We noticed signs of coolant...
We noticed signs of coolant leaking from under the water pump pulley, so we decided to replace it with a new pump from Rock Auto. We also installed new Gates radiator hoses and a new 180-degree thermostat before filling the system with Prestone antifreeze.
We saw several areas that would need to be addressed on our Chrysler, including leaking valve cover and exhaust manifold gaskets, fouled spark plugs, and mismatched plug wires. The belts and hoses were intact, but obviously old, so we ordered all new ones from Rock Auto, as well as a new water pump and 180-degree thermostat. Unsure of the condition of the transmission, we checked the fluid and found it to be clean, which is a good sign. While online at rockauto.com, we ordered all the parts we'd need to change the engine oil and service the transmission, and then ordered new rear brake shoes and hardware for the rear drum brakes. Up front, we were lucky and got a full set of factory disc brakes from a '72 Monaco, which we'll show you how to install in a future article. Evaluating the rest of our Chrysler, we noted that several light bulbs were inoperable, and the wiper blades were shot, so we ordered replacements while online.
Knowing our parts would start arriving in a couple of days, we put the Newport on the lift and began servicing the car by removing the fuel tank pickup and cleaning it. Other than discovering a couple of broken exhaust manifold studs and valve cover bolts, we didn't have any real issues performing the work on our Chrysler, and even discovered that our Chrysler's engine had evidently been rebuilt at some point. Though unsure of when or by whom, this did encouraged us to think the 383 would run well once we were finished with our work. Luckily, we didn't see any major problems with our car, and the service work went quickly. After completing the work, we marked the position of the distributor, then removed it and primed the engine's oil system, achieving some 50 psi of oil pressure before attempting to start the car.
We encountered broken fasteners...
We encountered broken fasteners while changing the exhaust manifold gaskets as well, one that we caused and one thanks to a previous mechanic. This added time to our repair, and we'll show you how we removed the studs and repaired the threads in next month's Quick Tech.
With our preliminary servicing and tuning of the Newport accomplished, we primed the carb with fresh fuel and turned the engine over with the transmission in neutral so that the transmission pump would pick up fluid. The big-block fired up immediately, sounding crisp and puffing just a minor amount of smoke when it first started. With good oil pressure, we let the engine come up to temperature while checking for leaks. Follow along and see what it took to wake this Chrysler up from its long nap, and check out future issues as we perform maintenance and upgrades to get this cool convertible back on the road.
Popping the distributor cap,...
Popping the distributor cap, we found someone had replaced the breaker points with an aftermarket electronic ignition. Everything seemed to be in good working order, so we just replaced the rotor and cap.
We were impressed with the...
We were impressed with the quality of the Rock Auto automotive parts. As you can see, the starter relay we ordered was an exact replacement, with the correct C-Body bracket.
Originally a 383 two-barrel...
Originally a 383 two-barrel car, someone had replaced the intake with a Holley dual plane and small four-barrel carb. After sitting so long, we knew the carb was either full of varnished fuel or had dried gaskets, so we pulled it for a quick rebuild.
Before gapping and installing...
Before gapping and installing our new spark plugs, we sprayed WD-40 into the combustion chamber to lubricate the upper cylinders and help free any stuck rings during start-up.
Before firing the engine up,...
Before firing the engine up, we filled it with fresh oil and installed a new oil filter. We then pulled the distributor and primed the oil system with....
....a drill and priming shaft,...
....a drill and priming shaft, making sure we had oil pressure before reinstalling the distributor and new plug wires.
New accessory drivebelts are...
New accessory drivebelts are relatively inexpensive, so there's no reason not to replace them. We did put the old belts in the trunk, in case we need to one day perform a roadside repair.
While working in the engine...
While working in the engine bay, we replaced the brake booster and master cylinder with new parts from Rock Auto. In a future issue, we'll convert the car to front disc brakes with parts you can find in the junkyard!
Instead of wondering how old...
Instead of wondering how old the Newport's various lights were, and when they'd stop working, we simply replaced them all with new bulbs from rockauto.com. We also replaced the wiper blades, not so much because we'll be driving anytime soon, but to keep the old blades from scratching the windshield.
White lithium grease can be...
White lithium grease can be sprayed on all the hinges for the doors, hood, and trunk,....
....and WD-40 is good for...
....and WD-40 is good for freeing sticky door handles and lubricating lock cylinders.
With daughter and future driver...
With daughter and future driver Natalie at the controls, we fired up the 383, checking for leaks and letting the engine warm up before setting the ignition timing and tuning the carb.....
....With the engine and transmission...
....With the engine and transmission serviced and running good, we'll attack the brakes and drivetrain next, getting our C-Body project ready for its first test drive.