'59 Plymouth Forum

Matthew - Send pictures of the top parts that broke.
Thanks
Dick

Will do that Dick!! I replaced it already and replaced the short arm from the top of the cilinder to the top frame. That was bend too.

Removed the 2 center bows to have them fixed

It’s been a while but I’ve been busy and working on stuff!

Recently I bought 2 original 58 Plymouth dual quad carbs on eBay and Frank knew somebody who could rebuild them. Decided to pick them up instead of shipping.

A week or 3 before my trip I got new rear shocks and I got them on the car. When I was under the car I noticed some oil, found out it was the transmission.
We still had a transmission at Dan’s place so I could pick that up. I also decided to rebuild the rear axle since it’s leaking too and it’s a little bit noisy.

Flew into Baltimore (eventually after a delay of 1 day) and we drove up to Dan and picked up the torqueflite. Dropped it off at Jim Rawa for a rebuild.
My carbs were waiting at Franks house and they look like new!
I also bought a load of parts to do the drum conversion and a NOS 3:31 ring and pinion, it was still in the original mopar box.
After figuring out some stuff I thought it would be good to add a sure grip to the rear axle. Another option right there! One was ordered earlier today and it should be delivered to Frank soon as he has some more parts to ship to me.

I came home today and worked on the car a bit.

What I also did in the last weeks:
Powdercoat the rear axle
Powdercoat the backing plates of the brakes
Blasted and cleared all the brake parts with relined brake shoes
Cleaned up the axles and put new bearings on them

Anyway, time for pics!!!

This is how we do it! Cleaned the axle up and pressed a new bearing on it. It’s gonna be a brand new rear axle when it’s done

Wow, Everything is looking great, Keep up the progress postings.

Will do that!

Found out my T fitting on the carb was leaking so I ordered a new one too. Hope to get a big package with new parts soon

Just because it's quiet around here... A pic Matthew sent me, of his dash lit up with green LEDs. He's gonna give me some for Faulkner!

Matthew, If you change over to a Sure Grip differential... Do you have to shorten the splined end of your axles?

Dan, it was Dicks idea I just did the same thanks to his tip!

Rick, the parts manual says they are a different length.
Non sure grip axles are 31 5/8 and sure grip axles are 31 1/2. Easy to do it yourself.
I’m going to measure how far the axles will come out and do the same when the sure grip is in just to be sure and don’t screw up

After the customs took some time (3 weeks!!!) I finally received a big box today.
Fuel leak is already fixed but the battery needed to be charged so that’s happening. Hope to fire it up tomorrow!

Also received my sure grip diff! Going to press on the bearings tomorrow and then the NOS ring can go on.

That is the correct Sure Grip unit for 59. Don't forget the friction modifier additive for the gear lube.

Dicks Idea!

Well, I guess it’s time for some updates over here.

I had the axles shortened and they look great. Took some pics but they are on my old phone.

Still had some issues with the car and it wasn’t running right. Finally figured out that the distributor was the one to blame.
Got a new electronic ignition kit from FBO with the vacuum advance limiter plate. That’s installed and I just dropped the rebuild distributor back in.
New kit has an ECU, ballast resistor jumper, coil and the limiter plate.
When I took my old distributor apart for the springs I found out 1 wasn’t too good so I ordered new ones.
Finished the rebuild of the mopar performance distributor and hopefully it’ll fire up tomorrow after I finish some small stuff.

I also took a trip 2 weeks ago and met up with Greg. Awesome nice guy! Went to see Earl Hess’s 59’s and other cars. After that I stopped by at Franks place and spend a couple days over there and checked out Hershey.
We finished my dads radio (more on that soon) and I picked up the torqueflite rebuild kit I ordered from Fatsco.
I have a torqueflite here that I’m gonna take apart. Information on it is hard to find as we can’t find the part number anywhere.

Pic time now!

Things I picked up at Hershey

Ignition stuff looks sweet, Matthew. Hey! Isn't that the turn signal lens I need?!?