And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
It's been several years but I remember seeing unleaded gasoline for sale in many gas stations in California. Why? Because they had a lot of older cars still on the road that required "old gas" to run.
Boy, this is making me feel old. Tetraethyl lead (aka Ethyl) was first added to gasoline in the '20s as an octane booster. In the '70s it was realized that the lead in the exhaust gases was a severe health hazard so new cars had to be able to run on unleaded only. Eventually leaded gas was outlawed, most gas stations changed the unleaded pumps to diesel. If you have a car from the leaded era it might need to have hardened valve seat inserts installed in the heads. "Lead sled" was a common term for a chopped and channelled Mercury. My dad's buddy had one in the '80s. Al_in_Ottawa
Chop? Yea, but I don't think you know what channel and stretch mean. That's not something you would want to try on a 49 Merc. And as for laquer paint it is not comparable to today's high tech finishes. I'm all in on the flames tho! Bubbarust
Phrase "lead sled" was also coined in pre-putty or fiberglass daze. Early customizers used molten lead to sculpt with the aid of beeswax paddles to achieve whatever dings, dents or customization was desired on automobiles. A true - if not singular - art form.
1949 Mercury Eight. Very rare to see one that hasn't been turned into a led sled.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
It's been several years but I remember seeing unleaded gasoline for sale in many gas stations in California. Why? Because they had a lot of older cars still on the road that required "old gas" to run.
ReplyDeleteLeaded? Ethyl?
DeleteBoy, this is making me feel old. Tetraethyl lead (aka Ethyl) was first added to gasoline in the '20s as an octane booster. In the '70s it was realized that the lead in the exhaust gases was a severe health hazard so new cars had to be able to run on unleaded only. Eventually leaded gas was outlawed, most gas stations changed the unleaded pumps to diesel. If you have a car from the leaded era it might need to have hardened valve seat inserts installed in the heads.
Delete"Lead sled" was a common term for a chopped and channelled Mercury. My dad's buddy had one in the '80s.
Al_in_Ottawa
Lead was used as a shock absorber to prevent valve damage. Switching out the valves and seats with modern materials fixed the problem.
DeleteUnclezip, and everything was fine until some bright boy thought we should be putting corn in the gas.
DeleteThe électric 1949 mercury by ICON DERELICT
ReplyDeleteel néné.....
Gonna buy me a Merc'ryyy
ReplyDeleteGeez. Thanks for the earworm!
DeleteChop channel stretch and slam it to the max. And hand rubbed black lacquer with red flames.
ReplyDeleteChop? Yea, but I don't think you know what channel and stretch mean. That's not something you would want to try on a 49 Merc. And as for laquer paint it is not comparable to today's high tech finishes.
ReplyDeleteI'm all in on the flames tho!
Bubbarust
what is that stamped in the middle of the grill?
ReplyDeleteEight. Search for "Mercury Eight Coupe"
DeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Phrase "lead sled" was also coined in pre-putty or fiberglass daze. Early customizers used molten lead to sculpt with the aid of beeswax paddles to achieve whatever dings, dents or customization was desired on automobiles. A true - if not singular - art form.
ReplyDelete