Projects Picking up a new old car 55 Plymouth.

I was kidding, it looks like it was done right.

 

You are kicking butt on that sounds like a fun project. It's pretty clean too! My friend in college had a '63 Chrysler 300, it had a 413 with a tarantula dual quads cool ass intake how the carbs hung out over the valve covers, 4 door and push button auto. That thing sounded so mean when all 8 barrels opened up. Again love that big block pull!

 

Very cool glad You saved it . I’m happy for you that the engine is in great shape. Thanks for the updates

 

That's got some big wheel wells too could get some deep steelies on it with some big tires and dogdishes

 

That should be a solid lifter engine. You might want to think about checking valve adjustment. I think most of the polly engines had solids, at least my 63 Plymouth did.

When I worked at the Dodge dealership we used to have slant 6 customers come in and say they were told they needed new hydraulic lifters as they were noisey. Adjusting the solid lifters quieted them right down.

 

Regarding the lifters that are supposed to be solid. When I first fired it up, the valve train made some racket for about 10 minutes but now is dead quiet. I mean like not even a little clatter like solid lifters. I'll ask the previous owner if he remembers because he had the engine out to do the valve seats. Maybe he replaced the cam with a hydraulic?

 

I believe your engine came from the factory with hydraulic lifters, so most likely just had some gunk blocking a couple passages until they finally got enough even pressure all the way around to pump up.

 

Yes, I figured it would take a little while for the oil to get to the top end as it's been sitting for 20 years.

 

I have allways been told to get rid of the 6 V becouse its junk on my 53 Dodge.
After 35 + years it still not given me any problem.
As far as i know you have hydraulic lifters in that engine.

 

Gas tank is cleaned And in. Check the sending unit while it was out and it still read the perfect amount of ohms, replaced the cork float with a neoprene one And the gauge actually reads correct! .All the brakes are done. Just waiting on the drums to be turned and hopefully cruise it up-and-down the street.

 

My father was career Air Force. When we came back from Italy we stayed in New York and at that time he bought a new 1955 Green Plymouth Plaza. Went from New York to his new duty station in Texas and after that he was transferred to his last duty station in California. Traveled across the United States in the 55'. Seeing one really brings back a lot of memories of the travels. Distinctly remember the little gear shift on the dash along with the pronounced round speaker chrome.
Very cool car.

 

She's a driver. And what a driver, So smooth and plenty of power.

 

man, you don't mess around, nice work there,...

 

Thanks, but it still needs some work to be roadworthy. Lights don't work for some reason and haven't looked into it. Air cleaner cleaned up and installed.I've got to rip out the headliner that's flying around , And of course, registration and insurance.and tires, Gotta figure out if I'm going to run wide white's or thin whitewalls. I do like the double thin white wall on the rear. But it's gotta take a side line for a little while. Cause I've got to get my 41 in the shop tomorrow or the next day. So that after work I can rewire it. Gotta drive it to VLV in April.

 

Rad !

 

"Hy-Fire"! I love it.

 

For the lights (and everything else) clean every ground you can find. That whole "been sitting 20 years" really messes with them.
Fully understand rewiring, IF the stuff is rotted. I'd try to track down a OE style replacement if you are keeping it close to stock. This is the first I found. Awful pricey compared to the rod stuff, but maybe you can find a cheaper one or splurge for the OE style.
https://harnessesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/17-plymouth-web-page.pdf

 

Rhode Island Wiring does factory-quality harnesses, but it's gonna be $1200-1800, I'd just get a simple universal kit from Rebel Wiring here on the HAMB and get it done. That car has so few circuits, it'll be a breeze. Damn, this makes me want to get going on my dad's. It's a 1955 Plymouth Plaza 2dr with a 6/3spd, that's getting a 1956 Dodge 270ci V8 auto swap here as soon as I finish the current customer cars.

Great progress, thanks for the pics!

 

My Uncle Al drove one up until around 1970, no frills black and it had the flathead 6 and the 3-speed. Most of my uncles were diehard Mopar fans back then.

 

Got some new tires mounted and lowered the rear 3 inches with blocks and the front an inch and a 1/2 with the blue wrench.

 

Looks great! Front could come down a little more, but that would likely require drop springs. I think Eaton does a HAMB alliance discount

 

Amazing what tires and stance can do!

 

Skirts?

 

I actually had the same question but also know how I answered that question on my similar looking car.

 

I'm thinking no skirts, but we'll see what happens.

 

Good looking car, congratulations. HRP

 

Being in the rust belt it's hard to imagine you can find a 70 yr old car sitting outside in such solid condition.
You didn't mess around getting it going again either, congrats man.

 

Interior is out except the front seat which is fine.at AAA now getting tags.

 

Got registration easy enough. But they wouldn't register with the black plates stating that they were YOM plates. And I had to go to the dmv and fill out forms. So I just opted to get the white plates today and I'll deal with that later. So I've only driven the thing about 5 miles in front of the shop and I've got to see if it'll make it home 25 miles and then about 5 more miles to a big car show tomorrow in lake Hughes, California.

 

Way kool man, enjoy it (and well done).