"lil red" 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente

[sugarmaker]

Dick, Folks,
We had fun plowing and I do have pictures. We plowed about 10 acres before we got rained out.
On the Comet, John and I took a look at the vent on the differential. It was plugged. Got that vent cleaned out. Have drove maybe 50 -60 miles and have not had any more leaks. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Just replaced a nearly rotten rubber fuel line on the Comet. It may not have been replaced for a long time?
I may have to take the carb off and clean it more thoroughly? I am still learning on these for sure. It has a miss and it may be in the carb passages?
Cheryl and I are planning a trip around our local state park in Erie (Presque Isle) tomorrow evening with our AACA club. Hope to get a good group of our cars out for a spring tour.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
Some picture updates
John and our car at the White Turkey ice cream stand:




Still tuning and learning on the Comet. had the carb off and cleaned again. New repro short yellow top coil. We also had a plug with zero gap! That did not help the engine perform as it should. Next up will be a new idler arm and bracket to improve the steering

Our Comet at my high school


Comet friend Mike R and his awesome 65 Cyclone at local show:



Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
Swapped front buckets seats for a better ride.









The new idler arm improved the steering on the Comet. This is the worn old one, it had about a 1/16 inch of slop.


Several other carb parts coming next week to see if the surging can be eliminated?
Hope things are good? We have car shows several times a week and ice cream trips if we run out of things to do.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[sugarmaker]

Ford folks,
The comet is running and driving better. Like a lot of these cars that are 60 years old they need some maintenance and attention and driving!
Will set timing up a tad to about 9 degrees BTDC and also check fuel level in the float bowl while it's running. Wish me
luck.

We have had many trips for ice cream with the weather being great!
Regards,

[RKS.PA]

Chris, she's looking better and better. Love that interior!! And judging from your posts and pictures, you, Cheryl, and John are having more fun than anyone has a right to!!!!

Betting everyday when you go out to see the "lil red", it just makes you smile!!!

Cheers,

Dick.

[sugarmaker]

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RKS.PA, Folks,
We all have been having fun with the old cars! Today we drove the Comet and John drove his wife's 55 to our AACA car show. We had a good day and stopped for dinner on the way back home.
Cheryl and i have a car show tomorrow night in Erie and a car cruise somewhere almost every day of the week if we wanted. Good to test on the Comet! Found out today from the nephew of one of the previous owners that the Comet has been repainted a couple times and had some minor body work done. car did come up to Erie from Tenn. I remember the guys uncle because he had a 1955 Crown in pink and white years ago. Always reminded me of the 55 Crown Cheryl and i had for 30 years.
We are looking forward to visiting with friends next week at the Early V8 meet in Auburn next week too.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
Still working with the Comet. Replaced most of the front suspension and steering components. In for alignment today hop to get it back in a few days. Found or hearing a issue in left front wheel area.
We also added new front disc brakes and dual master cylinder.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[sugarmaker]

Folks,
John and I took the Comet for a spin around the block. Within a mile of our house we stopped to look at a 1941 Srudebaker four door. A Commander model, in very good original condition. It needs about the same things as Johns 46 Ford. Brakes probably need work. Car has the straight 6 Cylinder engine. And the owner says it runs pretty good with under 60K miles. It's a family car. Pretty cool to see another barn find that hasn't been on the road in 20+ years. (we had to rinse and wipe the Comet off when we got home)

Back to the Comet.
Here are some pictures from this fall as Cheryl and I spent a lot of time taking rides:
These were from Presque Isle in Erie. This is a very nice ride around the 17 mile park with many places to stop and view Lake Erie.








Several things we did after the front end work was to put new tires on the front. They are all the same size at this time. Also have had the front end aligned. I am much more comfortable to run the Comet up to 60 and it steers pretty good.

Hope things are good out there as we head into some weather with wind, rain and maybe some snow.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[KULTULZ]

That is one CLEAN COMET!

The MAGNUM 500's really set it off.

Will you be bedding her down soon for winter?

[sugarmaker]

KULTULZ,
Thanks! I like those period correct Ford Magnum wheels also. It was one of the things I wanted to keep on the "lil red Comet". Yes the weather is heading towards winter. But if the roads are dry it may come out at any time to take a ride! Its running and driving pretty well after all the work last spring. We took it to Erie for pizza several times last month. One of the things planned for this winter is to replace the rear springs with some new Eaton units.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[sugarmaker]

Guys,
I did get a nice car cover for the Comet.


some other pics from last month when I was bored:
























Happy New Year!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[miker98038]

Happy New Year to you, too. I really have enjoyed reading your posts and adventures with that gorgeous car.

[Ford blue blood]

Very nice! My ride with the 61 S-22 will be starting soon. Still in the "Frozen Tundra", will put a couple of pics up when we get home.

[Ford56]

That Caliente looks so good, in every single picture. I luv looking at your car.

[RKS.PA]

Happy New Year, Chris and Cheryl!!! Yes, "lil red" is a beauty and thanks for posting the latest pictures!! That car cover will keep her toasty, even though I think your shop is heated!!

How long before the Maple Syrup operation cranks up!! Sure has been cold enough in your parts for the sap to be getting ready??

Regards,

Dick.

[sugarmaker]

Mike, Bill, Ford 56, and Dick,
Thanks! Just adding some pictures for folks to get enthused about their cars or projects, during the winter months!

I really like the 56 Victoria! I look often for one, but I really don't need another car! We had a 55 Crown Vic when we were young and owned it for about 30 years. I did a shade tree restoration on it and we had some fun with it.

Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[Flathead Fever]

I had a 4-spd '65 Cyclone around 1984, kind of wish I still had it. My friend drove it to college and when he got out school, I bought it from him for $400.00. It had a big cam, Offenhauser intake, headers, reworked heads with big valves. By the time he was out of school it had burned valve, and the clutch was just about gone. I bought it and pulled the heads and had a valve job done on them and put new clutch in it, kept it a month and sold it for $1200.00. It was a good running car; it could beat my '66 Shelby GT-350 which I still have. When he was in high school, we'd all pile in it and go to the beach. It had a huge trunk for beach trips.

[mhsprecher]

Always liked them.

[1942deluxe]

cyclone.jpg
My 65 Cyclone in front of our first home back in 1981.

[51504bat]