{Chrysler 300} Making Progress -300K

With parts finally showing up I am making progress on getting this 300K back on the road.

In the engine bay I have the rebuild, by me, Carter carb on the car and the Edelbrock on the shelf. I have the intake return spring bracket on, thanks Dave. Now I can adjust the kickdown correctly and hope that will fix the transmission feeling odd. A new unclogged filter may help with that as well.

In the engine bay I have the new Powermaster alternator mounted. I have the power steering pump mounted which I cleaned and placed new seals in. The new water pump, clutch and fan. New belts in place, I still need to adjust them.

The fan-clutch-pulley bolts are such a PITA, that I am going to slip the new radiator down as I think it is easier than trying to put that fan on with it in place. I tape cardboard to the radiator so the fan cannot bite into a fin if I slip. The lower shroud I think should not be too much of an issue to get it on afterwards as I can do it on the lift from the bottom if need be.

I spent a good hour or two carefully removing the male Packard connectors from the bulkhead connector. I used my Dremel tool with a wire wheel and cleaned all the solid brass connectors. I then put them back into one of the new manufacture bulkhead connectors. I also cleaned them with DeOx well before putting them back in. I made new seals by using some 1/8 inch closed cell foam I have around. That works fine. {Cut the foam to the rectangle. Place on the male connectors and using the new unused yet drivers side, push it in. That caused the Packard connectors to punch through the closed cell foam. Take it apart then use a small screwdriver to dress it well around all the connectors. Done}

Over the weekend I have to pull and try to clean the female connectors in the driver’s compartment. That will be fun. How to clean in and under the female rolls will be interesting. Pipe brushes soaked in acetone perhaps. If you look close at the photo of one of the connectors, a #12, you can see the pitting AFTER I cleaned it. The upper connector gets it much worse than the lower. I plan on packing the REAR of these connectors with dielectric grease. My only concern is that doing so could trap moisture. I am going back and forth on that. I do think that on the top and side of that connector after it is installed that pressing some dielectric along the top and sides of the top connector is not a bad idea so water would shed off and around it.

One of the four tabs that the engine bay side snaps into is broken on bulkhead connector. I got the new set. The driver’s side like I said will be more fun. It does have a new seal with it.

On the water pump pulley issue, I used one of the 60 thou spacers and that seems to be enough.

I will do a steering box adjustment one I get the engine back running. I hope that between an adjustment and the new tie-rods and the bearings properly adjusted that the wandering goes away. If not, I have the spare box read to ship out for rebuilding.

Perhaps by Tuesday I may be back in a position to start this thing up and with the new tires-wheels take it for an extended drive and see how many other things I have to put on a punch list. I could only test drive it around the block before I purchased it.

If I can get this thing back on the road, then I can start doing some of the fun items like sourcing a AM-FM radio with reverberator, rear defroster and ordering the new carpet. With the seats and carpet out that is the time to add anything that requires wires running front to rear.

Thanks all for the help so far.

James