C body networking

[73 New Yorker]

I am new to car restoration. I purchased my car a month ago with the agreement that my local mechanic would teach/help me to make upgrades.
Unfortunately the needs of the car quickly out ran his availability so I’m left hiring another shop to do all of my upgrades.
I would very much like to learn but currently have no one to learn from, YouTube videos are not enough in my case.
I live in Central Illinois and I was wondering if there was a network of people with C body cars anywhere near me that would be willing to teach a beginner a few things. Thank you

 

['66 Fury I]

Always remember that if someone else can do it, you can too. All you need is the knowledge, tools and determination. Ask questions, read your FSM, and be patient. We are all still learning and most are willing to help each other. FSM is available at mymopar.com. Questions are answered here. Have fun! Lindsay

 

[MONC440]

Welcome to the site. If you have questions just ask someone on here can help you.

I live in lower Michigan so not really close enough to help.

 

[3175375]

Research, research, research.

This isn’t rocket science.

The factory service manual is a great way to learn as well as researching and posting your questions on this forum.

Might you start a thread on your car?

 

[CBODY67]

Welcome! So you purchased that good looking car with the intent of "changing it", but need help? What changes are you desiring? Just curious.

Please be aware that you need to learn about the car before taking it apart to do things others lead you to believe you need to do. Especially when the "others" might only know about Brand Other cars and NOT Chrysler Products specifically.

The learning process is about learning WHY Chrysler did some things and not others, which is certainly different than the way GM or Ford did things in many cases . . . with Chrysler using seeking a higher degree of execution than either Ford, and especially GM, desired to pay for. Which means that Chrysler products "fix" differently than Ford, GM, or other OEMs' vehicles did.

Years ago, like when I was in elementary school and later, I was hanging around the gas stations we frequented and watched/learned how they did things. Just simple repairs. After I went to work at the dealership 45+ years ago, that got me a whole 'nuther level of mechanical repair knowledge, plus many friends that knew about cars in the process, over the years. Agreed, there are some things I feel comfortable doing, others not. For those I do not feel comfortable doing, I find others that know about them to do them. I usually watch what they do and learn what is needed before I might venture down that path and invest money to do things I might only need to do once or maybe twice. The things I feel comfortable with and will/can do many times, then I'll make the investment in tools to do them next time.

BUT . . . ONE thing you'll need is a place to do these things where you can lock the door and walk away (for a day or week), if needed! MUCH better than trying to use a parking lot or uncovered driveway, to me. Although there are some things which can be done in those locations.

Just some thoughts and observations from over the years,
CBODY67

 

[73 New Yorker]

Most of this list I consider to be updating not changing. The thermo quad carburetor is lousy so I am having a new intake manifold and carburetor installed.
The list was was started on April 29th and will be completed by June 13th. Water pump
Fan clutch
Radiator hoses
Thermostat
Alternator belt
Removed AC compressor (trash)
Re cored radiator
Mufflers, tips
Power steering belt
Alternator belt
Steering gear box
Power steering pump/hose
Steering coupler
Upper ball joints
Lower ball joints
Pitman arm
Inner tie rod ends
Outer tie rod ends
Adjustable sleeves
Front shocks
Rear shocks
Oil pan gasket
Transmission gasket/filter
Front Rotors
Calipers
Hoses
Pads
Wheel bearing seals
manifold/gasket/bolts
Carburetor/hose/lines/linkage
Fuel tank/straps
Valve covers/air cleaner/gasket
Triple gauges/fittings
Fix turn signals, Front bumper light, back up lights, brights
Adjust door glass

 

[CBODY67]

That looks more like a complete rebuild, to me. Is this a "shotgun" approach in the hope that nothing further will ever need replacing? Rather than "fix what's broken now" and do the rest as needed?

The problem is that many of the parts removed were probably better than the ones that are replacing them, by observation. Plus, many have a useful service life past 100k miles, from my experiences.

From my perspective, I would not buy a vehicle that needed ALL of those things at once. Certainly, over time, possibly, but not all at once. BTAIM Nor would I buy it for daily use, either.

Updating to EFI? A Sanden compressor upgrade from the RV-2?

AND . . . you have not addressed the known-to-leak a/c case gaskets!

Your car, your money, your dreams.

Just some respectful thoughts,
CBODY67

 

[73 New Yorker]

I just wanted to make the car as safe and drivable as possible. The EFI question was just wanting to hear real peoples opinions on a possible down the road upgrade. I do appreciate you taking the time give your opinion. Thank you

 

[Big_John]

Most of this list I consider to be updating not changing. The thermo quad carburetor is lousy so I am having a new intake manifold and carburetor installed.
The list was was started on April 29th and will be completed by June 13th. Water pump
Fan clutch
Radiator hoses
Thermostat
Alternator belt
Removed AC compressor (trash)
Re cored radiator
Mufflers, tips
Power steering belt
Alternator belt
Steering gear box
Power steering pump/hose
Steering coupler
Upper ball joints
Lower ball joints
Pitman arm
Inner tie rod ends
Outer tie rod ends
Adjustable sleeves
Front shocks
Rear shocks
Oil pan gasket
Transmission gasket/filter
Front Rotors
Calipers
Hoses
Pads
Wheel bearing seals
manifold/gasket/bolts
Carburetor/hose/lines/linkage
Fuel tank/straps
Valve covers/air cleaner/gasket
Triple gauges/fittings
Fix turn signals, Front bumper light, back up lights, brights
Adjust door glass

IMHO, some of what I see here are some good things to do with a car that you don't know the history of. Belts and hoses are good. A lot of things though... Do they really need to be replaced? Example; Steering box... A used OEM steering box and pump that are working and in good shape are going to be better than any of the typical rebuilds the average mechanic will source. In other words, take off the good, trade the cores in (so it's gone) and replace it with junk.

Doing things for the sake of doing them often does nothing but line someone's pocket with $$.

Back to the list... A lot of this stuff is easy to do... Yea, I know, you don't have a lot of experience, but the way to gain that experience is to just do it. Belts and hoses (again) for example. Easy to do. Farm out the suspension... I get it, it's hard, knuckle busting work, but geez, a radiator is a half dozen bolts and you are changing the hoses anyway. Air cleaner is a wing nut.

 

[Boydsdodge]

Most of this list I consider to be updating not changing. The thermo quad carburetor is lousy so I am having a new intake manifold and carburetor installed.
The list was was started on April 29th and will be completed by June 13th. Water pump
Fan clutch
Radiator hoses
Thermostat
Alternator belt
Removed AC compressor (trash)
Re cored radiator
Mufflers, tips
Power steering belt
Alternator belt
Steering gear box
Power steering pump/hose
Steering coupler
Upper ball joints
Lower ball joints
Pitman arm
Inner tie rod ends
Outer tie rod ends
Adjustable sleeves
Front shocks
Rear shocks
Oil pan gasket
Transmission gasket/filter
Front Rotors
Calipers
Hoses
Pads
Wheel bearing seals
manifold/gasket/bolts
Carburetor/hose/lines/linkage
Fuel tank/straps
Valve covers/air cleaner/gasket
Triple gauges/fittings
Fix turn signals, Front bumper light, back up lights, brights
Adjust door glass

Man, I wish your car was close to me up here. I can get a Thermoquad to start and howl like they should.
The rest is easy with patients. With a good distributor curve and tune your car can be pretty quick and reliable.
If your dumping the Thermoquad, please contact me for delivery address. Also correct not service manual alignment will give a much better road feel.
Radiator: Try as you can to hold on to the original rad and not just go for the aftermarket no numbers replacement rad. Get your old one checked out at a rad shop that still does rebuilds and not just Re and Re off shore rads.

 

[73 New Yorker]

Will do on thermo quad. I’m keeping the original radiator, it is being re cored from a two row to a three row.

 

[1970FuryConv]

1st, and repeat myself, I really like your car. With the price, I'm surprised that so many things wrong with it.
2nd, if you're going to do things yourself, it's good to remember: one thing at a time. If you can't understand how to do it from the factory shop manual, you can post a question here on the forum.
3rd, advise that you post a thread titled Illinois Members? You may attract more people from your location than with a general title like the one that you have. I understand the need for help. Everyone needs to learn from somebody.
4th, if you think that someone might be really helpful, you can PM the person and ask for their phone number. Sometimes a phone conversation will help as much or more than a written thread.
Just some advice. Best of luck! Ben

 

[Big_John]

I can get a Thermoquad to start and howl like they should

The Thermoquad is a great carb. I've had them on several cars (including my '70 300) and they work well... Of course, there are some duds out there that you just can't fix, but most are good. Biggest problem (I've seen) is people getting their fingers in them and screwing them up... Again, some are just bad... I know guys that don't like them and guys that love them.

 

[73 New Yorker]

1st, and repeat myself, I really like your car. With the eBay price, I'm surprised that so many things wrong with it.
2nd, if you're going to do things yourself, it's good to remember: one thing at a time. If you can't understand how to do it from the factory shop manual, you can post a question here on the forum.
3rd, advise that you post a thread titled Illinois Members? You may attract more people from your location than with a general title like the one that you have. I understand the need for help. Everyone needs to learn from somebody.
4th, if you think that someone might be really helpful, you can PM the person and ask for their phone number. Sometimes a phone conversation will help as much or more than a written thread.
Just some advice. Best of luck! Ben

All good points, thank you Ben.

 

[Big_John]

Will do on thermo quad

First rule on "upgrading" classic cars.... Keep the old original parts.

Let's say you get tired of this car in a couple years and want to sell it... Let's say I'm in the market and look at the car. I open the hood and first words out of my mouth will be "where's the original carb and manifold?". It doesn't matter if I want to run them or not... Most guys want the original stuff that goes with the car. Instant price drop (at least for me and a bunch of others).

Your call though... And I don't want to take anything away from @Boydsdodge . Just saying...

 

[Boydsdodge]

I would love to see more photos of your car.
I found your link just after purchase.
Nice NewYorker.
If the photos on Barn finds are current condition, you have a lot of great original parts under the hood.
Just come on here and describe your problem, you will get great feed back on how to deal with it. I found these low comp 440s need lots of initial timing, then curve the distributor to a 34/36 total mechanical and a working vacuum advance. This alone will give you quicker starting and bottom end power increase.

 

[73 New Yorker]

More good advice, thank you.

 

[73 New Yorker]

I would love to see more photos of your car.
I found your link just after purchase.
Nice NewYorker.

Streetside Classics in North Carolina is where I bought it from, It’s still listed on their website under the sold section they have about 75 pictures of it.

 

[Boydsdodge]

Bring it to Carlisle

 

[1970FuryConv]

1973 Chrysler New Yorker
Street Side Classics link