Sam Buchanan

I can’t recall the details of the gauge bulb sockets but wonder if the larger envelope of the 81’s would be a problem. Also, the 63’s are plenty bright, anything brighter would probably need a dimmer.

I'm in the middle of a several-days-long job of installing a new engine monitor (see photo below) in the RV-6 airplane. The installation is FAA/PMA approved and the wiring hardware included with the monitor has crimped harness connectors which I install on the sender ends of the harnesses. These are AMP plastic-insulated ring terminals and I use a ratcheting crimper. This is standard practice in aviation and has been blessed by the FAA certification process. The 24 year-old monitor I removed also had crimped connections (like nearly every wiring terminal in the airplane) and all were just as tight as they were when I installed them two and a half decades ago. Properly crimped plastic-insulated terminals are just fine for my P15. Wonder if I could find room in the dash of the Plymouth for one of these! ?

Redneck exhaust cutout....

I think that means "he is on vacation"........ ? The page says he will be back today, 5/14.

https://p15-d24.com/topic/51306-new-dash-light-bulbs-bright/ Looks like the bulbs are still available. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Plymouth-1946-1947-1948-extra-bright-tail-light-bulb-63-replacement-6-volt-63/161410757417?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Ok...you just validated how you should approach your "new" car so you can enjoy it with minimal cost. Don't over think this. The old Mopars are very well designed and once returned to serviceable condition are very capable drivers. Drivability doesn't require replacing the rear end, driveshaft, brakes or make the other mods you have been reading about. Just fix what you have and enjoy the car.

I saw a NOS vacuum advance on eBay, too. But I was concerned about the condition of the 75 year-old rubber diaphragm and the asking price was over twice what the rebuilt unit cost. The rebuilt I received really looks good, I suspect the can is a new part and everything is nicely replated.

How much does Terrell charge for rebuilding one of our vacuum units? I found some comments in forums from a few years ago where members had used Terrell and the cost was more than what I ended up paying. Trying to uncrimp the vacuum can in a way so it could be reused, fabricating a diaphragm that has the same vacuum response as the an original unit, building a stamping die to recrimp the used can with a press, and replating all the parts prior to assembly.......naw......not worth $85 to me. Los_Control, how do you know the core I returned was an original part? And that the rebuild I received was from off-shore? It might have been rebuilt by Terrell. This thread has gotten ridiculous.....but entertaining.

Blinking green LED located in one of the radio knob blanks.

Man....I wish I was half the mechanic you guys are.............................

Ok.....so how do you propose to rebuild a vacuum advance unit?? You do exactly as I did, send in your old one and get a rebuilt one back. As far as I know there are no new ones available. Let's think before we post....... ?

Update: I forwarded the above message to AB and received a reply from Chris within an hour. Apologies were offered for the tardy service and explanations given (I won't go into that). AB sent me a credit statement that indicates the bankcard credit should be forthcoming. I will consider this matter closed provided the credit appears on my bankcard account in a timely manner. Andy Bernbaum has been a reliable vendor for me for four years and I assume that will continue to be the case. I appreciate their prompt attention to this matter today, just wish it hadn't been necessary to follow-up several weeks after the fact. Update: Credit has been received, case closed.

This is not an attempt at vendor bashing but just a heads up to inform the community. I purchased a rebuilt vacuum advance unit from Andy Bernbaum for my P15 and it arrived a few days after placing the order. The price included $30 which was to be refunded when I returned the old unit as a core. The old unit was shipped back to AB the same day I received the rebuilt advance and tracking indicated the core arrived at AB three days later. Ten days after AB received the core the $30 charge had not appeared on my bank card. I sent a web message indicating I had not yet received the refund. Fourteen days after AB received the core I still hadn't gotten the refund so I called and was told the refund was on its way. It is now over three weeks after AB received the core and still no refund. It is just $30 but the non-return of the refund, intentional or otherwise, indicates to me either a lack of interest in customer service, a breakdown of internal procedures, or something more serious. I have purchased a lot of merchandise from Andy Bernbaum and their ebay store but this is giving me pause about further purchases. I still hope this will be resolved and will not hesitate to update if that occurs because I have no desire to treat one of our vendors unfairly.

Not a way to service the vacuum unit, there is a diaphragm inside that will develop a leak and not hold vacuum. However, there is a spring inside it that can be easily removed, you might see if it has seized. The device can be checked by pulling a vacuum on it (orally or with a pump) to see if the arm moves and stays in position. But if you hear air moving through it the unit is done.

Agree. Probably defective battery and charging system due to either defective components or wiring problems. Need to spend some quality time with a multimeter.

Bottom photo; The vacuum advance line attaches at the square-headed pipe plug on the carb base. A reverse flare fitting goes where the plug is located. But most likely your advance unit is defective due to old age.

Here is the tank in my '48 Plymouth: https://vansauto.com/product/41-48-dodge-plymouth-desoto-chrysler-6-cylinder-gas-tank/ It is about as exact a fit as the original as you can most likely find. It doesn't have the built-in sump filter which is a good thing.

As a short-term fix slip some heat shrink tubing over them.

She'll run. Current thread about readily available spark plugs: https://p15-d24.com/topic/59840-autolite-sparkplugs-295-at-walmart-for-only-197-each-replacement-for-champion-j8c/

I hate spinach........

Another option is to put a valve in the heater hose. The on/off valve on the aft end of the head of my P15 was stuck open and I didn't want to risk it breaking off in the head if I tried to replace it. There are cable operated valves that install inline like this one but I haven't found that upgrade necessary, I just open and close the valve a couple of times per year when seasons change.

The reason the heels need to be adjusted so they very lightly contact the drum is so there is a base reference that gets the adjustment tool very close to drum diameter. Without this step you won't know how to set the adjusting tool. Once the heels are set, remove the drum and adjust the toes so they are within 0.006" of the heel. Then reinstall the drum, adjust the heels to barely remove any drag and adjust the toes if necessary to where they almost drag. The locking nuts on the heel adjusters need to to securely tightened, you can remove the drum for this once the brakes are adjusted. Then recheck after putting everything back together. This will get you very close to a satisfactory adjustment, readjust as necessary after putting some miles on the brakes. After doing this a couple of times you can leave the 0.006" gauge in the toolbox....you'll be able to do this by touch.

The 0.006" clearance is measured with the brake adjustment tool prior to installing the drum. The Miller tool, which very few of us have, allows a precise measurement of the drum ID compared to the OD of the shoes. Without that tool, we are left with using our simple little tool to insure the shoes are concentric within 0.006" after setting the heel of the shoes to lightly contact the drum. This is a workaround that usually results in satisfactory brake function.

Valves moving up high enough to strike the head??????

Look in our Classifieds for the rare-1941-chrysler-royal-3-window-coupe