That Mercury Truck

rusty6

Well-known Member
I've had a few inquiries about the old Mercury truck that shows up in the background of some of my videos so I shot one complete video showing the 49 Merc inside and out. So far it is just a yard ornament but if I ever get that engine unseized maybe it will be an occasional driver.
The M68 designates that it is a Mercury with a 6800 pound GVW. Generally considered a 3/4 ton truck.
M68 Mercury
 
Thanks for that Larry. Your (and others) likes and positive comments are the only benefits I get from youtube as I do not have my videos monetized.
 
50 years ago my brother had a '50 Ford 3/4 ton. Red like yours, boy does your truck bring back the memories. Thanks for sharing.
 
(quoted from post at 19:10:40 02/19/17) 50 years ago my brother had a '50 Ford 3/4 ton. Red like yours, boy does your truck bring back the memories. Thanks for sharing.
The old truck has memories for me too. My uncle bought it in 1969 when I was just learning to drive my first truck. (The 46 Ford facing the camera in this photo. I had just finished a brush paint job on it with some old hardware store green paint my dad had leftover in the tractor shed. And I was pretty proud of it so had to park it beside Uncle Don's "new" Mercury 3/4 ton.
I can remember riding to town and back with him and my dad a few times. It seemed pretty fast and modern compared to the big old 3 ton 46 Ford I'd been learning on. I don't recall ever getting to drive that Merc but maybe one of these days I'll get the chance nearly 50 years later.
45826.jpg
 
I once had a '48 Dodge farm truck. I repainted it and kept it nice enough to drive in a parade occasionally.

I was the 4th owner of it, and when I didn't need it anymore I sold it to the son of the original owner. I still see it sitting out on his yard once in a while.

Some of those old gals have an interesting history.
 
I didn't know Mercury made a pickup. I have a 49 ford about the same shape as your pickup. I think the gaskets leak, letting water leak into the cylinders. Stan
 
Hey Rusty, That looks a lot like my '50 Ford 3/4 ton that i'm rebuilding. Close to the same condition too. Mine had the engine stuck too. Finally had to drive number 7 piston out with a hammer. The block was salvageable but it cost me plenty. But I've got a "new" flathead v8 now. I picked up a '53 Mercury flathead that is supposed to be good when I was in doubt about my motor. I know Iowa is a quite a ways from Saskatchewan but if you need one, it would be for sale.
 
(quoted from post at 20:02:54 02/19/17)

Some of those old gals have an interesting history.

Speaking of history, this Merc has lot of figures, numbers and dates scratched into the panel of the drivers door (in cab). The driver at the time was keeping track of the fields, dates and grain harvested. Really interesting to read as I recognize all the names.
 
The other night my 10 year old was watching a Disney show with horses and they drove up in an old merc. I had to grab the remote and back up to read what it was.
 
Nice truck. In my experience you will never free up that engine unless you take it out and take it apart. The most common thing is that the valves seize up in the valve guides, and the only way to free them up is to take them out with the engine apart, not an easy job. The valves and seats will need to be ground also. The timing gear is the weak link, in that if too much pressure is exerted it will strip the gear on the camshaft. Your truck probably has an aluminum gear on the cam, the cars have a fiber gear on the cam. I am speaking from experience with the seized up flatheads. It is possible to to do this with the engine in the truck...but a lot harder. If you are in the engine it would pay to pull the pistons and do a ring job too.
good luck, I hope that you can get it going.
 

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