64 Imperial Fires Up

[Xcudame]

So I was very happy today when the beasty fired up! I had to add three spark plug wires (one was mia and the other two were visible broken. Somewhere in my barn is a box full of spark plug wires, but I couldn't find it. So two new sets are on the way. And no, I could bare to rob wires from my 70 Challenger!

So best I can tell, the mechanical fuel pump is not working. I had hooked the suction side up to a five gallon gas can, and nothing pumped out once the carburetor fuel bowls emptied after I filled them. So another part to buy - fuel pump.

Since there seems to have been some kind of massive coolant leak at the thermostat housing, I going to just pull the whole front end off and replace the housing, water pump, fuel pump, radiator, timing chain set, camshaft and lifters and pushrods. Then rebuild the carburetor.

While I'm in there can anyone thing of anything else?

 

[Big_John]

So best I can tell, the mechanical fuel pump is not working. I had hooked the suction side up to a five gallon gas can, and nothing pumped out once the carburetor fuel bowls emptied after I filled them. So another part to buy - fuel pump.

When you take the old pump out, do one more step and pull the pushrod out and check the length. Should be 3.22".

 

[Xcudame]

Good call! I have a new one if the old one is too short!

Here's a photo of the coolant leak!

 

[Big_John]

Good call! I have a new one if the old one is too short!

Here's a photo of the coolant leak!

View attachment 701005

Probably the hose, based on how old the hoses and clamp look.

 

[Xcudame]

One of the heater hoses snap in half it's so brittle and dry rotted. Will definitely be replacing all the hoses. Vacuum hoses look pretty shot too.

 

[Xcudame]

Changed out spark plugs and added new spark plugs wires. Hooked up a $10 electric fuel pump and she runs good! Need to rebuild the carburetor while I'm at it! Too bad I can't upload a nine second video of it running!

 

[HWYCRZR]

Changed out spark plugs and added new spark plugs wires. Hooked up a $10 electric fuel pump and she runs good! Need to rebuild the carburetor while I'm at it! Too bad I can't upload a nine second video of it running!

If you have YouTube you can upload it there and then paste the link here. Only way for video it seems.

 

[Big_John]

If you have YouTube you can upload it there and then paste the link here. Only way for video it seems.

I use Vimeo. Free and fairly easy to use.

 

[57fury440]

That car will be nice when you get it all sorted out.

 

[Xcudame]

Got the front end tore off today. Going to use an aluminum water pump housing and pump I have on the shelf. Got the fuel pump off and it matches the one on the shelf as well! And the fuel pump rod measured 3.22" the same as my brand new one (hat tip: Big_John). So no need to change out the camshaft at this time. Got new hoses and belts on order.

Does anyone run Chrysler factory electronic ignition on their early cars? I know people use PerTronix HEI ignition, but I have never had an issue with Chrysler electronic ignition.

 

[Big_John]

Does anyone run Chrysler factory electronic ignition on their early cars? I know people use PerTronix HEI ignition, but I have never had an issue with Chrysler electronic ignition.

Either one will work. I have one car with an older Mopar electronic and one with Pertronix. Both start and run well with no problems.

IMHO, since the new Mopar electronic ignition kits are offshore sourced, I would lean towards buying a rebuilt electronic distributor with the GM style HEI from @halifaxhops For Sale - a B and a RB rebuilt electronic distributors with HEI

The Pertronix Ignitor II works well and has built in circuit protection that the Ignitor I didn't have, so that's another good choice.

 

[Xcudame]

Luckily I have old ECUs on the shelf! If you guys (and gals) could see my shelves, you'd think you were in Mopar heaven! 35+ years of collecting mostly engine parts.

 

[Xcudame]

Got the new fuel tank and sending unit installed into the Imperial today. I cleaned the bottom side of the trunk and painted it with self etching primer, black paint and under coating. Old tank is probably still good, just needs a good cleaning.

 

[Xcudame]

Been trying to figure out what to do with regards to the radiator. So today, I decided what the heck and turned it upside down and back flushed it with water. Turned out cleaner than I thought after an hour or so of flushing with cold water (wouldn't want to drink it still). So going to install it tomorrow (had to JB Weld the upper brackets on). The front disc brake adapters are supposed to be here this weekend (hat tip AAJ Brakes). So my goal of a running driving car by February is still achievable! Not bad for a car that sat for 12 years!

 

[Xcudame]

Got the radiator in. Also installed a 74 440 intake manifold and 74 Thermoquad I rebuilt. Sorry, but you just can't beat a Thermoquad!

 

[Xcudame]

Should be able to finish hooking everything up tomorrow and firing her up again!

 

[Xcudame]

Sigh! I had to replace the fuel line from the pump to the carb because I don't like using very much rubber hose. I got everything hooked up though. Just need to add gas to the tank, fill the carburator bowls and add water to the coolant system. No antifreeze until I'm sure the radiator is good! Hopefully fire her up tomorrow!

 

[Xcudame]

Got the Imperial fired up! Runs well. Nice vacuum reading for a 61 year old engine that hasn't run in 12 years!

 

[Xcudame]

Been working on installing the front disc brakes, but took a break from that to surface the transmission. One of the things I like to do on all Mopars with a 727 is install a later 518/46rh transmission pan and extended pickup. As most of you know, and for those of you who don't, 64 727 torqueflites are not only cable shifted with a separate part cable, but have a rear pump as well! So I had to mark one of my 66 and up filter extension using the correct filter and drill a 1/2" hole for the rear pump. For those that don't want to modify an extension, A&A transmission sales them for $65 with a gasket to go between the valve body and extension. So I took off the old pan and drained the transmission in the process. So imbecile has installed a regular filter that didn't have the correct rear pump hole in it! Know what you're working on folks!! Hopefully the Imperial's transmission is OK. I did want to share a slight modification I had to make to the newer deeper pan. The newer pan hits the parking brake housing so a little grinding was needed. See pictures for the modification. Hopefully I can get this this driving by end of March. I was hoping for the end of February but life gets in the way!