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Extreme Veteran
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Location: milano, italy | I am happy to say that I was fortunate enough to purchase Joe s 58 Belvedere conv 350..black that was presented here some time ago. She will be a fine companion to my 58 Fury. I was fascinated by the story of this car and the relative good shape of the car..so decided to purchase the car as soon as I got in touch with the nice guy Joe. Very nice guy, he held to his word like real men do. Thank you Joe for an easy and pleasant deal.
The car is now equipped with a good running 383 and 4 speed...my plan is to keep the 383 for now, update it with a correct intake and setof four bolt heads, and replacing the auto trans. The original 350 wioll be kept for history, but prefere to wear out the 383, not original to the car. In the meantime, will be restoring the interior to sotck, but willl try to keep the viontage racer identity, leaving the SW gauges and installing some vintage 5 spoke mags with blackwall tires. Nothing that cannot returned to stock in a couple days work. Car is leaving the US these days....will be in Italy around february. Wanto to say thank you to John Fowlie, that has helped me with the missing seat, and the 59 413 heads.
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Attachments ---------------- 58 1.jpg (32KB - 345 downloads) 58 2.jpg (34KB - 326 downloads) 58 12.jpg (329KB - 339 downloads) 10352328_535405759918407_1304043224134191428_n.jpg (95KB - 327 downloads) 58 10.jpg (200KB - 330 downloads) 1800285_598162223642760_1301009311689126987_n.jpg (129KB - 304 downloads) 1520602_598162280309421_1082209912373092874_n.jpg (79KB - 330 downloads)
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 854
| Very nice car looks like a great project ,Glad it found a good home ,have fun keep us posted on your progress . |
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | It could not be in more capable hands... congratulations Antonello! |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Some Island called Prince Edward | Agreed! Can't wait to see you work your magic on this one! |
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Expert
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Location: Upplands Väsby, Sweden | Mama mia..Very nice and the Plymouth come to serios buyer |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | WELL BOUGHT, Antonello!
But, if you are going to (have to-) do any work on the engine, you might as well overhaul, as necessary,
the OEM 350 engine which was built 'with' your car.
At this late-date (2014), you are NOT going to harm or destroy that 350 c.i. optional Golden Commando Schwartzeneger
engine, by cruising around in the car, and, besides having a MATCHING-numbers 350 engine in it, you'll have BRAGGING rights
on its engine....instead of merely EXCUSES....as to why it's got (another...ho-hum) 383 engine in it.
Go for the gusto!
Put its OEM power plant back inside it, please!
Edited by d500neil 2014-12-26 11:00 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | Hello Neil
I will probably end up putting the engine back where it belongs...but it will be a long thing. As you know, 350 pistons are not existant...I could bore the block 0.60 and install 361 std pistons...but they are low compression units. That's why I am considering to keep the 383 for now...dress up like a 350 and enjoy the car as is. In the meantime,if I can find some good NOS 350 pistons, I can bore the block. But I don't like the idea of adapting 361 pistons. |
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Expert
Posts: 4036
Location: Connecticut | Antonello - If the 350 block has some miles on it, wouldn't it need to be bored out anyway ? I would take it to 361. Is the 350 block an original 58 Plymouth big block ? Unrelated: Do you still have the 58 New Yorker wagon ? Years ago, I sold you a bunch of parts from one that I parted out. Ron |
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | I think 350 pistons are available from Egge Machine in CA, at least they were when I had my '58 Firesweep Sportsman. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | The block is an original Plymouth block. 361 pistons would mean 0.60 overbore, no space for a mistake or another overbore. Besides, I don't want low compression pistons, or truck pistons, as are the 361 unit avaible now. Besides, knowing that I am driving a 383 would give me peace of mind if something goes wrong.
The 58 NY wagon is still here...but don't use since 3 years...
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 594
Location: Melbourne, Australia | Last time I looked, only std bore or + 0.0625" / 4& 1/8 were available off the shelf NEW... Egge didn't keep them or respond to any correspond with any requests to run a batch off. I landed these recently after many YEARS of regular looking.... gudgeons included but no rings ! Keep looking, they will turn up eventually....... Colin
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 915
Location: Pau, S-W France | firedome - 2014-12-27 5:01 PM
I think 350 pistons are available from Egge Machine in CA, at least they were when I had my '58 Firesweep Sportsman.
Yes they are
http://egge.com/kit/pl350m58/
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 494
Location: Alberta | Hi I'm planning to do about the same with my 57 Dodge Mayfair Convert. I purchased a 1965 Chrysler Windsor sedan [ Canadian Made] for the powertrain/driveline and intend to install it in the convertible and so far I'm just contemplating the issues I'm going to run into making the switch. I see by the photos that you installed headers Question: Did you have them made up or special ordered ? Motor mount issues transmission mounts etc What changes did you make if any?. A heads up with this conversion would be greatly appreciated.
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | I don't know if you know it, but your 57 mayfair convertible might be one of only two or three surviving examples in the world. I know its your car and you can do what you want with it, but in my opinion, a car as rare as this deserves to be restored properly and I wouldnt put a non original drivetrain in it.
And by the way, as far as I know, the plymouth in this thread was customized way back in the past and will actually be restored back to an original drivetrain.
Edited by soiouz 2015-01-12 8:32 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | Soiouz....you are right..My plan is to use the car for a while until I can find all the parts to properly restore it. Only thing still to decide if I would keep the 383 in the car now ( and modify with the correct heads and intake) or rebuild the original 350 that comes with the car. The 383 would give me some extra power....but the idea of having the correct 350 appeals me very much.
The installation of a 65 engine and trans would prevent the use of the pushbutton trans, and this would be unacceptable for me. My idea is to change the crank so that the original cast iron trans can be used with the 383 , if I decide to go that route. |
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | Wow that red Mayfair is rare!!!!!!!!!!!! looks very restorable too. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | loaded and ready to go |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | [/IMG] |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | [/IMG] |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | [/IMG] |
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Expert
Posts: 2996
Location: Sept. 1958 | Beautiful car, good luck with her! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 854
| Glad it is going to a Good home keep us posted on progress . |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | car has finally arrived...as described from the seller. Installed a new ignition lock and was able to start the Plymouth. Engine is very powerful and runs very well. Unfortunately all of the internal parts of the brake system are missing, so I was not able to drive the car. But hear her running is a great thing. In the menatime, the auto trans is off to the rebuilder, so resto has officially started. |
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Expert
Posts: 1740
Location: Alaska | Piston rings should be easier to get than the pistons. The Pontiac 389 uses the same bore as the 350, I haven't double checked but the manufacturer likes to use readily available parts and the rings may have the same thickness. |
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Expert
Posts: 2524
Location: Houston | A 383 is a very good engine....I'd have a hard time going back to a 350. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | [/IMG]
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | https://youtu.be/zoYKs0cMetk |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | [ Try again; Originality = $ ]
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 488
Location: London, England | Love it! |
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Expert
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Location: Netherlands | Nice! Good luck with the car and restoration. |
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | That is great to see! Looking forward to your updates. Good luck with the restoration. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | [/IMG]
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: milano, italy | time to do some updates on the car. WHen I received the car, I was a bit disapponted because there were some key parts missing, like brakes, gauge cluster, gas tank ( there were two, but both rusty) and all conv parts to lower and raise top. On the other side, the car was running very well. So got the brakes fixed and drove the car to my place. There was more rist than described, all the lower parts were bubbling, and the inner rockers were very rusty. But floors were in fairly good shape, doors were ok, and trunk lid and hood were ok too. All the wiring was ok. So disassembled the Whole front end,had everything sandblasted, cut off the rust and repaired dents and mirror holes. The inner fenders were powder coated, as was the radiator support. Since the car is running real well, I have decided to leave it with the period modifications made during the sixties, like the four speed and the fender well headers. I know that it's not correct, and that the car should be restored to stock, but most of the life the Belvedere had been modified, so FOR NOW I plan to leave with the 383, four speed and fenderwell headers. But interior will be redone stock, and dual quad will be mounted on the engine.
So, with all the front end parts free of any rust, I am starting to clean all the undercarriage and changing the gas tank. The rockers have been repaired, and the lower rust cut off and fixed. Now it's time to take all all the mud and spray some antirust primer. Got all the conv stuff and had the mounting brackets for top cylinders done by a friend following specs given to my by Ron Waters. Thank you Ron. This winter will have the car painted |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | engine bay
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waiting for dual quad set up to get ready....
Edited by antonellomopar 2015-08-22 11:12 AM
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Those brackets came out nice!!
The ones on my '59 were present, but pitted severely. I ended up filling the pits with brass and filing them down smooth.
---John |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | They are new....John...if you need a set can have it done |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1157
Location: D-70199 Heslach | Its time again, to drive down to Italy to see whats new in your garage :-) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | I wanted to update this old thread....last update was in 2015. Have been working on and off the car, so upgrades are fairly slow. The Belvedere is now painted in the original black color, as per decode by Chrysler Historical. The 383 spun a cam bearing, so the engine was removed and bearings fixed. Now it's running really well. The trans was changed back to automatic, and sourced a 62 Imperial trans in the USA and had it rebuilt by James Rawa. Great work Jim. Rear end chunk has been changed from 3.73 to 2.76, for highway cruising. Power steering has been reinstalled, along with the pump. Headers have been removed and a complete exhaust system has been fitted, from Waldron. Very nice exhaust. Wiring has been repaired where needed, and missing power top stuff has been reproduced. Just installed wire wheels and www tires, and brought the car home today. Was finally able to drive her for the first time for 15 or so miles...a great success. Monday new top will be installed, then interior will need to be assembled for the SMS stuff I purchased. Maybe this spring will be able to drive around.
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Edited by antonellomopar 2017-11-24 1:56 PM
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Expert
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Location: Montreal, Canada | antonellomopar - 2017-11-24 1:13 PM
I wanted to update this old thread....last update was in 2015. Have been working on and off the car, so upgrades are fairly slow. The Belvedere is now painted in the original black color, as per decode by Chrysler Historical. The 383 spun a cam bearing, so the engine was removed and bearings fixed. Now it's running really well. The trans was changed back to automatic, and sourced a 62 Imperial trans in the USA and had it rebuilt by James Rawa. Great work Jim. Rear end chunk has been changed from 3.73 to 2.76, for highway cruising. Power steering has been reinstalled, along with the pump. Headers have been removed and a complete exhaust system has been fitted, from Waldron. Very nice exhaust. Wiring has been repaired where needed, and missing power top stuff has been reproduced. Just installed wire wheels and www tires, and brought the car home today. Was finally able to drive her for the first time for 15 or so miles...a great success. Monday new top will be installed, then interior will need to be assembled for the SMS stuff I purchased. Maybe this spring will be able to drive around.
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I LOVE the all black, no sportone looks! What a beautiful and clean design! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 854
| Nice to see the progress on your Plymouth ,Everything is looking Great .Did you have SMS make Door panels for you ? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | looks amazing!
only other thing I'd do to set her off
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: milano, italy | ahaha..so I wouldn't be able to exit my driveway.... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | [/IMG]
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13045
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Great work, almost ready for the Italian traffic
Jokes aside, the other trafficants will cut you some slack with that car |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 854
| Beautiful Plymouth you have to be proud of it . |
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Location: The Mile High City | Beautiful work! |
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Expert
Posts: 2996
Location: Sept. 1958 | Very nice looking Plymouth! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | While I am waiting for the upholstery guy to finish my seats, I went on with the resto. After just 9 months, got some stuff ordered from Gary Goers. Among the stuff I received, I found a new set of door w/s, so took off the wrong stuff sold on ebay which precluded a correct door alignment, and installed the Goers stuff. Now doors close right. New carpet from ACC with feature the correct heel pad, and roof frame w/s from Andy Bernbaum. Good stuff.
also, since I dodn't have the seat tracks, I used a power seat frame from a c body that I had lying around. It fit like it was meant for it. Floor holes spacing is correct, same for seat frame. Will have top fashion a switch bracket, and I am done. Everything is bolt in. More to follow
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | Nice. What year C-body is that from? |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: milano, italy | Guess 70 or newer by the look of the switch |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: milano, italy | Interior finished....took just one year to get door panels done..but result is ouystanding. Got license plates, too...more pics to follow.... |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Super nice job on your ragtop!!!!! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | [/IMG]
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: milano, italy | Car is just about finished, need fuel tank sending unit changed and final polishing and paint nicks fixed. License plates arrived a few days ago...now its ready to be driven... |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8947
Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA | now thats top end class ------------------------------------------------------------------later |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 854
| Antonello ,Great job on your 58 Everything Looks Excellent. |
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | A real tribute to the care and workmanship of a talented and lucky owner! |
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Expert
Posts: 2596
Location: Upplands Väsby, Sweden | Wow super nice convertible. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1048
Location: PL / EU | Love this steering wheel, it looks like original condition |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 375
Location: milano, italy | RDP, this steering wheel has an unbelievable history. I was looking for one as the car came to Italy from the US with a Grant wheel. Was looking on ebay USA, when I was an ad in the international sellers sellers section, at the bottom of the US ads. There was the exact wheel I was looking for, red and black, at 120 kilometers. It was and still is in original perfect condition. Seems it was taken off a car in the early sixties, when the car was junked. Don't have an idea of why the car was junked, but it survived the attic of a guy, and it was later found by someone looking at the stuff in the attic. No other parts was found of the same car. A friend of mine live about 5 kilomteres from the seller, so he went to pick it up next day. And not its on my car.
RDP, thank you for the pics of the Greenwald dealership. ANy other pic or info? Thank you |
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