michael14

Would rather get it road legal if I can haha

Morning all. a bit of information gathering at this stage. I have inherited two cars from my late father, some of you may have seen my post about the 59 Dodge. The second is this 61 Plymouth, this one is unfortunately a lapsed rego. the car was not on carjam, but I called NZTA and they managed to find the old paperwork from pre digitalisation at NZTA, so they have transferred the information over which I can only assume is a good thing. https://www.carjam.co.nz/car/?plate=Au7087 When going through the revin process, does this car need to conform to current day safety measures or the measures of its time? For example am I going to need to pull all the trim off to check seat belt anchors, have high stop lights, seatbelts in the back etc etc. I am aware of the process to reuse the black plates so will be going through that, I’m not currently working on this car yet but hoping to get it out of the garage and have a look at what might be involved over the Christmas break. if anyone has a recommended agent for these types of cars in Christchurch that would be ideal.

Final update for this one, got the windscreen put back in by Old Mates Customs (Lyron) based out in Swannanoa - highly recommend if anyone needs anything similar done. Took it for a WOF today and was pleasantly surprised to get a pass (couple of small comments of things to do but good to find a trusting WOF person for those small things done afterwards) Cleaned up nice (still wet in this photo so not quite so sharp in person) but will really benefit from a cut and polish. Thanks to everyone’s who helped with information over the last year or so but especially thanks to Tony Morris for all his time on the engine and getting it ready, wouldn’t have shown a shit show of getting it to this point without all that help. Don’t be shy to come and say hello if you see me out and about.

Sorry Ted - I'm only just seeing this now. I saw this one come up on Trademe - I believe my one is almost identical spec to this one that you've picked up (which looks a beauty, by the way) I'm hoping to have my one back on the road in the coming weeks now, fingers crossed. Hopefully the paint work cleans up as nice as yours!

Likely one of the last updates on this one - after waiting for some parts to arrive and brakes being re done the car isn't far off being ready for its first WOF since the late 90s. Windscreen replacement booked in next week, some final small jobs on Sunday will be all that's needed, apart from a stuck thermostat no real issues since we started it back up. Photo to follow once finished and cleaned up.

She’s alive att.Zz7TT_JQGlaHfqwli1EfOzRR_tx-YMBMiJIvdTf5Txw.mp4

Got most of the driveline back in last weekend, just the driveshaft, fuel tank and change of fluids to check out the brakes and it’ll be pretty close to WOF ready. A day on the car with Tony got the engine, gearbox, radiator etc all sitting back in place. Can’t find the filler tube for the fuel tank, but have potentially found something locally thankfully. hopefully not too far away now.

Much appreciated, hopefully slightly more quickly now that the engine is back.

A shame - they're very cool cars!

Doesn’t time fly? Long time since an update but most of which was waiting for the engine to be rebuilt. Internally should be an almost new engine. Have painted it aluminium silver, the original colour for these engines so I believe and hopefully get the engine back in before it’s been another 5 months.

Non picture update again, but think I've managed to source all the required parts for this engine to be running again from 3-4 suppliers worldwide (Australia actually appears to have very good stock holdings for the 251 via Auto Surplus and Jim Robinson, ex Dodge and Plymouth Parts Australia, now retired) List of parts sourced. Full gasket set (actually found one of these in stock at Silvester V8 in Christchurch) Carb rebuild kit (Carb restorations, Dunedin) - the carb in this appears to be the slant 6 carb NOS fuel pump - eBay Pistons and rings +.020 - Auto Surplus Piston bushes - Auto Surplus Timing chain and gears - Auto Surplus Water distribution tube - Auto Surplus Neoprene rear main seal - Auto Surplus Valve guides - Auto Surplus Valve springs - Auto Surplus Exhaust valves - Rock Auto Connecting rod bearings -.020 - Rock Auto Camshaft bearings Std - Rock Auto Oil pump - Rock Auto Main bearings -.040 - Jim Robinson Water pump - Jim Robinson Oil relief valve piston, spring & gasket - Jim Robinson Valve spring retainers - Jim Robinson Intake Valves - Jim Robinson Pistons being ordered into Auto Surplus, so probably a few weeks away from them getting them, then shipping to me. But hopefully some tangible progress in the coming months once parts arrive.

The guy I'm working with said the engine has probably been reconditioned but didn't think it had been re bored before - I'd think the 224 would need to be too far bored out to make a 251, and both much earlier engines by the looks.

Yeah this was my source of info too - I did find a couple of other 59 Canadian models on Wikipedia that came with a 251 (Dodge Mayfair is the only one I remember off hand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Mayfair I believe I found a couple of others, but can't recall which ones off hand!

No pictures this time, but think we have figured out that what we have is a 251cid 3 7/16"bore, 4 1/2" stroke. My understanding was that these didn't come out of the factory with a 251, but plenty of other Chrysler cars did (mostly Australian made, I believe) so may have done? Any intel on that would be great!

Wouldn't say deep but going to have to figure something out! Once the engine has been stripped down a bit more and tested for cracks, I'll report back. Timeline TBC