Back in the early 50's my dad bought a '51 Ford 2 door. He didn't like the stock rear height so he 'borrowed' the rear wheel weights from my grandfather's tractor and placed them in the trunk of the '51. For some reason, gramps wasn't too pleased about the decision....😄
Imagine my surprise when you panned out to the street view and there sat the two cars my HOT ROD grandfather just left me. One is a 41 Merc business coupe and the other is a 48 Fleetline Aero sedan. Wish you fellas were close to Texas these two street rods are like a marriage there is always something that needs attention.
Yes love the speedboat stance and seeing the original tooling for spreading the spring for the first time , priceless !! So what's next , a set of -41 Ford/Mercury skirts which would beautify the Merc even more (I think) ... thanks for showing the process of lowering your lovely -41 Merc coupe ! Wolf
I'm going back to the farm where I bought your 36 Ford to pick up a 59 Ford that was parked by the shed the 36 was in - I have told the farmer where his old Ford is and he is very happy it has a good home - P.S. - I had a 41 Merc ragtop in high school
Good to see a Mercury that isn't chopped, channeled and carrying enough lead to sink a battleship. Lead sleds look cool and all, but it's still nice to see a survivor
Some People In California Call It "Customizing" A Car. Many More Of Us Back East Here Call It BUTCHERING It. Americans Fell In Love With The Cars Just The Way They Looked When They Came From The Factory, After The Designers Spent YEARS Trying To Come Up With A WINNER Design. But As An Example, Somewhere Along The Way, The Fad Came Around To Remove The 1949-50 Mercury Waterfall Grille, And Replace It With DeSoto Grille Pegs Instead. Well WHY Didn't Those Goof Balls Buy A DeSoto In The First Place??? Lots Of Chopped And Dropped Cars Are Overpriced And Remain For Sale As It Is. But The STOCK "UNMOLESTED" Classics Are More Sought After. Unless You Are A Chicano In LA. That Has Nothing Better To Do Than Chop Up Cars...
Nice to see you guys back again just watch out for those two dodgy guys from coldwar motors scott and Dean only kidding great watching all of you don't know how you managed through the winter up there cheers from the UK
it was good seeing you all on Scott's channel again...now get the Continental finished! You know, in your market, it may have been a bit higher on purpose back them...betcha you are just returning her to US spec...either way, looks better.
That’s what they did back in the day. You guys are right on! Back in the early to mid 50s my uncle had a 38 ? Buick that was dropped in the rear with skirts. Verrry cool.
That taildragger look is cool. A friend of mine near Winnipeg has a 40 Merc coup. It was his dads car (Ron Alexander) until he died recently and it was his big restoration project with his pop. His pop had it since the 50s or 60s.
The Duke Foster Spring Spreader. Many springs have been spread. Seems like a poster or T-shirt in the making. I love mild lowering, especially with bolt-on mods. Easy to reverse if you want the change.
SG, Great look! Now all you need is a pair of skirts to make it look even more like a true tail dragger. Might try some spinners on the front wheels for that nostalgic Moon Eyes in the '50s hit. Love that spring tool! It's always an education to watch this channel! Nice job as usual! Thanks!
I love the spring spreader, both how it works and it’s story. Putting it on RUclips for us all to see ensures immortality. And for what it’s worth, in my opinion the car looks far better. Doesn’t looks squatted, just cooler.
Hey fellas, nice to see Jim's old Merc getting some attention. I was particularly impressed with that design of spring spreader. I'd not seen one like that before. It was more of a spring bender than a spreader and as such I think the tension in the screw is less than the normal straight shot type. I have some tools that came from older relatives and friends and think of them every time I use them.
Oh no! You've completely RUINED that rare classic automobile with those bolt on shackles! It will never be the same again..........but it sure does look 100x cooler!
Just viewed this great video. I never thought you would modify the suspension but I’m glad you did so I can get you to give me your opinion on my 64 Galaxie
Love that car! Yeah, it would be cool to put bubble skirts and a low Fulton visor on it to add to the early '50's period mod look. My father did that to his '30's and '40's cars in the '50-'54 era.
Dear Strongs Garage guys, Matt and Jim. 👍👌👏 Very well done again (video and work). The spring compressing tool is very impressive and definitely extremely helpful! I would lower the front too, but that is of course only my personal kind of taste. Congrats for having this great looking shop with all the ingenious old tools, machines, furniture etc p.p.. The only things that are absolutely not matching, are your modern baseball caps. They're like a stitch in the eye (at least in n my opinion respectively for my personal kind of taste). I wanted to comment this already since your first video, but I didn't want to be a fun brake (if this is the correct phrase) in this early career stage. 😁 So please kindly allow me to suggest now, that you two consider to wear a more period correct style cap (at least while being in shop videos). For example similar to the cap, your great friend Scott CWM usually wears all the time. OF COURSE in the last two or three videos he suddenly wears base caps too! I had to grin from ear to ear and I simply couldn't believe it after all these years. So now I have to change the "head model". Let's see... oh, yeah, see for instance the cap the guy from Carchaeology is wearing all the time. 2) I guess the cool Mercury is the same car at that the dent whisperer Scott N. did one of his amazing impressive jobs in the driveway? It's one of my favourite CWM videos. Maaan, I would absolutely love to see a continuation, for instance denting out the right front fender. This gorgeous patina restored car definitely deserves it. Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health to all of you.
Very interesting I have exact same car model and color as Jim's sitting in my driveway waiting to be put back on the road. I need to replace the shackles on my car and considered making them a little longer. I lowered the front of a 47 ford by extending the front shackles one inch . My plan for the 41 is to install a built 283 (.060 ) over using a transmission adapter. The the rest of the running gear and suspension will be stock. I am missing the brake backing plates so I will substitute ford F 100 brakes front hubs and drums. The F 100 brakes though smaller are more efficient and have the same bolt pattern as the original wheels which I have. I remember seeing Jim's 41 on coldwarmotors. PS I have the flathead but it is toast.
Won't lowering the rear like that increase the caster on the front? Maybe it is an improvement on how the steering feels, not as vague and it will tend to stay in a straight line better. Too much can be bad but was wondering how Jim likes how it drives now?
Love the Merc but I've never been a fan of lowered vehicles. I look at some of the ground draggers and just think how hard it would be to work on or clean anything when its so close to the ground.
yes, is a nice thing to use tools that earned someone a living long ago, even if you don't know who all they were it does keep thier memory alive somewhat. Even if you do occassionaly feel thier 'ghost' saying "You IDIOT! not like that"
When is Scott coming over to do the machining? I could have sworn he said in one of his videos a few weeks ago that he was going to visit Strong's Garage to do machine work and would film it and one you would post it as a video.
it creates the look like the car is always accelerating, even when the car is standing still.. Lowering the rear also results in more caster angle on the front suspention which might improve front cornering grip. IMO i would prefer that the front suspention would also be lowered an equal amount.
@@jfv65 You Must Have Never Heard Of BUMP STEER When You Screw Around Changing The Cars Designed Geometry. It's Like Putting HUGE Tires On To A New Pickup Truck To Make It Sit Higher, And Then Wonder Why It Doesn't Handle Properly Afterward...
Jumped on this video like a duck on a June bug!
Not sure which I enjoy more, seeing obscure specialty tools from the past still on the job, or the stories that come with them.
Stance is fine stock. Throw those lowering shackles into the recycling bin.
That is one sweet ride for a school teacher. Great video fellows.
Now, if only you knew a guy who could knock a few of those whiskey dents out for you, Jim ;)
2 inches cooler than before...the sayings you come up with.....they put a smile on my face
Back in the early 50's my dad bought a '51 Ford 2 door. He didn't like the stock rear height so he 'borrowed' the rear wheel weights from my grandfather's tractor and placed them in the trunk of the '51.
For some reason, gramps wasn't too pleased about the decision....😄
Imagine my surprise when you panned out to the street view and there sat the two cars my HOT ROD grandfather just left me. One is a 41 Merc business coupe and the other is a 48 Fleetline Aero sedan. Wish you fellas were close to Texas these two street rods are like a marriage there is always something that needs attention.
Yes love the speedboat stance and seeing the original tooling for spreading the spring for the first time , priceless !! So what's next , a set of -41 Ford/Mercury skirts which would beautify the Merc even more (I think) ... thanks for showing the process of lowering your lovely -41 Merc coupe ! Wolf
Cooler 41 indeed. Now I know.
I'm going back to the farm where I bought your 36 Ford to pick up a 59 Ford that was parked by the shed the 36 was in - I have told the farmer where his old Ford is and he is very happy it has a good home - P.S. - I had a 41 Merc ragtop in high school
What a sweet ride. Who would’ve thought that lowering the rear 2” would make such a difference, she’s got such a nice looking stance now.
Yet another lovely car. Looking really good.
Good to see a Mercury that isn't chopped, channeled and carrying enough lead to sink a battleship. Lead sleds look cool and all, but it's still nice to see a survivor
Some People In California Call It "Customizing" A Car. Many More Of Us Back East Here Call It BUTCHERING It. Americans Fell In Love With The Cars Just The Way They Looked When They Came From The Factory, After The Designers Spent YEARS Trying To Come Up With A WINNER Design. But As An Example, Somewhere Along The Way, The Fad Came Around To Remove The 1949-50 Mercury Waterfall Grille, And Replace It With DeSoto Grille Pegs Instead. Well WHY Didn't Those Goof Balls Buy A DeSoto In The First Place??? Lots Of Chopped And Dropped Cars Are Overpriced And Remain For Sale As It Is. But The STOCK "UNMOLESTED" Classics Are More Sought After. Unless You Are A Chicano In LA. That Has Nothing Better To Do Than Chop Up Cars...
Love seeing the period tools put to use. Now you just need Scott to sort that fender
I preferred the look before it was lowered!
Your site is getting better and better. Your personalities are perfect. Like the Red Green show for old cars.
Going to do the same on my 54 Chevrolet. Has a 235 6 cylinder. Adding split manifolds as well
Now it’s a true custom. Would love to see it next to the 40 Dodge. Thanks for the show
I agree Danny!
Really enjoy seeing the old tools in use and hear you tell stories about them and the cars.
Nice to see you guys back again just watch out for those two dodgy guys from coldwar motors scott and Dean only kidding great watching all of you don't know how you managed through the winter up there cheers from the UK
The Stance definitely looks much better. Bigtime.
The Agents will approve.
Congrats for having this great looking shop with all the ingenious old tools, machines, furniture etc
Sweet coolness. Can’t wait for the silent delete exhaust. A flatie with glass packs is like movies and popcorn or Sharts and showers
I agree Brian!
Looking cool swaying..and shackles and straight pipes never hurt any body...love it....you guys are great...
Just need some Caddy hubcaps, straight pipes, and fender skirts and you’re set. Such a sweet old Merc. Cheers guys🍻
awesome video on here great job you guys are doing on here
The improvement surprised me. Very cool!
it was good seeing you all on Scott's channel again...now get the Continental finished!
You know, in your market, it may have been a bit higher on purpose back them...betcha you are just returning her to US spec...either way, looks better.
That’s what they did back in the day. You guys are right on! Back in the early to mid 50s my uncle had a 38 ? Buick that was dropped in the rear with skirts. Verrry cool.
That is a cool tool for springs and an even cooler Merc!
Hell! the spreader bar was worth the price of emission! how cool was that? thank you ALL stay safe
Wooo, that’s so nice!
It's great that you keep your old friends alive by sharing their tools way to go
That taildragger look is cool. A friend of mine near Winnipeg has a 40 Merc coup. It was his dads car (Ron Alexander) until he died recently and it was his big restoration project with his pop. His pop had it since the 50s or 60s.
Maybe lower the front too?
Nice clinic on lowering springs. Thanks!
Wicked car!!! If you don’t have to cross speed bumps at an angle I don’t want to ride with you. Too cool for school good work guys!
The Duke Foster Spring Spreader. Many springs have been spread. Seems like a poster or T-shirt in the making.
I love mild lowering, especially with bolt-on mods. Easy to reverse if you want the change.
SG, Great look! Now all you need is a pair of skirts to make it look even more like a true tail dragger. Might try some spinners on the front wheels for that nostalgic Moon Eyes in the '50s hit. Love that spring tool! It's always an education to watch this channel! Nice job as usual! Thanks!
Enjoying your site guys ! Keep them coming !
“Sway it, swaaayyy it!!!” 👍👍👍
The Merc looks good like that.
I love the spring spreader, both how it works and it’s story. Putting it on RUclips for us all to see ensures immortality.
And for what it’s worth, in my opinion the car looks far better. Doesn’t looks squatted, just cooler.
Thanks!
Its like watching Doug and Bob Mckenzie do car repairs!
Great show thanks guys
Stock is boring. Dropped is Kool! Awesome spring tool.👏👏
Hey fellas, nice to see Jim's old Merc getting some attention. I was particularly impressed with that design of spring spreader. I'd not seen one like that before. It was more of a spring bender than a spreader and as such I think the tension in the screw is less than the normal straight shot type. I have some tools that came from older relatives and friends and think of them every time I use them.
when you mentioned favorite tool, i was looking for Dean..but..great car jim...
Very cool car and awesome tools. If I see the rear axle of the Mercury one can say that is a really old style axle.
No reading Hot Rod magazines on the job Matt! 😆
Great video!
Oh no! You've completely RUINED that rare classic automobile with those bolt on shackles! It will never be the same again..........but it sure does look 100x cooler!
Back in your corner, bondo-boy.
Hello there I i immwdiately thought of you when i saw those whiskey dents. Your hands must be itching at the view.
Love the channel guys, keep up the good work!
Nice video and the right tools for the job you guys weren’t kidding, you made it look to easy .
Now, add a set of dual exhaust and you’ll be set.
Thats cool
Love the old tool. Liked it stock ride height better.
I'm glad you are happy with the results. Me, I don't prefer the saggy-butt look. I didn't back in the 50s when it was widely used, either.
Very impressive, this upload...
Nice!!!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍👍
Just viewed this great video. I never thought you would modify the suspension but I’m glad you did so I can get you to give me your opinion on my 64 Galaxie
Love that car! Yeah, it would be cool to put bubble skirts and a low Fulton visor on it to add to the early '50's period mod look. My father did that to his '30's and '40's cars in the '50-'54 era.
Am I relieved, I thought you were going to put it on the ground with air bags and giant wheels
Glad to you doing a period mod and it does look cooler
Cool🕶
Thought the cops were coming for you😈😈.
It definitely looked too high before, but I'm not sure that I like the squatting look. I think that I would prefer factory stock.
I have never cared for the "California rake" or the squatted look either. Stock height always works best for me too.
California rake, front down
It really needs a dropped axle in front.
Now Jim needs a period correct dropped axel for the Front! ...Newk from Kentucky
Cool, enjoy the beginning... big things are coming? Like Christmas?
i enjoy you to i have a 1968 meteor rideau it has the 302 in it i got it in tronto i live in Michigan going to take it to care shows i love it
Now the driveline will be better aligned!
Dear Strongs Garage guys, Matt and Jim.
👍👌👏 Very well done again (video and work). The spring compressing tool is very impressive and definitely extremely helpful! I would lower the front too, but that is of course only my personal kind of taste.
Congrats for having this great looking shop with all the ingenious old tools, machines, furniture etc p.p..
The only things that are absolutely not matching, are your modern baseball caps. They're like a stitch in the eye (at least in n my opinion respectively for my personal kind of taste). I wanted to comment this already since your first video, but I didn't want to be a fun brake (if this is the correct phrase) in this early career stage. 😁 So please kindly allow me to suggest now, that you two consider to wear a more period correct style cap (at least while being in shop videos). For example similar to the cap, your great friend Scott CWM usually wears all the time. OF COURSE in the last two or three videos he suddenly wears base caps too! I had to grin from ear to ear and I simply couldn't believe it after all these years. So now I have to change the "head model". Let's see... oh, yeah, see for instance the cap the guy from Carchaeology is wearing all the time.
2) I guess the cool Mercury is the same car at that the dent whisperer Scott N. did one of his amazing impressive jobs in the driveway? It's one of my favourite CWM videos.
Maaan, I would absolutely love to see a continuation, for instance denting out the right front fender. This gorgeous patina restored car definitely deserves it.
Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards luck and health to all of you.
You should get Scott to knock out that front wing 👍🏻
Very interesting I have exact same car model and color as Jim's sitting in my driveway waiting to be put back on the road. I need to replace the shackles on my car and considered making them a little longer. I lowered the front of a 47 ford by extending the front shackles one inch . My plan for the 41 is to install a built 283 (.060 ) over using a transmission adapter. The the rest of the running gear and suspension will be stock. I am missing the brake backing plates so I will substitute ford F 100 brakes front hubs and drums. The F 100 brakes though smaller are more efficient and have the same bolt pattern as the original wheels which I have. I remember seeing Jim's 41 on coldwarmotors. PS I have the flathead but it is toast.
The Speedboat Stance works and it's a period correct mod which is easily undone. What's not to like?
Looks terrific, gentlemen... See you at the tractor races this weekend! Sway it, haha! Is the Chevy coupe next?
Won't lowering the rear like that increase the caster on the front? Maybe it is an improvement on how the steering feels, not as vague and it will tend to stay in a straight line better. Too much can be bad but was wondering how Jim likes how it drives now?
you will be safer and less annoying if you adjust the headlights down.
Ding ding YEAH!
What will it take to drop the front 3"?
Love the Merc but I've never been a fan of lowered vehicles. I look at some of the ground draggers and just think how hard it would be to work on or clean anything when its so close to the ground.
Yes...your garage is chock full of nutz
yes, is a nice thing to use tools that earned someone a living long ago, even if you don't know who all they were it does keep thier memory alive somewhat. Even if you do occassionaly feel thier 'ghost' saying "You IDIOT! not like that"
Awesome guys! Will u lower the front too ?
Toppa-tappa-roo!!!
Any chance of walkthrough of your own vehicles please👍
So are you getting a dropped axle for the front?
If so, from where so you can keep the rest of the suspension and brakes
When is Scott coming over to do the machining? I could have sworn he said in one of his videos a few weeks ago that he was going to visit Strong's Garage to do machine work and would film it and one you would post it as a video.
Scott's doing it at home with Matt's help.
@@Hanzyscure Is that the machinist agent with the beard and blond hair IIRC?
So how do you lower the front end since you lowered the rear end should you not do the front?
Why don't they use reversed eye springs and dearched springs. A dropped axle would be good. Longer shackles make for more lateral movement.
Looks really good but I would have preferred to ruin it with a one inch lower myself. But that’s just me, Thanks 😊
I have never understood the appeal of the taildragger look. Looks very odd to me, but easily reversed.
it creates the look like the car is always accelerating, even when the car is standing still.. Lowering the rear also results in more caster angle on the front suspention which might improve front cornering grip.
IMO i would prefer that the front suspention would also be lowered an equal amount.
@@jfv65 You Must Have Never Heard Of BUMP STEER When You Screw Around Changing The Cars Designed Geometry. It's Like Putting HUGE Tires On To A New Pickup Truck To Make It Sit Higher, And Then Wonder Why It Doesn't Handle Properly Afterward...
What happened to all the parts in the background of the shop?
Maybe go with dropped front axle now? Lower it all the way around. Tail dragger isn't my look.
Is this a re-make of "The Red Green Show?"
Drop the Springs out and reverse the eyes on them. Help drop the car another couple of inches.
Fun video, but I guess it must be a trad hot rodding thing? Just looks kinda crap to me.
Needs dual exhaust!