Looking at a 1966 Plymouth Fury III Convertible

[gewmohasmojo]

Hello. I'm the son of a late Mopar man and have always wanted to own a 60's Mopar, with respect to my Dad. I'm going to look at a 1966 Fury convertible tomorrow with a Jack Fant 360 in it and because this is all fairly new to me, I thought I'd ask the experts on what are the fundamental questions I should ask and learn about the car to give it strong consideration. This would be a long-term project and honestly just looking for a good cruiser for the Jersey shore. I don't want a perfect car and prefer something mostly original. About the only thing I can't do as a mechanic is rebuild a motor or transmission, and even have some experience with body work. So while the car has some body issues, it does look straight and original (besides the motor).

Here is the listing if someone has any extra time: 1966 plymouth fury iii for sale by owner - Huntington, NY - craigslist

Because of the price, I'm not scared off yet, but there is also still a lot to learn about the car.

Any help is greatly appreciated. If not this car, I hope to be a Mopar man myself sometime soon and continue to learn from everyone here.

Thanks again. Have a good one.

Michael

 

[1970FuryConv]

Hello. I'm the son of a late Mopar man and have always wanted to own a 60's Mopar, with respect to my Dad. I'm going to look at a 1966 Fury convertible tomorrow with a Jack Fant 360 in it and because this is all fairly new to me, I thought I'd ask the experts on what are the fundamental questions I should ask and learn about the car to give it strong consideration. This would be a long-term project and honestly just looking for a good cruiser for the Jersey shore. I don't want a perfect car and prefer something mostly original. About the only thing I can't do as a mechanic is rebuild a motor or transmission, and even have some experience with body work. So while the car has some body issues, it does look straight and original (besides the motor).

View attachment 722819

Here is the listing if someone has any extra time: 1966 plymouth fury iii for sale by owner - Huntington, NY - craigslist

Because of the price, I'm not scared off yet, but there is also still a lot to learn about the car.

Any help is greatly appreciated. If not this car, I hope to be a Mopar man myself sometime soon and continue to learn from everyone here.

Thanks again. Have a good one.

Michael

Welcome Michael!
Looks like nice car overall
I would ask heads, compression rati,o and cam in that race motor.
With iron heads, running on pump gas can be a problem if compression is over 10:1
With aluminum heads, you could go as high as 11:1
Generally, stock iron heads don't flow well over .550" lift

 

[gewmohasmojo]

That's a great start. Much appreciated.

 

[Big_John]

I think they wanted a lot more $$$ for it a few months ago and I know they had more pictures posted.

NOT MINE - -66 Fury in New York

 

[gewmohasmojo]

Thanks for sharing that. I did learn the asking price was quite a bit more in January. I think I can live with the body at this price. Maybe not, but I'll know when I see it in person. Thanks again.

 

[Big_John]

Thanks for sharing that. I did learn the asking price was quite a bit more in January. I think I can live with the body at this price. Maybe not, but I'll know when I see it in person. Thanks again.

Yea, $2500 is a lot more reasonable. I can't remember what the price was before, but I do remember it being really out of line with the condition.

Ultimately, you have to set eyes on it and judge for yourself. Being a convertible, you really have to look at the floors and the trunk floor too. They get too rusty and they become parts cars or scrap.

In other words, be careful. Best of luck to you.

 

[CBODY67]

As you lay on the ground to look at the underside, you can use your finger knuckle to tap on the metal to see how it sounds. Like normal metal or "fillered" metal (dead thunks). Watch for falling pieces, too! Might wear safety goggles! (That might freak out the seller?)

As to the engine, I concur on it probably being ready for a re-do. Issues to ask about would be cam and compression ratio. Looks kind of flaky with two breathers on one side feeding one pcv valve on the driver side. Best to consider it a "rebuildable core" than not.

In one respect, you could get a heavy towel and put on the bottom of the front seat. Get it running and driving reliably. Then drive it during "convertible season". Then, over the next winter, put it on jack stands and do the metal work. Picture-documenting the work you do or have done. Getting it out of the "serious project" category in the process.

DO check the operation of the convertible top mechanism! THAT CAN be expensive to repair!

Your money, your dreams . . .
CBODY67

 

[gewmohasmojo]

As you lay on the ground to look at the underside, you can use your finger knuckle to tap on the metal to see how it sounds. Like normal metal or "fillered" metal (dead thunks). Watch for falling pieces, too! Might wear safety goggles! (That might freak out the seller?)

As to the engine, I concur on it probably being ready for a re-do. Issues to ask about would be cam and compression ratio. Looks kind of flaky with two breathers on one side feeding one pcv valve on the driver side. Best to consider it a "rebuildable core" than not.

In one respect, you could get a heavy towel and put on the bottom of the front seat. Get it running and driving reliably. Then drive it during "convertible season". Then, over the next winter, put it on jack stands and do the metal work. Picture-documenting the work you do or have done. Getting it out of the "serious project" category in the process.

DO check the operation of the convertible top mechanism! THAT CAN be expensive to repair!

Your money, your dreams . . .
CBODY67

Thank you for your advice. Owner claims all the floors are solid and the motor was running last year but has been sitting. Needs thoroughly cleaned inside and out as well. He believes it will run and drive fine with some work. Your idea of driving this Summer, then tackling body in the Winter is my thought as well. Give it a scrape and some quick sprays so it looks semi-decent. And of course remove that silly hood scoop.

I'm anxious to see it and hope it's a decent find for the price. Thanks again for your thoughts. Much appreciated.

 

[gewmohasmojo]

Thought I'd post a quick follow up. I looked at the car and have decided to pass. The motor looks ok but the wiring is a mess and a new alternator is mis-aligned. The owner claims the motor ran and then just quit one day, so its safe to assume its the wiring. Probably not a difficult fix. The frame and floors are solid, including the trunk, and the rockers are good, but the rear quarters and doors are a mess. The trunk seal is gone, which has caused the trunk lid metal above the tail lights to rot away. The car is on the verge of just getting parted out because of a long list of other issues, but if the right person gets it who can cut and weld, the frame is still good enough to be saved.

Thanks again for the assist on asking the right questions and what to look for on this Fury. I'm going to keep looking.

Michael