New to owning a p15

[Kaos]

Hello all I'm a new member first time posting and just happened to fall into some good luck yesterday hence I'm here.

My father-in-law owned a 46 special deluxe that was fully restored about 10 years back. He passed 3 years ago and today I just happened to ask about the purple beauty that was sitting in the barn and was given the car by the estate.

The car hasn't been started in at least 3 years and now needs some tlc and I plan to move it this weekend and at least start to oil the engine to attempt to get it to start and there is where my question begins

My plan was to take the plugs out, fill the engine with mystery oil and let it sit for a few days. Drain and fill and attempt to turn the engine over with a wrench and just take my time because it means a lot to get this car and I am a huge mopar fan so I want to do this correctly. Any advice, got ya's or things a young guy would need to know would be greatly appreciated. Also if there is a better way to baby this engine and do it right I am all ears.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you have thoughts please add here I really want to do this car correctly and figured who better to go to then where the experts hang out and discuss.

[Reg Evans]

3 years isn't that long of a time to sit idle.  I would first trying to turn the motor over by just pushing down on the fan belt with one hand while pulling on a fan blade. The engine might turn over just fine if the engine was in good shape when parked.  If not then go ahead and remove the plugs and squirt some Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder.

[Kaos]

Thank you for that reply and I will try that. Any idea on the oil filter type or size and can I get them at a parts store or are they special order? I want to change the oil ASAP and then again after I have it running just to get any trash or anything that could cause an issue.

[Kaos]

You will have to forgive the novice question but the only thing I have done to the car this point was cut the poison ivy that had cover the car.

[Barabbas]

Welcome to the forum--Hope you're not covered in Calamine Lotion. 

 

There are 3 possilbilities for your Oil Filter

1)-there is none--oil filters were an option on the old flatheads

2) Sealed Canister--you can find them on ebay or on line at Andy Bernbaum--they are a little expensive $70 or so

3) Replaceable filter--available at NAPA 1080

 

post a picture of your filter--if you have one, should be located on the driver's side of the engine,

[Young Ed]

I agree with Reg after 3 years I wouldn't question the engine much. The brakes however probably need some attention.

[46Ply]

Congrats on the "new" car!  Post a picture or two for us.  

[Kaos]

So here she is as she sits currently.

 

This is before the ivy was cleaned up and yeah poison ivy doesn't affect me.. Lucky me..

 

 

 

 

All windows are in there and none are broken this just happened to grow though the vent window.

 

 

Now that the Ivy is gone here she is.

 

 

 

 

In the trunk is there are the beauty rings for the wheels, hub caps, front emblem, and a few other things the only thing that we know is missing is the keys but I have a locksmith coming out tomorrow to key the car.

[Mark Haymond]

If it has a battery, check if the positive or negative cable is connected to "ground", usually to the engine block. Install a replacement battery the same way the previous owner was using it.

Three years in a barn are not severe conditions for the oil. I would go ahead and try starting it up without an oil change. The gas will be stale and stinky, no big deal. (It may take several seconds of cranking to pump gas from the tank all the way to the carb.)

I would avoid checking and adjusting everything in sight, like points, spark plug gaps, timing, carb settings, etc or you may introduce new problems that will prevent startup.

If by luck you get it to start, check the oil pressure right away. At idle, 10 to 20 pounds on the dash gauge is normal. Next watch for water leaks.

As Young Ed suggested, the brakes are a big concern. Don't drive that thing if the brakes are barely working.

On a positive note, I hope you enjoy your new dream, and welcome to the forum.

[Jerry Roberts]

I see a strap on the front bumper . It might have been towed to it's present position . It looks like your father in law took good care of it .  

[mrwrstory]

Really a nice gift from father-in-law's estate.  You sure have a winner.  I have the same car and you'll be surprised at how many folks will approach you with a story about "when they were kids".  

Congratulations and keep us posted.

[Kaos]

The strap was put on the car two years ago when all the cars were last attended to.  There was a new battery put in it and that's when it was realized the keys to the car are missing so it was put back in after the car behind it was started and checked.

[P15-D24]

Read through the various articles in the Resources setting for a backgrounder. Looks a great project and welcome to the site!

[46CoupeSD]

This is before the ivy was cleaned up and yeah poison ivy doesn't affect me.. Lucky me..out tomorrow to key the car.

 

No wonder that "poison ivy" didn't affect you - it's Virginia creeper! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenocissus_quinquefolia

 

Beautiful color on that P15!

Edited June 26, 2015 by 46CoupeSD

[RobertKB]

Very nice find and I am glad someone got it who appreciates it. Once you have it moved and given it a good wash it will look much better. If the motor turns, I would suggest removing the plugs and turning the motor over with the starter motor. It will spin fast enough to actually build oil pressure and lubricate all moving parts before actually firing it up. Make sure, of course, that you blow all the dirt out of the spark plug depressions before pulling the plugs. You may very well get lucky and find with a bit of gas down the carb, the engine will fire right away. I have started cars that have sat much longer than three years without a lot of trouble.

Edited June 26, 2015 by RobertKB

[jhm1mc13]

46coupeSD is right.  Poison ivy has three leaves.

 

Congratulations on a great barn find car.   It looks quite complete.

 

Jim M

[46Ply]

Nice car!  One more thing I'd do is check carefully for varmints!  Especially snakes.  No car is big enough for me and one of those.

[greg g]

Poison Ivy is a three leaf per stem deal.  So were you the inspiration for the Toyota who gets bit by a snake and thinks he impervious to venom???  Kidding, welcome aboard and enjoy your car.  Reproduction service manuals are available on e bay etc for not much money and are a good investment.  Be aware the car has lug bolts not studs and nuts, and both sides are not lefty loosey.  One side is righty loosey.  And my wheels have been on for so long I don't recall which is which. 

[DonaldSmith]

The right side is righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.

 

For the left side, lefty-tighty is right. So righty-loosey is left.  (A pun with right and left.)  The bolts have "L"or "R" in the center of their heads.  I highlighted these letters with white-out, to be more visible. 

[Tatback]

Poison Ivy is a three leaf per stem deal.  So were you the inspiration for the Toyota who gets bit by a snake and thinks he impervious to venom???  Kidding, welcome aboard and enjoy your car.  Reproduction service manuals are available on e bay etc for not much money and are a good investment.  Be aware the car has lug bolts not studs and nuts, and both sides are not lefty loosey.  One side is righty loosey.  And my wheels have been on for so long I don't recall which is which. 

Immune to venom?!.....Immune Steve!

 

I love that commercial. I don't know if its the same with your lug bolts but on my 48 Chrysler, its the drivers side that is righty loosey. I just took them off to get new tires. The drivers side is marked with a "L" on the bolts to indicate left hand threaded and the passenger side is marked with a "R"

 

 

OH......and to the OP, BEAUTIFUL car! Hope you get it on the road soon.

Edited June 27, 2015 by Tatback

[Kaos]

So if I've lost the key is there a place to find the key cut pattern or do I just need to find a lock smith skilled enough to do it by hand?

[RobertKB]

Need  to find a competent locksmith.

[Kaos]

Thanks for that next question, leave the drum brakes or disc? If disc do them all the way around it just the front? As warned I believe the brakes need some work as the peddle has no resistance so either way something needs to be done but I would like you guys to give me your thoughts on this.

[Kaos]

And I took your advice on spinning the motor it turns with a little resistance by turning the fan so once I do have a key I believe she is ready to start.

[RobertKB]

All my cars have the original drum brakes. If adjusted properly, they work fine. There is lots of information on the forum about how to do it. Many others will tell you to at least put discs on the front. Your car, your call.