'83 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue - yankshite

[mk1_4dr]

Ive already pimped this out here on the 'News24' thread, but Im being an e-whore today so deal with it...

 

Rewind 3weeks and I get a message from KFW (of RR tat collecting fame) about a potentially decent Chrysler in Manchester that was going for a song. Now Kev knows about my thing for big, ugly 4door sedans so this thing is right up my street, henceforth, numbers were exchanged and a time arranged to go see the brute.

 

The day of reckoning came and the Chrysler was better than I expected...

 

 

...promises were made, hands shook and plans formed to get it collected.

 

Fast forward a week and I get picked up by James to go collect my spoils.

 

 

We had been told to bring a gallon of juice with us, I thought I knew better and when we rocked up I sugested we nip to the pez station not 1/2mile away to stick some juice in it, and it'd give me chance to hear it go into all the gears and if theres any rattles or bangs on the road.

We didn't make it to the juice station, it ran out, not 300yards from the unit, in the middle of a fairly busy junction.

Balls.

James literally ran to go get some juice (we could see the station from where we had conked), however, once the juice was in, there wasn't enough power in the battery to pull the fuel through and get it started.

Buggerations.

So, Graham kindly came from the unit with the V8 Landy and after a few minutes got it going and quickly drove back to the unit.

Monies were exchanged for keys and documentation and we were on our way (via the first pez station we came across)

With £40 of Shells finest in the tank we set off to the correct side of the hills, but as the road rose towards Saddleworth, I knew something was amiss. The temp gauge was rising and it was stuttering under load.

Asshats.

 

 

Cue sitting on the side of the M62 for a 20mins, James dutifully had 4ltrs of water in the car, but it barely touched the sides and we actually ended up filling it with the cleanest looking puddlewater we could find.

I left it running for a half hour just to make sure there wasn't an underlaying issue, but I suspect it was just a lack of water as the temp gauge sat at a steady half.

Off we set again, one eye on the temp gauge, one eye trying to keep it between the lanes.

I ditched the motorway at Huddersfield and opted for the backroads with the thought that if something happened at least I could bosh it up a sidestreet instead of holding the entire eastbound M62 up.

It was till stuttering at this point, fine when cruising but if asked to move/kickdown it stutters like mad and sometimes stall. It fires *almost* straight back up again though.

So, after 4hours on the road, I got it home and all was well.

 

 

Right, so. It's home but not legal. I want it legal quick sharp.

 

James and myself spent a bit of time checking the lights and such, and the only issue's we could find were the lack of headlights and the horns not working.

Should be a simple fix (to someone who isn't frozen with fear at the idea of electrics) as the rears are working so I shouldn't be the switch.

 

The horns are the same, I can hear the relay clicking when I press the botton on the wheel, so it must be something post fusebox... broken wire/disconnected plug, though I can't see anything obvious.

 

Also, the brake light swtich needs adjusting as they sometimes stay on until you hook your foot under the pedal abit.

 

So, I've been fettling it, cleaned the interior, resealed the windscreen to get it watertight and generally had a good look over it before MOT time, had it running daily to check for any cold/damp start issues and I seem to have struck a pretty serious issue.

It now won't start.

Spins over lovely, stinks of juice, seems to have spark, but will it start? Will it heck. So I have on order, a full service set (plugs/filters/leads) and with a bit of luck that should get it going again (the plug leads look shot anyway)

 

 

The worse (read, only) bits of grot I can see are these:

 

Silicone Valley:

 

It also came with these, invaluable I imagine:

 

The fusebox looks to have been messed with, I'm sure it should be attached to something for a start...

 

Business end, YEAH BOI:

 

Remember how I said the leads were goosed? Check it...

 

A shot for AKKU:

 

I'm fully looking forward to RRG in this boat, and I'm not sure how it will drag itself up the hill, but it'll be a laugh I'm sure.

 

 

So where we are now...?

 

Ive just come back in from some more fiddling, and I have to say, its looking promising.

 

The headlights, or lack thereof, seem to be caused by a completely knackered switch, so I'll get one found posthaste. That'll be easy : ;D

 

The horns have power all the way to them, so thats actually just a pair of knackered horns, scrappy tomorrow will see it making noise again.

 

And it fired up! (admittedly on 7 as I destroyed 1 of the plugleads) I think I'd flooded it, mixed with crappy leads anyway and a potentially duff battery. So new leads enroute, find a battery upto the task from somewhere and try not to flood it and we should be onto a winner.

 

I suspect the headlight switch is going to slow me down most, so should anybody know of anyone scrapping/bangering/breaking one of these, please, bear me in mind.

[Split_Pin]

Your new motor is 582% Autoshite, I also enjoyed your post too, good read.

 

Thats a superb car, especially the buttoned velour seats!

 

Keep up the good work with it!

[trigger]

That's lovely Dave but James's Austin (or Morris) is even better. SOZ.

[CreepingJesus]

Total quality. I bet you won't be able to wipe the grin off your face, once you've got it running along sweetly.

And the Austin's a honey too!

[mk1_4dr]

That's lovely Dave but James's Austin (or Morris) is even better. SOZ.

 

I completely agree. His cars are things of beauty.

 

[HillmanImp]

I do think you have missed the point with this. All old American cars are meant to be sat on a driveway chocked on bricks, normally with a new Audi parked next to them and an irate wife whining on about her Mini being parked on the road. They are not actually meant to be driven anywhere FFS.

[trigger]

Hang on, I've seen that Oxford before!

 

1969 Morris Oxford by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1969 Morris Oxford by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1969 Morris Oxford by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[mk1_4dr]

Yeah, he gets about in that Oxford.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I fully approve of the Filth Avenue, in particular the buttoned velour seats. Very nice.

[eddyramrod]

Even lusher than I first believed! The "issues" are relatively simple to sort, so well done, great stuff, want, etc...

[rml2345]

Your Chrysler is 847%

Well done man!

[Rocket88]

I used to have a Chrysler Cordoba of roughly the same era, which used to make a weird boinging sound if you went over 65 mph. Apparently, there was some sort of clockwork mechanism in the speedo to warn you that you were going dangerously fast. I presume that one has the venerable 318 cu in engine, which are lovely.

[Shep Shepherd]

Glorious! Please keep us regularly updated

[bigstraight6]

That Chrysler is fantastic, please keep the updates coming. Nice pair of Farina's, especially the high finned wagon

[Mr Lobster]

I'd love to see this wallowing its way up the hill at RRG, that would be quite something

[dollywobbler]

OMG! UR SEETS R KRUJOE'S AIRBED!

 

It is an astonishingly dreadful car. I love it. Good luck with getting it ready for the Gathering. Wish I could make it just to watch this going up the hill!

[mattblack]

That's disgusting! (in a good way of course)

 

Are the horns definately FUBAR'd or could it just be a bad earth?

[Cavcraft]

Fantastic stuff Dave, that's one MEGA ride you have there.

[Ian Nexus]

If you get stuck finding a light switch, my local Autozone stocks them :-

 

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-Headlight-Switch/1983-Chrysler-Fifth-Avenue/_/N-ikmiyZ9ciaj?itemIdentifier=126540_0_0_

 

Looks like the early Jeep Cherokee switch if that helps, our local Pull-a-Part only has a 1978, 1990 and 1993 in.

[mk1_4dr]

Cheers guys, I thought it may go down well here...

 

If you get stuck finding a light switch, my local Autozone stocks them :-

 

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-Headlight-Switch/1983-Chrysler-Fifth-Avenue/_/N-ikmiyZ9ciaj?itemIdentifier=126540_0_0_

 

Looks like the early Jeep Cherokee switch if that helps, our local Pull-a-Part only has a 1978, 1990 and 1993 in.

 

Would you believe its an off-the-shelf part here. £26+VAT, which I thought was pretty reasonable too. It'll be here tomorrow with abit of luck.

 

What is the perception of these things in the states? Are there still plenty knocking about?

[Lankytim]

Wasn't a duff light switch the reason Akku nearly got killed by the Kosovo Mafia a few years back? I'd get it fixed, pronto!

[mk1_4dr]

I vaguely remember AKKU's run in with the eastern European gangsters, I didn't reaslise it was his M-body that put him in that position.

 

So, progress today has come in the form of a package from USAutomotive, I would recommend these guys to anyone, less than 24hours delivery, all the parts are correct and pretty cheap too.

 

So, I chucked the headlight switch on, and on all the lights came. Grand.

 

Then I boshed the plug leads on and it fired to life on the first turn, always a good sign.

 

So with the mojo still flowing, I though "sod it, lets see whats it going to fail on" and took to for an MOT.

 

It failed, but not on much.

 

 

So, now I'm working until 7pm Monday, I'm thinking Wednesday should see it legal *crosses fingers*

[Rocket88]

Blimey, what's a front rear wheel bearing?

[eddyramrod]

USAutomotive, I would recommend these guys to anyone, less than 24hours delivery, all the parts are correct and pretty cheap too.

 

I've dealt with USAutomotive before too and would happily do so again. There are some really good parts suppliers for UK-based US cars, it's very reassuring.

[Volksy]

We used to get parts for an LTD and the guys later Taurus SHO from Rodley Motors in Bradford. Are they still going?

 

I also seem to remember there was some guy who had a load of old Yank stuff in Crewe, just past the Mornflake bridge. Think he broke and sold runners as well.

[PhilA]

Cheers guys, I thought it may go down well here...

 

What is the perception of these things in the states? Are there still plenty knocking about?

 

 

Um. About the same as there, but without the enthusiasm associated.

[warren t claim]

I used to have a Chrysler Cordoba of roughly the same era, which used to make a weird boinging sound if you went over 65 mph. Apparently, there was some sort of clockwork mechanism in the speedo to warn you that you were going dangerously fast. I presume that one has the venerable 318 cu in engine, which are lovely.

 

Any pics? We had a '79 Cordoba when we were in Canada back in the mid 80s, it was the slightly later model with the square headlights. Didn't go "bong" over 65mph though. Nice old car but not as cool as our friends Pontiac with the rev counter on the bonnet though....

[mk1_4dr]

Tried to order a headlight this morning to replace the one with a gammy beam aim. Seems they have a 2week (at least) back order. He did mention when testing it that both patterns are legal, just not together. So if I got a beam convertor sticker, or even taped up the headlight to give a sort-of beam aim, should it pass?

 

I have no idea what to do about the drivers seat, it genuinely dosen't seem that bad to me....

 

Horns have been sourced from a local scrappy, couple of bulbs and I should be onto a winner...

[eddyramrod]

I have no idea what to do about the drivers seat, it genuinely dosen't seem that bad to me...

 

Can you have a word with the tester (preferably in the presence of the actual car) and ask him to clarify the "unsecured" comment in detail? That might at least give you a starting point. You need to have a serious grub-around under the seat. Take it out if you can, you may find a bolt has gone missing, or some such, leaving the seat free to move in unwanted directions. Whatever work is involved will feature a couple of hours at unusual angles, and likely some heavy lifting, but it shouldn't be too brain-taxing. Best of luck!

[mk1_4dr]

Right chaps. Im having a right mare with this thing. Ive replaced an awful lot of kit and still its stuttering and cutting out under load.

 

It fires up lovely, and it will drive nice at first, but within a couple or 3miles, under part throttle it will stutter and cut out.

I thought it was when it got warm, but that doesn't seem to matter.

It feels like it not getting any fuel to the carb.

 

Ive replaced lots of gear chasing this fault and Im at a loss, other than to drop the tank tonight to see what I can find.

 

So far its had:

 

All the problematic 'spark control computer' stuff removed.

Known good Holley 2brl Carb

Electronic Distributor

New Coil

New Cap

New Rotor arm

New Leads

New Plugs

New ignition module

new ballast resistor

All the fuel lines blown through with MEGA PSI airline, checked for crimps/kinks/damaged pipes.

Fuel pipes checked for heat soak that could cause vapour lock/boiling fuel

New fuel filter

New fuel pump.

 

And still this issue persists.

 

The only thing that I can see that it could be now is something floating around the tank...