I need a V8 in my life

[181]

Hello everybody, I wanted to introduce myself and may to ask for help. Let me make a short introduction.

I´m 36 years old white collar, I live in the Czech Republic in the heart of Europe, and since my young years I´m involved with old bikes and cars. My father always had a small collection of vintage Indian motorcycles and as soon as I was approaching my driving licence age, I started toying with aircooled Volkswagens. Having reached many goals in the area of old VW´s (including a bus, a super rare Swiss VW Type 147 and a military Type 181 look it up on google if you are interested, also being involved in aircooled VW 1/4 mile racing with my self-bilt engines) and being partially still involved in vintage Indian scene, in swing dancing and with wife interested in period fashion, I started to look for a vintage american car!

Because of my visit on a meeting in Italy I fell in love with a ´46 Mercury Eight 4 door sedan, which would suit my taste very well, but it´s impossible to locate such car in Europe. No offers on hand. So - I´m able to buy a car in the USA, having my own shipper who can pick at seller´s place. I´m looking for an original, running car, very preserved car, which I can take care of. I´m looking for recommendations on Fords and Mercurys from the period, preferably with 239, preferably 4 door sedans, but I´d swallow a coupe too.
If you know on any good opportunities, advertisments, please let me know. Any tips will be very welcomed!

I should mention I have not sold any of my old cars, I still have them as I bult a connection to them. So the car I´ll buy will be in the best hands. Looking forward to be on The Barn with my own V8!

[Clem Clement]

Best wishes. Great pursuit. Have you looked in the Hemming's Magazine? Take your time

[1Tudoor]

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds...t/1980709.html

Looks decent for the price

[19Fordy]

181: Here's a 48 Merc you might like. Don't know if it's still for sale. Buy one that is complete with good chrome and all the small parts as they are harder to find than Fords of
similar years..
https://classics.autotrader.com/clas...dels/100909217

[tubman]

That black one on AutoTrader looks good to me, especially what I can see of the chrome trim. You can use the money you save on plating to buy some stock wheels.

[petehoovie]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Keep an eye on the The Early Ford V8 Club Classified Ads here > https://www.earlyfordv8.org/classifi...&c=Automobiles

You'll find mostly original cars at that website....I just sold two of my cars using that site....

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by tubman

That black one on AutoTrader looks good to me.

I'd have to wonder what the real reason is for that 12v lawn mower battery behind the grill. DD

[rotorwrench]

Welcome on the barn. You need to find a car that is as close to complete as possible. The parts for Mercury cars are even somewhat hard to find over here in the US. My Mercury cars are the later 1951 models but there are still a fair amount of late 40s models out there. The dash pieces are very hard to find now. They were reproduced for a time but the fellow that made them died a few years back. Most offerings are the Ford car type now and they don't fit.

[Mart]

Ford and mercury V8s come up for sale in Europe quite often. You're not looking in the right places.

There's a big auction coming up in Holland with lots of good stuff included.

https://www.epic-auctions.com/auctio...-classic-cars/

Mart

[Karl]

Welcome Here is a very good place to start I lurked her for 3 years before I brought by 1934 V8 -Knew exactly what to look for .

Living overseas myself I can tell you you are much better to buy locally (as I did) . Once you factor exchange rates, Shipping both to port and overseas
and possible import duties it gets very expensive. On top of this if you are sensible you will arrange an inspection and pay by Escow.

Finally in the end you will end up spending a lot of money for an unknown car. I have friends who have gone through the process and been very happy I have others who have gone the whole distance and received a car that has passed "professional" inspection and is 40% undeclared fibreglass . Another bought a 1909 Buick that arrived minus all the (unobtainable ) brass headlamps that were present in the sale photos . Not a great feeling and virtually nothing you can do to sort it out from the other side of the world !

Karl

[1931 flamingo]

That battery is for the 12V horns.
Paul in CT

[JM 35 Sedan]

"I need a V8 in my life"

I felt the same way when I was 15 years old and still feel that way 50+ years later. Go for it, and welcome to the Fordbarn!! When you get that early Ford V-8, please consider joining the Early Ford V-8 Club.

[TagMan]

"I should mention I have not sold any of my old cars, I still have them as I bult a connection to them."

Can you post some pictures of your cars - would love to see them.

[181]

Hello, thank you for the welcome and thank you for great tips so far. I started chasing some sellers, and setting up principles of transport, fees, taxes, registrations etc. I bought cars all around Europe, but importing from the States is new for me.

This is one of the odd cars I rebuilt, modified and used for few years before i moved to other project. A 1971 Volkswagen Typ 181 with 2276 ccm engine rated at 180 flywheel HP.

[181]

This is 1973 Volkswagen Typ 147, very rare model built on a chassis of Karmann Ghia, using VW beetle powerplant. Purpose car for postal serviceds in Switzerland. Rumor is 200 were built, but very small number of them survived.

[181]

At the moment I´m avaiting authorisation for Epic Auctions above as I really decided to get a Ford locally. Will get back soon :-)

[FrankWest]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld8eAH0MW00

sorry, don't know what came over me.

[Russ/40]

Pm sent. A great car

[Chris]

My Dad has a 37 Fordor slant back sedan he will be selling soon. Nice running and driving car, needs interior finished and the bumpers/grill rechromed. He restored the body and frame 25 years ago.

[181]

Hello, my another car is finished after two years of restoration work.

[Pat/Ohio]

181....There is what appears to be a super nice original 1947 Mercury 4dr listed on the Early Ford V-8 Club site. Try this link:

https://www.earlyfordv8.org/classifi...biles&id=11570

If that link doesn't work for you...try www.efv8.org then go to classified ads.

Good luck, Pat

[181]

Hello Pat, thank you, I´ll try to contact the seller!
Thank you for your effort.

[181]

Here we go again. After the deal fell through I got frustrated and enjoyed my aircooled VWs in the past year. Now I ´m out again for a good car to enjoy:

I´m looking for a 4 door sedan (not interested in other body styles) to enjoy with my family. Preferably Mercury, but very good Ford also considered.

Preferably 1939 (sloped headlamps), or later 1946-47 car.

The car has to be very nice, preferably low mileage, preferably original inside and out, well sorted out and working.

Please let me know what you have, any help in finding right car for me very appreciated! Any location will be considered.

[oldbugger]

Welcome, interesting stuff you have there. There is a few of us here that seem to think old VWs and old Fords seem to work well togather. Paul

[181]

Hello again. After some years and ill fated attempts I finally bought a car. Not a V8, but a V12. It is a 1939 Zephyr from late member of LZOC. It has a total mileage of about 60 000 and at this moment it is in transit to my place. Getting excited, already found a replacement tail lamp lens, bought oil and filters, contracted a steering wheel recast. Now I would like to find Columbia rear operation manual and at least one spare headlamp lens. I´m getting very excited as I´m only few days from driving it!

[Steve in Denver]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Biggest recommendation is, "Buy one that you can see for yourself", or "one a Barner" can verify its existence and condition for you. If no one can actually see it, it probably doesn't exist. Too many scammers out there.

[Zeke3]

Great to hear you found a car that fits what you were looking for. That car should have plenty of room for the family. Let us know when it arrives.

[John Gibson]

There is a 1946 Mercury 4 door for sale on The Early Ford V8 site that appears mostly original. Car is located in Nebraska, USA for 15k

[mercman from oz]

1940 Ford Deluxe Convertible For Sale

https://www.earlyfordv8.org/classifi...biles&id=16974

[38 coupe]

Congratulations on getting the Zephyr, we need more pictures of the car!
Get a reproduction copy of the Columbia axle "Owner Manual & Primer" from Columbia Two Speed Parts: http://www.columbiatwospeedparts.com/index.cfm

[JM 35 Sedan]

We're all excited as well . That's a great car you have found. More pictures please, and keep us posted on your progress.

[38 coupe]

Any updates on the Zephyr? Inquiring minds want to know!

[181]

Hello and thanks for asking!

The car arrived to Europe after almost 2.5 months from which it spent the most in Georgia waiting for shipping container. Then it spent almost 14 days on the sea. From the port in Germany to my place (about 700 miles) it went on a trailer.

After its arrival I had to install a new Optima and feed the carb from a syringe, but the engine started very quickly and the car went from a trailer with its own power.

I changed the engine oil for 10W30, transmission oil for 80W140 and the differential oil for 80W90. I went by viscosities in Zephyr owners manual and purchased oils from https://www.rektol-klassik.de/en/, a company in Germany which makes broad range oils in old specifications.

I had to change one of the tail lamp lenses as the original was cracked and glued together and fan belt. I also started servicing and greasing the lubrication points on the chassis, waterpumps and generator, also various linkages and front wheel bearings, cleaned the differential case from a layer of mud and grease and preparing to give the chassis some anti-rust protection. Linseed oil and wax I think.

Water temp gauge and fuel gauge is out of order, front emblem is damaged and othere are telescopic shock absorbers are fitted in place of lever shock absorbers. Those problems will be remedied slowly. Exhaust systeem is faily new and very well put together so I´ll leave it in placefor now although the silencer is apparently not original. I purchased some spare part lists and manuals to help me.

We are in full autumn here so i think now it´s time for proper road registration. I will have to retrofit turn signals, which are mandatory here. We did some very short trips in the neigborhood as usage of unregistered vehicle is a big no - no here. It drives traight, it brakes, it upshifts very well, it downshifts from 3rd to 2nd very well,from 2nd to 1st I have to go to almost full stop. I´m used to drive non-synchronised transmissions so I usually double clutch on downshifts and double step on upshifts to save the transmission internals as much as possible.

There is a nice V12 engine for sale in the US headers, generator, distributor and carburetor. It´s viisually perfect, may be removed from car in early stage of its life or a rebuild (the owner does not know much). As I´m in the middle of "No Lincoln continent" I think it would be nice to have a spare engine on hand! How much should I pay for it? Condition of internals is unknown.

[1936Tudor]

Wow!! nice car. congratulations

my two cents: do not use Linseed oil for the chassis. It will stay tacky, dirt and humidity will stick to it and accelerate corrosion.

Use Owatrol. It penetrates rust, hardens and creates a closed surface. No further corrosion. You should find it on amazon.de

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 1936Tudor

Wow!! nice car. congratulations

my two cents: do not use Linseed oil for the chassis. It will stay tacky, dirt and humidity will stick to it and accelerate corrosion.

Use Owatrol. It penetrates rust, hardens and creates a closed surface. No further corrosion. You should find it on amazon.de

https://www.owatrolusa.com/product/owatrol-oil/


https://www.amazon.com/Owatrol-Oil-L...4837926&sr=8-5


Rust inhibitor which penetrates deeply until it reaches the sound metal below.


Drives out moisture and air, stabilizing the rust and preventing it from reforming.

[181]

Thank you for the warning on raw linseed oil. I'm very familiar to owatrol, I have several cans on hand anytime and that is what I'm going to use. I was convinced that Owatrol is linseed based with some drying additives, but maybe I was wrong all the time. So yes I will use Owatrol to penetrate rust and then some nice wax coating after Owatrol cures.

[1936Tudor]

all is good then, it seems I was preaching to the choir.

[Colin S]

Congratulations on the purchase of the 1939 Zephyr. You need to join the Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club, www.lzoc.org. I am the Foreign Correspondent based just outside London, England and have 3 LZs.

[181]

Hi Colin, nice to -virtually- meet you!

For the cold starts I went through choke assembly and hand throttle assembly during past weekend, which were tough in their bowden tubes. I just carefully disassembled, cleaned, dusted off and oiled everything. Now everything works smooth. I use very light oil with molybden sulphide added to it. It works very well for oiling bowden tubes.

Next task is the fuel gauge, which is not working at all, water temp gauge, where the sensor may be suspect (it is parking at hot, but after starting and driving it stays cold all the time) and oil temp gauge, which is showing approximately 2/3 of the pressure then the aftermarket oil pressure gauge which is added under the dash.

[Colin S]

Good to hear from you. The sender in the gas tank may be stuck. This is easliy accessible from a small removable panel on the trunk floor. To test the gauge remove the wire from the unit and momentarily touch it to the car body/chassis with the ignition turned on and the gauge should go to full. If this works then the problem is with the sender unit in he tank. I have successful used the Bob Drake reproduction unit 99A-9275 (US$35) as this will work on 6 or 12 volts. The water gauge is correct as starting in 1939 it parks on hot and will change to cold when the ignition is turned on. You may have an incorrect oil pressure sender unit as there are two types and they both look the same.If the after market gauge is connected direct to the engine that will be more accurate. Hope this is useful...Colin.

[Tinker]

Zephyrs are such cool cars. Nice one! plus two cylinders!

[tubman]

Uhh, Tinker; eight and two make ten. Every Zephyr I have seen has twelve cylinders.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by tubman

Uhh, Tinker; eight and two make ten. Every Zephyr I have seen has twelve cylinders.

Yes they do! DD

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by tubman

Uhh, Tinker; eight and two make ten. Every Zephyr I have seen has twelve cylinders.

My mistake, in haste. But I could probably say I meant 2 on each side. hahaha. Guess I need to re-read things here. Like the zephyrs, almost bought one. Probably a timeout. Let the agreement comments commence...

[181]

So I removed the fuel sending unit. It is the original King Seeley unit and it was quite rusty, at first sight I thought I will have to throw it away. I gave it a good cleaning, greased the plain bearings of the float arm and tried its function. The electrical part is working and so is my original gauge, and I just ordered new float and gasket and will give it a chance. There definitely is fun in repairing and restoring things, not just changing them out for new stuff- we will see!
I also found out the unit is holding on 5 screws only, the 6th has its head sheared off, so I ordered a bolt extractor and will try to fix that.