It's alive! '68 Newport first start

Metalmarty

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Hi all,

As some of you know I'm working on restoring my '68 Newport.
1968 Newport 4dr Hardtop restore (NL)

After a year of hard work it was finally time to see if the engine would fire up.
Engine bay wiring was not finished yet so I whipped up some basic wiring and a battery for this test. I'm wearing earprotection since the engine only has the headers installed in this video. (that's also the spark in the beginning)

I've made sure I had plenty of oil pressure by priming the engine before the distributor went in.
After that I cranked the motor without petrol to set the base timing at ~10deg BTDC.
Put some petrol in the float bowls, pumped up the carb until the boosters started squirting and voila! It runs! :D

Fired right up!. Really happy to hear it run after a lot of work and it being 1.5 years since I've heard it run.

 
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Lucky!!!! I have been working on my 2 door '68 New Yorker since Jan of last year. She hasn't ran since 1980 - but I've had the entire drivetrain rebuilt since then! The car is undergoing a restoration but it is all being done by myself with the help of some friends here and there. We just rebuilt the entire suspension, wheel hub and breaking system. Next is some much needed body work! Needs new metal around the front and rear windshield as well as new passenger side floors and a new trunk. I'm hoping that in about a month we'll hear that 440 fire up for the first time in decades. She's been down 2x the time I've been alive. I'm 20, she's been parked since 1980
 
Lucky!!!! I have been working on my 2 door '68 New Yorker since Jan of last year. She hasn't ran since 1980 - but I've had the entire drivetrain rebuilt since then! The car is undergoing a restoration but it is all being done by myself with the help of some friends here and there. We just rebuilt the entire suspension, wheel hub and breaking system. Next is some much needed body work! Needs new metal around the front and rear windshield as well as new passenger side floors and a new trunk. I'm hoping that in about a month we'll hear that 440 fire up for the first time in decades. She's been down 2x the time I've been alive. I'm 20, she's been parked since 1980

I saw your restoration posts! Good work, I also appreciate it that you want to make it your own by changing some things to your liking.
I also did everything myself with some help here and there from my father. Fortunately my Newport is solid in terms of rust, unfortunately it has some dents etc. But that's a problem for next year. Fixing all the mechanicals first to be able to drive it around, bodywork is a future project. Great to see more young people working on old cars :). I'm 27 now.

First fire-up is a super exciting moment after such a long time!
 
Video was not working I think. Should be fixed :)

Not working for me still..

First fire-up is a super exciting moment after such a long time!

Absolutely! Last winter I fixed several nasty oil leaks and the timing chain on my Imperial. With some setbacks I encountered she was out for a few months and boy that first start up afterwards was exhilarating. I can only imagine what it must feel like with a fresh engine after 1.5 years! :wideyed:
 
Not working for me still..

Absolutely! Last winter I fixed several nasty oil leaks and the timing chain on my Imperial. With some setbacks I encountered she was out for a few months and boy that first start up afterwards was exhilarating. I can only imagine what it must feel like with a fresh engine after 1.5 years! :wideyed:

How about now?
I used google drive first but uploaded it to youtube now. :)
 
I saw your restoration posts! Good work, I also appreciate it that you want to make it your own by changing some things to your liking.
I also did everything myself with some help here and there from my father. Fortunately my Newport is solid in terms of rust, unfortunately it has some dents etc. But that's a problem for next year. Fixing all the mechanicals first to be able to drive it around, bodywork is a future project. Great to see more young people working on old cars :). I'm 27 now.

First fire-up is a super exciting moment after such a long time!
Thank you

Thank you my friend! It's a labor of love for sure, especially working on these old Chryslers whose parts are not as easy to find as other cars! I just wish I could drive mine already, but it needed a lot of serious work before we even could think about driving it. I'm glad we didn't try to fire it when I got it, it was a serious mess inside the engine compartment and probably a fire waiting to happen! Didn't help that the engine was seized, and it's a good thing that it was or else I wouldn't have done as much work as I have. So happy little by little some of us are able to put these beautiful cars back on the road!

Thanks for the kind words about my build as well. Not many people are fans of the theme of my project, but at the end of the day - they haven't put time, money or even the thought I have into my car and I'm building it for me to enjoy :) I look forward to seeing more of your progress with the 68! Good luck
 
Hi all,

As some of you know I'm working on restoring my '68 Newport.
1968 Newport 4dr Hardtop restore (NL)

After a year of hard work it was finally time to see if the engine would fire up.
Engine bay wiring was not finished yet so I whipped up some basic wiring and a battery for this test. I'm wearing earprotection since the engine only has the headers installed in this video. (that's also the spark in the beginning)

I've made sure I had plenty of oil pressure by priming the engine before the distributor went in.
After that I cranked the motor without petrol to set the base timing at ~10deg BTDC.
Put some petrol in the float bowls, pumped up the carb until the boosters started squirting and voila! It runs! :D

Fired right up!. Really happy to hear it run after a lot of work and it being 1.5 years since I've heard it run.


Certainly fired right up! Nice work!
 
Nice work Marty! Yes, that first startup really is fun and exciting! We plan to travel to Holland next summer, and if possible maybe we could meet you and check out the car.
Cheers from Florida.
 
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