Projects New Zealand New. 1956 Plymouth with two many doors...

Looks like the 187HP 277 cu in optional V8. Close relative to the 318 which debuted the next year.
If it has decent compression and oil pressure and runs with no bad bangs or knocks, give it a chance to show what it can do. The 277 and 2 speed auto make a nice driver and reasonably economical, on low octane gas.
Overall looks in pretty good shape for its age. You should be able to fix it up without too much trouble and expense, and enjoy some nice drives.

 

Not long got back from a wee drive. Brakes freed themselves during the drive, lol.
I'll put up a vid or two soon.

That's Jeremy in first pic. He's a happy boy.

 

It's got either a bad lifter rattle, or leaky exhaust. We have yet to figure that out.

 

Might be the heat riser valve rattling. Or exhaust leak. Doesn't sound like a lifter.

 

Rave away, that's some good info there Andy. I'll show Jeremy.

 

Thanks Rusty. I guess we will find out in the morning when we dig back into it.

 

Hooking the driveshaft up so we could take it for a drive, and a shot of the exhaust that looks like steampipe.

 

I just got home and found someone left this on doorstep. Maybe some of the info may be helpful to Jeremy.
Looks like the carb section is for same carb on the 56.

 

Steel wool soap pads with water will clean the light rust off those wheels and grille etc

 

Thanks low budget, I've used one on the wheels, but they are worse than they look. The wheel pic was after I'd cleaned them up.

 

Here's a few random pics. Unfortunately we have not touched the Plymouth for a few days, due to other things that needed attention.

 

After several days of schooling himself on the carb, Jeremy plucked it from its perch this morning, and its now undergoing a bath in a concoction of ingredients known only to Jeremy.

 

Carb is rebuilt and back home on its perch.

 

Jeremy played with the tuning today. It was all going well untill we realised the stock fuel pump wasn't pumping.
I remembered I had an electric pump from a Holden V8 I had in the early nineties. Went to go find it thinking it could be anywhere, and here it is right in front of me!
It took a few failed attempts before we got it running, but once we did, it worked great.
Then we had battery issues when the timing light came out, so called it a night.

 

The hoarded electric fuel pump.

 

I read some while ago on here to rub rusty chrome bumpers with crumpled aluminum foil and water. My friend is working on an old British bike with chromed fenders that looked rustier than they actually were. I told him to try the crumpled up foil to rub the rust off with water. The bike fenders came out amazing. The foil does not mark up the chrome and leaves aluminum behind that won't rust.

 

[QUOTE="patterg2003, post: I told him to try the crumpled up foil to rub the rust off with water. [/QUOTE]

We have done this, but the black stuff is some kind of rustkill, or road test. It only comes off with petrol and much elbow grease.

 

I still have a love for the 1956. My first car was a 56 Plaza two door sedan. That was 1962. I think I paid around $300 or $400 for it. My dad engineered a 354 Chrysler hemi into it hooked to the stock three speed on the tree trans. . It was a early 331 with the upper bell housing cast on bored to the larger size.

 

I came home yesterday and saw a car manual on the front seat of the Plymouth.
When Jeremy got home he asked if I put it there. Neither of us had, so I'm guessing it came from my old car mate, Mo.
Unfortunately Mo passed away a few weeks back, and his brother has the task of finding homes for Mo's old books.

It's got all the popular American makes from 1957. Jeremy is real impressed with it.

 

Body mount fix that will be fixed properly. Who knows when this outstanding rust fix was performed.

 

I love the throttle linkage in those cars, pedal to carb it has a lot of 'monkey motion'!

 

Here's a @themoose Photoshop of what Jeremy intends to end up with when he's done. Thanks again Moose.

 

Hi Kiwijeff, I have a 1956 DeSoto Diplomat Deluxe. This is the Canadian factory RHD export version of the '56 Plymouth Plaza. Mine is basically the 6 cylinder version (P-28) version of what your brother has (P-29).
Here is a link to the Workshop Manual: http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=109.
I'm currently doing a body-off chassis restoration. Have some info to find parts if your are interested.

 

Kiwi...........if the 2 barrel Carter is not worth fiddling with the WW Stromberg as used on Oz Nolden V8's will fit straight on and maybe an easier alternative.........andyd

 

Two many doors? Nah, it's cool ! A really neat car that you don't see.....E N J O Y !!

 

I the 60's my dad had a Dodge Kingsway Deluxe. Very similar to your Plymouth but different trim, I think. It was factory RHD. The story that came with it was that it was a diplomats car, imported from Singapore. There was something different about the grille, but I cant remember now. But I do remember the old man taking much delight from blowing off other cars on the hills!! Mum thought he was such a child!