Michael14's 1959 Dodge Kingsway

[michael14]

I've recently inherited this 59 Dodge Kingsway from my father who has owned it from 1977.

NZ New, 3 speed manual 251ci flat head six and wanting a place to document the restoration. Plan is to keep everything entirely original. Dad used it as a wedding car in 1997, overheated during a wedding and has been parked up ever since.

Any resources for parts, general advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

Feel free to discuss! 

 

[michael14]

Few extra photos below

[michael14]

[michael14]

[michael14]

[michael14]

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[michael14]

Update time! Pulled the engine out today, dad did most of the hard work getting the gearbox off, took Tony and I maybe 2 hours to get it out, the vast majority of which was an exhaust bolt and getting the crane to pull it out at the right angle. 
 

25 year old engine oil is, interesting. Very sludgey and there was some water in there, head has come off (no photos sorry) and the gasket is blown, so hopefully that’s the only reason for water down there. 

Crack in the top radiator hose fitting a possible cause for originally over heating. 

Potentially need valves and pistons if anyone can put me in the right direction!

[michael14]

Unfortunately - a fair bit of wear from the pistons at some point, can be felt by finger nail on all 6 cylinders, some worse than others but didn’t get too many photos when with the engine tonight. 
 

if anyone can put me on to an engine rebuild kit for the 3 7/16 inch bore size, would be greatly appreciated! Can find a few for the smaller bore size but not sure I can for the larger just yet. 
 

Also note the wear to the valves - some missing some of the metal around the edges like the one top of picture  

[michael14]

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!

[michael14]

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.

[michael14]

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. 

[michael14]

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. 

[michael14]

She’s alive

[michael14]

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.

[michael14]

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.