New member looking for advice... please!

[Balr14]

I am very close to purchasing a 1948 Plymouth convertible. Everything on it is new or rebuilt; it just needs paint. I have a number of questions before I buy, as I don't have a lot of extra money:

 

1. I have heard these were very reliable and easy to work on. True or false and is there anything in particular I should look out for?

 

2. Would upgrading to 12 volts be advisable and how difficult is it?

 

3. It could use a bit more performance. I have heard there are heads from Sharp and Edmonds and dual carb setups from Fenton. Are they readily available and do they help much? Other suggestions?

 

4. I can get the car for $15k. It seems worth it to me, but it's been on the market for at least 6 months, so I'm kind of concerned about the price.

 

 

 

Edited November 7, 2014 by Balr14

[Reg Evans]

But it now before somebody else does !

[Ulu]

Looks nice.

 

Get a magnet and check the body for bondo. Don't take the owner's word about it. He probably didn't do the last paint job and won't really know.

 

These are reliable cars and are easy to work on in general. Some things require special tools, like all cars.

 

I think upgrading to 12 volts makes sense if you're going to drive it. If you're just going to show it, keep it 6 volts.

The changeover isn't too hard if you know what you'r doing, but on a convertible you have to deal with the top motors & I don't know about them. They might run fine on 12 volts. the starter will.

 

Just a rise in compression ratio adds noticeable power to these engines. not much sense in fancy carb & exhaust setups if you don't do this first IMO.

 

If it's been on the market 6 months you can probably get it a bit cheaper. I'd try to. You will surely find other things that need fixing on this car before you're satisfied with it.

Edited November 7, 2014 by Ulu

[Don Coatney]

Top lifters on a P-15 convertible are vacuum operated.

[mrwrstory]

That's a great looking car!

Yes, folding top system is vacuum cylinders.  That's unique and may require some special expertise if it's not working properly.

Yes, check for bondo.  Not a big deal unless it's thick and has been applied over rust.

Potential big issue,..... floor boards in convertibles are the most vulnerable to rusting out.  It's repairable but a big job and probably expensive if you don't do it yourself.

"On the market for 6 mo."  There's not a big market for Plymouths so that's in your favor.

Yes, offer less if top cylinders and floors are in question.  Seller can't ignore that.

If you really like the car, understand the possible short comings and have the money,....go for it.  You'll kick yourself if you pass for a few hundred dollars.  If you end up paying a few dollars too much, just figger you'll amortize that over the years of pleasure you'll have with it. 

[DJ194950]

If you can get the car raised up ( a car lift is preferable) and look for rust underneath. Lift floor covering to check rust also.

 

This can get to big $$ quickly. Especially if you can't do repairs yourself..

 

Looks great from the pics, but check with someone who knows cars for overall condition.

 

If good I totally agree with others--buy it! 

 

DJ

[DonaldSmith]

What is the condition of the top?  Does it work?  In the first photo, what I 'm seeing could be just the tunneau cover out of place, or something drastically wrong with the top.    

[Balr14]

Thanks for all the response! The top is in excellent condition and works fine. It's not original and neither is the interior, but both show little wear.  Underneath shows only some light surface rust, with new or rebuilt suspension, brakes and lines, fuel tank and lines; my daily driver should look this good. There is no evidence of rusty floors, but that wouldn't scare me.... I've dealt with worse in the past.   

 

[DonaldSmith]

Sweet!

The price is what a willing buyer and willing seller can agree upon.  You've got Barrett-Jackson bidding fever on one end, and the Pickers on the other.  

Good luck in your negotiations.  If on the other hand you say "What the heck" and pay his price, that's OK, too.

But you may have to get approval from your chief financial officer, which may lead to additional items on your Honey-Do list.  That's an important part of the negotiations.

[Reg Evans]

But it now before somebody else does !

What he said.

[BobT-47P15]

I looked at the pics posted,   Appears good in the areas I can see.   Does it run good?   You can get a little more power from

the engine with "hot rod" heads, dual carb and dual pipes.   One of two things will give it the ability to cruise at highway speeds --

either an R10 overdrive or a later model rear end transplant.  For better handling, you can go with radial tires.....which now come

in wide whitewall form.  

 

Mine.......

 

 

 

[Andydodge]

As far as hotting up the engine goes original speed gear like Edmunds stuff can be hard to find and expensive..........Earl Edgerton in California does finned heads also the twin carb Offy intake is still around, Fenton style headers also.......to convert to 12 volts none of the instruments need touching except for a resistor for the fuel guage.....but check what condition the wiring is in, it maybe easier to replace the lot.......the generator and starter motor should be able to be replaced with those from a mid/late 50's Plymouth 6.........and of course all the globes......looks like a nice car tho.......andyd

[mrwrstory]

Didja butt it or buy it?