Hello - This is a general call for "what problems to look for" tips that the "regular" 1940s-1950s cars might not have after sitting a few years, that these have...if any. Don't know much about those engines. Found a 1947 New Yorker that is kind of in unbelievable shape. Needs to be saved. Been sitting. Price is "okay", and I think it will gt lower...planned to maybe get brakes/master cyl., etc. on, see if the engine's savable and sell + a little. I have read that sometimes when those long straight 8 type engines sit, somethimes the crank can "bow" sounds silly...true? I was figuring on PB Blaster in the cylinders and tring to get it to turn/run. Are these dinosaurs a turd (I know the AACA forum is likely to have more oldioe Chrysler rich types...but on here ther is someone with EVERY kind of car...and ususlly peopl who know ABOUT working on, em, too. Unlike the fogie-forums! Any big issues with these that jumps out? Car was running when he got it...and the guy let it sit (like he did all ONE HUNDRED misc. cars he bought to "restore" in his retirement! Just parked 'em between 105-15 years ago...luckily our weather is nice to 'em! Orignal engine (Fluid Derive?) trans... intact interior (might have been redone in the late 1970s-80s in mohair...looks too good to be true). Nice dash detailing still Orig(?) patina black paint...looks like almost no rust.
Hi from sunny Oz, I have a couple of the New Yorkers older cousins, a 41 Plymouth Coupe and 40 Dodge Sedan......the best thing I can suggest is to join the Plymouth/Dodge P15-D24 Forum, a great bunch of guys and very knowledgable. I have been playing with my 40 Dodge since 1971 and whilst I haven't had a New Yorker I did have a 48 Chrysler Windsor, with the 6 cylinder......from what I understand New Yorkers and in fact any mopar straight 8 powered car whilst the suspension, etc may look the same very few, if any parts will interchange so that should be taken into account, I have heard from a few comments on the P15-D24 Forum that mopar straight 8's are prone to breaking the exhaust manifolds so that maybe something to keep in mind also.........anyway good luck with it, regards, andyd
I have had the privelage and pleasure to work on a Packard 327 straight 8 that had been sitting in a junkyard for God knows how long, and had no issues with the crank bowing, though I have heard of it happening. However, if your crank is bowed, I am fairly certain Egge Machine Co. makes replacement cranks for Chrysler straight 8's. How many main bearings are in your engine? If it's more than four than you should have a crank that'll turn true and smooth.
Chrysler had a reputation for very sound engineering - these cranks were not prone to bowing however they could break if the timing was not kept within reason - any backfire can cause whiplash and the long cranks were by nature more prone to snapping than a V8. The Manifolds were soo long and had so many heat cycles that they were prone to breaking and then become a pain in the *** to fix - I had a Desoto with that problem - solved it by making my own extractor style manifold and the problem went away for ever. The weakness in these cars are brakes and sapping power of the the trans - yet in saying that once you get it running they can run forever. Keep ther engine oil clean and they will repay the kindness tenfold
Wow - REALLY great insights. I 've been hesitating to buy this thing, because even though it's been sitting, and going to require a lot of new (not auto-parts store stuf, etther)...to get it on the road again safely, he's not coming below $2k. A couple of years ago, I'd think no problem. Might be worth it. Small grouips of buyers, if I do sell it though. I always have to buy, looking toward resale...unless it's my dream car. It'll be there a while, (he's alreay come fdown from $3k.)...so...? === This might have to wait... I found a 1947 Packard Clipper 6 (fastback) "sedan" (2-dr) that is all there, been stored inside for years, orig. black paint...$1700. Might be the snarter buy out of my "oddball finds".
A very important thing in any straight 8, or 6, MOPAR engine is the water distribution tube behind the water pump which runs into the head p***ages. These deteriorate and can really wreak havock on the engine if not replaced. Saratoga was the bottom line 8cylinder car, New Yorker the main line, Imperial for the big boys, and the Town and Country Convertibles for the society folk and little old ladies in the Texas Hill Country. (T&C sedans were all 6cylinders) The transmissions are often called "Clunk-o-matics". They are NOT Fluid-Drive like the Dodges. They are hydraullically shifted standard transmissions with column shift, but shifting is only necessary for reverse and any forward gear, the transmission shifts up and down the forward range "automatically".
SW, Yahoo has a group called Post-War Heavy Metal....its all about 46-48 Chryslers...check it out. I'm on the group..lots of good folks and knowledge to be had there. I'm in the market for another Chrysler as well. In the past, I've owned two Windsors and a New Yorker. Murph
Thanks - finally Googled and found it. Will check into it. Anyone looking for an unrestored 1946-48 New Yorker? ======
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