1971 Chrysler Newport Custom 383, rebuilding in Europe

[Unix]

A short write up of the trip i made to the Power Big Meet in Sweden, a week and a half ago. The trip lasted for 8 days.

Day 1 . From the south of Poland, Krakow, to the north east of Poland to the Mazury region (hundreds of big lakes most interconnected and rolling hills). Distance ~ 350 miles.

First we visited a small army musuem - mostly stuff from the cold war, russian junk, and a few WWII Dodge army trucks.

Police car from communist times. Fiat 125p. 4 cylinders, 1.4L

US Army vehicles.

Very famous russian tank, T-34. The sheer volume of these tanks overwhelmed the German Tigers which were far more superior, but just couldn't handle the harsh environment of the battles.

I believe a 70-80s more modern russian tank

Another soviet era machine

Then went on the visit an old gothic church, 14th century. Couldn't pass a nice panorama for a pic with the Chrysler

 

[Unix]

Still day 1

Inside the church, very plain.

Old artefacts.

The tower for the bells was built on this wooden structure, seperate from the rock walls, so as to not vibrate the walls to pieces from the heavy bells. No nails were used.

Nice view from the top

Spot the creature.

 

[Unix]

Further into the day.

Some random small museums along the way, with pics from WWII from the area, and some German militaria.

US Army vehicles

Random poster of famous WWII fighters

The famous German "bazooka"

Just arrived at the wolfs lair compound, deep in the forrest. What you see are parts of a structure, that's how thick the walls were, reinforced with steel.

This place was very heavily guarded, with tree foilage hampering aerial view, and all the structures were covered with foilage camouflage nets.

 

[Unix]

A little history

Some of the more intact structures. Before retreating, the Germans destroyed most of the buildings, with huge amounts of explosives placed from the inside of the buildings.

 

[Unix]

The rest of day 1

The conference building, where Hitler almost lost his life. Note the red boxes, thats where some of the people died. The suitcase is where the explosive was hid. It was actually placed near Hiter, but someone moved it before it exploded because it was in the way...

Inside some of the destroyed bunkers, and how it looked when functional.

Arrived @ out first stop for the night, a wild west replica town. We were the only guests. Really cool setting, and very nice rooms. Perfect evening. Went for a walk to a really nice old town, along a lake.

All the buildings were open, the Sheriffs office had a "functional" jail ;)

Our room was at the Gravediggers place

Back @ the wild west for the night

 

[Unix]

even a fox liked the place

 

[Unix]

For Medina, my T-code 1971 Monaco, I wanted to buy a Carter M4539, but at the time it could not be delivered fast enough by the few vendors carrying it -- so @71Polara383 picked up and installed a Precision 16110 from O'Reilly. Five years and almost 10k miles later, it is still running strong.

/Update from today, not related to the trip above.

Well, 3k miles later, and another fuel pump died on me (More Information for DELPHI MF0060).

The car started surging on the highway @ around 60mph when climbing longer hills , and started stalling. I thought maybe it was overheating, but no, i stopped and checked and all was fine. Under less load it ran fine. The problem worsened as i went, and when needing more fuel going uphill it started dying on me again. Got off the highway, and in town with little throttle input it ran fine, but when increasing throttle in would just stop getting fuel to the carb and the car would start coasting. It go so bad i had to stop and get a tow truck. I swapped out the ballast resistor just to make sure, but no difference. The engine would turn fine when cranking but didn't even try to start. I'm certain that if i sprayed starter fluid it would go.

At first i thought maybe it was vapor lock, but i never had this issue before even under harsher conditions (hotter and more loaded car). Once the car cooled completely, 6 hours later and had it dropped off by the tow truck, the engine started just fine. Maybe the diaphragm is damaged and when hot and under load it just vapor locks or something ???

From what i notice, these pumps don't seem to like 60+mph for 7-8 hours at a time, they just wear out.

Any ideas ? I thought maybe ignition problems but i had this same exact issue a few months back, and a new pump solved the problem. Besides, there is no backfiring or anything of that nature. It's just as if the fuel gets turned off, and it gets small doses from time to time until it gets really bad and it dies.

Any ideas on an electric fuel pump i could use for a carb application? Externally mounted? I have the 2bbl Carter carb, and a 4 vent fuel tank .

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. I'm thinking of using this pump that Ayilar suggested, but i fear it will be the same as the Delphi one https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...fuel-pump/pfp0/m16110?q=Precision+16110&pos=0

One thing makes me wonder, last year in Poland they changed the fuel to E10 (10% bio-ethanol mixture), maybe this seems to kill the diaphragms? But from what i know in the USA u have the same bio-fuels additives?

 

[Marv]

One thing makes me wonder, last year in Poland they changed the fuel to E10 (10% bio-ethanol mixture), maybe this seems to kill the diaphragms? But from what i know in the USA u have the same bio-fuels additives?

that ethanol **** is really not working in our favor. It gums up carburetors and fuel systems when the car sits for longer time like 4 months in winter. In Germany we still have regular fuel but that also contains 5% Ethanol. You could go for Super+ high octane but that´s 2,30€/Liter or $10,-/gallon. I fill the tank up before I store the cars over winter with Super+. It´s also more stable than lower fuel grades. My 2 cars have Edelbrock 1406 600cfm carbs and they both run like **** when idling but fine with throttle. I´ll pull the carbs and clean them since I think the idle circuit is clogged. Might also be the case with your fuel pump. To me your symptoms sound like it might be the accelerator pump in your carb that´s clogged.
I´ll use this Liqui Moly Benzin Stabilizer in the future

 

[ayilar]

/Update from today, not related to the trip above.

Well, 3k miles later, and another fuel pump died on me (More Information for DELPHI MF0060).

The car started surging on the highway @ around 60mph when climbing longer hills , and started stalling. I thought maybe it was overheating, but no, i stopped and checked and all was fine. Under less load it ran fine. The problem worsened as i went, and when needing more fuel going uphill it started dying on me again. Got off the highway, and in town with little throttle input it ran fine, but when increasing throttle in would just stop getting fuel to the carb and the car would start coasting. It go so bad i had to stop and get a tow truck. I swapped out the ballast resistor just to make sure, but no difference. The engine would turn fine when cranking but didn't even try to start. I'm certain that if i sprayed starter fluid it would go.

At first i thought maybe it was vapor lock, but i never had this issue before even under harsher conditions (hotter and more loaded car). Once the car cooled completely, 6 hours later and had it dropped off by the tow truck, the engine started just fine. Maybe the diaphragm is damaged and when hot and under load it just vapor locks or something ???

From what i notice, these pumps don't seem to like 60+mph for 7-8 hours at a time, they just wear out.

Any ideas ? I thought maybe ignition problems but i had this same exact issue a few months back, and a new pump solved the problem. Besides, there is no backfiring or anything of that nature. It's just as if the fuel gets turned off, and it gets small doses from time to time until it gets really bad and it dies.

Any ideas on an electric fuel pump i could use for a carb application? Externally mounted? I have the 2bbl Carter carb, and a 4 vent fuel tank .

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. I'm thinking of using this pump that Ayilar suggested, but i fear it will be the same as the Delphi one https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...fuel-pump/pfp0/m16110?q=Precision+16110&pos=0

One thing makes me wonder, last year in Poland they changed the fuel to E10 (10% bio-ethanol mixture), maybe this seems to kill the diaphragms? But from what i know in the USA u have the same bio-fuels additives?

FWIW, I have driven Medina on multiple long distance drives without any issue. Longest was from Wisconsin through Illinois to Carlisle, PA.

 

[Boydsdodge]

/Update from today, not related to the trip above.

Well, 3k miles later, and another fuel pump died on me (More Information for DELPHI MF0060).

The car started surging on the highway @ around 60mph when climbing longer hills , and started stalling. I thought maybe it was overheating, but no, i stopped and checked and all was fine. Under less load it ran fine. The problem worsened as i went, and when needing more fuel going uphill it started dying on me again. Got off the highway, and in town with little throttle input it ran fine, but when increasing throttle in would just stop getting fuel to the carb and the car would start coasting. It go so bad i had to stop and get a tow truck. I swapped out the ballast resistor just to make sure, but no difference. The engine would turn fine when cranking but didn't even try to start. I'm certain that if i sprayed starter fluid it would go.

At first i thought maybe it was vapor lock, but i never had this issue before even under harsher conditions (hotter and more loaded car). Once the car cooled completely, 6 hours later and had it dropped off by the tow truck, the engine started just fine. Maybe the diaphragm is damaged and when hot and under load it just vapor locks or something ???

From what i notice, these pumps don't seem to like 60+mph for 7-8 hours at a time, they just wear out.

Any ideas ? I thought maybe ignition problems but i had this same exact issue a few months back, and a new pump solved the problem. Besides, there is no backfiring or anything of that nature. It's just as if the fuel gets turned off, and it gets small doses from time to time until it gets really bad and it dies.

Any ideas on an electric fuel pump i could use for a carb application? Externally mounted? I have the 2bbl Carter carb, and a 4 vent fuel tank .

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. I'm thinking of using this pump that Ayilar suggested, but i fear it will be the same as the Delphi one https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...fuel-pump/pfp0/m16110?q=Precision+16110&pos=0

One thing makes me wonder, last year in Poland they changed the fuel to E10 (10% bio-ethanol mixture), maybe this seems to kill the diaphragms? But from what i know in the USA u have the same bio-fuels additives?

I am thinking it might be your pump push rod has worn.

 

[ceebuddy]

Rust in gas tank and clogged fuel filter?

 

[Unix]

Thanks for all the replies. The fuel tank is new, filter was changed this year. Carb is 2 years old.

The thing is it only starves the car under heavy load, otherwise it runs fine. That is why i suspect a worn fuel pump (diaphragm or push rod), bad fuel, or simply vapor lock - or a combination of problems.

I heavily suspect vapor lock, that the heat from the engine block transferred too much heat to the pump and vapor locked it. As i said, the problem worsened when going uphill. Another issue might be bad fuel that i filled up along the way, which lowered the point of boiling of the fuel.

Anyway, i ordered a new Carter mechanical fuel pump, and in addition will be adding an electrical pump as a pusher/backup just below the fuel tank. Also will add a pressure regulator just in case, so it doesn't give more than 7psi pressure on the lines. I got this pump.

Edelbrock 17301 Edelbrock Universal Micro Electric Fuel Pumps | Summit Racing

From what i read, people seem to have vapor lock problems with the E10 fuel.

The car was fully loaded on the trip, trunk was full, had a bike rack on the hitch, AC was on and was doing some steep and long climbing on hills, and it was about 105 F outside.

We shall see, the parts should be with me in around 2 weeks. For now , the cars starts just fine, but i'm keeping it parked.

 

[ayilar]

@Unix — have you looked into getting a carburetor mounting gasket that acts as a heat insulator? I got an Edelbrock 9265 for Medina back in 2020, as suggested by @71Polara383 — and that solved an issue I had with hot starts.

FWIW, the price now is down to $32 or just 2/3 of what I paid then amid the COVID-linked supply chain issues.

 

[Unix]

@Unix — have you looked into getting a carburetor mounting gasket that acts as a heat insulator? I got an Edelbrock 9265 for Medina back in 2020, as suggested by @71Polara383 — and that solved an issue I had with hot starts.

FWIW, the price now is down to $32 or just 2/3 of what I paid then amid the COVID-linked supply chain issues.

I can't seem to find a insulator gasket for a 2bbl Carter setup...

The car is back on the road.

It was vapor lock that stranded me. It took 6 hours for the engine to cool, once the vapor condensed to liquid it started just fine. Before that i had it towed. In the winter i will add an electric fuel pump just below the fuel tank, so that i have a pusher setup for the fuel from the tank, it will have positive pressure in the lines. It should stop the mechanical pump from vapor locking, and the pump will always be primed so that hot starts should be much easier.

Just for piece of mind, i had a new Carter mechanical fuel pump mounted.

The problems started this year, when Poland switched from E5 to E10 (10% bio-fuel)

Nice description for vapor lock.
Vapor lock - Wikipedia

 

[Boydsdodge]

I can't seem to find a insulator gasket for a 2bbl Carter setup...

The car is back on the road.

It was vapor lock that stranded me. It took 6 hours for the engine to cool, once the vapor condensed to liquid it started just fine. Before that i had it towed. In the winter i will add an electric fuel pump just below the fuel tank, so that i have a pusher setup for the fuel from the tank, it will have positive pressure in the lines. It should stop the mechanical pump from vapor locking, and the pump will always be primed so that hot starts should be much easier.

Just for piece of mind, i had a new Carter mechanical fuel pump mounted.

The problems started this year, when Poland switched from E5 to E10 (10% bio-fuel)

Nice description for vapor lock.
Vapor lock - Wikipedia

I was working on an AMC Pacer and the carb linkage was messed up along with the air cleaner not able to seat on carb with out hitting engine. I made one from some fine cabinet marine/plywood
Worked great with gasket on each side. just get the correct thickness.

 

[Unix]

Day 2 of the power big meet trip 2024.

In the north eastern part of Poland, the Mazury region, a region of a thousand lakes. Checking out the area surrounding the wolfs lair, lots of other bunkers and WWII stuff.

The weather was really sh**

Spot the green creature.

An "Indian" village, the owners spends a lot of time in the USA with indigenous Indian people, most of the artifacts are authentic

German WWII bunkers

 

[Unix]

Day 2 continued:

The Germans wanted to connect the Mazury region with the Baltic sea, and they used tens of thousands of slave labour (Jews, Polish, Soviet etc) to build dams to connect all the lakes and rivers (which a lot of them had different sea levels).

They didn't have enough time to finish everything

Crap weather. On-off it would rain all day. Got lost in the woods and had to do a bit of off-roading to find the place

On the way to the Baltic sea. Most of the route (around 200 miles) was along the Russian Kaliningrad border, a few kms away. Beautiful area, lots of lakes, rolling hills, and absolutely no traffic. I'm glad i raised the rear suspension a little a while back, because the car was fully loaded and on occassion the roads got bad, we would have bottomed out real bad.

Yay. Baltic coast. We found a place to stay the night via booking on the way.

 

[ayilar]

Day 2 of the power big meet trip 2024.

In the north eastern part of Poland, the Mazury region, a region of a thousand lakes. (...) The weather was really sh**

Spot the green creature.
View attachment 685435

Was the first photo, with your green Newport in the parking lot, taken in Jeziorowskie?

 

[Unix]

Was the first photo, with your green Newport in the parking lot, taken in Jeziorowskie?

Very close by. It was in the town of Gizycko, photo taken from the water pressure tower. Probably on a clear day if you look far enough, and in the right direction, you would spot Jeziorowskie.

 

[Unix]

Since having vapor lock under specific and stressed conditions this year from the new fuel type in Poland, i opted for a custom solution (however i do prefer to have everything factory stock).

Mounted an electric fuel pump (for a John Deere) - 7psi output and similar flow as mechanical. It has been placed near the rear right hand side wheel, with a custom made splash shield. The fuel goes through a fuel pressure guage and then through insulated metal tubes to the carb. The carb also got a spacer to prevent heatsoak. On the guage i have a constant fuel pressure of 6psi.

This setup proves really nice. Starting is a breeze, even after extended periods when the car has been sat. Previously i would have to crank a considerable amount, now i just turn the key, give few seconds for the pump to prime the carb, a few pumps of the pedal, and then onto cranking- it starts within a second or two.

Also when heatsoaked, and left for 10-15 minutes the engine starts almost immediately. Awesome. I wish i had done this earlier, and will definately have the same setup on my project Gremlin with an inline 6 232.