soth122003

Are you sure it's a crush washer and not just a soft thin metal washer? If your just looking to seal it, try the hardware store for a washer in the plumping supplies. Or you can use thin cork gasket material and cut one your self. Joe Lee

Quick thought on the silver tankers I listed above. Our original paint on the engines was silver as well right. Now most are rust colored or a different color other than silver. I think my thesis is starting to hold more water. (or B.S. if you have an opposing view). Joe Lee

Ok time for my thesis on why. Now I learned my thermodynamics from my Professors. Professor Ludwick Von Drake and Doctor Vinnie VoomBots. I know, I know, you guys are already saying this ought to be good and it will be. Now where was I? Oh Yes! When crude oil is taken out of the ground it doesn't see the light of day (the Sun) and it is heated and separated by heat into it's component liquids (gas, oil, plastic, nylon what have you), Then cooled and sent to it's proper tanks for other additives to be introduced to screw it up into winter and summer blends. After this it doesn't see heat again until used. It is then transported to the white holing tanks for distribution. The white reflects the sun to keep it cool. (Can you see where I'm going with this?) After this it is put into truck tanks that are silver and transported to the gas stations. You may not be aware of why the tanks are silver but it is my belief that wind rushing of silver tanks at 60-70 mph keeps the temps of the gas stable at 62.6 degrees through the process of aluminum foil on a bologna sandwich in a lunch box. (That is why the bread is soggy when you unwrap it) When the trucks reach the gas station the the contents are pumped into under ground tanks that store gas and keep the temp around 65 degrees. Now when we pump the gas into our cars of different colors we lose the thermal properties of silver and under ground tanks. Which now brings us to the eggheads and nerds screaming about global warming, climate change or what have you. The fuel in the cars now have a new playground to expand and contract with no rules at all. In the case where the outside air temp fluctuates thru-out the day it leads to vapor lock and flooding at the same time. The engine heats up and the fuel expands next to the heat source and leads to vapor lock when the car is slow or stopped due to no airflow thru the engine compartment. The fuel in the carb boils and settles into the intake which is kept cool by the air being sucked in and by the vacuum effect is cooled down. This results in the 5minute stop being subjected to flooding because the exhaust manifolds can't heat the intake manifold to evaporate the fuel. Conversely in hot areas like the southwest, the air is always hot and does not cool down as much as in the above described process so the fuel in the intake evaporate in 2.7 minutes so no flooding. This does however leave the issue of vapor lock. It is my belief that the warmer fuel in the southwest is less prone to vapor lock because it has evolved to enjoy the warmer weather. This is why so many people flock the Florida and Texas from New England in the colder times. Also since most of the Mopar owners above the Mason Dixon line only drive there cars in the nicer weather the gas is going from cold to hot to cold and so on, this leads to more case of flooding and vapor lock. So in conclusion to my thermal thesis I think I have demonstrated that: 1. fuel likes to be in a atomized or gaseous state so that it can enjoy the warmth it has been deprived of and 2. Either move down south to enjoy your Mopar or only drive it in the cooler or cold months where your heater doesn't work or is not installed so the fuel doesn't know what it's brethren in the south has discovered. 3. The climate of the 40's and 50's wasn't subjected to the thoughts and ideas of the so called experts we have now a days so it stayed stable and not effected by the whims of the internet, thus the cars and fuel back in that time had no idea that things could be otherwise and did what they were supposed to do. And for goodness sake don't drive your Mopar from south to north so the fuel can let the secret out. Now that concludes my thesis and I will humbly accept any discussion and feedback on the matter. Joe Lee

I switch over to getting my battery from Tractor Supply. The have a good turn over of batteries due the farming equipment that local farmers still use. Like Sam's mine was 6 years old and finally gave up the ghost and the local Tractor supply had one left in stock when I went there to replace it. The date code said it was 2 months old. Joe Lee

Why are changing the sockets? If it is because the wiring is bad, you should be able to push the old base out of the socket and solder a new wire to it. I was just wondering because that seems to be what you pic shows. Joe Lee

Welcome to the forum. First things first. If the fuel pump/lines hasn't been updated to use ethanol fuel...don't use ethanol fuel. Update or stay with non-ethanol fuel. Mine wasn't when I got it and a month or so later it left me stranded. Next is zinc additives. Not needed. Oil. 10w30 or 40 will work fine if the engine is in good shape. You said it was about 95% restored so engine should be good. Trust but verify it was rebuilt. Now for the jump. WITH DEAD BATTERY ONLY. The new modern lithium ion packs probably won't work as they need a minimum voltage to work (10.5v) and most all are geared to 12v systems. So 5.4v wont cut it. If you use the old jump packs with a 12v batt installed inside it, Hook the pos cable to ground and the neg to the starter if it has a switch on the pack. Then with key on turn the switch to run the starter. When started turn switch off and disconnect. If the jump pack does not have a switch hook the neg cable to the starter and touch the pos to ground. This way if the jumper arcs (and it will) you won't weld the cable to the threaded post of the starter and mess up the threads. Other option with no jump pack, push start the car in 2nd gear. I've done this many times and it usually starts with in 15 to 20 feet. On a hill, push in clutch and roll, doesn't matter if forward or backward put it in 2nd or reverse and pop the clutch and drive on home and charge the battery with a charger. With a car that won't start it may be battery, generator, voltage regulator or what ever. Tow the car home. Fix the problem and verify the batteries condition. If the genny or the VR is out the car won't run past the batteries output. Once the batt is dead the car won't start until the other issues are addressed and fixed. Hope this helps. Oh and please post PICs when you get the car. Joe Lee

Should be. The vacuum is produced by the engines piston on the intake stroke. My hook up is at the no. 6 area on the manifold, so how it would measure the no. 1 piston area is a mystery. lol. Any who, if you want to make sure, you could put nipples in both carbs and connect them with a t fitting, but I don't think it will make a difference. You can search the threads for vacuum gage results and learn what the different readings mean. It might also have it in your service manual. Joe Lee

Chrisjr14, Since you have a 53 dodge, I going to guess you have electric wipers. Since you have dual carbs what kind of carbs do have? If you have the B&B, at the carbs at the base should be a plug for the vacuum advance. Pull the plug and install a barb nipple fitting and hook up the vacuum gage there. You only need to use one of the carbs, not both. I believe all down draft carbs have this plug, but I won't put money on it. Also since you have dual carbs, I'm guessing you have a split manifold? If the manifold is an original modded to a split, check at the number 6 intake and see if there is a plug there. If so pull the plug and install a barb nipple there instead. That was for the vacuum wipers on other cars. Joe Lee

I don't know if the manual says this, but the last check I did on mine when installing it (long time ago) was put the car in neutral and apply the brake. Then try to roll the car. If if didn't move good. Then release the brake and make sure the car rolled smoothly. If it did great. If not for either of these two check back under it to adjust. Of course I do this and all works good, but a few weeks later I'm driving and notice "The Smell". I forgot to release the parking break. But no harm done other than feeling foolish. Joe Lee

Looks like it's on the intake manifold, so maybe the intake valve isn't quite sealing all the way and your got a bit of oil into it and the engine heat is cooking it. Pull the spark plug and give it a look over when you do the compression check. Could be from a wet comp check and the intake valve wasn't closed when whoever put in oil to do the check. Joe Lee

Being visible and interfering with engine operation are two different things. The 2 large grooves will be a very light problem IMHO. The light scratches can probably be honed out. The large ones however? You didn't list the depths of them. If more than .006" then bore the cylinder. .005" or less, put it back together and run it. The oil will partially seal them and the blow by will be minimal because they are under the rings at full compression. Also you didn't state the valve condition on that cylinder before cleaning. Was it sealing good or not? Between the valve job and honing and new rings (or old rings if they are still good) I'll bet that compression will come up pretty good if the cylinder grooves aren't that deep. You had 50 psi before on that cylinder right? or was it a different one? Just my thoughts on your situation. Joe Lee

If you have the access cove for the fuel sender, I would pull it and check the gasket for the sender. Mine was bad and after every fill up my car would smell like gas for a while until the level went down. With the temp increase, fuel vapors might be escaping from that route. Joe Lee

I went with an alternator following Sam's advice after my 2nd genny died for the same reason as the first. The armature failed. It is the only thing you really can't test at home. If all the other components and checks are good, it's probably the armature. At about $120.00 a pop, the alternator was the fix for me. Easy install and charges the battery at any RPM, it's been doing great for over a year so far. Not to mention that starter and generator shops are becoming more scare as the years go on. It is also gets more expensive as time goes on due to the lack of need for these services. In a big city there might be services available, but in smaller areas they are kinda drying up or the prices are increasing substantialy. Then it will be drive a long distance or ship your genny to get it fixed. If you got the money and care about originality, fix it. Fixed income or not to worried about using updated parts go with the updates. For me money and update as long as they don't detract from the cars appearance, I'll update. Just my 2 cents, wait inflation, 25 cents worth. Joe Lee

Just tossing this out there, but how sure are you that it's the drive line? From what you said, you rebuilt the D/S and now you have a vibe at 40 mph. While I agree that it's the most likely culprit, a little bit of trouble shooting can save a lot of head ache later. When you get to 40 mph and the vibe is kicking hard, push the clutch in and let off the gas and see what happens. If it goes away, it's probably in the clutch or tranny. If it continues, check the D/S. Did you put all the washers back in place? Did use mix new hardware with old? You said you used a liberal coating of grease on the bearings and needles. Was it applied evenly to all areas? 1/8 oz of grease more at one point at high rpms can induce a fair vibe. I've trouble shot lots of problems where I was sure it was one thing and was something else entirely. On the subject of why put the D/S in the same way it came out, Young Ed is onto the most probable reason. Time and wear, road debris and nicks, crud built up on the shaft all contribute to the way the D/S likes to set. Joe Lee

This is the vendor I used on ebay and I have been very happy with the results. The fabric material for the seat and back area where your body rests is fairly heavy and durable, but that will boil down to how much you drive your car. If a little then will last for a long time. A daily driver a few years or so would be my guess. Lots of choices on color and the fit is real close. Just a couple of folds at the corners and it looks like a custom made cover. The pics are from immediate install. I let them rest for about a week and then went to tuck and fold and they came out really good. The rear seat D/S hump and the front seat outside corners is where you have the most fitment trouble. https://www.ebay.com/itm/386463330570 Joe Lee

The driveshaft was my thought after you said the engine was rebuilt and dyno'd. The damper and motor mounts are also a concern, but if you pulled the engine, i would think those things would be addressed during that procedure. As far as the D/S, put the car in neutral and rev. If it vibrates, it's not the D/S. In all the other posts, there is no mention of the D/S being lubed. It could be offset by rotation or it might be worn out needle bearings, causing play and vibes, which just love to travel to other areas, making you think something else is the culprit. Joe Lee

It's Florida, TS is for Tropical Storm. As for the vacuum, I dialed mine up to 22 then backed it down to 21. Idles great and runs fantastic. The highest I ever got mine on a Carter was 23, but the idle was too low. Joe Lee

Been reading this thread and was feeling funny. I don't want to put seat belts in my car for my wife... I want an ejection seat for her. Another thing, if you hit most modern cars, I think it will be like a plow hitting dirt. The new car will likely disintgrate, and you will launch over it. Short of hitting a 18 wheeler, dump truck, tree or a bridge post the need for seat belts is over rated. Why back in my day we just used some spit and packing tape to fix the car and us and we pressed on. Joe Lee

Couple of things. 1. Your generator doesn't generate very much at idle. Has to be about 800-1000 rpms before it works right. Hence the fast idle cable for night drives at stop lights/signs. 2. What is your battery voltage? If it is 6.4 or better it's charged. The VR will not charge the battery unless it has a load applied. 3. The battery's main job is to start the car after that the generator supplies the electricity for everything else, unless the car is at idle, then it sucks from the battery. 4. Bump the idle up and turn on the parking lights then take a reading. Your battery should be charging at that point. Joe Lee

That was going to be my first suggestion, but lots of people think you will get a lot of crud from the hone falling into the gap between the piston and the cylinder wall. This is true if you were trying to re hatch the walls. Looking at your pics and you say the hatching is still good, a quick hit with the hone won't hurt, depending on the hone. The hone that has the 3 bars fine. The hone that looks like a toilet brush with little balls on the ends, maybe not, as IMHO you will get a little more honing material to come off using that one. Joe Lee

The walls don't look that bad from the pics. Is the cylinder running at a lower compression? Short of pull the pistons and re-honing the walls, I would use a green scrub pad soaked in oil and lightly scrub the affected area. Put the head back on and run it. The piston ring will remove the stain after a while and Bob's you're uncle. Joe Lee

I had my exhaust done about a year ago and the shop changed everything from the flange back. It took them about an hour. Joe Lee

Is that the shop rate or the mechanic rate? I've met a mechanic or two who rated that much, but i garentee it wasn't cars they were working on. At my best as a helicopter mechanic was $600.00 a day and that equals about $75 an hour (8 hr day) in a war zone. Joe Lee

Something you might try. Check out the independent garages in your area. If they can't/won't work on it, Ask them to recommend some one, or see if one of the mechanics there will freelance to you. $100.00 a day for Saturday and Sunday with your/our know how and the shop manual just to crawl around the car and maybe pull the head and the oil pan to check things out. All you have to do is watch and order parts if need be. About the only difference in these old cars and new ones if fuel injection, tighter tolerances, and relocated parts. The engines still use lifters, valves, pistons and spark plugs their just moved around a bit. Joe Lee "Flying an airplane is just like riding a bike. It's just harder to playing cards in the spokes."

Sam, I think so too. To make a connection at the starter or ground, produces an arc. The arc aside from the fire hazard, can weld itself to the connection point (if only lightly) and the surprise of such an event can cause the timid to jerk away. As a friend of mine quotes often "12v can't hurt you, but it can make you hurt yourself". Joe Lee