'59 Plymouth Forum

Well, yesterday started off OK... I cranked Faulkner for 30 seconds or so, just as I always do -- and the 318 roared into life. I put it in reverse, backed down the ramps it was on, and... he stalled. I cranked it again, it wanted to start, but couldn't quite get there. I gave it a whiff of starter fluid, to no avail; let it sit for an hour with the charger on, came back -- same deal. I was starting to get desperate -- the car had to be moved, the house isn't mine in 5 days. I popped the distributor, and the points looked too close to me. I called my friend Ed Ober, who told me the proper setting -- I reset the points, moved them off the lobe -- separated the points with the ignition on; yeah, I had spark, but it looked weak to me...

Got back into the car, it started up! It was really running rough though. I backed out onto the street, and reset the points where the light was better. Still running rough, but good enough to get me 3 miles to the rental garage, I thought. I drove to the gas station to pump up the tires (yeah, they were low too) -- pulling out of the gas station into the road, Faulkner stalled! First crank, it wouldn't start... I started waving cars around me, but waited a minute or two to try again. It started, and I drove down the road, popping it into neutral at every light to keep it from stalling again. Of course, the oil light came on towards the end of the trip...

I got to the garage, and the proprietor had shut the garage door on me. I left Faulkner idling and opened the door, and he stalled again. In fact, he stalled several times, as I backed up and back to get him in. Finally, he was safe in the garage. But it's so tight in there; I don't even have room to pop the hood.

Then, a trip back to the house to get the rear seat, side panels, etc. that I've removed to do work on the car. It occurred to me that I now have a pile of parts, a car with an engine that needs overhaul, no convenient way to work on it, and it's miles from my new home. It really made me sad...

No way in hell I'm ever gonna give up the "P". But I wonder how long it will be before things settle down to the point where I can get the old boy out of that cubicle into my own garage, get the block pulled and running like he used to. Anyway, can't think about that right now... I've got boxes to unpack.

Dan

Dan,

We feel very sad about it too

There is just one thing to do, start unpacking those boxes and when you are finished you can start building your garage. Keep in mind you only have about six months left to do it We will be there before you know it, and when we go to Colorado we will leave Matthew in your garage for a couple of weeks.

Ron and Marjo

Ron Keij wrote:... when you are finished you can start building your garage. Keep in mind you only have about six months left to do it We will be there before you know it, and when we go to Colorado we will leave Matthew in your garage for a couple of weeks.
Ron and Marjo

Ron, I have it on good authority that plasterers make excellent bricklayers. Your arrival is greatly anticipated! And of course, I'll be happy to provide Matthew with a bed while he puts Faulkner back together. I love these exchange programs, doncha know

Dan

Dan, no need for a bed for him. He can sleep on the rear seat every now and then You hire him to get some work done and not to sleep.
Just open the garage door a few inches and slide a pizza in and he'll be more than happy.

And I don't know who told you that plasterers are good bricklayers, but he is wrong! I learned how to plaster because I can't work with bricks. When I have to make a straight wall it gets all kinds of curves and I have to use my plastering skills to get the walls straight again. I call it plasteric surgery.

Ron