The Ford Barn

Clem Clement · 02-27-2024, 03:59 PM

Back in the 50's Me and my buddy Geers were having fun learnin about cars. I had just bought a 40Merc fordor Convertible sedan. (957 +77) were ever built.
We went to Jessies junkyard in CrossKeys, NJ and Mother funded a flathead motor for 20 Bux outa a 49-51 Merc junker.We spent many happy hours yankin the dead engine outa the 40 and sliding in the better motor (Uncle Tom (no wife or kids) used his tractor blade to lift the motor and lots of strugglin and cursing about not knowing about anti-chatter rods. We get the motor in and then out again as the clutch plate was backward)

On a trip on a cool Saturday morning in July, We, arrive to find no Jessie. After waiting some time, we heard a moan from the yard. We ran over and Jessie is trapped under a Merc hulk. We found plenty of unsafe bumper jacks round, we jackified the Merc and rescued Jessie. a front spring was loose and un-sprung itself across Jessie's shoulder and pinned him painfully hard.

Jessie was like a father to us.

You know, after that experience, Jessie seemed to charge us less...

After 23.5 years of Air Force service, I went over to see Jessie only to find other gearheads there. He had sold the yard and moved to Florida. I was intent on buying the yard and funding a workshop for gearheads.
I'll never forget the times there in CrossKeys in the dirt.

02-27-2024, 03:59 PM	#10
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,532	Re: Stories from the past Back in the 50's Me and my buddy Geers were having fun learnin about cars. I had just bought a 40Merc fordor Convertible sedan. (957 +77) were ever built. We went to Jessies junkyard in CrossKeys, NJ and Mother funded a flathead motor for 20 Bux outa a 49-51 Merc junker.We spent many happy hours yankin the dead engine outa the 40 and sliding in the better motor (Uncle Tom (no wife or kids) used his tractor blade to lift the motor and lots of strugglin and cursing about not knowing about anti-chatter rods. We get the motor in and then out again as the clutch plate was backward) On a trip on a cool Saturday morning in July, We, arrive to find no Jessie. After waiting some time, we heard a moan from the yard. We ran over and Jessie is trapped under a Merc hulk. We found plenty of unsafe bumper jacks round, we jackified the Merc and rescued Jessie. a front spring was loose and un-sprung itself across Jessie's shoulder and pinned him painfully hard. Jessie was like a father to us. You know, after that experience, Jessie seemed to charge us less... After 23.5 years of Air Force service, I went over to see Jessie only to find other gearheads there. He had sold the yard and moved to Florida. I was intent on buying the yard and funding a workshop for gearheads. I'll never forget the times there in CrossKeys in the dirt.