Got my 63 Merc "Grimstone"

I got the 63 yesterday! A three hour drive became 10 for me, thanks to a sticky float in the Holley 1B, and a crack in the rad cap. But it is home!

The weird paint scheme is a rock band's calling card! This van is very solid! One rocker panel needing replacement, the gas filler cover needing work, and some screw holes in the roof needing welding. There is also an oddball window that needs to be gone, and some dents to bang out, including a caved-in roof... nothing I can't handle!

Took these pics yesterday when I arrived to pick it up, and also took some pics of the previous owner's weird projects. Enjoy!

The "Rez Cop" car... I can't even described... yes, the roof is gone, and I don't know where the longhorn skull came from (I thought they came from Texas...)





His demolition derby car that he was preparing for a racing the next day... loud with the headers that way... scared me!





And his mudder.



There was more, but didn't get pics of it all... very nice guy, and very creative!

Looks like a solid van. & Merc too . Strange place for a roof vent???

I don't get the roof vent thing either... don't think it's functional, but it's coming out, along with that window! I plan to drive this to our campout, so I don't wan't to have any cheesy stuff giving the police a reason to pull me over! Anyway,


My Photobucket link to Grimstone

Took some more pics today, gutting the interior panels and insulation... waiting for my buddy to bring my shop vac to clean out the mouse droppings (I won't mess around with that... no death wish). A couple highlights today: driving with a scotch tape message in the windshield, the caved in roof, 9" rear and weird fuel tank, only a couple rust spots.

Ugh... stripping out the wood panelling and pink fibreglass... metal looks good, but I found my first dead mouse. Got about half the pink out, so I'm guessing I'll find more.

That tank looks like it's made out of 1/4" plate... but it's seeping gas at one corner, and doesn't hold much gas. The filler tube goes to the bottom of the tank, and when I was filling it had gas leaking out the vent tube! I don't know how much gas I lost that way. So anyway, I'll pull this tank out before I go to Waterton... won't have to refill as often. This brick, I'll return to the owner for his demolition derby cars!

congrats Corey.

Thanks all! Mike, it's Vanishing Breed that started this addiction of mine!

I heard back from Jay of Yahoo's Econo'sRUs... I have a very early VIN... from 1962 when FoMoCo Canada first made Mercury Econolines! 9" rear was not stock, van was white with 170 and three on the tree.

Got all the insulation out, gotta get the carpet and roof ribs out tomorrow, as well as retrieve my 64 to part out. My brother said my back yard smelled like someone was smoking up out there... I told him it was mouse. I hope I can get rid of that smell before the camp-out!

very nice indeed Corey!

Hello Corey.
I'm now on the site with you. You need to show these guys some highlights of the Grimstone van. The lack of rust in the doors and undercarriage.
I like the pink color and like I said to paint it ford Coral Pink with a white roof and side panel with a mural. That will make the van very cool. Your going to have fun working out the kinks and enjoy the thumbs up around town.

GLEN

Folks, meet demondog... my partner in crime! Glen sent me the first email to look at two econolines, and we found three Merc Econolines, two 1st gen Chevs, a 1st gen Ford E, and two 2nd gen Ford E's! He has given much time to help me get these things home! Nice to have an Econohead neighbour!!! Welcome to the board!

You'll have to share your pickup projects... these guys will help you scrounge up anything you need (granted though that we have so many parts vehicles together!!!) You're gonna love it here!

Welcome to the site Demondog. Always great to have somebody who's into Earlys here.

sasktrini,

I can't take it any more, what are you doing in your sig pic? playing the drums? making chilli?

That's a very good question!

Playing the steelpan, invented in the country of Trinidad and Tobago, the only musical instrument invented in the 20th century (not a redesign or electronified... invented from scratch). This music is the biggest connection I have to my Trini culture! When you imagine the music, think "Caribbean cruise ship", and then imagine that I play all the kinds of music that is popular in Canada and the US, just adding my tropical flavour to the songs!

Other than Traditional music from Trinidad and Jamaica (calypso and reggae), I have enjoyed performing Eagles, Jimmy Buffett, James Taylor, Kool & the Gang, Paul Simon, Elton John, Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, Temptations, B.B. King, Shania Twain, Lonestar, Frank Sinatra, Disney... even thrown some polka in there! There are too many artists and songs to list over the years. But I'll take it, stir it up in a Caribbean chili pot, and see what comes out... usually songs everybody will recognize, but they will be much spicier when they're done!

Thanks for asking!

somewhere i've got some cool videos from Tobago, from my visit there in 2005, i have to find them and get them into my computer. got some cool filming of steelpanmusic. very nice country, very nice music and very nice rum

how about some fernandes corey?

malle wrote:somewhere i've got some cool videos from Tobago, from my visit there in 2005, i have to find them and get them into my computer. got some cool filming of steelpanmusic. very nice country, very nice music and very nice rum

how about some fernandes corey?

Yes... Vat 19... make mine a double!

consider it done

cheers!

Now I need to learn how to post my trucks and vans here. I too have a nearly rust free Merc. Van. Sadly someone cut the frames cross members for a V8 conversion and hit a ditch which accordian the frame. You cannot see the damage in the picture. But in person I can show you what to look for.
Like the other van for Sasktrini. When we first arrived it look great, when we got closer I saw the teltel damage that says frame damage and I was right . I explained and showed Sasktrini. So that van is going to be converted to another type of project he has planned.

A little progress...

New rad cap and temp sender has me feeling good about the van's readiness for long highway driving... couldn't force it to overheat in the driveway!

I have most everything cleaned out of the van now... carpet is last to go... Look closely at the cardbord "underlay"



Under that, the floor looks great!



Need a little welding in the rear corners





Also worked on my damaged roof! Remembered I had a spot-weld cutter, and got these rails removed for re-straightening! Basically worked them over a 2X4, and am happy with the shape I got them back in to. I will install them with screws so I can remove them for cleaning at repaint time!









More to come: Gas tank swap, exhaust swap, brake bleed, rocker arm adjustment, lock cyls! Gotta get busy to be ready for my trek to Waterton!

welcome demondog! and i've always wondered what corey was up to in that avatar picture as well!

i'm diggin' grimstone, lots of potential there!

Didn't get the pics outta my camera, but last night I pulled the exhaust and gas tank out of the 64, and swapped the gas tank into the Merc. That tank was a brick! Plus the rubber lengths for the fuel outlet and the vent were rotten. The donor looks great, and I'm looking forward to no longer needlessly losing fuel! That was between 6 and 11:30 last night! The old exhaust manifold appears to be cracked in two, not just simply leaking... but I didn't have releasing fluid last night... that's tonight's battle! At the same time, I'm hoping my brother comes by to help with the rocker arm adjustment and brake bleeding. I accomplished a lot yesterday!

I am planning to bring my pans with me to Waterton this weekend... think I'm going to get my hands on a little practice amp for my bass guitar too! I hope someone brings an acoustic guitar for the campfire... we can jam!

Anyway, more progress and pics tonight!

Thats some serious effort. Good luck on gettin her road ready.