Well, on our backs with wrenchs in hand we started the big rebuild by taking everything apart...........more than we bargained for. 

  This was our second adventure in doing a frame off restoration or in this case a start to building a slightly modified hot rod '53 Merc.  We bought the truck as a running vehicle which in hind sight was a mistake.  I explained in Tip #1 what I mean.  We paid more for something that "ran" but it really was in poor shape.

 Well here it is.  After many hours of long hard and very rewarding work we are finally able to show off our first fully restored vehicle. My sons 1953 Mercury half ton.