1500 Mile Report

[Joe Flanagan]

     I now have 1500 miles on my Plymouth. For the most part, everything is good but there are a few little things that need attention. Foremost is the slightly rough idle, which I've mentioned before. It does appear to be an exhaust valve that isn't closing completely, since that's what the dollar bill test indicates. It's very irregular. In fact, it went away entirely for a few days and then came back. But it's much better than it was a few weeks ago. I'm told that it may clear up once I get about 5000 miles or so on the engine, which I'm hoping is the case. Other things, like slipping out of gear in second and hard shifting, cleared up with use. Last week I double checked the valve adjustment with the engine hot and running and they are all correct, so I can rule out a too-tight valve. There are no broken springs and everything looks to be operating as it should. 

     On Saturday I took a 100 mile trip on the interstate. It was the first time I've driven at highway speed with all the windows closed. I was surprised by how loud the car is. The exhaust system is the one that was on the car when I got it 13 years ago and I don't know how long it had been on the car before then. But I do know the muffler is rusted inside and there's at least one pinhole in the pipe. Add that to the fact that the floor has no insulation on it and I guess that could account for some noise. It's nice and quiet up to about 50 MPH. But after that it gets pretty noisy. So this weekend I put some insulation on the floor. I'm also going to replace the entire exhaust system and see what that does.

     According to my GPS, the speedometer reads about 8 MPH faster than actual speed.

     The gas gauge only works from empty to half full. From half full to full will not register. From what I've read in the manual, that is a grounding issue at the sending unit. I'm thinking maybe because I painted the trunk floor and it's not making good metal-to-metal contact.

     I'm forever getting little dings in my new paint job. But I guess that's life.

     I think there's still some air in the brakes, but not much. Once in a while they feel mushy but one extra hit on the pedal firms them up. Doesn't happen much, really.

    Other than that, I'm pretty happy with the old Plymouth. I do tend to focus on what's not right, but when I think about what HAS gone right, I should be glad. I drive the heck out of this thing and I drive it practically every day.  

[Jim Yergin]

Congratulations Joe. That's great. After all that you have done you deserve it. Looking forward to seeing you and the car out at my place.

Jim Yergin

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks, Jim. Maybe this weekend, weather and schedules permitting.

[greg g]

Put some Rislone or similar to see if it might clear up that sticky valve. Have you tried pulling the plug wires one at a time at idle to see if you can isolate the cylinder that is misfiring? Qte your spark plug wires new? Is there any miss on acceleration or when climbing a grade?

[Jeff Balazs]

Joe;

It is just possible that your rough idle might be related to that old muffler. Could be something floating around in it causing an intermittent restriction?

 

Jeff

[Dan Hiebert]

I complained about "noisy" to some of the forum members at the Port Huron POC meet.  It was suggested that I drive it at 70 or 80 mph for a while, then it will seem quiet at 50 - 55    .  Surprises some (like me) that these cars can be as noisy as they are, but considering most of us are used to driving modern stuff, they're not all that bad.  Part of the charm, to me anyway.  Still planning on installing some sound-deadening this winter, tho. 

[Niel Hoback]

    My son drives 3 cylinder 2 cycle Wartburg cars and can't believe how quiet the Plymouth is. Everything is relative.

[Joe Flanagan]

Put some Rislone or similar to see if it might clear up that sticky valve. Have you tried pulling the plug wires one at a time at idle to see if you can isolate the cylinder that is misfiring? Qte your spark plug wires new? Is there any miss on acceleration or when climbing a grade?

I have not tried pulling the wires. They are new and the plugs were recently cleaned and the gap checked. There is no missing on acceleration or while climbing a grade. I may try the Rislone, though. This engine idled for a long time while I was rebuilding the rest of the car. I'd start it every so often and let it run for a few minutes. I did that for a few years. My thought was it might be carboned up and maybe some got in between an exhaust valve and its seat but I'm told that's not likely. 

 

 

Joe;

It is just possible that your rough idle might be related to that old muffler. Could be something floating around in it causing an intermittent restriction?

 

Jeff

I really like this idea. I've been thinking it might be related (actually, "hoping" is more accurate). Exhaust system needs to be replaced anyway, so we'll see what happens when I do that.

 

 

I complained about "noisy" to some of the forum members at the Port Huron POC meet.  It was suggested that I drive it at 70 or 80 mph for a while, then it will seem quiet at 50 - 55    .  Surprises some (like me) that these cars can be as noisy as they are, but considering most of us are used to driving modern stuff, they're not all that bad.  Part of the charm, to me anyway.  Still planning on installing some sound-deadening this winter, tho. 

I was thinking the same thing as I was roaring down I-95. Maybe I'm just expecting it to sound more like a modern car. It may be that they were noisy when new, too. I haven't really driven it with the sound deadening I put on the floor yesterday, so we'll see what that does. In my 56 Chevy truck it made a big difference. But nothing made more of a difference than a new exhaust.

Edited November 17, 2014 by Joe Flanagan

[greg g]

Spend 15 bucks and put some new plugs in it.

[Don Coatney]

Not Champion plugs.

[Joe Flanagan]

I'll do that.

[Jeff Balazs]

Joe;

It is worth a try .....and the muffler sounds like it probably needs replacing anyway. I have a small SS Magnaflow on my truck and it is nice and quiet. I am not a fan of noisy street vehicles at all.

 

When I was a lad I had an Austin Healey roadster with dual carbs and a split exhaust system which dumped out under the drivers door. Those old glass packs sounded amazing but I could not get the carbs balanced until I replaced the mufflers. Once I put new mufflers on it ran like a top. That one change made all the difference in the world.

 

Jeff

[1940plymouth]

If you and Jim get together this weekend, take LOTS of photos and congratulations on the 1500 miles driven

[Joe Flanagan]

If you and Jim get together this weekend, take LOTS of photos and congratulations on the 1500 miles driven

I will take pictures and thank you. 

 

Jeff, I believe everything from the exhaust manifold back needs to be replaced, actually. I can't wait to do that. I assume that the specialty vendors are the only places where you can get exhaust items for a car like this, is that correct? I know Roberts carries what I need, as does Waldron Exhaust. But I'm wondering if there are other sources as well.

[JerseyHarold]

Congrats on the first 1500 miles.  You may want to ask a local muffler shop to see if they can make your exhaust for you.  Most places have/had 'bending cards' covering most vehicles so they know how to make the pipes.

[RobertKB]

I had a local muffler shop do the exhause system on my '38 Chrylser. All new from the exhaust manifold back. They just did it and did it well.  Any good muffler shop should be able to do the same. Not especially cheap but then what is these days. It was done in a few hours.

Edited November 18, 2014 by RobertKB

[Don Coatney]

Local muffler shop gets my vote.

[Young Ed]

Local muffler shop gets my vote.

Mine too. The one down the street did a new setup for Dads 54 R110. $200 for custom front pipe and muffler. He didn't have them make a full tailpipe.