1963 Comet Custom Build Thread

[JCBond]

I have read a bit about that crazy transition thing. That one inner tie rod, the driver's side, is different from my old ones. But there is a lot of stuff on this car that doesn't seem right. So much has been changed.

[Joe Travers]

Check the fitment tab on the website.
329R- 1963 MERCURY COMET 3.6L/221CI, 4.3L/260CI - WITH MANUAL STEERING, DRIVER & PASSENGER INNER; WITH POWER STEERING, PASSENGER INNER ONLY

329L-1963 MERCURY COMET 3.6L/221CI, 4.3L/260CI - WITH POWER STEERING, DRIVER INNER

So yeah, left and right inners for power steering. Need two 329R for manual steering.

Joe

[JCBond]

Check the fitment tab on the website.
329R- 1963 MERCURY COMET 3.6L/221CI, 4.3L/260CI - WITH MANUAL STEERING, DRIVER & PASSENGER INNER; WITH POWER STEERING, PASSENGER INNER ONLY

329L-1963 MERCURY COMET 3.6L/221CI, 4.3L/260CI - WITH POWER STEERING, DRIVER INNER

So yeah, left and right inners for power steering. Both 329R for manual steering.

Joe

Yes you are right. I didn't even think of the difference between manual and power. I was just looking at '63 and V8.

That 329L is limited to power steering. Thanks for looking closely at that!! I even had email exchanges with them and stated I had manual steering. I just went back and found the emails. I will get that one exchanged. Thanks again.

[JCBond]

Ohh man new six leaf springs came today. GeneralSpringKC is a great company. That was fast.

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[Joe Travers]

Ohh man new six leaf springs came today. GeneralSpringKC is a great company. That was fast.

Dude, that was fast!

Joe

[JCBond]

A friend of mine stopped by yesterday to visit and looked and my car and asked did they really put that many speakers in the shelf in that thing when it came out. I didn't know what to tell him. I understand they were not speaker housings but what are they for and why did they do it like that?

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[A/FX]

A friend of mine stopped by yesterday to visit and looked and my car and asked did they really put that many speakers in the shelf in that thing when it came out. I didn't know what to tell him. I understand they were not speaker housings but what are they for and why did they do it like that?



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Two reasons, the stamped holes with formed edges give the panel strength, if it was flat it would “oil can” and be as strong. Also it gives multiple choices for speaker location.
( they also make perfect openings for roll bar supports!)

[JCBond]

After months and months of suspension and steering work, floor pans, under carriage cleaning and painting, paint stripping and body work, I finally got this thing back on the ground. Now I have to fix a few more dings on the rear quarter panels, then epoxy primer. After that I'm taking it over to a friend of mine to do some metal work around the rear wheel wells. That work is beyond my skills. After that I'm ready to put it back together and paint it. All the panels are already done and in primer.

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[Joe Travers]

Looking good! Making great time.

Joe

[JCBond]

It also has aftermarket adjustable spring shackles. Those, combined with the air shocks, were probably added to compensate for sagging springs, and maybe to try to stuff some bigger tires under the rear.

The early cars have 2" leaf springs and a low rear stance. Something I'm going back to eventually for a smoother ride.
Floor shifter, air shocks, traction bars, long shackles....someone's old hot rod Merc in the late 60s- 70s, I'm guessing.
Back when everyone was trying to get the funny car look on the street. 'Big Daddy' Ed Roth look.

JT

I live really close to Manti, Utah where the Rat Fink Reunion is every year. I guess Roth moved there late in life and died there.

[Joe Travers]

Roth was a pretty unique character. Liked his hot rod art when I was young, along w/a million more guys.

Finally got around to replacing the frame bushings in my car Tues.
The six-pack leaf springs are going on later this year when I can hustle up the $$.

Joe

[power band]

choices for speaker location.
( they also make perfect openings for roll bar supports!)

.. known as "Pro-Street / Rear Runners":

. . .

https://swracecars.com/product/1-5-8-ch ... 70-falcon/

. .

have fun

[JCBond]

This thing sits pretty high will all that new suspension. That rear tire should be about 1/4 covered by the fender. It's 15" from the ground to the rocker panel. I'm assuming it will settle in when the weight of everything else gets back on it?

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[Joe Travers]

It'll settle some after you get the weight back on but be a little higher than stock.
I prefer the stock stance but the stock 2" springs wrap badly under hard acceleration & braking in modern traffic w/ more horsepower than stock 260.

Joe

[JCBond]

I got a new car yesterday. A 1946 Hudson Super Six. This one is nice because I don't have to do anything to it. Interior is beautiful. It has a new 350. There has been no body work done on the car. This should be a fun car.

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