Mercules MCF Project Part 5 - SNAKES ALIVE

[aj510]

We haven’t had much to update the last few weeks, work has still been progressing, however it hasn’t been very visual. We’ve rubbed back the merc once again and applied another coat of primer. The spray gun and compressor we used initially weren’t upto the job so we managed to find a much bigger compressor and gun to suit. That said, the latest coat of primer went on nice and thick and should definitely rub back very nicely.
We also had to source a new steering rack as the camry one we were planning to use wasn’t upto the job according to the engineer. A rack from a VN commodore was sourced and we should have it installed after the shell is rubbed back and primed two more times.

Just before adding our guide coat, we were checking how well the primer coat went on and noticed a lizard like head poking out of the scuttle panel. There was a freakin snake in the scuttle panel, must have been there for ~2 months or more. We tried to get it out with a golf club and set of tongs but it just wasn’t going to happen (read we were crapping our dacks). Steve Irwin would have be ashamed of us.

We rang up WIRES and they sent out two fellas who picked up the snake in a matter of seconds and had it out of there. Thanks wires, that snake whilst small ( I swear it was 4 metres long and 100mm wide when it was in the car) was only going to come out of there if we lit the merc on fire if we had anything to do with it. For anyone interested apparently it was a Tree snake that is ‘mildly’ venemous and lives off of frogs.
I love how it is ‘mildly’ venemous, that’s just like saying a car is only mildly dangerous if you’re run over by one.

Snake gone and a nice coat of GMH black was added as our guide coat. It took 1.5 hours to get rid of the snake and 10 minutes to apply the guide coat then clean up.

Anyways our plan is to add two more coats of primer this coming week, wheel the shell out then prime the doors and panels the following week. In between priming the body panels we’re planning on attaching the steering rack. The hope is to have the shell and panels ready to be given their colour coat in two weeks. The engine bay will be left until we have finished off our headers and all engine work, then we’ll more than likely paint the bay ourselves when the time comes.


We still haven’t finalised plans for the sump, as we were getting bogged down and not progressing forwards. Once the shell and panels are painted we will get back to organising the sump.

Mercules Build Up Part 5 Gallery
1280 Image	1280 Image
1280 Image	1280 Image
1280 Image	1280 Image
1280 Image	1280 Image
1280 Image	1280 Image
1280 Image	1280 Image
1280 Image	1280 Image
1280 Image	1280 Image
1280 Image	1280 Image

[FAT-245]

So you guys on the coast not only need to worry about Rust from Sea Water, But also from Reptile Infestations...

[aj510]

yup - pretty lucky aren't we?

[FAT-245]

Well at least you don't have flying brick's around your area.....

Went I first saw the Photo of the snake, I thought it was a peice of air line that popped or something, cause i was wondering why you guys were showing the pic, then i read about the snakes...

[FAT-245]

P.S.. I can also get you those swinging Pickup's Cheap, a Mate brings in alot of goods from the Manufactures to suit chryslers and that is a chrysler part

[aj510]

yeah that's what we first thought it was too - but it sure as **** wasn't an airline -

[FAT-245]

Shown above is our NEW external swinging oil pickup. These mount in the bottom of virtually any oil pan, and have provisions for two -12 AN bulkhead fitting to secure them in place. These allow you to run either one or two -12 braided stainless lines (for either single or dual line systems) directly to the oil pump. An oil pump cover which has provisions for the external line connection is required. This setup also allows you to delete and block off the stock screw-in type internal oil pickup. This frees up lots of room in the bottom end for large stroker setups, and also has the added benefit of bypassing the restrictive factory oil feed passages drilled into the engine block. The swinging arm feature allows the pickup to "swing" along with the oil in the sump as the car accelerates and decelerates. A very nice quality pickup at a super low price! Part No: 200-1075 - External Swinging Oil Pickup - Price: $69.95

Taken from 440source.com

[aj510]

yeah cheers mate - think we will go that way with the pickup - seems like the easiest alternative.

[FAT-245]

Hey Adam, Can you send me a side view and a side/front view of the sump? Ive got an idea that will be easier to show with a drawing

[aj510]

it's just a stock chev sump - we've got it pretty sorted in our heads - more a matter of sheeting it than anything else.