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Projects 53 Chrysler

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Kevin Buehner, Jun 18, 2018.

  1. Kevin Buehner
    Joined: May 1, 2017
    Posts: 15

    Kevin Buehner
    Member

    I just bought a 53 Chrysler moredoor mostly for the engine. It's a 265 flathead. Now that it's home I'm not so sure if I shouldn't keep it alive. The picture that's posted is better than the paint looks now. It's base coat / clearcoat and the clear is peeling badly. Some rust and the rockers have been replaced with a strip of metal that's not even connected other than one point below the door. On the good side, I drove it on to the trailer and the engine starts right up and idles perfectly. Trans wouldn't go into low, but could be a linkage issue. What do you guys think? Potential or not?
     
  2. Kevin Buehner
    Joined: May 1, 2017
    Posts: 15

    Kevin Buehner
    Member

    Apparently I need to bone up on posting pics. Sorry!
     
  3. flatford39
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 2,799

    flatford39
    Member

    I can see the car...what were you going to do with the engine???
     
  4. Kevin Buehner
    Joined: May 1, 2017
    Posts: 15

    Kevin Buehner
    Member

    I have a 49 Chrysler Windsor Club coupe that I was going to put it in.
     
    Hnstray likes this.

  5. Neat car I owned one
    They drive nice with the fluid drive trans, parts are cheap
    I say keep it as a driver, they don’t command collector car prices but they are nice

    Always liked the jukeboxe instrument cluster
     
  6. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Don't know how familiar you are with Fluid Drive Chryslers but they don't have a low. They have a low range where second usually is, and a high range where third gear usually is, and a reverse in the usual place.

    All normal driving is done in High range, release the clutch and drive away like an automatic, when you get going 14MPH or more, lift off the gas and it shifts into High with a soft *click-clack* from under the floor boards.

    I wouldn't scrap a car like that for the engine. There must be more 265s around in junk yards, or old farm machinery or industrial engines.
     
    flatford39 likes this.
  7. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    What engine is in the 49 Windsor? They came with a 251 which isn't much slower than a 265. You could turn the 251 into a 265 with the right crankshaft and rods. Or build it as a 251. They are not very difficult or expensive to rebuild.
     
    flatford39 likes this.
  8. Jonnie King
    Joined: Aug 12, 2007
    Posts: 2,078

    Jonnie King
    Member
    from St. Louis

    Kevin...

    If you have room for it I'd keep it. They're rare, neat cars. If the suspension is rebuilt/upgraded, brakes/lines/mc are okay, etc., they are dependable comfortable cruisers. There are MoPar parts specialists out there that will probably have a new set of rockers for you.

    Those engines are fine, just rebuild the carb, and add a split-manifold and duals. As stated earlier if it has fluid-drive it's a pleasure to drive...just don't expect to "peel out" very often:D. And, as VANDENPLAS said, those "jukebox" instrument clusters are cool !!

    Also, dependent on what your "buy-in" was on this '53, I always figure on another two-grand, or so, to sort-out some of what I've listed above.

    It's your descision, best of luck to you with it.

    Jonnie
    www.legends.thewwbc.net
     
    Hnstray likes this.
  9. Kevin Buehner
    Joined: May 1, 2017
    Posts: 15

    Kevin Buehner
    Member

    I have decided to drive it. Needs brakes bad, so disc brakes up front (hope that doesn't get me kicked off) and new dual MC. As far as running it starts great and in 30 seconds will idle about 400-500 rpm. Thinking maybe a set of Cast iron headers and a dual carb intake, if I can find the manifold for less than the national debt! Maybe will have to weld "dual flanges" to the cast iron intake.
    Rusty
    I actually have a 49 Chrysler with the trusty "clunk a matic" so fairly familiar. 49 was my Dad's car. He bought it from my uncle. It's been in the family since June of 1950. This one I need to get this on a hoist to find out why it wouldn't go into low "range". The 49 has a three on the tree type shifter on the column. This one the shifter looks like an automatic shifter, with just R, L, N, D, but it still has the clutch pedal and "grinds if you try to go from say reverse to high without pushing in the pedal. Seems exactly like the semi auto in the 49. No Fluid Drive emblems anywhere, but it has been painted etc. Just reverse where L should be and was in high range trying to get on the trailer. Something's wrong.

    Jonnie
    Since you're from St. Louis did you know a rod builder named Phil Brown from that area?
     
    'Mo likes this.
  10. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    You must use the clutch to change gears with the gearshift lever. The newer ones do use an automatic style quadrant, you have to lift the shift lever quite a ways to get past the detent. Try shifting slowly with the clutch in and lift the lever.

    If the quadrant says Fluid Torque Drive you have the optional Torque Converter which makes for less doggy performance but is more complicated. It uses the same M6 transmission but the torque converter has its own oil supply in a pan under the torque converter, like an automatic. The M6 trans still has its own oil supply. Torque converter oil level is checked from under the car.
     
  11. Jonnie King
    Joined: Aug 12, 2007
    Posts: 2,078

    Jonnie King
    Member
    from St. Louis

    Kevin...
    The name is familiar, but I'm not sure if I've met him. There have been a lot of rodders in the area through the years...and some of the names escape me as time goes on.

    Jonnie
    www.legends.thewwbc.net
     
  12. George
    Joined: Jan 1, 2005
    Posts: 7,724

    George
    Member

    Disc brake conversion, relocate upper shock mounts. Bunch of threads on updating the 46-54 Mopars. Edgy makes the dual intakes & other stuff.
     

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