lh3384 Posted February 11, 2014 Report Posted February 11, 2014 Hi all! Newbie to p15 and restoration in general. Basically I don't have a freaken clue where to start! I want my car to a be daily driver while mainly stock. As of now, the only mod I want to do is disc brakes in the front since it seems like this is a fairly easy swap and helps a lot while stopping. I drove the car home from about a mile from while I live. It needs a new trunk pan and probably all the floor pans. The interior looks fairly good, but all the body mounts need replaced as well as inner and outer rocker panels and those panels at the cowlings. She will also need some basic bodywork, with the passenger side front fender needing extra attention. I just got a new welder and even though I cant weld, I can watch enough youtube vids to get er done! Not looking to take her off the frame unless I have to. I do have room to work on her but just don't know where to start. Any help/tips are greatly appreciated! Will post some pics shortly. Located in Portland TN Quote
DLK Posted February 11, 2014 Report Posted February 11, 2014 I think you are making a wise choice on the brakes. For less money than I spent on rebuilding the front drum brakes with their dual wheel cylinders I probably could have made the conversion and had better stopping power and less grabby brakes. You will soon know, if you don't already, to plan on work to take longer and cost more than you expect but if you are like me these cars are worth it. Quote
Don Coatney Posted February 11, 2014 Report Posted February 11, 2014 Here are pictures of Larry's car. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/DonCoatney/Others%20Cars/Larry%20Hughes/134f6fb5-25fe-48fc-8eaf-db57ab2702e8.png Quote
greg g Posted February 11, 2014 Report Posted February 11, 2014 Well if you want it to be a driver, I would do what is necessary to get it reliable and safe to drive. If you are going to need to completely redo the brakes then go for the disc set up. Contact member old daddy (www.rustyhope.com) and check out his disc conversion pieces. If your current brakes can be gotten up to snuff by maintanence and adjustment, than do that till you need to update. With it up and running you can go to shows and cruise ins, and get a bit smarter in what you want your car to be and do. Go through the systems, electrical, fuel, cooling, braking, and get them as close to possible as designed, then drive it. Then as you make small improvments you can still drive and enjoy your car. Get a service manual, and parts book which are available on line as reproductions. Also check out all the sections of this web site for parts resources tune up specification, and other technical tips. Quote
lh3384 Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Posted February 11, 2014 Thanks! I have looked for the manuals but so far only have located the CD which I guess is fine, I can always just print out the pages I need and as many times as necessary. She is a little shy to take to a show where all her flaws will be exposed. I would like to get her at least a new coat before I take her out Quote
Don Coatney Posted February 11, 2014 Report Posted February 11, 2014 Don't worry about the flaws. All cars have flaws. My headliner fell apart while I was driving to Detroit a few years ago and I have not yet replaced it. Drive your car and have fun. Quote
bob westphal Posted February 11, 2014 Report Posted February 11, 2014 TN, My P-15's floor pans were basicaly gone except for the tunnel. I replaced complete right side door sill and floor right up to the tunnel. I bought the door sill sheet metal from Plymouth Doctor. It wasn't cheap but it was easier than fabricating it myself. The rest I fabbed out sheet metal. This no small job. You could pop rivet some sheet aluminum in the areas that are rusted through so you can drive the car until you are ready to tackle a restoration. In order to replace the body mounts you will need to at least jack up the body. I agree with Greg Bob 1 Quote
TodFitch Posted February 11, 2014 Report Posted February 11, 2014 . . . You could pop rivet some sheet aluminum in the areas that are rusted through so you can drive the car until you are ready to tackle a restoration. . . Certainly that is an option, but please use steel and steel pop rivets to cut down on the additional corrosion you'd be getting with dissimilar metals. Quote
Frank Elder Posted February 11, 2014 Report Posted February 11, 2014 Certainly that is an option, but please use steel and steel pop rivets to cut down on the additional corrosion you'd be getting with dissimilar metals. You would find in short order that steel "eats" aluminum...its like the sacrificial anode in your water heater. Quote
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