Resurrection of my 1970 Chrysler 300 Convertible

Samplingman · Nov 17, 2019

And there it is waiting for the next step. Thanks @70_NPORT for the engine shop recommendation, they were great to work with. Anyone with cam/timing chain recommendations for a stock build? I still have a list of items to pick up, but probably won’t get to the final assembly until after the new year.

Hardened seats, new valves!

Only a few inches to lower and it’ll be ready to run.

Nadir Point · Nov 17, 2019

I'm so jealous! I've had a 440 sitting in the corner of my garage waiting to be built since forever.

Samplingman · Nov 17, 2019

Nadir Point said:
I'm so jealous! I've had a 440 sitting in the corner of my garage waiting to be built since forever.

The whole project is getting to that point where I’m gonna do it or get rid of it. To coin a phrase, just do it, lol.

73Coupe · Dec 8, 2019

@Samplingman when you had the instrument cluster out, did you notice anywhere where it was possible to lube the speedometer? I've heard rumors of a screw with an oil-soaked wick behind it, but I don't see it in your photos.

Samplingman · Dec 9, 2019

Here are a couple of shots of the back of the speedo panel, there is no opening to oil the mechanism.

73Coupe · Dec 9, 2019

Thanks. Did you take it completely apart to expose the jewell?

I'm debating taking mine out because it makes a little noise when cold, but don't want to if the effort would be in vain....

cantflip · Dec 10, 2019

73Coupe said:
Thanks. Did you take it completely apart to expose the jewell?

I'm debating taking mine out because it makes a little noise when cold, but don't want to if the effort would be in vain....

Lube the cable, lots of problems are from there.

Samplingman · Dec 10, 2019

73Coupe said:
Thanks. Did you take it completely apart to expose the jewell?

I'm debating taking mine out because it makes a little noise when cold, but don't want to if the effort would be in vain....

I removed it from the housing, but didn’t get any pics from the back. I don’t remember anything obvious to oil, or I would have. As Jeff says, lube up the cable, and see if that resolves the noise.

Joeychgo · Feb 15, 2020

Photobucket photos fixed! Thanks Samplingman!

73Coupe · Feb 16, 2020

cantflip said:
Lube the cable, lots of problems are from there.

BTW I did it, and it worked.... :thumbsup:

Samplingman · Jun 11, 2020

Quick update: Today is the 50th Anniversary of my vert's fender tag stamping! I didn't want to say "Birthday" since the fender tag doesn't show when it came off the line, only when it started.

So, Happy Fender Tag Stamping Day!

:steering:

Samplingman · Nov 3, 2020

Time sure flies during a pandemic! Been a bit over a year since the last update. There were a few non-car related obstacles, 12 stitches in my hand, then knee injury/surgery, but with the stay at home orders it was the perfect opportunity to get stuff done.
First up, was the refresh of the steering column. I thought, easy, disassembly, clean, repaint, done. Not so fast! After pulling it apart I noticed two things. First, there is no traditional coupler, just a straight shaft, and two, the straight shaft was bent!

Nice bend to the one on the right:

Problem is, it is not a solid tube, and I wasn’t going to try to bend it back into shape. Fortunately I had a shaft from a ‘69 that was straight as an arrow, unfortunately, the ‘69 doesn’t have the key lock plate in the column. I studied both shafts, and they are identical in length and material, except for the plate hole and snap ring groves. Time to break out the drill.

I used a hacksaw blade to put the snap ring groves in place.

With the shaft out of the way, cleaning and painting continued.

Samplingman · Nov 3, 2020

I didn’t have keys for the original column. A friend shipped me a spare column (coupler type, not straight shaft) and a complete set of keys. I popped out the lock mechanism and noticed my original was chrome and the new one was a satin silver finish. I used the silver finish one with the key:

Going through the wiring, it was obvious I needed to replace the turn signal cam and wires. Another strange item, my original had an extra wire that was cut, and a different part number. Turns out that extra wire is for the cornering lights, which I don’t have. I tried to source NOS, but every one had that extra wire. I’m guessing that they just made the parts to fit both applications, or the non-cornering lights wire set has long been depleted.

Original with green and brown wires cut:

Notice the purple wire:

Here is the used one I sourced, no purple wire:

Different part numbers:

Samplingman · Nov 3, 2020

Here are a couple of things that are impossible to find, and one that begs you to just make.

There is a rubber grommet with a brass bushing insert that’s impossible to find, but essential for the column linkage to work properly. I ended up fitting mine back in place with a bit of super glue.

Then there is the “air blocker” for the straight shaft that only DMT has. Basically a foam tube.

You can’t reassemble the column without the unobtainium plastic “break away” rivets that hold the indicator to the inner tube. For these, I was able to punch out the center of the rivet in the spare column and reuse them.

Everyone keeps bits of foam package sheeting, right? Perfect for that base to fire wall gasket.

Ripinator · Nov 3, 2020

Samplingman said:
Here are a couple of things that are impossible to find, and one that begs you to just make.

There is a rubber grommet with a brass bushing insert that’s impossible to find, but essential for the column linkage to work properly. I ended up fitting mine back in place with a bit of super glue.

View attachment 413002

View attachment 412997

Then there is the “air blocker” for the straight shaft that only DMT has. Basically a foam tube.

View attachment 413000

You can’t reassemble the column without the unobtainium plastic “break away” rivets that hold the indicator to the inner tube. For these, I was able to punch out the center of the rivet in the spare column and reuse them.

View attachment 412998

View attachment 413001

Everyone keeps bits of foam package sheeting, right? Perfect for that base to fire wall gasket.

View attachment 413003

Holy moley! Doncha just hate having to diddle with all these little fiddly parts? I'm in the same boat, but with power windows instead of a steering column. I would rather swap an engine than to do this kinda work. . .

Samplingman · Nov 3, 2020

Ripinator said:
Holy moley! Doncha just hate having to diddle with all these little fiddly parts? I'm in the same boat, but with power windows instead of a steering column. I would rather swap an engine than to do this kinda work. . .

There are certainly a lot of little parts. I should have started a tally, god knows I will have touched every single one of them, lol.

Here’s a part that popped out of the column when I was taking it apart, hadn’t a clue where it went until the same one popped out of one of the spares.