She’s alive, '68 383

[HWYCRZR]

Last time the 68 Polara ran was when I started her up in June of 2006 when I unloaded her from the trailer after sitting since ‘88.
I made sure all the spark plug wires were where they belonged and engine and distributor were not 180 off. Dumped some fuel in the top of the carb and fired right up.
Ok I guess I need to post to You tube and link it or it didn’t happen.
Can you see the fan turning?

 

[crv]

Long time between drinks, one way to keep the miles low.
Happy motoring.

 

[roadrunnerh]

Great news! Love the color combo....

 

[1978 NYB]

Looks beautiful!!!

 

[HWYCRZR]

I think I got it. Just straight pipes off the manifold for now. Haven’t set the timing or idle yet. Distributor is lined up with the old score mark so sounds pretty close. Windshield and rear window installation next Friday. Then exhaust

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Excellent! Have I missed some of your restoration posts - I haven't seen anything from you since your interior resto work...

 

[HWYCRZR]

I think I have been a little slow in posting to my restoration thread. (link at bottom of my signature, on a phone turn it sideways). Installed bumper, re-built and detailed my seat belts. A bunch of little things that need to be done to wrap it up. I will have to go over there myself and tidy it up.

I think on this thread I am going to try to keep it to simple tune in / tune up steps as I go along. It seems like about 90% of the questions on the forum are about rough running engines.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Time to tune.
This was a high school graduation present in’86.
Not the first time used on this car

 

[HWYCRZR]

I think my dwell meter has been dropped to many times in30 years. I don’t think it is supposed to do that measuring voltage. Also does it on RPM and dwell. I think I need a different one.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Harbor Freight to the rescue.
Tach, Dwell, Voltage and a temp probe

 

[65sporty]

It's alive....Yeah!!!

I think my dwell meter has been dropped to many times in30 years. I don’t think it is supposed to do that measuring voltage. Also does it on RPM and dwell. I think I need a different one.

With the meter, are you sure you have the correct leads on the battery to measure voltage?

 

[65sporty]

I see the new tool, have you tried it out yet?

 

[HWYCRZR]

It's alive....Yeah!!!


With the meter, are you sure you have the correct leads on the battery to measure voltage?

Yep per the instructions blue to positive black to negative. For rpm it is blue to negative distributor, red to positive and black to negative. It quit fluctuating and pegged to full on.

 

[HWYCRZR]

I see the new tool, have you tried it out yet?

Yes, but not getting a good rpm reading.
The display shows about 011 at very low rpm that is as low as it will go and up to 017 at mid rpm. Either the induction pickup is not working or the meter is screwed. You are supposed to pick # of Cylinders with the dial x10. The math doesn’t work.
I will have to do some googling.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Found a soft plug leak on the back of the left head. Dripping antifreeze. Not sure if I can tap it to seat, or have to pull the head. Not what I wanted to do.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Ya kinda gotta do it... unfortunately.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Ok head off. Confirmed soft plug installed crooked. Now to go find a 1” soft plug and head gasket. Up in the air on the valley pan, but it has been torque once, so for $23 I should replace it. Then I need to repaint the top, but am out of engine paint.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Soft plug hole had a burr on the outer edge. Looked like someone welded, probably with the starter wire. Used a little die grinder to clean the burr off.
I did find all the gaskets at one place, but had to order more engine paint because I was out. I need to hit the valley pan.
Going back together now.

 

[HWYCRZR]

Back together (almost). Coolant back in. I broke a spark plug because I was following directions and tried to torque it. My torque wrench is too big to fit between the power steering gear and spark plug. I had too much of an angle and snapped the ceramic. I am waiting to put the manifold back on until I get my new dipstick. I ordered it about 3?weeks ago from MR. Moparts. I will wait to start tuning until then.

 

[MoparJim]

It looks great. I hope you have lots of enjoyable time with it once you get it all together and up and running.