UKPlymouth

Likealeica, obviously in to photography! I'm in Northamptonshire and I too have a South African import, a 1948 P15 - with the 23" block. Do you know of Dallas Auto parts? They are in Berkshire and deal in Jeeps and Power Wagons. I got all the parts including Valves, pistons and cam for an engine rebuild from them. Also useful for plugs, points, condenser etc. There's an annual meet at Sywell Aerodrome of Plymouths / Chryslers - held in September and organised by Robin - keep your eye out for his postings. Welcome to the world of Mopar!

Hi Billy Boy, I'm in the UK as well, I have a 1948 P15 with the Carter DG61 on, vacuum wipers but not the luxury of a heater (It's a South African RHD car so heater not really needed). I'm just rebuilding the carb and will be looking at a rebuild kit from the states or possibly Dallas Autoparts in the UK. Let me know if you want me to add a rebuild kit to the order. If you are looking at swapping out the Carter I'd appreciate first refusal on it. email me if you want to swap stories, I'm near Kettering Northants. Garry

Please tell me that you have not sandblasted the block?

I had a difficult starter on my 48 Plymouth sedan. Checked for the obvious with dwell meter, vacuum gauge, etc. and still it was hesitant. For me all it took was to clean the points on the regulator. Cost nothing, easy to do......just sayin'

Hi Simon, Yes the picture was taken at Goodwood but it was about 6 or 7 years ago. Went down last year, we tend to go every other year and alternate with Stars & stripes at Tatton hall (Manchester) or ROG. I'm just doing the shock absorber bushes on mine and got them from SuperFlex (www.superflex.co.uk). Have a look at their web site and product No. SF468-9.9103 it looks like it might do the job - click on the data sheet and there is a part number 9.9101G measuring just under 2" Diameter and just over 2" tall. That may not be as big as the originals but, theoretically, they should rarely be used! email me on gsmcd@yahoo.com if you need help, sympathy or perhaps a limited amount of knowledge on these cars. Regards Garry

Isn't this the part being listed by Roberts Motor Parts - Part No. P226 - $14.50 each?

Hi Stanley, welcome to the forum. I'm up in the Midlands near Northampton and run a stock '48 Plymouth Special de-luxe. I imported it about 8 years ago from South Africa so, like yours it is right, hand drive. These ar great cars, good, simple engineering that are (usually) nice to work on. I have in the past rebuilt the brakes, the carb, the distributor and last year rebuilt the engine after the rings on 4 and 5 gave up compression. If you need any advice I'm no expert but will try to help. A good source of spares in the UK is Dallas Auto Parts - they specialise in Jeeps and Dodge power wagons. If you want to contact me either PM me or my email is gsmcd@yahoo.com Don't know if Goodwood is your thing but I am there this year, let me know if you are able to make contact. Cheers Garry

I had the exact same problem after a rebuild on my '48 P15. After a lot of messing about I took the oil pump out and indexed it properly - it was one tooth out. Car started first time. Try the work arounds but my advice is get the pump right.

I should have said, shipment has to be arranged by you!

I am in England. I have a full chassis from a left hand drive car that I have no use for. It is in good condition with only surface rust. I don't know what car it came from but the engine number is P15 446352 If anyone is interested all I ask is a donation to this site.

Northamptonshire - the Midlands in the UK Rockabillybassman I wanna do lunch.................. my place, you choose the time :-)

Just rebuilt the stock short block motor on my P15. Everything seems fine with the exception of the oil filter. I have replaced the sealed by-pass oil filter with one that you can replace the elements in. Problem is, every time I run the engine it forces oil out of the top of the filter and deposits it on my drive. This is not pleasing my (usually) very understanding wife! The rubber seal on the canister looks good and I've tried really tightening it down but nothing seems to work. Regarding pressure, I'm getting about 45 psi on a reasonably fast idle. The dipstick is telling me to add another quart so I have not over-filled it. I have a 150 mile journey on Friday so if I can't find a solution it's back with the original sealed canister. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Well, It's rings - on cylinders 4 and 5 compression test showed 10 PSI, on the other pots 95 - 100 PSI. Squirted some oil down the bores of 4 and 5 and they came up to 100 PSI. I have a spare engine so have started the strip down ready for a (probably) +40 rebore. I'm on a schedule here as the wife and I are booked to go to the Goodwood Revival in 7 weeks time. Think I better read posts on engine rebuilds!

4 years ago (yeah that's right just when the recession hit the UK) I started a business. It's been very hard and has not left me with much time for much else, including the forum. However, I have a couple of issues. One is that my P15 is running like a pig - backfiring through the carb and a misty smoke coming from the oil filler. From reading on here it looks like rings or valves. I think it's number 4 that has the problem. I'll get a compression tester at the week end and try and find out. The other thing is I was fortunate to buy a 'running' chassis a couple of years ago and have now stripped it down for the mechanicals leaving me with a remarkably good chassis. I don't have a chassis number but the engine that came out of it has the number 443652. Problem of course it is over here in the UK. I'm not looking for anything other than a contribution to the forum, I just don't want to have to scrap it. I'll help anybody but don't have a lot of time so keep that in mind and I can't afford to incur cost. If any one's interested reply on here or email me on gsmcd@yahoo.com

Thanks for that Don, really enjoyed it :-)

Hi Leroy, from one of the the UK contingent. The car looks superb. There are about half a dozen P15's in the UK that I know about including a convertible belonging to a member (Robin). You won't be dissapointed with your car - built like a tank with good, sensible engineering. The car history is wonderful bonus. I wish you many happy miles - I've had my car 5 years, driven whenever the sun is out and it has never let me down. Welcome aboard!

I took the plunge and started my own business producing Graphite Impregnated Polyurethane foam. It's just like your conventional sponge foam but it doesn't burn. Used in aircraft and trains (in the UK / Europe). Started 16 months ago and still trading but it has been goddam difficult. There are only two companies (including mine) that make this stuff in the UK and my competitor is a multinational German company - so a real David and Goliath situation. If it all goes pear shaped I'll be sleeping in the back of the Plymouth! At the moment it's 90% enjoyment and 10% sleepless nights with cold sweats. If anyone is interested go to www.ifoamltd.com

Matra Simca Bagheera. It was made by the Matra factory who built the Espace (European name) MPV's. It was a stunning looking 3 seater 'sports' car built on questionable engineering and pre-emptive tin worm. A nightmare in every sense of the word. An example of the engineering is the pop up headlights. They used vacuum from the inlet manifold (yes this is a 1977 car!) which then used the back beam axle (in effect a large tube) as a reservoir. You pressed the button and a solenoid activated a pneumatic valve which pushed a lever to raise the headlights. Think about that, electrics, pneumatics and mechanics just to get the bloody headlights up! it was a mega-POS!

Just watched the film Robin, very good - I must try and find the time to get down to the Rhythm Riot! At the moment I'm busy stripping down a complete P15 rolling chassis I picked up off ebay - complete with Coker whitewalls. That's in between the snow of course.

Mark, Is aviator blue a metallic? I have a RHD 4 door imported from South Africa and am trying to find out the colour. I know it's original as I have seen a two door in the same colour. Your lovely car looks the same but the view / lighting isn't brilliant so it is difficult to see.

Hi Gareth, My name is Garry and I have an export (RHD) P15 sedan I imported in to the UK from South Africa about 4 years ago. Welcome. The guys on this forum are the absolute best and will help you in any way they can. Does yours have leather upholstery and carpet? Try and post some photos soon! All the best! The African Queen (the car not me!)

Yes the new plug (see previous posting) has a connection for the rubber tube which runs up the fire wall. I have never had add any brake fluid and the reservoir gives you an instant indication of loss of fluid.

OK guys, 8.30 am here and I don't do mornings very well! First the carpet. My carpet is one piece from top of firewall to rear of drivers seat. Perhaps it is not original. If I ever have new carpet I would have an access panel put in for the MC, but in the mean time ............Vis a brake! The system is vented - I just can't remember exactly how. You get a new MC plug? (we would call it a cap or top) which must vent the system. I think it looks good and fits with the car.

Hi Guys, If you like to keep your vehicle stock and still have the original master cylinder under the floor like me, this accessory on Ebay is a godsend. My '48 P15 is carpeted and I used to have to start by taking the front seat out to check my brake fluid! I fitted one of these Vis a brakes and all is well with the world once again! I don't know how to link to Ebay so the item number is 300250232163. Starting at $75 and worth every cent IMHO.

It was amusing, the amount of interest a stock '48 American saloon car got amongst the esteemed company of (hundreds) of Farraris, Porsche, Lotus, Aston Martin, Massarati, AC (Cobra) and others. I suppose people had seen these cars time after time and the Plymouth was something different. The highlight of the weekend, second only to the 2 laps of Silverstone, had to be breakfast at the Aston Martin factory in Newport Pagnell (what remains of it). There was some very precious metal there including 'Bond 1' and 'Bond 2' the original cars used in the movies. They no longer build the cars there since Ford bought them out (now sold on to another party) but they do the rebuilds, retrims and renovations so all in all very interesting.