Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
4/30/21 8:57 a.m.

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

They're kinda built like stock car wheels with the way the spokes are reinforced too. Probably not a bad idea for this land yacht 

Racingsnake
Racingsnake Reader
4/30/21 10:00 a.m.

In reply to Gunchsta :

Great choice! I had Supremes on my '62 Imperial, heavy as hell but perfect for a big old boat.

Supremes are definitely the right choice (dare I say the only choice?) here, and are going to look outstanding!  It’s like Torq Thrust mags on a muscle car... the only reason to second guess them is because “it’s the same wheel everybody else has” and you’re trying to be different.

If this was a 64 Impala dumped on hydraulics I could see the hesitation.  It’s hardly an inspired choice. ::yawn::

But on a Mercury Monterey with bell flowers, it’s 100% legit. Keep up the good work!

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/3/21 9:33 a.m.

Ended up taking Friday off work to mount up the tires and try on the new wheels. My dad and I loaded up the Mercury with wheels and tires and headed to a friends house who has a tire machine and graciously agreed to help with the process. 
 

my dad had sold our friend some Cragars so those came along as well.


 

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/3/21 9:38 a.m.

So, Mark has incredibly cool stuff but unfortunately my phones memory was full when I was there, but here's a couple shots I was able to grab. His place is basically like a museum of custom cars and parts up through the 1960s. I couldn't think of a cooler place to add some 60s custom flair to my Mercury. 
 

 

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/3/21 9:40 a.m.

 

DeadSkunk  (Warren)
DeadSkunk (Warren) UltimaDork
5/3/21 9:43 a.m.

What's that shrunken '57 Chebbie thing all about?

 

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/3/21 9:53 a.m.

So anyways now that I've shown the really cool stuff, back to the Merc. We had a fun assembly line going, Mark was in the garage mounting and balancing wheels, my dad was outside cleaning the blue off the whitewalls, and I was in the driveway mounting them on the car. It was a good time! 
 

mounted up and looking spiffy 

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/3/21 9:57 a.m.

The big reveal! 

They fit great, although not without a little fender rolling. I'm surprised that a 3.5" backspace 7" wheel barely fit. Once we rolled the inner wheel openings a bit everything fits nicely. I was afraid they would look flat, but they have some nice dish and give the car an excellent look. I'm happy I did it. 

As a 'performance' bonus, the car drives very nicely with the new tires. It's smooth and quiet and awesome. I need to maybe roll a tiny bit more of the fenders and then put some paint back on the lips where the paint flaked off, but it's good. This is really what the car needed 

DeadSkunk  (Warren)
DeadSkunk (Warren) UltimaDork
5/3/21 10:10 a.m.

In reply to Gunchsta :

That looks really slick !

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/3/21 10:12 a.m.

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

Dave Deal built a fleet of these scaled down caricatures of cars for Revell I believe sometime in the 70s? There were 5 or 6 of them originally and I think Mark has all of the ones that remain to this day. The 57 Chevy actually runs and drives, which is absurd. 

That's from a Google search. 

 

Hard to explain beyond that - Mark collects that stuff and even built his own Ed Roth inspired bubble top car called "The Futurian" - Picture grabbed from Kustomrama/google. 

Racingsnake
Racingsnake Reader
5/3/21 2:16 p.m.

In reply to Gunchsta :

Supremes look just right on the Mercury. I've seen other pics of Mark's place on the HAMB - incredible collection of cool stuff!

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/3/21 2:40 p.m.

In reply to Racingsnake :

Thank you! 

Yeah, Mark has some really neat stuff. Super nice guy too. 

Dirtydog (Forum Supporter)
Dirtydog (Forum Supporter) Dork
5/3/21 3:56 p.m.

I have to say those wheels are a tasteful addition.  I'm enjoying what you are doing with this old land yacht.  Carry on.

ZOO (Forum Supporter)
ZOO (Forum Supporter) UltraDork
5/4/21 6:43 a.m.

I wasn't sure about the whitewalls.  I was wrong.

I never thought a brown 60s four door mercury could give me a boner. 

 

Today i learned that I was wrong. 

 

 

Holy E36 M3 that thing is RIGHT. 

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/4/21 8:46 a.m.

Thanks for the kind words! I'm really pleased with how they look and how the car drives with them. 
 

I also feel like it makes the car look more loved, in the sense that it's not just an old beater that somebody happens to be driving, it's obviously a loved vehicle, or a work in progress, or a project, or whatever you'd like to call it. I feel like I've gotten more thumbs up since putting the wheels on than I got all last year. 

slowbird
slowbird UltraDork
5/4/21 11:38 a.m.

Those wheels are perfect. Fancy and shiny without being "too much" for the car.

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/4/21 11:39 a.m.

In reply to slowbird :

Thanks! 

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/6/21 5:24 p.m.

 

A little additional clearancing of the fenders tonight and some heavy black paint to seal in the flavor. 
 

and by flavor I mean bare metal where the paint flaked off when I rolled the lips with reckless abandon. This is why I don't have really nice cars. 
 

I also may have discovered a leaky drivers front wheel cylinder, so off to Rock Auto I go!

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/6/21 5:30 p.m.

Called the local auto parts store and will have new front wheel cylinders and shoes ready for pick up tomorrow after work. 

looks like maybe we're playing with front brakes this weekend!

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa UberDork
5/6/21 7:00 p.m.

Wheel cylinders up front?  You should find a front disc setup.

Gunchsta
Gunchsta Dork
5/7/21 11:15 a.m.

Man these wheels sparkle in the sun. 

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter)
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
5/7/21 11:35 a.m.

In reply to Gunchsta :

Club cab FTW! That is a cool car.

03Panther
03Panther UltraDork
5/7/21 11:56 a.m.

I've always loved the crager SS rims, but I have to say, those look better on that car. Wheel/tire/stance is all exactly right. 
being a muscle car guy from before they were named that, I didn't know supreme's were a thing... just thought they were chrome plated torque thrust knock offs! But finding out they are all steel, explains why hey are not on cars trying to be light! 
Your beast won't know the difference!

Again, after lots of hard decisions, you NAILED it. 

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