For Sale '62 Chrysler Newport Wagon FS IL Craigs

[Vegas Nelson]

The minimal restoration has slowed down over the Summer. I ended up ordering a dashpad from RDautoline, but who knew that all of Sweden basically goes on vacation for a month or more in the Summer? Still awaiting news since May.....others should be aware and take this into consideration when ordering from there.

I was able to locate NOS tail and turn signal lenses to replace the cracked originals as well as some other parts. I also have found a supplier for the cargo area vinyl.

It took a couple of months to find a gas filler neck (the only part missing), so I kind of back burnered the whole project for a while. I did get to drive it a couple of times after we got the gas tank and fuel pump replaced, but it ended up taking a ride home on a tow truck that day. If you're going to drive an old car your going to have to accept a few tows until you get all the bugs worked out, right?
It should be road ready in about a week, with restoration work commencing this Fall.

 

[saforwardlook]

The "slathered grease" you are seeing is not really grease at all - it is common for these axles to have leaking axle shaft seals, which spill the differential oil onto the brake assemblies, which might look like grease if the vehicle is driven some after the leaking starts. So you have to remove the axle shafts and replace the outer axle shaft oil seals and the brake shoes at least. Since that car is pretty old, I would also replace the wheel cylinders and the 3 brake hoses as well (and it came with only a single master cylinder and a park brake only on the transmission output shaft that is only good for parking, so you don't want to take any chances with those braks at all). The regular brakes are all you have to stop you once the car is moving. The park brake is tiny and way to small to stop the car at anything more than a crawl.

 

[Vegas Nelson]

Thanks for the advice, but this grease had the finger marks in it where the mechanic smeared it on everything. The backer plate, everything.... My son is a master mechanic and he just rolled his eyes when he opened that up and took a finger of the grease out. He said they used the wrong grease, not high temp......and waaaay too much of it. All cleaned up and fixed, and it's been on the rack this week to inspect everything in all the systems before it hits the road.

Your caution on the parking brake being pretty much useless as an emergency brake makes me wonder....can a pushbutton transmission be downshifted to slow down without hurting it?

 

[78Brougham]

I had a '61 Dodge that the brakes failed on. I managed to get it home ok using the emergency brake. Actually it was fairly effective and easier to use than a foot pedal one. And, I didn't have have my face planted against the dash to keep the release off. Lol. Just took my time and it was ok. The drum on the shaft actually had some decent sized shoes. As far as down shifting it worked ok but I wouldn't get carried away. Consider it like a limp home mode. I wouldn't recommend it for any long distance.

 

[Snotty]

Your caution on the parking brake being pretty much useless as an emergency brake makes me wonder....can a pushbutton transmission be downshifted to slow down without hurting it?

No more or less than a trans without pushbuttons. I used mine that way all the time.

 

[Pete Kaczmarski]

My '62 needed the brake shoes rebuilt on the back of the 3 speed manual transmission which is just like the set up on my

'59 Imperial.

 

[Vegas Nelson]

ARRRRGH!!! Well, after a full tuneup, including replacing the distributor and timing chain and water pump, new exhaust and new tires I finally got to take her on her maiden voyage today! Still waiting on my Swedish dash pad, it's somewhere over the Atlantic ocean right now.

Only one problem......when I got the car the wheel covers were off. There were 14" rims on the front and 15" on the rear. It came with 2 spare 14" tires/rims, so I put the new tires on the 14" rims all the way around so the original wheel covers would go back on. When I got back from my first trip down the road I was missing a wheel cover. Turns out one of the 14" rims didn't have the "nubs" that hold the wheel covers on. ARRRGGH! Somewhere in the Wisconsin woods a deer is admiring himself in the reflection from a 55 year old wheel cover.

Now I need to find a correct 14" Chrysler rim. Any ideas?.....HELP!

 

[bigmoparjeff]

Murray Park probably has the rims. If you need a replacement wheel cover, check out post number 10 on page one of this thread.

Jeff

 

[Vegas Nelson]

Oooo, the ever powerful Chrysler 331 - someone dropped a hemi in that car!

Seriously, I have a complete set of wheelcovers just like the ones on this car. Came off my the '62 New Yorker I owned when I switched wheels. If anyone would be interested in buying them, shoot me a note.

 

[Vegas Nelson]

Do you still have those wheel covers? I just posted on this thread about my maiden voyage with the wagon......lost a wheel cover because one of my wheels was the wrong spec.

 

[Vegas Nelson]

Murray Park probably has the rims. If you need a replacement wheel cover, check out post number 10 on page one of this thread.

Jeff

I thought I had seen a message about that somewhere.....duh, right here! Thanks I sent him a message.

 

[Vegas Nelson]

Murray Park probably has the rims. If you need a replacement wheel cover, check out post number 10 on page one of this thread.

Jeff

Is Murray Park a person or business? I searched the member name and came up empty. Thanks for the help!

 

[bigmoparjeff]

He's both a person and a business. He probably has the largest collection of C-Body cars on the planet, most of which are parts donors for the business. Here's his website: Murray B. Park - Used and NOS Parts for Chrysler, Imperial, Dodge, Desoto, and Plymouth

 

[bluefury361]

It's likely not the wheel that is the issue but the "grippers" on the wheel covers. You should tweek them out just a little on all the covers. They should fit pretty tight. Those old 14 wheels were made much more light weight then the later wheels and with radial tires will tend to flex a little more with side loads, which adds to the lost wheel cover syndrome.
I've had several come off and was always able to go back and find them, (except once), A couple times the next day. Only once did one get run over on the pavement.

 

[Snotty]

Do you still have those wheel covers? I just posted on this thread about my maiden voyage with the wagon......lost a wheel cover because one of my wheels was the wrong spec.

I do have them but do not want to sell a single, sorry. Good luck finding a correct rim.

 

[LeBaron1973]

Murray lists a 14 x6.5" wheel/rim for $150. Click on online store - Chrysler - 1962 -
Wheels, wheel covers and accessories.

Good luck. Lovely wagon.

 

[bluefury361]

Murray lists a 14 x6.5" wheel/rim for $150. QUOTE]


I'm not sure about anyone else, but that seems way to high to me. There not that hard to find for $30.00 or so.

 

[Vegas Nelson]

I looked at that ad, and that rim they have for sale doesn't have the nubs around the shoulder that hold the wheel cover on either.

 

[Pete Kaczmarski]

Try Vans Auto in Waupun WI. 920-324-2481 they have a black 1961 Windsor with the 14" rims on it. They may have to look to see if they have the nubbies on the rim for the hubcap.

 

[Snotty]

I'm not sure about anyone else, but that seems way to high to me. There not that hard to find for $30.00 or so.

Yes, you can find 14" rims anywhere, but will they be the specific ones for a '62 Chrysler? I learned when I swapped 14" Rallye Wheels on my New Yorker that there is a HUGE difference between 14".