Steering center link and exhaust Y-pipe

[DJwarlord2000]

I'm trying to get my car (1969 Plymouth Fury 3, 318cu LA, engine, single exhaust) back on the road after getting closely acquainted with an overly friendly fencepost, and I can't tell if the center link is supposed to have a mild U-shaped bend in it. If it has been 'customized' then it's not much because my wheels appear to be true. If anyone knows what this part is supposed to look like, then that will help me determine the state of mine.

The other thing that will need to be addressed before poor Faith is road worthy is the exhaust. There is no saving the Y-pipe that bolts to the exhaust manifold, and it is so destroyed that I can't even use it for reference. I plan to either buy a salvage part or fabricate something. I wouldn't be opposed to a new part, but I realize that could get expensive. I'm trying to keep from taking her to a shop, ka-ching... If anyone has the part or knows where to get it that would be helpful. if you've got the distance between the 2 pipes for making the replacement, that helps too.

I'll try to get pictures tomorrow and will of course be calling up the local salvage yards to see what they've got. But in my experience, going to most junkyards for car parts this old is one heck of a longshot.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
-DJwarlord2000

 

[57fury440]

Waldron Exhaust had the Y pipe for the 318 in the 72 Barracuda my son has. It fit real nice and was reasonably priced.

 

[CBODY67]

I suspect that if the y-pipe has some issues, then the center link will too. At this time in the car's life, probably best to find a new one, plus idler and pitman arms, for good measure. Maybe outer tie rod ends, too?

Just a thought,
CBODY67

 

[1970FuryConv]

I own 1970, 1971, 1972 Fury. No center links have bends. I think your center link is trash and someone compensated during alignment.

 

[DJwarlord2000]

Thanks for the replies! @CBODY67 You may be right, but the rest of the suspension looks really good. @1970FuryConv I guess that's possible but that would mean it happened before I crashed.
I'll get pictures tomorrow hopefully; it's been a crazy week.

 

[1970FuryConv]

Thanks for the replies! @CBODY67 You may be right, but the rest of the suspension looks really good. @1970FuryConv I guess that's possible but that would mean it happened before I crashed.
I'll get pictures tomorrow hopefully; it's been a crazy week.

Might be a matter of me not understanding you. Does yours look like this?
Center link, my 72 Fury

 

[DJwarlord2000]

Might be a matter of me not understanding you. Does yours look like this?
Center link, my 72 Fury
View attachment 529671

Mine unfortunately looks like this:

 

[DJwarlord2000]

For the curious, here is a picture of the damaged side

 

[1970FuryConv]

Mine unfortunately looks like this:

Houston, we have a problem.
Some better pics, not for sale

 

[1970FuryConv]

For the curious, here is a picture of the damaged side

View attachment 529721

A farmer damaged the same side on my 1971 Fury. My subframes are good. Hope yours are OK too!

 

[DJwarlord2000]

A farmer damaged the same side on my 1971 Fury. My subframes are good. Hope yours are OK too!
View attachment 530275

That's too bad. The passenger side of cars is just bad luck I guess, the front door handle there is the only one that doesn't work on mine Thankfully, I think it was all body damage (besides the exhaust and center link). The subframe looks okay from what I remember.

 

[DJwarlord2000]

Houston, we have a problem.
Some better pics, not for sale
View attachment 530273
View attachment 530274

Problem indeed. Thanks for the pictures. I'll get it out and try to straighten it; my work has a hydraulic press I might be able to use.

 

[CBODY67]

After your attempted straightening, possibly with some mild heat, DO get it magnafluxed to look for cracks and such. I DO understand being frugal (sometimes of necessity), but getting a good, used, un-bent item from a salvage yard might be the least expensive way to go in the long run.

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67

 

[1970FuryConv]

That's too bad. The passenger side of cars is just bad luck I guess, the front door handle there is the only one that doesn't work on mine Thankfully, I think it was all body damage (besides the exhaust and center link). The subframe looks okay from what I remember.

Problem indeed. Thanks for the pictures. I'll get it out and try to straighten it; my work has a hydraulic press I might be able to use.

Good news on the subframes!

Curious to see if the center link will straighten.
If not, something like this might help, along with a new alignment. surprised that 1965-1973 are all the same.
1965-1973 CHRYSLER DODGE PLYMOUTH C BODY CENTER LINK DRAG LINK | eBay

 

[DJwarlord2000]

Here's an update, since it's been a while, for those interested. Got around to bringing the car home last week. I should be able to work on it much more effectively here. To do that, I got some new exhaust parts on the manifold, I was able to special order the clamps and tapered ends. I clamped those to elbows, so my car has about 1.5ft of exhaust on each side. On the advice of a co-worker, bad things happen if there isn't any pipe. I was able to start it and drive it onto the trailer alright, so that's good news, especially given the amount time it had been sitting on ramps. Unfortunately, I found some more damage. The driver side leaf spring hanger is inverted and punctured the trunk pan, and where it bolts to the frame on the other side, the spring itself is bent. So, I will either be attempting to straighten, or have straightened, the spring (the hanger being flipped is easy to fix since I have to take the spring out anyway) or looking for a replacement spring. I'll also be looking for a driver side tail-light lens.

 

[1970FuryConv]

That's a bad break.
Are both top leafs bent like that so the springs can invert?

 

[DJwarlord2000]

I'm afraid I don't fully understand the question. The bending is only on the front of the driver side leaf spring. The axle is rolled slightly forward so the spring can go into the trunk. The passenger leaf spring appears to be unaffected. Does that answer your question?

 

[1970FuryConv]

I'm afraid I don't fully understand the question. The bending is only on the front of the driver side leaf spring. The axle is rolled slightly forward so the spring can go into the trunk. The passenger leaf spring appears to be unaffected. Does that answer your question?

The bend in the upper leaf in this picture is what I'm referring to. I think the bend allowed the rear spring shackle to roll forward enough that it could invert and damage your trunk floor. I'm glad it didn't happen on the passenger side.

For new springs and shackles, you could try
Spring and Suspension Specialists | ESPO Springs n Things
EATON Detroit Spring
I used Eaton Detroit to get 6 leaf 440 springs for my 1970 Fury convertible. Complete change in ride quality.
Other members attest to good experience with Springs & Things.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

There was only one center link used for all c-bodies in 69, didn't matter what engine/exhaust/steering combo you may have had.


Alan

 

[1970FuryConv]

There was only one center line used for all c-bodies in 69, didn't matter what engine/exhaust/steering combo you may have had.


Alan

Hi Alan,
I need educating here. What do you mean by center line? thanks, Ben