Friendly Wager: 60 mpg 95 Mercury Tracer

[M_a_t_t]

I have finally decided to start messing with the metro engine swap again. First drained the oil. Then tried to remember where everything goes. Apparently I didn't take enough pictures either so I am going to need a little help. I am just going to start with cleaning everything up. Here is the first batch of small parts, I am going to start with the ultrasonic cleaner which should take car of most of it. Then I can do a finishing pass using the sand blaster if need be before painting.




Can you separate the intermediate shaft from the carrier? It looks like it, but it doesn't seem to want to move. I also can't seem to figure out how the rear motor mount bracket goes on. The mount itself goes onto the firewall and mates to a bracket on the engine correct? I think I found the bracket I need, but I don't see how it bolts up. Does anyone have any pictures they can share?

Edit:
I was looking through the kubota metro swap pictures (thread here: https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...o-32945-5.html ) and found one that showed the rear engine mount. Half of it bolts to the transmission, which is why I couldn't figure out how it mounted because I was only looking at the engine.

[M_a_t_t]

I figured out the intermediate shaft. Once you remove the outboard seal you can remove a snap ring. Then the bearing and axle come out. Then there is another snap ring and the other seal. I tried to separate the axle and the bearing, but it wasn't moving either and the bearing feels good so I will just re-use it.





Then I was trying to make a decision about what finish I want to put on the accessory brackets and other things (water tube for example). I narrowed it down to 2 options, "ford blue racing" and "dark green" which reminds me of John Deere green, but also is close to the color of the car. I will use black in addition to whatever main color I go with. I made a poll thread for your guys opinions. Here is the pictures though. It was hard to get lighting that really reflected the colors in person. The second and third pic are before baking.

Poll thread:
https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...ets-38622.html

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by M_a_t_t

I am hoping to test out some motorcycle mirrors as replacements. My hypothesis is that since the stalks move the mirror body away from the body of the car, replicating some of the newer cars as well as high end sports cars, it will decrease drag.

Not so sure if moving the mirrors away from the body of the car would be so effective at all, but it's something to consider too.

[jakobnev]

Are you swapping the engine but keeping the car automatic?

[M_a_t_t]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Not so sure if moving the mirrors away from the body of the car would be so effective at all, but it's something to consider too.

Yea. I currently have no outside mirrors and really could use one atleast. The smaller frontal area of the motorcycle mirrors is also something to consider.

Originally Posted by jakobnev

Are you swapping the engine but keeping the car automatic?

No. I have the 5spd from the metro as well. I need to finish cleaning it up then I am probably going to powder coat the 5th gear cover and call it good. Guy I got it off of said everything worked when the car rusted out so hopefully no crunchy noises come from it.

[M_a_t_t]

I had been leaking brake fluid from the rear lines since I bought the car about a year ago. Well, they finally let loose. I "know" ("" because you never know for sure until you try) from experience that the wheel cylinders bleed valve probably won't come out in one piece and since I need the car in a few hours I looped the 2 rear lines together. Any experienced mechanic who is in the rust belt should know if you patch a rusty line another pin hole will show up elsewhere. I ended up undoing the lines (yes, 2 rear lines at the master) up front and making a loop re-using the fittings for it. Brake feels solid now. Hopefully it will be good enough for a little bit.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by M_a_t_t

Yea. I currently have no outside mirrors and really could use one atleast. The smaller frontal area of the motorcycle mirrors is also something to consider.

I don't feel comfortable to drive anything with no outside mirrors at all. Even if there is only a driver-side mirror, I get quite concerned.

[M_a_t_t]

I am going to try and make another (and better) upper grill block for the mercury. The previous one was just some roof flashing screwed into the bumper and rad support. I was having issues with it getting noticeably warmer at long stop lights. Not overheating, just getting warmer. I need to install an LED so I know when the fan kicks on and get a temp gauge that actually has numbers on it.

To get back on topic though, I cut a section out of a water heater skin and just wanted to attempt to make the right curve that I wanted. The curve I wanted was cosmetic (Not going to aero test different curves is what I mean). I think it will be fine in aero terms. I might test it at some point on vs off though.

Pics and captions:

I just cut out a small section of a water heater skin. This piece is probably about 3"x10"


I flattened the piece back out some more and put it in the vice with a 1" piece of square tubing and used a carpenter's hammer to bend it over to a 90




And finally the end product. You can see the cut out piece on the right, that is the bumper side. The left end of the piece is towards the hood. Most of the curve is towards the bumper end. I wanted it to be kind of flat as it meets the hood. It lines up with the hood curve a little better that way.

I want this to be stout enough that I can put some weather-stripping on it to seal up the hood and headlights. There is actually a stock piece that I think is supposed to seal the top of the headlights to the hood. The one on the driver side is missing though and it is a plastic piece so I can't imagine it would be better than a rubber gasket.

[Piotrsko]

Nice choice of airfoil, I am also impressed with the bend on the end.

[M_a_t_t]

I took a quick break to put these mirrors on. From a 80's Yamaha 650. I just used one of the existing holes in the door for the stock mirror. I haven't driven with them yet, but I was able to aim them while stationary.