I rolled my '60 LeBaron down a hill in West Seattle to start it when the starter failed. With the ignition on and the "1" button pushed in, the car started at 16 mph.
The battery in my '65 Imperial died once at the top of a hill in our fine Magnolia area. I rolled the car down the hill with the ignition on and the selector in "1". It started at 12 mph.
I have never tried it with a newer Imperial than '65, so I don't know about them, but it did work on the '65.
Paul
In an email dated Mon, 6 12 2004 3:55:37 am GMT, "Wm. R. Ulman" <twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
My '60 had a rear pump. It was the cast Iron transmission. In '62 with the Aluminum Torqueflite, I think the rear pump went away. I know my '63 did not have a rear pump, at least that is what I was told when I had it rebuilt when reverse farted out on me. I tried to push start my '60 one time following directions in the manual. I even had a small hill to push it down. Pushing a 6,000 lb car up to 20 mph and then pushing in the first gear button did nothing, and yes, the ignition switch was in the on position. AAA Flatbed. Final answer. My experience only.
Bill
-----Original Message----- From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dick Benjamin Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 7:34 PM To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: IML: Imperials on a tow dolly
Check in your owner's manual; that will tell you if your transmission has a rear pump. If the car can be "push started", then it has a rear pump, and you can safely tow it with the rear wheels down, at least for the distance you are contemplating. I'm not sure whether the 64 or the 65 was the last year for a rear pump, but I think it was 65.
If you decide to use a tow truck, I advise letting him pick it up at the front. Picking these cars up from the rear adds a lot of extra weight to the front suspension - I have broken a front spindle doing exactly that, when the towed car slammed into a pot hole.
When the tow truck picks it up from the front, there is also weight transfer to the back, but the tow truck has most of the weight of a front engine car, and the rear suspension is a lot less complicated and vulnerable to an overload.
However, regarding the tow dollies, most of them are rated for a 3500 pound vehicle, maximum, and your car is way over that. So unless you have a special heavy duty tow dolly, you will be exceeding the safe rating.
I think things will go much better for you if you beg, borrow or steal a 3/4 ton truck and a flatbed car trailer. Towing this heavy a car with a passenger car or a 1/2 ton truck is quite hazardous.
If you have only 10 miles to go, and you can do it all at 20 MPH maximum, without causing a traffic mess, then I guess I might be tempted also to save money, but be aware you are taking a chance. The whole shindig will be very unstable on the road above about 30 MPH, won't stop worth a darn, and could very well cause some damage to both vehicles if it wraps around on you.
Been there, done that, had to change my shorts!
Dick Benjamin
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