9 We ordered all new Raybestos...
9 We ordered all new Raybestos brake shoes for the rear, as well as new wheel cylinders and hardware. Unlike the local auto parts store that might have the part you need or might not, Rockauto.com gives you multiple choices, allowing you to upgrade where you deem it necessary, like the brakes.
10 After starting our Newport,...
10 After starting our Newport, we noticed that the brake booster wasn’t providing any help. After inspecting the check valve and finding it working properly, we ordered a replacement booster from Rockauto. The new booster is a different design but bolts right into the C-body’s original provisions.
11 The master cylinder is...
11 The master cylinder is the heart of the brake system, so we ordered a new one to install with the rest of our parts. There is much debate about how to bench-bleed the master cylinder, but we still find it best to install lines routing the fluid back into the reservoir, and pump the piston until no more bubbles come out. We do this often enough that we fabricated metal lines for the task, eliminating leaks.
In the rear, the C-Body 11-inch drum brakes are adequate for a driver car when used in conjunction with front disc brakes. And while we won’t rule out a rear truck drum or disc conversion for this car sometime in the future, we’ll just rebuild the factory brakes for now and get the car on the road.
So long as they are properly proportioned, 11-inch drum brakes are actually not just adequate, but a decent brake for the rear, able to lock up even large tires repeatedly without building excessive heat. New pads, wheel cylinders, and hardware from
Rockauto.com will get our rear drums in working order and our car closer to being drivable.
Of course these brake upgrades will only work if the tires are sufficient to control the braking action, so we ordered a set of new 15-inch radials from General Tire for the Newport. New tires should always be considered a mandatory upgrade, especially in a case like our car which had been sitting for many years. The 235/75R15 General Grabber A/W radials we chose offer good wet and dry performance, semi-aggressive tread, and 420 treadware, B traction, and B heat ratings.
These tires are light-years ahead of the skinny bias-ply tires our car was built with and should greatly enhance the ride and performance of our Newport. We plan to drive this car regularly, and new tires not only perform better, but are more resilient to nails and flat-causing debris, enhancing our car’s reliability. Time to go to work and get our C-body one step closer to some top-down cruising.
There’s no doubt that most Mopars are harder and harder to find sitting in scrap yards, or anywhere for that matter, making it difficult to perform repairs with second-hand parts. Fortunately, the exception to this rule seems to be the C-Body. These cars appear to have weathered the storm when compared to more desirable body styles, and we still see them driving around, sitting in storage lots or behind houses, and even showing up in the local junkyards. Since these cars were family cars, many of them were simply abused less and taken care of better than other body styles, then passed down to future generations of drivers. And while C-Bodies may not be as light as other Mopars, we still think they’re some of the coolest cars produced by the Chrysler Corporation. So even if you can’t find the part you need locally, we have several advertisers that deal in pre-owned parts. Just check out their advertisements in Mopar Muscle and help keep C-Bodies on the road! - Editor
12 Before installing the...
12 Before installing the new booster, use either the factory style gaskets or some silicone around the fastener where the booster meets the firewall. This will keep any rainwater leaking down the firewall from coming in the holes and soaking the carpet. Also, you can paint the booster and master cylinder before installation to prevent future corrosion.
13 After installing the booster...
13 After installing the booster and master cylinder, we bled our brake system completely to remove all the air in the system. These brakes should stop our Newport convertible nicely, but will only work as well as the tires will allow.
14 Did we say we needed tires?...
14 Did we say we needed tires? These are two of the four we removed in favor of a set of Grabber A/W radials from General Tire. New tires will greatly enhance our vehicle’s performance and reliability, especially braking.
15 The General Grabber A/W...
15 The General Grabber A/W tires are all-weather tires with semi-aggressive tread and good treadwear, heat, and traction ratings.
15 We chose 235/75R15s as...
15 We chose 235/75R15s as a good replacement for the rollers that were on the car, slightly larger than stock tires to help fill the wheelwells.
16 We installed our wheels...
16 We installed our wheels and tires on the lift but performed the final tightening of the lug nuts with the car on the ground. We’re looking forward to getting our C-body rolling so we can continue fixing it up.
17a Remember the proper tire...
17a Remember the proper tire inflation placard on the doorjamb of an old car might not always be correct when upgrading tires. When this car originally ran a bias-ply tire, it called for 24/26 psi.
17b With a new radial tire,...
17b With a new radial tire, that might be a little low, so going by the tire manufacturer’s recommendations might be safer.
18 Our Newport convertible...
18 Our Newport convertible has come a long way since we picked it up, but it’s still not quite ready for a road trip. Now that the car is drivable, though, we’ll correct a few problems with the interior, seat, and windows, then get her registered for a maiden voyage. Look for future tech articles on this car and let us know what you think at moparmusclemagazine.com.