how do i keep an original motor running strong??

[tankwilson]

I have a 49 plymouth.... choptop, bagged, and kustom all the way. Still have the original drive train. Probably have put around 2000 miles on it in the past year or two. I drive it all the time. Never had any problems with the motor. The best i can tell it is stock. I have never touched it. I have decided to run it for as long as i can. What do i need to do to keep the original drive trail running strong and for a long time??? Upgrades??? or just change oil and drive it??? Where do i get an intake for 2 carbs.

Thanks

Matt Wilson

King Pin Customs

www.myspace.com/kingpincustoms

Look at slide show for pics if you are not a myspace member.

[hkestes41]

Tank,

You have a great looking ride. Who would ever have thought the 49 could look that good?

I got my dual carb set-up from Langdons' Stovebolts http://www.stoveboltengineco.com/ . Everything from the manifold to carbs, carb adaptors and linkage. They were great to work with and shipping was quick and I thought pricing was reasonaable. They also have an HEI distributor and coil for the Mopar flathead along with cast iron headers as well.

While the picture below is not my engine, I believe it is the same set-up I will be running once I drop the new engine in my 48 coupe.

[47heaven]

Matt...I'm not actually into chopping cars because I think it's butchery of those little pieces of American history, but there are some cars that actully look better and improved with customizing and the '49 Plymouth is one of them....and yours looks pretty good! I don't know why Plymouth went to the "boxy" look that year and the following few years after, but it totally lost it's lines and sleakness after '48, in my opinion.

[PatS....]

"I don't know why Plymouth went to the "boxy" look that year and the following few years after"

The reason was that then Chrysler Corp President K.T. Keller insisted that a gentleman be able to enter and exit a Chrysler Corp vehicle without having to remove his hat.

What the boss wants, the boss gets:eek:

[tankwilson]

I found another motor in my buddies junk yard out of a dodge truck. The head looks the same as mine. How much would you plain off of it to help compression on a stock motor?

Thanks

[hkestes41]

Tank,

Check out this thread. There is a head milling chart down a little ways that shows compression increases based on the amount milled off.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=668&highlight=head+milling+chart

[builtfercomfort]

The other folks have upgrades covered - as for maintenance, lubrication is very important on any older car. Change the oil every 500-1000 miles the way you drive it (condensation buildup, lots of short trips). Be sure the chassis is lubed properly (I think there are 25 places, plus things like a generator cup and speedometer cup to fill with light oil).

[1949P17BC]

Tank, I too have a 49 Business Coupe, I rebuilt my motor in the car, new rings, bearings, valve job (tri angle cut) valve springs (big differnce) cut the head .70, dual carters (with the biggest aircleaners you can find) split exhaust manifold and duals, rebuilt the distributor. I can premioum gas, no ping runs great.

[grey beard]

Mr. Tank,

If you are serious about getting the maximum life from your flathead MoPar, here are a few suggestions I would offer.

1. Pull your inner fender panel - and right front wheel - and remove the valve pan covers. Don't be surprised if you find this area full of sludge. If this is the case, get your putty knife and a screw driver and remove all you are able to get out - I filled a quart container wirth sludge from my motor. After you have removed all you can get out, plug the holes between the tappets with pieces of rag and clean the area as best you can with an air gun and brushes - whatever it takes to get the dirt out. Finally, remove the rag plugs and scrub the area down with a brush and parts solvent until it is spotless. This is the area that catches all the crud from condensation that builds up from short trips. These engine blocks do not fully warm up for a long time after they are started. Needless to say, change the oil after yuo are finished with this cleaning job.

2. Contact Vintage Power Wagon and buy a PCV valve and fittings from them. This will replace the old and inefficient road draft vent tube, and will go a long way toward keeping your engine crankcase clean. It will pay huge dividends in extending the life of your engine.

3. Install a 180 degree thermostat. It will help the engine come up to operating temperature more quickly and will help the PCV system in evaporating the condensation that always occurs inside crankcases - esecially on short runs. The engine will tolerate this with no problems if the radiator and water jacket are both clean.

4. You may wish to remove the radiator and have it cleaned. While it's off, pull the water pump and distribution tube, and knock out the block core plugs and petcock on the distributor side. With this stuff off, you can flush out the entire water jacket. Most of the dirt settles at the lowest point, which is the petcock. I have seen many of these packed solid with silt. Blow the dirt out with an air blow gun and flush it with a water hose until all is clean. When you are finished, you will know the engine cooling system is ready to keep the engine at operating temperatures - something no engine can live long without.

Get these things done and keep your oil clean. You may find that old engine will outlive you! Who knows . . . . . . LOL

[blueskies]

The best advice I can offer is this:

Drive the car every day.

Cars that sit around get stale. Driving them daily preserves their freshness, ensuring that you will readily enjoy the pleasure of hopping behind the wheel whenever you feel like it.

Cars that are run regularly have all the bugs worked out, and are ready for the long haul. Cars that only see the end of the driveway have not been put to the test, and their owners know not what may fail a block from home (you know who you are...).

These cars are not fragile, and were designed to last forever. And they likely will, if they get the regular excersize they need to stay in shape. And while you are at it, drive the damn thing out to Idaho, I think I'm the only one in the state canvasing the roads with an old Plymouth...

Pete

somewhere in Oklahoma, on vintage Route 66 concrete, over a thousand miles from home...

[tankwilson]

I love my car a drive it everywhere. Went to the greaserama, pileup and a few other places this summer. No troubles.