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The car when we stopped for fuel in New Ulm. The mileage calculated to 17 mpg!

Heres mine.....

Story time. I had found a 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe on Craigslist about 5 hours south of me and had been going back and forth with the seller asking questions and then was bugging a neighbor about going to look at it and him buying it since he was wanting a 40s era car. Well, long story short we did drive down to look at it on Friday and the purchase was made. I was the lucky one to drive it all the way home 6+ hours on back roads from Iowa to central MN. 333 miles with not one iota of trouble. The seller took great care in making sure what needed fixing was taken care of and knowing this in advance of driving down there I was confident it would make the trip. Here’s the kicker - the sale price was only $3750!!!! The following had been done: Complete brake overhaul Tailpipe replaced. Fuel tank thoroughly cleaned, fuel pump replaced, and carburetor rebuilt. New plugs, wires, and distributor serviced and all necessary parts replaced. Recent oil change. Air cleaner and breather cap serviced. Generator rebuilt/serviced as it had been squealing. New water pump - he thought that’s where the whining was coming from, but it ended up being the generator. New 160 degree thermostat. The car has an overdrive transmission, but that is not currently working - probably needs a new solenoid, he just hadn’t chosen to replace that. One of the plugs in the block was leaking coolant so that was replaced. Driver’s side rear hub serviced since a couple of the bolt threads were stripped - it is now right hand thread. Only the front driver side is left hand thread. Radio rebuilt. Bulls-eye head lights! - I was not aware of these. Still 6 volt system, but lights were awesome after dark! New shocks. 5 seat belts installed. New seals included with the car for trunk, windshield, and rear window - they are not installed yet. New cowel vent gasket. If I’m missing anything it’s not major. The interior is original, but the seats are in excellent condition for being 70 years old. The floor mat could use replacing and the headliner has some wear. The best part of the whole deal was that I got to drive the car home. I’m 30 years old so driving something of this age for that long was absolutely wonderful. I’m have a “52 Mercury since 2006 so I am very familiar with a three speed with overdrive. The seller was impressed with my ability to drive a three speed. He is in his late 60s and has owned sever ‘49 Plymouths so that was a compliment. That’s about it! The car is super and I got plenty of waves and thumbs ups on the way home. With the way this engine ran for that long of a trip it almost has to have been rebuilt at some point in its life. The odometer says 26000 now, but the car likely has 126000. The current paint job is the third color you can see on various areas. I only wish I could have bought it. For the price and work that was done the seller practically gave it away!! He had paid 3500 and 700 to have it shipped from Kansas City to Iowa - In that alone he lost money! This was one of the best deals ever - unless something goes drastically wrong. Now I need to teach my 61 year old neighbor to drive a three speed. I’ll share photos as I am able. Just thought everyone would enjoy another Plymouth story.

NIce car..........sounds like your neighbours had a win......welcome aboard from Oz...pics, we love more pics..............andyd.

that is basically normal saturation….even new cars will creep when coming off an interstate run of distance.....you may want to tweak you cooling fan to come on a bit earlier.....and if it has been tweaked..it may need an increase in CFM based on the manner you wish to run... All in all, sounds like a you did very well...many here will not run above 60MPH.....lol

was the first place for a flathead 6?

My first time taking the truck to a car show was today. There was a lot of really nice stuff there- led-sleads, perfect stock restored model As, muscle cars, even drag race stuff and bikes. My truck was definitely not built as a show poodle but I figured it’d be fun to park in the exhibition area instead of with all the toyotas. I was surprised to win a large trophy- 2nd place for best engine!

good battery good clean connections I am thinking you have a stomp starter where you mechanically engage then make electrical connection...no relay... the stomp contact if so equipped could be your first true focal point...

Also you need to know, that these trucks are 6 volt with a positive ground. This means you connect the + side to the frame, and the - side goes to the starter .... did you connect it this way? You can connect a 12 volt battery same way to start it, just do not turn on lights ... wont hurt the battery .

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Alpha-Moto-Motorcycle-Shop-Auxiliary-Gas-Fuel-Tank-Tool/143329127?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1148&adid=22222222227075847715&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=190004588617&wl4=pla-294790875762&wl5=9024582&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112562587&wl11=online&wl12=143329127&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAjw7uPqBRBlEiwAYDsr15nfQNxuQ47AcHejCpHrM7yS4VG-ypw72P0kt-dHUmTW3ghvL3MnVxoCAxgQAvD_BwE

I had to revise my work/rest cycle as I got older. Me at 15-40 years 2 hours work 10 minute break. 41 to 55 years 1 hour and a 10 minute break. Over 55, 20 minutes of work equals a 1 hour break. Heat slows me a little, humidity slows me a little both slow me a lot, and in Florida, God it is miserable in the summer. Joe Lee

Actually Fargo your 2 liter pop bottle is a good idea just for starting and testing the engine. Just cut off the bottom and string a wiring for hanging, drill a hole in the cap then run a fuel hose from the cap to the carb and hang it from the hood. Just use about a cup or 2 of gas to limit the excess and use it to start and time the engine. It's the same thing as a gas I.V. bottle I've used in the shop to test for bad fuel pumps, setting carbs and timing engines. Joe Lee

(Fargo, an octogenarian is not old, he has just lived 80 + years. What changes are the times one is alert and the length of such. It’s a new normal, not easily explained to younger folk. As a result, the exact time of day or night loses importance because the only difference is light and with decreased eyesight, that too is relative. So you younguns work hard, and sleep hard while us octies section and space out the two.

I've got at least 3 of that or similar in the tool boxes, probably as well as one made from a button salvaged from a pickup back in the '60s.. And, pliers or screwdrivers have stood in at times. Still, it would be handy at times to stick my arm through the window and bump the starter without a trip to the tool box.

I have an old pair of pliers for my wheel horse garden tractor?. Left foot on brake, Right knee on seat, right hand on choke, pliers in left! Sparks, noise, tractor starts.

Thanks Robert. I had a feeling others had this syndrome also but wouldn't admit it. Hi my name's is Greg and sometimes I forget to turn the key...

I can highly recommend BatteryCablesUSA when you are ready for new cables----Very reasonable prices, quick service and high quality! Made a noticeable difference in how the car starts, especially hot.

Drilling the holes is a reasonable idea. Now......who wants to do the prototype work (buying several sets and removing and reinstalling the transmission several times for road tests until the right combination of holes is found)? I'm convinced an undesirable spec is being used to manufacture our mounts. That spec may work ok in other applications.

Baling wire?! Didn't you know that's Ford parts?

do you wish just to gravity feed the carb or are you looking for the electric fuel pump to feed the carb from an aux tank...? either is simple to rig...depends on what you happen to have on hand to work with....lots of riding mowers can donate a gravity tank unit that will allow for lots of tweaking before running out of fuel..

106 here again today. I have been hitting it hard the last couple days. Trying to get ready for some paint, got some primer on yesterday. Then took the hour drive at 4:00 pm to tractor supply to pick up some more sand. I plan to have the old gas tank and fuel line out today, Pull the splash pans from the frame & paint. Minimal sand blasting of the frame. Pretty ambitious day planned for myself. So far, I pulled the generator out and sitting at the bench in front of the fan, sucking down water, typing on the computer while staring at the genny, waiting for paint to appear

Here is another vote for no aluminum. Go with Nickel Copper. Easy to cut and bend, and holds up a lot better.

Frank, definitely not a purist, my car has been modified to make it as reliable as I can (electric fuel pump, alternator, etc) because its purpose is to be driven. Just got back from the 22 mile trip to the airport. The mounts are a closed chapter as far I am concerned......I ain't pulling that transmission again anytime soon! The purpose of this thread is to inform those who are yet to consider changing mounts and let them know there are things to consider. I close my part of this thread with the following scan from the Service Manual: The mounts I have don't have a white stripe......and they sure aren't pliable........but......they do transmit vibration.......

Thanks Merle! Now I don’t feel so bad making him “run” to catch up with us at BTt50’s ? Don’t know if color was but, I have suspected the door card embossing was done differently from the CA plant and Michigan.... if we were organized we could probably document and figure it out. (Maybe on a different thread) Glenn, sorry to take your thread OT.... Ggdad and I were just messing around ?

Come to think of it, I have seen ‘53’s done up in maroon and grey. This one was at Mopars in the Park in ‘09. (Got your back, Brent. ? )

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No more "barley pops" for you.... they are effecting your eye sight and memory.?

looks two tone to me...light rust, dark rust...?