First Look At The P15 (In 25 Years Or So)

[ssnowden]

I went to the farm and checked out the P15 to see what I need to get it home.  It was a bit dirty   sitting in the barn for so many years. This is before I sprayed it off.

 

• The handbrake seems to work, so that's good, considering the back brake lines were laying under it. 
• The front tires had air and the rear tires actually are holding air, so not bad for 33 year old tires
• I checked the fluids and then we cranked it over. It wasn't getting any spark, but the oil pressure gage was working with a few cranks.
• The gas tank was completely empty, it ran out of gas the last time it was running, so when I went to siphon out the old gas, the tank was completely dry.
• The trim, two air cleaners and extra parts in the trunk.

• No spark, it needs rewired, and cleaned  up. 

• The sheep were rough on the fender. This was in good shape until they rubbed up against it in the barn. It think it will bend back out ok. 

• After spraying it off, I like the patina. I might clear coat it and run it that way while I focus on mechanical. 

• Link to the photo album https://plus.google.com/photos/107394537078274784684/albums/5908950325288023217?authkey=CLToupbcj7f67gE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[seabee]

Been waiting for the pics.  Nice car, Sir.  Looks pretty straight. I am excited for you, cant wait to hear when you get it running. I bet with a simple tuneup and some fresh gas that joker will be running in no time!!!

[Young Ed]

That empty gas tank will probably turn out to be quite the blessing. Typically they are full of nasty stale gas and rust.

[Mark D]

Awesome!

[thrashingcows]

Very cool.  Pop off the tank sending unit in the trunk and take a look inside first.  I too thought I was good to go with the tank in my 48 Desoto....but once I opened up the sending unit and looked inside I realized that it was not going to happen.  There was a 1/4 tank of rust, sand, and debris in there.

 

But please keep pus posted on your progress.

[ssnowden]

Very cool.  Pop off the tank sending unit in the trunk and take a look inside first.  I too thought I was good to go with the tank in my 48 Desoto....but once I opened up the sending unit and looked inside I realized that it was not going to happen.  There was a 1/4 tank of rust, sand, and debris in there.

 

But please keep pus posted on your progress.

 

Thanks, good idea. I'll do that. 

[1940plymouth]

Love it, hope it all works out for you.  Looking forward to seeing more photos of the coupe and the Kentucky landscapes

[Cpt.Fred]

Wow, nice!

[fourleaf]

It is always fun getting a new project! That looks like it will be a good one to work on. More photos when you can! good luck

[rtlsnakedaddy]

Looks like a good one to get back on the road.  

[GlennCraven]

What a fantastic story, getting your first car back out of a barn after 25 years. That thing is fantastic! ... Good luck!

[ssnowden]

What a fantastic story, getting your first car back out of a barn after 25 years. That thing is fantastic! ... Good luck!

 

Thanks! 

[40plyrod]

Very cool

[ssnowden]

I went to the farm today and got the P15!  I used a come along, brute force and a tow cable to control it since it has no brakes, and the hand brake didn't work either. Thankfully the clutch worked and I could get it to go in 1st gear to help slow it down too. 

 

Now to inventory what all it needs and get started. 

 

 

 

 

 

All the photos are here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/107394537078274784684/albums/5919935800477473937?authkey=CIngr9TdpuqU9wE

[seabee]

Sweet!  It will be awesome when she cranks back up.

[knuckleharley]

I went to the farm and checked out the P15 to see what I need to get it home.  It was a bit dirty   sitting in the barn for so many years. This is before I sprayed it off.

 

• The handbrake seems to work, so that's good, considering the back brake lines were laying under it. 
• The front tires had air and the rear tires actually are holding air, so not bad for 33 year old tires
• I checked the fluids and then we cranked it over. It wasn't getting any spark, but the oil pressure gage was working with a few cranks.
• The gas tank was completely empty, it ran out of gas the last time it was running, so when I went to siphon out the old gas, the tank was completely dry.
• The trim, two air cleaners and extra parts in the trunk.

• No spark, it needs rewired, and cleaned  up. 

• The sheep were rough on the fender. This was in good shape until they rubbed up against it in the barn. It think it will bend back out ok. 

• After spraying it off, I like the patina. I might clear coat it and run it that way while I focus on mechanical. 

 

 

 

Sounds like a good plan to me. Replace ALL the brake lines and hoses with new ones while you are at it. Just because they aren't leaking now doesn't mean they won't start leaking once you start putting pressure on them.

 

If you can't find the new brake hoses at your local NAPA store,the ones the guy from Argentina sells on ebay look real good and fit perfectly.

 

Your NAPA store now even sells hard lines you can bend easily with your hands without them kinking. Try to buy US made brass fittings for your line connenctors,or clean and use the old ones (best plan) because a lot of the stuff you buy now was made in China,and it leaks because the holes were too big or the threads weren't cut right when it was tapped. Or both.

 

 

 

You got really lucky. That's a business coupe,and it looks to be pretty solid and complete.

[knuckleharley]

BTW,if you don't use them on your car,those two chrome trim pieces that go along the rockers are hard to find in good condition and sell for pretty decent money to restorers.

 

I don't use them on mine because they love to trap water and rust your rockers out.

[ssnowden]

The left rear fender really was bent in pretty good by the sheep in the barn, but I was planning on knocking it out and making it as smooth as possible. 

 

I was casually checking craigslist for Plymouth parts and came across this 30 minutes from my house. 

 

 

It's a really straight fender. I picked it up for $30 and met a friendly hot rod guy (he had 5 project cars going , 30's 40's Chevy's ) .

 

He was happy to see me get it and said he knew someone would need that part and they are hard to find in that good of shape and he wanted to see it go somewhere where it would be used. He said it was listed for over a year on craigslist and I was the only one to call about it, in fact, he'd forgotten it was even on craigslist.  I guess it was meant for me to have it. 

[zephyrland]

What an awesome find... even though I think you knew it was there.

Edited September 16, 2013 by zephyrland

[austinsailor]

What a cool car. And I see no signs of rust. You've got a great start there. I'm envious.

[ssnowden]

What a cool car. And I see no signs of rust. You've got a great start there. I'm envious.

 

Thanks, but it's just hidden from the Bondo that was done in 1980. If I do close-up pictures, it has all the rust spots on the body they all have.  

 

However, the floor pan and support brackets are all in much better shape than others I've seen.  I guess where it sat in barns for about 45 years out of it's life helped it survive better than being out in the weather all the time.