to more research, it seems like its under the car somewhere? Unfortunately, the car isn't parked at my house due to a multitude of reasons, so I'm unable to crawl around it whenever i want. So i didnt see it on the firewall, so i assumed it wasnt there.

The second reason is when looking at rebuild kits for wheel bearings and seals, there were kits under the '39-40 Merc section that were optioned for mechanical brakes and hydro brakes.
 
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