Give me my 1953 Plymouth

[Cliff54]

Hey Carla,
thanks for the info. I really have no intention of selling my collection. I have had the chance to buy a 48 Dodge but I really want a Plymouth truck. I like to drive my cars & Trucks, I don't have even one that is a "Show" Car. I like to Spend my Saturdays Working on or driving the Cars and truck.
I am one lucky man...I drove my 54 to Work last night. and I am going to drive my 1952 Chevy Deluxe this weekend. Hey If you want to see my Old Cars (including the 54 Plymouth) and my 59 Apache... look over at  www.stovebolt.com  and click on the Gallery section ...I am in the 59 Chevy ....and  ... Alternate gallery sections.

Happy MOPARring

Cliff54

[Carla]

Cliff,

(With apologies to all for putting this comment on the Plymouth board)

Just as a purely personal opinion, you understand, .......a '59 Chevrolet Apache pickup is one of the really 'optimal' older vehicles, and well worthy of keeping and using indefinitely......granted, a '59 is a bit of 'tin can' construction compared to the earlier ones, but the machinery, whilst a bit delicate, is very reliable with careful use, and will serve well for many years if given good maintenence. A '59, for all its 'tinniness' is a far better-built truck than are the later production ones.

This, of course, pre-supposes your '59 is in basically sound condition......if its gotten badly rusted or the frame is 'sprung', or its been pranged and never correctly straightened, thats a different story. If yours is one of the long-wheelbase half-ton variety, it may interest you to know that the chassis frame is the same as a 3/4 ton, so you could, with a bit of looking, find the better axles and springs from a 3/4, which will fit up directly. If you have a 'tired' original '235' engine, consider looking for a '261' truck six, do up a best quality rebuld, the engine will 'drop-in' and run well for many years to come. Try asking about the 235/261  engines on the 'inliners' internet board, and the folks there will be happy to give you the gen.

All that said.......

If you really would like to have a Plymouth pickup, and can find one which has not been badly abused/rusted, by all means go for it......those are the standard Dodge pickup of the period, with slightly different cab upholstery, Plymouth name-plates and other minor trim details, and, as the only meaningful difference, the Plymouth pickups used the standard Plymouth 201 passenger engine instead of the Dodge 218/230.

If you really like the idea of having a Plymouth pickup, and would like to make a nice job of one, think about finding a '37 or '38, stripping it down to the chassis frame, and replacing the chassis frame with a '37 or '38 Dodge pickup frame. (or using some of the parts from the Dodge to modify the Ply frame, which is otherwise identical)

The Dodge pickups in those years were fitted with the 'long-block' engine, originally a 241 (or 237, maybe?....can't remember, exactly) An early '50's Chrysler 265 six, or mid/late '50's Dodge truck 265 will fit directly, and give you a good bit more pulling power on the road. (look for the dual carb/dual exhaust manifolding used by the factory for some of the 265's fitted to the 2 and 3ton civilian Dodge trucks....that setup is wonderfully 'torquey' on the road) Fitting the 265 will allow for fitting up a lower numerical gearset from a Chry/DeSoto car, and give you a nice 70-75-ish mph cruising speed.

Yes, I know, thats a lot of work......well....some  years ago, when the 'raw ingredients' were relatively cheap and more readily available, we built up a couple of those......they were, if I do say so myself, truly excellent light road trucks.

cheers

Carla

[elmo]

i will definately have to agree with all of you , and its not nostalgia, i own a toyota and i will only open the bonnet, sorry hood to check the oil or water where as with my 54 i do 99% of all my mechanical work , i also used it reguarly up until 2 years ago for deer hunting every fine weekend winter and summer (we dont have to buy a liscence here for deer hunting) and during the duck hunting season it reguarly carried my dog and duck decoys i, iwoudnt have even thought of using the toyota for this, it would have fallen apart .   Rex

[UPSbusinesscoupe]

I'll agree to this statement. The plymouth is doing a better job of getting me where I need to go than my '90 firebird which has issues in its computer tune along with a missfire and exhaust leak that, thanks to the smog equipment and a/c components, are virtually impossible to get to without a major tear down. The plymouth has flawlessly gotten me and a teammate (and all our gear) to early morning hockey practice, me to and from school, and just last night a 60 mile round trip to the closest drive in theater. 

[Cliff54]

I like the Plymouths so much now ....I am thinking of trading my 1959 Chevy Apache for a Plymouth Truck.


Cliff54

[Hydrive53]

I have known this for years. I have had my 1953 for 14 years and will NEVER GIVE UP MY PLYMOUTH. I am selling my 1953 Packard convert to keep my Plymouth. If this is not brand loyalty ::) I don't know what is. Also they (plymouths) are so darnd easy to work on not like my wifes van. I just dread the words "my van has something rong with it". It makes my skin crawl of the thought, that I have to fix it!!!!!

[David Pollock]

  You have discovered what all long time Plymouth owners have known for years. Congratulations and welcome to the inner circle.

[Hydrive53]

I had a car accident with my 1992 Dodge Truck. I have it on the road now, but have had a charging problem with it the last two weeks ( Don't dive the truck that much). I went in to my shop today to see what was up with it. Had to sit there for 1/2 hr to find out. I had a bill of $45.00 and them telling me I have a bad alternator. The alternator is going to cost me $259, WOW!! Give me my 1953 Plymouth with no computer or any of that garbage !! IT works or it don't, and it is fixed with one item not three D###d things to go rong in a row!! and I don't need any computers to tell me what is rong with it. Man now I know why I HATE NEWER CARS !!!!!! I had the starter rebuilt on the Plymouth and that was only $95.00 what the heck. The one in the truck is $278. The fuel pump on the Plymouth was only $45.00 and not the $213 as on the truck. Who said that having a old car is so costly?to keep on the road??? NOT ME MAN!! If I could I would have my wife driving one of these old Plymouths. I think that I will try to talk her into it. Her newer van is costing me a arm and a leg to keep running also. The older Plymouths are just fine in my book. It runs or it don't. You can fix it in your own grage!!! And save the $85.00 hr labor bill.? :o >:(