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Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: moparx] #2765932
04/19/20 01:03 PM
04/19/20 01:03 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,545
Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick Offline
Still wishing...
Twostick  Offline
Still wishing...

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,545
Downtown Roebuck Ont
Could you have shimmed the motor mounts up a little?

Kevin

Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: Twostick] #2766005
04/19/20 04:02 PM
04/19/20 04:02 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,506
AZ
Mike P Offline OP
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Mike P  Offline OP
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"....which hold down bolt[s] is/are wet ? this is something i didn't know of........"

On the first gen HEMIs the upper (intake side) of the valve covers screw into the water jacket. Chrysler used studs for the valve covers so this wasn't a problem. I used bolts on mine because the studs would have had to be about 2" long because of the bosses in the aluminum valve covers..........meaning an extra 2" I'd have to raise the covers to get them off. The exhaust manifolds and interesting too. The lower bolts also go into the water jacket and as I recall the upper exhaust studs go into the head (where oil sits).


"........Could you have shimmed the motor mounts up a little? ......?

Not really enough room to raise the front of the engine. I did try shimming under the trans mount, but ran trans tunnel interference.


.


1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: Mike P] #2766181
04/20/20 03:50 AM
04/20/20 03:50 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,506
AZ
Mike P Offline OP
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With the gear installed next came the steering column modifications and test fit. When you order the kit you will be asked you are using a column from a power steering or manual steering car. If you are using a PS column you will not require any modifications to the mast but will need to extend the steering shaft with an extension which will be included in the kit.

If you are using a manual steering column (like me) you will cut the steering shaft off the manual steering gear which is more than long enough without a shaft extension. You will have to cut the end from the column mast and replace it with the extension provided (you will not need the column extension if you have a PS column) . With the tube extension properly measured and mounted it is almost identical to a power steering column.

The instructions and illustrations provided with the kit for measuring and cutting the column and shaft are pretty comprehensive and doing the modifications was pretty simple.

This shows the piece I had to cut off the manual steering column and the column with the extension installed. Also pictured is the shaft I cut off the manual steering gear with the U Joint provided with the kit temporarily installed. For reference the bottom shaft is from a Power Steering column.

PS 7.jpg

1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: Mike P] #2766182
04/20/20 04:04 AM
04/20/20 04:04 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,506
AZ
Mike P Offline OP
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With the column ready to test fit the next step is to reinstall the floor plate back in the car. The smaller square plate will also be installed with the new seals provided in the kit.

Instead of using the top 2 sheet metal screws those holes will be drilled out for 2 bolts used to attach the angle iron bracket that will hold the clamp used secure the bottom of the column. The illustrations provided show the clamp used in 2 different positions.....for my car using it as shown in the second picture was what worked the best.

PS 8.jpg

1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: Mike P] #2766183
04/20/20 04:12 AM
04/20/20 04:12 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,506
AZ
Mike P Offline OP
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Next the steering shaft with the provided U Joint temporarily installed is connected to the steering gear and the column mast is slipped over it and secured with the new column clamp. After taking a few more measurements the shaft can be cut to final length and U Joint pinned and tack welded to the shaft.



PS 9.jpg
Last edited by Mike P; 04/20/20 04:14 AM.

1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: Mike P] #2766218
04/20/20 09:29 AM
04/20/20 09:29 AM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,812
South Bend
John Brown Offline
top fuel
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South Bend
With all the work you are doing there, I'd want to make the shaft collapsible too. Wouldn't be very much more bother.


July 19th should be "Drive Like Rockford Day". R.I.P. Jimmie.
Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: John Brown] #2766567
04/21/20 05:29 AM
04/21/20 05:29 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,506
AZ
Mike P Offline OP
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Before I did the final installation of the column and shaft I wanted to address the horn. On the manual steering cars Chrysler ran the horn wire from the horn button thru the steering shaft all the way out the end of the steering gear to the horn relay. The length of wire was long enough that as it twisted when the steering wheel was turned it did not create any issues. The power steering cars used a different horn setup but of course I don't have one of those.

Among the odds and ends I collected over the years was this collar with the copper ring. As I recall it was part of the turn signal cancelling mechanism used on 60-62 Chryslers with the Astro-Dome dash and dash mounted turn signals.

PS 10.jpg

1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: Mike P] #2766568
04/21/20 05:32 AM
04/21/20 05:32 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,506
AZ
Mike P Offline OP
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AZ
When I had the column installed to measure the steering shaft I marked a spot on the column housing there I could cut a hole that would be accessible but not noticeable when everything was installed.

When I had the column out so I could cut the steering shaft I also cut the hole in the column I would need.

When I did the last test fit after cutting the shaft and pinning the U Joint to it (but before tack welding) I marked the shaft thru the access hole I had cut so I could properly place the collar on the shaft.

The collar is designed to allow a wire to be run up thru the steering shaft.

I drilled a hole in the column for a bolt and using insulating washers (from an alternator actually) attached the bolt to the column.

I made a wipe arm from a strip of springy copper which is then attached to the stud and then a terminal to attach the original horn relay wire to (which had been relocated to inside the passenger compartment).

The wipe arm and terminal where then removed to prevent damage to the wipe arm when the column was slid over the steering shaft. They would have to be reinstalled after the column was in place for the last time.

Finally I also added a ground wire to the column to insure a good path to ground for the horn button.

PS 11.jpg
Last edited by Mike P; 04/21/20 05:35 AM.

1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: Mike P] #2766990
04/22/20 03:44 AM
04/22/20 03:44 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,506
AZ
Mike P Offline OP
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AZ
With the steering installed the last thing to do was cover the hole I'd cut in the inner fender. I had access to a donor inner fender from a 57 Dodge and I figured I'd cut an oversize piece of it to make a removable access panel to cover that area. I had originally thought the inner fenders would have been identical but of course they are just slightly different. I'm not sure if the difference was because one was Dodge and the other Plymouth or if they used different inner fenders between PS and Manual steering cars. Anyway I welded the piece I cut out of the Plymouth inner fender to the piece from the Dodge sprayed on some undercoating and bolted it together. It actually looks pretty decent (meaning unnoticeable....... especially with the tire back on LOL).


I've had a chance to put a few miles on my 57 since I complete the installation. In my opinion it was well worth the cost and work to installing it. I've driven several Forward Look cars with factory power steering over the years the road feel of the new steering gear is far nicer than the original PS. Don't get me wrong it does not make the car feel like a sports car.......but it now has the feel of the later 60s era power steering cars.

PS 12.jpg

1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: Mike P] #2767040
04/22/20 09:33 AM
04/22/20 09:33 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,239
north of coder
moparx Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline
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north of coder
good write up mike ! up
beer

Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: moparx] #2957362
08/25/21 05:53 PM
08/25/21 05:53 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,506
AZ
Mike P Offline OP
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AZ
My 50th High School reunion was cancelled/postponed last year. It was held last week and I did drive the 57 Plymouth back to Illinois. All together the car racked up 4000+ miles there and back. The car did great.

The route I drove took 29 hours each way and on the way back I drove straight thru. I missed the 20 MPG I got with the Tri-Power but fun with the Dual Quads was worth it.

I even fit in a trip up to the Museum that the 57 Plymouth that was buried in Tulsa now calls home. Kind of fitting considering I originally built my 57 to Drive to Tulsa to see the car exhumed in 2007.

[Linked Image]RT1 by M Patterson, on Flickr


The Tulsa Plymouth looks better than it did when I last saw it, but that’s not really saying too much!




[Linked Image]RT3 by M Patterson, on Flickr



[Linked Image]RT4 by M Patterson, on Flickr


Anyway it was a great trip and I’m glad I made it.


.


1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold
1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold
1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
Re: Revisiting the 57 Plymouth [Re: Mike P] #2957692
08/26/21 05:11 PM
08/26/21 05:11 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,239
north of coder
moparx Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"

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Posts: 19,239
north of coder
congratulations ! up
your car looks good, and it has proven to be a safe and reliable ride.
you done good ! bow
beer

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