I'm still around... New toy

Topic: I'm still around... New toy (Read 2844 times) previous topic - next topic

I'm still around... New toy

December 19, 2012, 11:58:56 PM

Hey guys, I'm still around just havent posted in awhile~Bird hasnt progressed too much since I left sadly, But I've acquired some nice parts for her from JY donors.

Sad to go in one day and gets tons of good parts then plan on coming back the next door for an un-cracked charcoal belt reciever and finding the poor bird crushed and on top of a pile.

Anyway, I just brought home another project today~I honestly didnt think I would ever own something like this, And I dunno how keen you guys are on Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler...
But during a JY trip the other day I spotted her about 100?feet away behind the fence in staging area and something about her called to me:

This junkyard (picknpull) usually could care less about any car and wont have second thoughts about crushing something. And as soon as the wheels are taken off a vehicle it's considered staged and untouchable/un-buyable by the public except for any parts sold before it gets crushed.
So I got on top of that pr0nto, Just in time~Apparently it was just dropped off hours before I got there.
Tons of phone calls finally getting the owner who was very very kind, In and out of the yard/offices then some fluid top offs, New battery and this how she sits in our driveway, where she drove to.

They wanted $1299 as-is, Amazingly enough I got it down to $899.

The 318 has a very audible tapping noise from the drivers side, Hoping it's not a hard/expensive fix~Had to warm up awhile before it quit dying on gas or brake pressure, heh.

I've encountered my first major issue tonight that I'm racking my brain trying to figure out what in the world I'm gonna do, Maybe you guys have some advice?
Drivers door latch has not latched since they got it at the yard, The thin sheet metal has kind of torn and pushed inward on both the pillar and door, You could basically slam the door as hard as you want or play basketball (dribble it) and it wouldnt latch for anyone.
But of course, It some how manages to catch and latch on me all the sudden...
Pass door has to be opened from inside due to linkages I assume. Cant get into pass door from outside.
Linkages are screwed up on drivers side from what I can tell... we dont actually have a key for the doors or trunk (Hopefully there is no dead body in there

), Planned on taking a lock out and over to the local key maker.
Well,
I'm completely locked out of the car now...
Drivers door isnt entirely closed due to movement of the sheet metal, You can poke at the doory side latch but I'm not getting anything to pop open.
Door is unlocked at least the inside nob is all the way up, And door wont release via the outside handle.

I dont know what I can do from here...

Only thing I could think of didnt have enough leverage:
Vent window and rubber needs proper placement, It's sitting alittle low so there is a roughly 1x1square opening at the top point of the vent window. I'll try again with sturdier rod later, But came up with some rod that I was able to shape and sort of grab the vent window lever, I'm at a major angle at this point with the latch at the bottom front area and need leverage upward.
The latch on the vent window is very tight against the rubber because I had of course (*sigh*) right before I shut the door (And it stuck) Had forced the vent closed and latched.

Any ideas?
PS: Breaking a window not an option~LOL.

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #1 – December 20, 2012, 12:08:26 AM

Cant really help you on the door, but I like it.

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #2 – December 20, 2012, 12:10:16 AM

Nice! Glad you saved it.

I don't care what name is on the back...the older iron is cool.

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #3 – December 20, 2012, 08:00:41 AM

D'oh, Forgot to mention it's a 1970 Plymouth Satellite Sport, 318 w/ Auto Torqueflite, All original car rust very minimal mostly surface, Apprently sat in a barn forever until the owner had it hauled over to the yard and they drove it off the flatbed.

Oh And thanks for the kind words! T-Birds still my Baby, Just couldnt pass this chance up. And it seemed to bring some excitement to my father as his Brother had a Road Runner (He wrecked it) and My Father had a Coronet 318 he loved as a his first car and I think he lost it in his first marriage.

This is bugging me to no end, Im entirely locked out of it and a locksmith likely couldnt even get me back in it except maybe the trunk. Argh!

I feel like my only option at this point is to continue to try and lift the vent latch through the gap, get a really long sturdy rod through the gap that reaches accross to pass door handle, Or remove the windshield which has damage and isnt too expensive to replace, Just havent done it before.

Heh side note: At the JY we went to put gas in and found a locked gas cap~Yard worker broke and popped that sucker off like nothing with no damage to the car. But... Just occured to me some metal may have fallen into the tank. >.<

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #4 – December 20, 2012, 09:09:29 AM

900 dollars for that beauty!? You stole it from then to say the least!
Congratulations. I've always loved Coronets. They're such beauty's. That's a Coronet, right?

EDIT: Just saw your post above me, Satellite, I was close! But all of the Coronets, Satellite, Road Runner and especially Super Bee are by far one of the better looking american cars ever made!

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #5 – December 20, 2012, 09:29:20 AM

Can you get a coat hanger and piece of rope and snag the inside door handle on pass side? Not sure how the door handles are on it. If the sheet metal is that screwed up on the drivers side I'd be tempted to get something like a flat bar and try to snake it in the crack of the drivers door and pull it open. Sounds like its wedged if the latch didn't meet up before.

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #6 – December 20, 2012, 05:33:46 PM

Slim jim maybe? Awesome car though, you got a steal.

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #7 – December 22, 2012, 03:37:57 AM

Thanks for the kind words guys, Turns out "Classic Industries" Has a ton of parts for B-Bodies, So that took away some of my worry/Anxiety about finding parts and Getting in over my head.
Sad we don't have that for the Foxes besides Mustangs, But I've been fortunate enough to stockpile the parts I need for "Project ThuderStorm" before they dry up.

Still locked out of the Plymouth, But Havent been trying to get in either ATM. She's covered and secure.

Interesting Day, Being the end of the Mayan Calender, With people freaking out and having some funny coincendences regarding this "Doomsday" on my end~
Had some FLOODING in the basp00get=Just NW Stormy Weather.
Had POWER GO OUT for awhile, People walking around aimlessly (Like Zombies) and constant horn honks from people being stupid at street lights=Just a Drunk Driver knocking over a Power Poll.
Had backed up traffic as the street in front of our house was blocked off and SIRENS on emergency vehicles going back and forth with choppers circling above=Just the Bank on the corner being Robbed. Heh.

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #8 – December 22, 2012, 09:26:48 PM

Though I hate the olive green, those are absolutely bad ass lookin' cars... Takes very little to clone a Road Runner, and with a 440 they are bad ass... Even a smogger 360 with some work will move one along...

Once the door is open you'll probably have to get some welding on the door latch, I think it's a common problem with similar year Mopars...

Congrats on the find...

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #9 – December 23, 2012, 05:47:24 AM

friggin sweet!! Good luck with the ole girl!

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #10 – December 23, 2012, 07:51:36 AM

The tapping is most likely a worn cam lobe and lifter. Last year I bought a used 318 from craigslist, we could not start it but we were able to run a compression test. 175 cold in all 8 cylinders. $250 with the trans and it was home. The next weekend fired it up and had the same tapping noise on the pass side. Oil pressure was 65 and 18 inch of vacuum. Pulled the motor apart, timing chain was original with the plastic cam gear, cylinder walls looked good as did the bearings. Cam and lifters were shot. I replaced the cam bearings as the front one was pretty worn and my buddy at the machine shop helped me replace them without disassembling the short block. Installed Summits cam that was stock for the 340, new lifters, timing chain and new gaskets all the way around and the motor runs great!!! Here is a link for the entire build from firing it up the first time to the completed partial rebuild. http://s71.beta.photobucket.com/user/mrbill66malibu/library/Valiant

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #11 – December 25, 2012, 06:39:26 AM

Yea, Door latch areas WILL to need to be welded for sure, I was going to look into bolting on temp thin plates for now pending clearance is ok.

I've got another major problem ATM...
I was told by the lady at the JY to take the bill of sale and paperwork over to the state patrol for a VIN check to get a title within 15 days.
I'm now reading on the SP website I have to take the WHOLE CAR over! Closest station is a 44mile round trip... And that they are by schedule and usually backed up 4 weeks at any time?! I'm into over $125 in late fees at this point that I can't do anything about?...
We have no towing vehicles, But I might be able to get a hitch for our 4wd astro, 44miles is expensive for a tow truck IMO and I really wasnt looking forward to to tearing down the top end right now and havent had to replace a Cam before.
I'm also worried someone will do something else stupid and I'll end up with a salvage title or something since it's from a wrecker.
I did do a couple online vin checks and it cleared entirely in 62+ areas, But I'm still worried. Anyone know what a "4T Rush Form" is? Paperwork says the wrecker has to finnish with that.

I'm feeling a bit screwed and stressed here....

Btw, Merry Christmas everyone. Spend time with the Family!!!

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #12 – December 25, 2012, 12:17:14 PM

Patience grasshopper. The car is in your possession, the paperwork will go through.
I'd think the HP part is to make sure it's not a wrecked, clapped out POS that isn't fit to be worked on....if the frame is solid, I think you'll be just fine. In the meantime, clean the living heck out of it to make sure they know you care about the car and are saving it, rather than just trying to get it titled for a profit. Make sure you mention that you're going to restore it, and fix it up for shows. Learn as much as you can about it, so if they ask questions like how many were made, what kind of power, what engine options, etc, you can show them that you are going to save it, rather than make a few bucks etc.

Happy wrenching, and Merry Christmas dude! :)

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #13 – December 25, 2012, 03:05:26 PM

I had a 65 fury for a while, and I always had door latch issues. I don't know much about mopar, as far as if your car will have the same mechanism as mine did. Mine had just a star wheel on the door, and a pin that held it in place. The pin pulled out when you push the door handle button, and the star spins free while the button is held. The start wheel just rode up over the catch on the door jamb when you shut the door. The moral of this story is, my doors stuck all the time until I got all of the pieces adjusted right. Your door may just be stuck, and the linkage may be fine. Try lifting up on the door (this will take the weight off the star wheel), and yanking outward as hard as you can (without yanking the handle off). It may just pop open.

Again, I don't know if yours is like a 65 fury, but it's worth a shot. Otherwise, can you take a nice stiff coat hanger and hook the window crank? Roll it down enough to get your arm in there and roll it all the way down.

I'm still around... New toy

Reply #14 – December 27, 2012, 05:06:01 PM

The car itself is a solid foundation, The lack of bad rust is quite unusual.

The problem now lies that it will Likely come up as a Salvage Title...
I was entirely mislead by the "Wrecker" I bought it from, And not very happy about it at all.

My advice: Expect nothing more than a Salvage title from Pick N Pull or any syard, No matter how good of condition it's in.
Policy for them is to destroy the title and report it wrecked to the DOL/DMV. Hence why you dont get any Title from them (The Wrecker). They are NOT a licensed dealer, Your basically buying a pile of s.

They failed to mention any of this whatsoever, not even after calling 3 other locations! And assured me I could get a title just fine.
They don't even do history reports either, You could come back with a lien or something.

Yes, I've exhausted myself researching and making phone calls. And am now wise to all this nonsense.

I don't what the fate of the car is at this point, I'm kind of sick of it and all the nonsense it's brought, But still have to tow it over to the inspection place in the next couple of weeks.

You guys know any loopholes or ideas?

Prayers that it somehow turns out Clean!!!