Welcome to the family ... 65 Mercury Marauder fastback

[428Marauder]

It's a barn find. I wont tell you what I paid for it, but it cost me $750 to ship it from WA to AZ.

Not a runner. No brakes, and it was sitting for 5 years, looks like someone let a battery melt right through everything there, only major hole, and the oil looks milky grey. I don't even need to try and start it, looks like a blown head gasket.

Merc 390 4v ... numbers matching, original motor. I think I am gonna keep this one, and sell my convertible, but that's gona require some serious work on this motor, and I suck at that. You guys gonna help me?

Original paint on this thing. Too good to sell.

 

This was before a major washing:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=im795i&s=8

[Lenz]

Looks pretty good sittin' there .  You've got Marauders in your blood, seems they can find you.  Fear not about the engine work, hang around this forum and you'll finish your build with a strong 390 and a solid understanding of how you got it that way.

[428Marauder]

I was actually looking for the really rare side chrome, when I found this car for sale. I first contacted the seller asking if he would sell the side chrome, and he would not. Car is still in the original owners name, signed title is open ... and that's the correct "Super Marauder" motor for my Z code Park Lane convertible. How could I say no?

However, this car is in a lot better shape than my convertible, when I first got it. Too good, to be a parts car.

I'm super tempted to sell the convertible, and keep the fastback.

BTW, I did not know this before today, and it explains the ugly gap between my rear bumper and the body, there is a rubber moulding there. Completely impossible to find in decent shape, but it's a part I never even knew existed.

[428Marauder]

Oh yeah, came with extra side chrome. Not for a 65, but likely a 64 or 66. I hafta research it. Stuff is like gold ... they don't make any repop parts for full size Mercs.

It's OEM, NOS .... or SOL.

In the trunk, in an envelope, marked "65 Merc" was a complete set of NOS perfect Montclair trunk lid chrome. The originals, still on the car are pretty nice ... like an 8 piece set, prolly gonna stash them in my private collection, for now. Might be the only set of this chrome in NOS condition that exists. In the entire universe.

What really makes me quiver, over this car is the doors. They open and close, and are solid and sound good when you shut them. Close without problems or rattles. See, my convertible is the top level, the Park Lane, so it has power windows. 50 year old power windows ... yeah, they mostly don't work. Rollup windows on this fastback ... no problem, still works 50 years later.

[cjshaker]

Well you won't be breaking any 1/4 mile records, but with a good set of springs you can pack enough in that trunk to go on a 6 month vacation

With any luck, that 390 will have the extra webbing and a nice set of C4 heads on it. That's a good start for a solid build. The engine in my '68 Highboy is out of a '64 Mercury. Still have the car, but the body is pretty well shot. It donated it's heart so that the world could be rid of one more 360

[glxi390]

Always liked the '63, '64 Marauders but lately I've found the '65s are starting to look real nice. There is [ or was] a '65 Merc, two door post, small block with three on the tree for sale here in SW Ontario.  I was tempted but the wife tells me five vehicles is my limit.     Rick

[428Marauder]

I pulled one of the valve covers today, and unfortunately it looks like this motor is going to need a total rebuild. The blown head gasket has put coolant throughout the motor and caused a lot of rust/corrosion.

Too bad. Prolly hafta let it go as an entire engine rebuild is out of my ability and budget.

[fastback 427]

It may be out of your budget, take it apart and look at it closely. But IT IS NOT out of your ability. Everyone here loves to help. Post pics as you go and we will walk you through it. Look through the classifieds here and post some parts needed ads and see what happens. Lotta guys are cleaning shelves off and great deals are to be had. Good luck either way.

[428Marauder]

Some questions:

Can it be done without pulling the motor?

Where do I start. Pull the heads?

Thanks

[fe66comet]

Marauders are one of my favorite cars. Nice find!

[fastback 427]

I don't know your situation,such as shop space, tools, equipment, buddies,  but you could borrow a scope to look in the cylinders and check for rust. If its rusty pull the intake and heads to see how rusty. If its still OK you can get a cheap rebuild kit with hypereutectic pistons and melling RV cam for 450 bucks. I have a 76 dually 390 4 spd that had a blown head gasket when I bought it. Trailered it home, changed oil, put in a can of moroso block seal in the radiator, then drove it 25 miles. One more oil change to get the cream out of the oil and I've been driving it ever since. Pulls my 7000 lb hydroseeder with a 1650 gallon water tank on a trailer at the job site with no problems. Maybe you'll luck out .

[428Marauder]

Shop, space, tools ... is all pretty limited. Buddy is a Harley mechanic, though. It's a shame, but I gave her a bath, punting her to ebay. I should be able to break even, at least.

Right buyer, that respects how original it is, might make money. Buy some thermal tape for my fuel lines to stop the vapor lock.

[TorinoBP88]

Soak it, turn in, squirt ATF here and there, mix it in the gas, put a quart of ATF in with the engine, fire that bad boy up, but it runs fine.  Its a 390.  SOme times the need new headgaskets becasue the rust out the front water block off plate and then short circuit back to the radiator, making them run hot.  But i bet you are good to go.  Cool project.

[428Marauder]

I picked up a pair of D2TEAA heads that have like 1k miles on them since rebuilt. Screamin deal at $100 for the pair, so even if I don't use them, can't be horrible to have. My understanding though, is that these have the hardened seats and will run better on pump gas.

Tried selling the car on ebay for a small loss and no takers, so I'm keepin it! Will post here when I get the old heads off.