keithb7

This just came in. C54. Meaning?

Local classifieds have revealed a Mopar 250 CI flat head engine. No SN provided (I asked seller to provide). Just a photo shown and claims that it is a Mopar flathead from the 50's. The price is reasonable at $148 USD or best offer. It's all there except the carb they claim. It does read "Spitfire" on the cylinder head. Maybe this offers some clues? I am interested as I am wondering if this could make for an interesting spare parts engine for my 53 Windsor Deluxe. It has a 265 CI engine. Comparing the two engines it seems that the bores are identical at 3 7/16". The Stroke on the 250 is 4 1/2". The 265 gets 4 3/4". I wonder if the block and head are the same? Compression ratio is listed the same at 7:1. It seems to me that the 250 was used in earlier 1950 Chryler Windsors. Up to 1953 Desotos too. I happen to have a 1949 service manual. I see that the 1949 C45 Royal and C45 Windsors are listed with the 250 CI engine. The 250 is rated at 116 HP & 208 ft lbs of torque.My 265 is rated at 119 HP & 218 ft lbs of torque. Some points I am interested in learning more on are: Crankshaft maybe the same just 1/4" shorter rods in the 265? Cylinder Head and block the same? I would need to confirm cylinder head length. I suspect both are the 25" long heads. For the price. It could make for a good spare parts engine. Thoughts? Thanks. Here is a pic of the claimed 250 for sale. If I'm lucky it could actually be a 265.

51K is closer to the invested hours. Let alone cash output. Lol. Go for it. I sure don’t see many Desotos around here. Pizzaro’s General, Desoto. The Conquistador.

I have my OEM Moapr 1953-1954 Parts manual open here. There are 3 different transmission options listed for 1953-1954. 1. Three Speed Manual 2. Presto-Matic with Pin Type Syncronizer 3. Power Flite The "Presto-Matic", It appears, is the M6 tranny in this book. According to the parts book, the optional Presto-Matic transmission assembly, part number 1408475, with Torque Converter is shared with some the following 6 cylinder and 8 cylinder cars, within certain Serial Number ranges. S18 Desoto Powermaster 6 cylinder Canadian Built S20 Desoto Powermaster 6 cylinder, USA Built C60 Chyrsler Windsor Deluxe 6 cylinder, Canadian Built C62 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe, 6 CYLINDER USA Built D44 Coronet 8 Cylinder, Canadian Built D50 Dodge Royal, 8 Cylinder, USA Built D48 Dodge Coronet 8 Cylinder D53 Dodge Royal 8 Cylinder S16 Desoto Firedome, 8 Cylinder Canadian Built S19 Desoto Firedome 8 Cylinder USA Built The following 8 cylinder cars with the presto-matic M6 transmission option, has a different transmission part number 1324616. Maybe these are different inside than the 1408475 above? Reviewing the parts listings though, I don't see different part numbers for individual parts used in these tranny's below, or above, listed here. C56-2 New Yorker Deluxe Canadian Built C63 New Yorker Deluxe USA built C58 Imperial C64 *Unsure what model this is C59 Crown Imperial C66 *Unsure what model this is Also noted: *Presto-Matic transmisisons were used up tp the following engine SN's: US Built C58 4 door sedan. Town Sed. after C58-8-63900 also intermittently from C53-8-47701 to C53-8-63900 up to C53-8-50163. ...I think. The book has interesting layout. It is not the easiest data to get straight. Someday I may be forced to sort this all out. I have a spare C56 New Yorker tranny that I pulled apart to learn its workings. I own a 1953 C60-2 Windsor Deluxe with the Presto-matic & torque converter. If I ever have tranny troubles and need spare parts, I'll be comparing parts side by side.

Next week my son has a free week in his University final exam schedule. By chance I booked the same week off. We both are pretty free to take off so we decided "Let's go on a road trip somehwere.". Hang out and have some fun together. We're both into cars so we decided to head off to the National Automobile Museum in Reno. We leave in a few days. About an 18 hour drive from here, one way. We'll likely hit the railway museum in Sacramento. Hit a few top sights in San Francisco, then rip back home. Looking around on the internet, it seems the National Auto Museum in Reno has a pretty large collection of cars with historical significance. Including the famous 1907 Thomas Flyer. Doubting they have a 1953 Chrysler there. But hey you never know. Hopefully I'll see my first Air Flow there. I am looking forward to this time we get to spend together. We have common interests. Gonna be great! Any other must-see things in the areas mentioned? Thanks, Keith

Is there a way to line up the direct speed clutch gear with the main shaft, if it was taken apart and not index marked? What about times when you are swapping parts from one tranny to another for example? The parts going in are not what came out. What happens then? How do you line everything up right?

1954 265 is a real good engine. Set the valves when its hot. They run at various temps. Even in a newly rebuilt engine. I’d try not to run the engine at the same rpm for long periods. Nor rev it too high. Some City driving, a lower speed country drive followed by a few busts of higher speed should do it well. Work that throttle. I might dump the oil and filter after a good initial run. Get any possible contaminants out.

Hey how about I drive my Chrysler to someone in the Pacific Northwest, who posesses the Amco tool? We spend an hour or two together and set up my brakes? Properly once and for all!

I’m trying to decide how much I am willing to give up for that Amco brake tool. I’d like one. Or just upgrade to disc brakes. Jacking up the front and spinning the wheels to find minor adjustments worked pretty well for me. Major adjustments are not so easy. Pretty trickly to get trailing and leading shoe surfaces concentric to the axle shaft. Otherwise, yup it’s seems the brakes are never as good as they could be. I know discs are in my future. I am just so frugal I won’t do that until my current shoes are spent.

I am quite enjoying it. It's interesting to learn about all the engineering test labs they set up. How the engineers developed so many little things that we take for granted today. Imagine little wind tunnels with wood carved car models being tested. Folks saying, "Oh my. That's not very good. Try turning the car backwards in the wind tunnel and test it again....OMG, there is a 30% improvement if the car is pointed backwards into the wind!" That was a major game changer for the auto industry. One of many that the Chrysler team figured out.

This is a good read for a Mopar enthusiast. Good details on new auto developments. The list of new engineered offerings discussed in the book is lengthy. The book offers some good insight on what the automobile industry was like back in the early days. The Maxwell car and how it morphed into a Chrysler. I found the Stewart Warner Vacuum Tank story interesting. I am about 1/2 way through the book as of this writing. I recommend!

For some reason the green paint, and all the white lights. The happy thoughts. It reminds me of being a kid at Christmas. I went for it and tried the new replacement oil pressure gauge line from E-bay. Made in USA quality hose. Seller was out of California. Seems like good quality to me. I’m happy. Will it last another 66 years? Who knows. While I had the cluster out I found a bulb had fallen out of the dash. Re-installed and everything is lit up nicely again.

Awesome! Congrats on the new shop(s)! I really need to lose my guilty conscious. I am toremented as I desire another vintage car. Actually an early 50’s mopar Fargo 1/2T. I found one too. 26,000 original miles. Never restored and no rust. On the prairies in Canada. I struggle with my needs vs wants. Lol. Arrggghhh. Worden you got your life priorities lines up.

I was sitting in a friendly restaurant in small-town Canada. Having a lumberjack breakfast with about 1,000 carbs in it. Visiting with my mother. Enjoying coffee and conversation. While we are chatting I noticed an old photo on the wall right above our booth. The subject was an old car and several people. I reconized the old Coldwater Hotel in the photo. It’s in Merritt, BC Canada. Mom and I were having our visit only a few blocks away from the old hotel. I knew the Coldwater was a pretty old hotel. The car appeared antique. I saw a gas lantern on the left rear fender. I guessed it was about a 1912-1915 ish car. The rear sign on the car reads “Halifax To Vancouver. All Red Route”. I was intrigued. The photo pose looked like a special occasion. I quickly snapped a few photos with my iPhone and planned to research it later. Later.... I learned that the car is a 1912 REO. Ransom E Olds donated the car and an REO factory mechanic (Haney) for a publicity stunt. A writer was rounded up, Thomas Wilbey. The pair were the first to drive across Canada. (At that time Newfoundland was not part of Canada) The writer was likely submitting regular newspaper articles too I suspect. So a media company would likely have been a sponsor too. The writer also completed a book about the adventure. The original 1912 trip, book can be read here: https://archive.org/details/motortourthrough00wilb/page/n23 On Aug 27 1912 they left Halifax. 50 or so days later they arrived in Vancouver BC. The bottom line, to sell more REO cars. The trip was re-enacted 85 years later with a restored 1912 REO. They too wrote a book of their adventure. See here: https://www.transportbooks.com/product/the-all-red-route-from-halifax-to-vancouver-in-a-1912-reo/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 The photos I show below here were originally taken in Merritt BC in October of 1912. Only a few blocks from where I was eating lunch today. The REO tem were getting close to Vancouver by now. Today you can complete that journey from Merritt to Vancouver in about 2.5 hours driving time. Likely the 1912 REO team, was 2 or so days away from Vancouver when the pic was taken. They would have driven right through my current home town, Kamloops BC, the same day, or the day before the photo shown was taken. I’ve got some more reading to do!

I’m drooling over that Airflow. Its located in Canada. I’m in Canada. Rare indeed. It’s needs a good caring owner. Wish it were closer. I’m in BC. A long ways from GTA area in Ontario. The temptation is terrible.

I saw an original 1912 printed edition at a swap meet last weekend. I was tempted to buy it. However did not. I need a few years with my 1942 book to get through it all.

Looking at old Chrysler ads, I always felt my rear end seemed a little high. Today I learned that for photo ops, they used to fill the trunk and around the engine, under the bonnet with sandbags. This would make the car look lower and longer. Comparing the original '53 ad and my original car, that statement appears correct. Tricky deceptive buggars!

I looked up the dealer and found this pic. 710 North Pearl St. Dallas Tx. Based on the cars, it would appear to maybe be 1960-ish? 710 N Pearl St. Dallas Tx today.

I went to a regional swap meet today. Did not drive the Windsor as it is about a 3 hr drive one-way. Visited my Brother. We went for a cruise in his '66 Corvair. Had a great time at the swap meet and located an original 1953 Chrysler brochure that the dealers would have given out. This brochure has the Salesman's name and dealer name on it. Harold Barnes. CS Hamilton Motor Co. Dallas Texas. It's a great brochure that folds out into a good sized poster. Price was $7 US funds.

I too have straightened out a few misunderstandings. Glad you are enjoying the book too, as I am. I was recently comparing the Stanley Steamer to the Doble. Which led me to Jay Leno’s Doble demo video. I’ve opened my horizons considerably. Thx Deke.

@knuckleharley I paid about $550 US total for all 4 rims. Worth the investment in my opinion. I feel that the wire wheels bring the class up a notch or two. They were used of course. Not perfect but just right for my “driver” old car. This Chrysler has been very good to me. For every $1 and every hour I put in, is repays me ten-fold in both satisfaction and pleasure. It’s been a great experience for me in my “First Classic Car” venture. This car has me...Hook-line-and sinker. I look forward to the family cruises this coming season.

I should have added that today I felt pretty good out cruising. The big Chrysler drives so well. The steering so light and fluid feeling, yet its manual. The power smooth like silk. The suspension rolling along so nicely I felt like I could have driven all day. Like a big floating luxury car. The seat springs are wonderful. These old cars are sure built well. I admire the big old Detroit iron. What a beauty she is.

Woke up to these skies. Looks like its a Saturday morning cruise day. First and foremost, you gotta have your priorities straight.

My understanding is when the engine is hot, valve temps may vary depending on their position. Father to the rear tend to run a little hotter due to less coolant flow inside, and air flow around the head. This is why setting them hot, is best practice. I did check my valves while running. The ones that needed a little tweak, I recorded. Then I turned off the engine and set them. Then I flashed up the engine again to check with a feeler gauger. Checking them while running gives very good assurance that you've got it right or wrong. You can feel and tell right away. Either the gauge won't go in, or it gets snugly tugged in by the rotating tappet. On these engines the firing order is 1,5 3,6,2,4. Thats a piston at TDC in firing position every 120 degrees. In said order. As seen below here: I put #1 at TDC, using crank shaft marks. Can be verified with the eraser end of a long enough pencil down the spark plug hole. Set #1 close, both intake and exhaust. Turn crank by hand 120 degrees and set 5, then repeat and set 3, etc through all cylinders at TDC. This will take two full revolutions of the crank. Get it close, cold. Then fire up engine and get it hot. Final check while running. Then set again as needed. This is my take on the process: http://blob:https://www.youtube.com/09c7e9f3-6633-49e8-b1cf-92fdd05fa8ef The first time I attempted to set my valves I got it wrong. I did not think things through. I set some valves with the tappets on the rise or fall ramps of the cam shaft. Unbeknownst to me. The car ran unbelievably quiet. I was so proud of myself. But Pride comes right before a fall they say....I proceed to test drive around my neighbourhood. I stopped to chat with a pal about 1/2 a mile from my home. I could hear something was not quite right when I got out of the car. I could hear the engine not running smooth, now that things had all heated up. My friend invited me in for a quick beer. I hesitated as my inner voice of reason was nagging at me not to turn off the engine. I ignored my gut as the cold beer was too much to pass up. 15 mins laster. Crank, crank crank. No start. The epiphany hit me and I knew I screwed up the valve set. I coasted as close to home as I could get. Then a tow strap was needed. Then the last incline we had to push the monster. It was sooo heavy. At that time I had not fully understood that my brakes were partially sticking on. I had not addressed that problem yet. We were pushing what felt like the titanic while the brakes dragged. I got the car in my driveway, we collapsed on the lawn and had a good laugh. I proceeded to research further to set the valves right. Then, I made this video while I was at it. To save others the problems I I caused myself. LOL. Ah, the joys for a newbie trying to reset their mind back to 1953 automotive technology.

Interesting info in my Motors Manual. 251 engine bore 3 7/16”, stroke 4 1/2”. HP 116. Torque 208 @ 1600. Compression 7:1. 265 engine bore 3 7/16”. Stroke 4 3/4”. HP 119. Torque 218 @ 1600. Compression 7:1. Seems to me these engines are quite close. The 265 got an extra 1/“4 longer stroke. Interesting to find no 265 engine option listed in the Desoto section of my Motors manual. I see 236.6 and 250.6 L6 engine options there. Plymouth 217.8 and 230 L6 options. Dodge 230.2 L6 is only L6 option. I assume this is for USA models. My 1953 Chrysler has the 265 L6. I do like it. Supercharge it? I never would. Not based on what I see in there. I guess you'd plan to do a lot more parts upgrades to support a Supercharger. Kinda makes me cringe a little. To each their own.