1962 Mercury Monterey Project

I started with the idea that I would remove the speedometer cable. I rolled under the car with a flat screwdriver. Once I found some purchase under the flange on the cable end, it came out about a 1/4 inch and then I was easily able to pull it by hand from there. I was glad it did not sling oil in my face. I rolled a little forward to get rid of the shift+clutch interlock. This bracket came off easy enough. So - feeling confident - I went to delete the master cylinder. And, as we know, pride always cometh before the fall. I mean technically fall was a few day ago - but it certainly came before fall 2022. I layed under the dash and managed to smash some locking pliers on the square nut inside against the fire wall. That did not work - the nut holding the master cylinder in the engine bay still spun. I went back and retightened it. And still nothing. So again I crawled under the dash. and so on. and so on. Some where in there I kicked off a piece of trim that I will never be able to repl...

Or should I break the master cylinder?! The directions say [a) pull the boot back from the push rod under the dash, b) remove the brake line, and c) remove the 2 nuts holding the master cylinder to the firewall]. Simple enough. I managed to complete step_a. For part_b, that brake line is going no where without a hack saw. I can turn the coupling, but the line is rusted to it so it just twists as the nut goes around. I will saw it off. As for step_c and the nuts holding the cylinder to the firewall - they were hard to turn, then they squeaked, then they got easier. But not. They just went around. So I crawled back under the dash and see that the square head bolts are meant to be held by some bracket that holds the dash in place. And that was no longer holding them. I need my E to come home and either turn the wrench or hold a pair of vice grips on them. Probably will give her the wrench (I hate to make her lie in the bio hazard interior). I am guessing they are rusted solid and that I r...

  I gave up my right index finger to the deity of car restoration. Turns out there are 7 bolts holding the exhaust manifold in place. I didn't bother to look at the manual or feel around - and so one was hiding in the middle of the header. Unfortunately, I foung it after I assumed it was just stuck - and so with that assumption in hand - I took a rubber mallet and whacked on the top of the header pretty good. What caused me to look for the extra bolt was that during the spirited beating, I flattened out my stroke a little and brought my index finger straight down on the electrical sender connections on the brake master cylinder. I was wearing gloves, but that finger & nail got a good Mortal Kombat punch right on those 2 spikey pins. Since I took a moment to think of all the latin phrases I knew, I went looking for another bolt. Sure enough - 1 more under the center where I could not see it. When I loosened that, the header fell right off. #1 seem to need a ring job - it was cer...