Plymouths to Vermont the Final Saga

[MarkAubuchon]

Finally had time to recap the final days of the trip.

As Greg G had previously reported on my way oback from the Vermont show, just outside of Syracruse, my motor screamed it had had enough. Finally got it home ( two day drive in a rented UHAUL truck and trailer) too frustrated and the weather too hot to work on it. Last weekend I pulled the pan to inspect the damage. The pin worked its way out of the fuel pump arm (runs off the cam) after it bounced around and was chewed up it shot thru the pan. Good news is that it didnt nick up the cam, piston or rods although it did hit them a few times. The only visiable damage is that it chipped the bottom of the #1 bore. I took a dremmel tool and filed off the rough edges, pulled the oil pump and oil filter and cleaned them out, then washed the bottom end of the motor down with brake cleaner. Put the pan on, new filter, new oil added an electric fuel pump, cranked it until I had 40#'s of pressure, started it up let it run for 5 minutes, drained the oil, dropped the pan, cleaned everything out, new filter, new oil started it back up. No smoke, No knock so I am pretty confident it will be AOK. Keep and eye on those fuel pumps. I can now say my car has been cross country and almost all of the way back.

[Don Coatney]

Mark;

Glad your fix was easy. And glad you have bragging rights (almost) of sea to shinning sea. What is your next trip? Are you planning on the southern Indiana hill climb?

I have not even started my car for over two months until today. I drove it a couple rounds around the hood and it runs every way as good as it did last time I drove it. Felt really good to drive it. Time for me to have some fun.

[steveplym]

Glad to hear you got it figured out Mark. Sounds like you had quite an adventure, but I'm sure it was well worth it.

[Mark D]

Amazing story Mark. Really surprised and quite glad for you to hear there's no damage. I'm meeting Greg G on Saturday in New Marlborough, MA at a show & shine... You up for another road trip yet? - Mark D

[Young Ed]

\You up for another road trip yet? - Mark D

I'm hoping to see him in MN for the national in 2 weeks

[greg g]

So based on everything that happened, Mark's problems all centered around new aftermarket parts, not any failure of his Plymouth's basic being.

Flat tires caused by a mylar manufactures inventory control sticker placed inside the tire Chaffig the tube.

An improperly secured pivot pin in an aftermarket fuel pump.

And a replacement voltage regulator that just turned 3 years old.

So if Mr Cocker had advised him that he should remove the tags before mounting his new Cocker Radials with tubes, he likely would not have had flat tires, as none of the failures was caused by road hazards, or debris. And if the inspector at the place that made the fuel pump, had assured that the pivot pin was properly attached, he would not have suffered the ventilated oil pan. And if the metal in the contact points of his voltage regulator was up to OEM specs it likely would not have failed.

Lessons here for everyone, unfortunately learned the hard, way by one unfortunate member of our brotherhood. (not that Mark is unfortunate, his circumstances were)

Now ever forward, no Plymouths left behind..............

Where we going next year????

Edited August 19, 2011 by greg g

[Mark D]

Mark A - I saw this on a site that Greg posted yesteday... Thought of your blown tire saga... http://theoldmotor.com/?attachment_id=22667

Cheers -

[MarkAubuchon]

I replaced the manual fuel pump with an electric to make the conversion easy I mounted it up close to the motor (in the spot I had put an in line filter) started and ran great so I thought. On my way home from my shop/storeage area (70 miles) I found out that at cruising speed the carbs demand for fuel or lack of caused the pump to create too much pressure causing the carbs to flood out. Removed the pump and moved it back closer to the tank, just like the directions said. Runs fine know.

[greg g]

yep lectric pumps like pusin better n pullin.