Features The 1955-1956 Plymouth and Dodge Thread

Looks like you have friendly neighbors & Wife ! I like your inspiration& Energy .We still have my friends 56 Coronet Moor door MINUS the trees But it dose have after market 110 V AC in trunk larry@vintagezarks.com

 

Just shot this one today at the last cruise of the year in Putnam, CT

 

I also have another tip for you guys. My stock throttle linkage recently broke, the ball stud just kept popping out of the holder on WOT. this was the on that was down by the gas peddle. I fixed it by using a heim joint on the threaded rod end, went together very easily!! just throwing that out there if anyone has run into the same problem.

 

Well I hate to see a good 4dr used for parts, but I love to see another convertible saved! Hell of a task you have ahead of you there man. I know you'll get it done.

And just for inspiration to you and the other guy restoring a '55 CRL convertible, here are a few others. I think this thread now has a high percentage of all the surviving '55 Dodge convertibles left.

 

so no one makes drop spindles or anything for these cars?

 

Yes Fatman make dropped spindles for these - well, they did a couple of years ago and I presume thay are still available
The ones they sell as Plymouth "up to '54" are still the same as the '55 and '56
I have a set thats going on a '55 Desoto Diplomat Stationwagon here in NZ and by all looks they are a well made set - not a recycled old part

 

Hi, I have been doing a 55 Plymouth wagon for the last 2 years for a guy here in Dunedin NZ and I fitted mk3 zephyr tail-lights to it also it has a Holden 4 link diff and Holden HZ front suspension grafted onto it.

 

So I was reading another thread on the HAMB about using Aerostar springs in 49-56 Fords (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260795&highlight=ford+spring+aerostar) and got to thinking would this work on 55-56 Plymouths. I went to the local junkyard to measure the OD of the springs and found that the Ford and Plymouth springs are both about the same OD. Does anyone know if the spring rating for these Fords is about the same as our Mopars. If it is, this would be a great way to lower the front end and still maintain ride quality for not a lot of money. Any thoughts?

Also how hard is it to rebuild the front suspension on a 55-56 Mopar? Are parts or rebuild kits readily available? Thanks

 

nice cars

 

Mine:

 

I would have to get a white suit & Tye Just to go cruising NIIICEE

 

nice - don't see many 2 dr sedan belvedere's

 

SteppenOut---You can get front end rebuild kits from Kanter Auto Parts. Check out www.kanter.com . I have also seen various pieces NOS on eBay. I replaced all of the bushings in my front suspension with parts from Kanter a few years back.

 

Hey Ramrod36 thanks for the help.

Anyone else have any ideas on using the ford springs???

 

Looks a hell of a lot better than my 55 Plaza.

 

I am still looking for a 55 Plymouth 2 door hardtop, it does not need to run .. just a decent shell will work to make my drag car


Or a 61 Plymouth 2 door hardtop or a 61 Dodge 2 door hardtop

If anyone sees one , let me know

Thanks

 

I've got a 55 coronet in the classifieds if anyone interested.

 

413... thats sweet..

 

Wow 413 coronet that is a very nice ride you have, I think it's the only 2 door post Belvedere I have ever seen besides mine! Do you have any more pictures and does it have the original motor?

 

Thanks for the kind words. My 56 was bought new in Colorado Springs and kept there by the original owner till about 1990 or so. It's been repainted, bumpers and grille rechromed, seats and carpet redone with repro material by SMS. Door and kick panels are original, as is all the interior paint. Since I've owned it, I've rebuilt the trans (after I broke the rear band), replaced the original cloth-cover wire with a RI wiring harness, put all new window fuzzies in it, and have begun to detail the engine, which is the original 277 poly with power pack, stock except for a 600 Holley and Mallory Unilite. The car's too original to mess with too much, but I just picked up an early style extended-flange 318 poly crank (in effect, a 3/16" stroker crank for a 277) at Moultrie this weekend, and I also have an Edelbrock P600 triple intake, plus a complete 1965 poly 318 engine.

Previous owner added A/C, but I didn't like the way he set it up, or the Ford compressor, or the non-stock radiator, so I pulled it. Will redo soon using 56 Plymouth PS dual-groove fan and crank pullies, an original 56 Plymouth radiator, and a modern compressor.

 

thanks for sharing 413coronet,

I am in the process of re-doing mine (slowly) and it's hard to find parts for them! where did you purchase the window fuzzies for it? mine are shot..... i will post a recent picture of my car soon..we have almost the same exact interior!

 

413... 1 year off.. P600 , 55 Dodge..... kind of a distant car cousin.. the engine is dirty , so this all Im showing...

 

What are you looking For steppin out..?

 

PLODGE55AQUA: Here is my original post about ford springs that I was asking about. I will be redoing the front end on my car soon and wondered if this sounded do-able on our Mopars.

 

any updates anyone? I just bought a core 383 motor out of a 69 polara, going to tear it down and start my winter build-up project! other than that just driving it.....

 

I haven't done much on the '56 Ply wagon lately, other than acquiring a few parts. I've had leads on a few parts cars, but only one with all of the parts I wanted...problem is, the guy wont return emails (it's a 2-door wagon in MO). So, in the meantime, my shop is a brisk 35 degrees F, and the car sits. Might be looking to sell in the near future, I have yet to decide that.

 

New lower price on mu buddy's 56 Coronet more door solid car Red Ram318 Poly? in Mo. $1ooo enail for pics Larry 417-276-9966

 

You have an early 361 now, bolted to the original Powerflite, right? Just checking, but you do realize that a 69 383 won't bolt up to your Powerflite unless you swap in the crank from the 361? Of course, if you're gonna upgrade to a modern (62 or later) aluminum torqueflite when you switch engines, then no problem. . . .

BTW, I should have answered earlier, but I got my window fuzzies from Andy Bernbaum. I'm sure there are other sources - Gary Goers comes to mind, maybe Roberts Motor Parts.

 

yes I do know that the later 383 will not bolt up to my powerflite. I have a later 727 torqueflite that's going into the car as well with a 8-3/4 rear end 3.23 sure grip, pretty much a whole drivetrain swap, it's gong to be a great ride when I'm done! I'm thinking of building up a 496 stroker from the 383 via 440source kit...

 

I used to post here awhile ago but forgot my prior screen name.

Anyway, I picked this 56 Plaza up a few weeks ago. I probably paid too much for it but thats OK, I sold a car I didnt much care about to cover the purchase price.

I guess I'm the 3rd owner. The guy I bought it from replaced all the gas and brake lines, put a newer dual reservoir master cylinder on it, rebuilt the carb, changed the points, plugs, wires, oil, etc... replaced 4 of the 6 wheel cylinders.

She runs OK but has a rusty belly, typical of a car from NE Ohio. Heck I've seen early 90's cars rusted worse than this one.

Plans are to put some airride on it, do some backyard rust repair, paint the body a matte blue and the roof white with some ice pearl. Throw some fat whites on the rims and roll out!

I REALLY NEED SOME DECENT BUMPERS!