IML: Adding to the fleet

["Jay King" <j_king@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, list,

Put me down as a multiple-Imperial guy! Son Jamie and I set out from Meridian, Mississippi Saturday morning on a jaunt to Gulfport to pick up a 1981 silver coupe that was recently posted here. I'll keep the PO's name private unless lets me know he wants me to reveal it. The car reportedly spent some time under about eight feet of brackish water, but it looks really good and may certainly be restorable. We shall see!

As we drove south from Meridian, evidence of the hurricane was more and more evident, trees downed, roofs damaged, and people working to repair storm damage, even two months after Katrina. In Harrison County and especially Gulfport, the situation was simultaneously sad and hopeful, with heavy damage and plenty of new construction, mold mitigation, and general cleanup going on. The PO and his family are living in a camper behind his house, as the house has been gutted to stop mold. He lost three cars, including the Imperial, to the floodwaters (or storm surge, if that's more likely to get your insurance to pay.)

Since the YS Imperials share many mechanicals with M-body Fifth Avenues/Diplomats/Gran Furies and Jamie and I have been messing around with an '85/'87 Fifth Avenue conglomeration/restoration (the 1973 Imperial is finished, but for a trip to the paint show in a year or so, if and when the upholsterer finishes up new seatcovers and headliner; he's had the car two weeks now), I thought the '81 Imp was worth the trip, if only for the snowflake wheels and swaybars, but as soon as I saw the car, I began thinking of it as a resto rather than a parts car. It is beautiful cosmetically; the body is very good, with only a bit of rust around the right rear wheel well and (of course) the damage to the interior from the brackish water. When we pulled the driveshaft for transport, a combination of tranny fluid and water spilled out, but the PO said the transmission had been rebuilt recently, so it is possible that it may be flushed and saved. The engine oil is milky too, so it will have to be dehumidified, and I imagine that the Lean Burn computer is now a doorstop. Since the car has already been converted to carburetion from EFI, I'll probably chop out the LB and replace it with MP or Jacobs ignition. I'd welcome comments, suggestions, or analysis of either system from those who have experience with them. The interior was quite worn before the hurricane and will need replacement, although it doesn't smell, and I was sure it would. Now we'll begin changing fluids, checking mechanicals (especially brakes) and getting started on the cleanup.

Questions for the list, especially for luxury coupe owner/drivers:

This is the original Darth Vader car, with the all-electronic dashboard. Is it possible that any of the electronics survived, or do I need to be looking for a parts car with a good dash (and possibly additional interior pieces)? Should I just bite the bullet and plan to replace all the wiring harnesses? Are there any special secrets I need to know about these cars? Working on Fifth Avenues has led me to appreciate the toughness and simplicity of the B/F/M platform, and I really expect the YS to be similar; am I in for some surprises? 

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions, to the list if it's Imperial-related or to the address below if otherwise. I'm excited about this car!

Jay King
Meridian, Mississippi
<a href=mailto:j_king@xxxxxxxxx>j_king@xxxxxxxxx</a>

Honey Gold 1973 Imperial LeBaron 4DHT
Sterling Silver 1981 Chrysler Imperial Coupe
Charcoal Gray 1985 Chrysler Fifth Avenue
Nightwatch Blue 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue

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