My ride first time out!

[Young Ed]

I don't recall any plymouths with that cutout for the plate.

[pflaming]

I like it! I was very curious what color you were going to mate with that INTERIOR but you obiously knew what you were doing. VERY NICE!

Edited April 12, 2010 by pflaming

[Fireball]

Quick update. I got it inspected and legally tagged with the mods for Finnish roads which is great. What's not is the fact that it's not running smoothly. First it lost totally the idle when cold, backfired and surged and stalled. That turned to be the battery was dying on me.

After replacing that I got the idle and starting back to normal, but now it still misses under load. No popping in the pipe, but like one cylinder doesn't fire occasionally or something like that, feels like it runs really fat but the gas doesn't smell and it's not smoking. I have measured all the sensors and now I'm waiting for new IAC from States, and furthermore the downstream O2 sensor simulator (I have no cats obviously) new distributor cap is in order also.

This kinda feels frustrated cause pretty much everything is new, but for IAC I know it's ruined now since I did broke it myself. It might also be that my PCM didn't learn the part throttle curves yet since I gave up the testing. I got tipped that it might take some miles drive for it to learn. When in park it purrs like kitten.

But I WILL get the gremlins sorted out, I just hope it doesn't take the whole summer. I wish I had the data link connector in my harness but I don't, so reading codes is not an option. I'm half way there but that doesn't satisfy.

[hkestes41]

Fireball,

Must admit I didn't think you would be able to top the flat orange but that seafoam looks great.

Keep plugging away at it and you will have it running fine in no time.

[PatS....]

Love it!!! Nice job...no criticisms here.

[aero3113]

Fireball it looks GREAT !

Is that a spark plug holding down your air cleaner?

[Kevinb71]

Very nice job. I think you helped me decide to keep my visor.

[Bill Ford]

I like it all. Your don't need any help, you can do it all and do it great. I like the look without the rear bumper. Don't be in any hurry.

[Niel Hoback]

Man, that is great looking! The only problem I see is that the title does not have my name on it. Thats some beautiful work you've done.

[rockable]

I love it! Love the color, love the look, love the stance! You might consider making a smooth lower valance and getting rid of the bumper. You could make some nerf bars for the front. Or, you could find a rear bumper. Either way, it's cool!

[LuckyDevil]

Car looks great, too bad its not in the states for any of use to take a little ride in.

I think the front bumper looks right at home, but I think the back bumper will be a little too flat for that big rearended Mopar.

[Fireball]

Thanks everybody, great to hear you like it too.

Bill Ford is actually pointing out my exact personal problem, I'm always rushing for no reason, I wish everything to happen in a snap, and that's not always good. I make tight schedules between my ears without even noticing it. I should stop and enjoy more often, instead of always planning and doing more and more. Shame on me

[Fireball]

As so many times before, this is not fun anymore. I finally got the motor rocking like it should and quess what. After 30 miles my tranny is grinding like there's no tomorrow, started with 4/5th slightly and now all gears yell like hell.

The only option is to pull the tranny and tear it down, I just don't feel like doing that now with a happy face. It's been a month and not a single troublefree mile yet, I'm so proud of my achievement with this build.

[Charlie Olson]

Hi Fireball, I went on ebay and found a very cool 1950 Mercury with front and back bumpers, which is what I also think you have on the front. Here is a tiny url for pics of the 1950 Merc:

http://tiny.cc/hbck0

[Fireball]

Yup Charlie, that's the bumper.

And a Press STop to my earlier message today, sounds like the tranny survived with just adding oil. I hope I got lucky. There was no metal in old oil, and test drive with new lubricants was quiet so fingers crossed.

The engine itself feels quite powerful, but all the noices and vibrations prevent me to hammer it too hard. Lotsa small fixes ahead.

[Fireball]

Couple of fresh pics for your pleasure. Finally we have a real summer here too!

[claybill]

amazing paint and color choice. excellent detail on rear area..very nice fireball...

but, there is too much activity near the windshield..i would have passed on the dummy light..the mirrors and visor are enough.

i am the rare guy who doesnt like lakers. disturbs the bottom line of car, especially with that fine fluted strip...would be nice to get 49 ply bumper to match that fluted lower moulding...better to match front bumper tho at this point.....rear exit exhaust, turn downs even, look just fine.

trunk fits nicely. all in all it shows you did an exacting job..better than nice obviously.

super nice fat fender ride..

bill

[claybill]

by the way....nice house and garage..envy the roof!!! shows concerned detail in all your work..excellent in my book!

bill

[P-12 Tommy]

Great, clean looking ride.

Tom

[1940plymouth]

Great looking car, your part of Finland looks as if it could be right here in the Catskills of New York

[Fireball]

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen! Bill I have to admit that I hesitated whether to put the side pipes back or not, but to my eye they made the car look lower and also take the attention off a bit from the really worn moldings. Dummy spots I like more.

All the houses around are built according to traditional Finnish style. I just wish my house being in Catskills!