Maintenance: 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Convertible

June 22, 2010 the Plymouth arrived from Salem Indiana.

Plymouth Belvedere convertibles were only produced from 1957 to 1959.

JANUARY 2011

01/15/11 Cleaned old undercoating from under rear seat and painted with POR-15
01/22/11 Installed new top hydraulics, hoses and new motor
01/23/11 Installed new wiring harness to the top motor
01/29/11 Cleaned old undercoating from trunk and painted with POR-15

FEBRUARY 2011

02/05/11 Painted hinge, gas tube and trunk lip yellow
02/06/11 Installed new wiring harness to the rear of vehicle
02/06/11 Replaced trunk side floors with new material
02/06/11 Installed new carpet in floor
Installed back up switch and lights

3/5/11 Installation of audio tech hidden radio that will be under the seat.
The floor has been cleaned and painted with POR15 paint

3/10/11 Seat springs have been repaired, bead blasted and painted satin black.

Seats are now ready for their new foam and upholstery.

I ordered the new upholstery from SMS Auto Fabrics in Oregon and finally picked them up on May 29.
Cool Customs is doing the seats (white with black inserts).

MAY 2011

5/17/11 Car into shop for glass repairs and new liners that the glass slides in (ISSUES)
5/27/11 Ordered new convertible top in pinpoint white, pads, well and tack strips
5/28/11 Replaced 3 canvas covered aging wires in the engine compartment bundle
5/28/11 Installed new headlights
5/28/11 Worked on convertible top window seals and tapped holes for machine screws
5/29/11 Installed new starter solenoid
5/29/11 Installed wing windows after Odgen Chrome re-chromed them
5/29/11 Jute padding in the trunk and topped off convertible hydraulic system
5/30/11 Hooked up oil pressure gauge
5/30/11 Repaired windshield wiper motor and have it working now.
5/30/11 Reinstalled the dash AM radio and wired the lights to come on when the headlights are on.

JUNE 2011

6/2/11 New upholstery installed, trunk carpet trimmed out. Spare tire cover and new top boot in white. SMS Auto Fabrics in Oregon did the door panels and arm rests in the rear and Cool Customs in Yuba City did the seats. I was not thrilled with SMS Auto Fabrics, it took 8 months to get the door panels and you pay top dollar. I purchased the seat material and seat inserts from SMS also to get original materials.

6/4/11 Lincoln Car show was rained out
6/5/11 All MoPar car show in Fremont at Olone College was cool but there was a 60% chance of rain and I didn't bring the car.
6/18/11 Local car show in Yuba City
6/22/11 New convertible top, pads, tack strips and well arrived.

JULY 2011

7/10/11 Took second place in stock cars 1955 to 1959 at Truckee Car show Cannibal Cruise
7/18/11 New pinpoint white convertible top installed by Cool Customs in Yuba City.
7/30/11 Installed Monroe rear Air Shocks, new engine thermostat, and started work on the steering wheel.

AUGUST 2011

8/2/11 Steering wheel has been restored using epoxy putty from POR-15 and SEM plastic paints Landu Black and Clear Coat low luster finish. Filled cracks with epoxy putty and sanded with 320 then 400 sandpaper for a smooth finish. Came out nice!
8/3/11 Horn Ring was chromed and painted Gold then installed today.
Getting ready for Hot August Nights in Reno finishing up little details.
8/8/11 HOT AUGUST NIGHTS

2012 CLICK LINK BELOW

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1957 Plymouth Power-Pak Engine P-31: 301 cu in V8 [4.9 Liter]
Taxable HP	48.9
Gross Brake Horsepower	235 @ 4,400 rpm (stock horsepower)
Torque	285 @ 2,800 rpm
Bore x Stroke	3.29 / 32 x 3.125
Compression	8.5:1
Compression pressure	125-165 psi
Max variation between cylinders	15 psi
Cylinder numbering from front of engine	left, 1-3-5-7; right, 2-4-6-8
Firing order	1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Connecting rod bearings	Replaceable steel backed babbit; desired clearance, .0005 to .0015 inch
Main bearings	Replaceable steel backed babbit; 5 on V8; .0005 to .0015 inch clearance desired; 2.5 inch diameter (nominal)
Ignition timing	10° BTDC
Breaker point gap	.015 to .018 in.
Spark plug gap	.035 in.
Spark plug size	AR42
Carburetor	Carter WCFB four-barrel 385 CFM
Valve Lifter Type	Poly Solid Lifters
Cam	256/.435” (208@.050”) 112LC High Performance Poly Solid Cam (90-100lbs. seat pressure/260-270lbs. open valve spring pressure)

Plymouth Maintenance Recommended	Mileage Frequency
Chassis Lubrication and Visual Safety Inspection	1000
Body Lubrication (hinges, locks, latches, door striker plates & rotors)	1000
Inspect Oil Filler Cap, Outlet Pipe and Air Cleaner Filter Cartridge	1000
Check Brake Fluid Level	1000
Lubricate Generator and Distributor	1000
Change Engine Oil (6qts with filter change)	3000
Replace Oil Filter	3000
Inspect Cooling System and Hoses (radiator)	3000
Clean Carburetor Air Cleaner Filter Cartridge	5000
Check Brake Adjustment	5000
Engine Tune-up	6000
Repack Front Wheel Bearings	10000
Lubricate Speedometer and Cable	10000
Check Fan Belt Adjustment	10000
Check Wheel Alignment	10000
Check Headlight Aiming	10000
Replace Carburetor Air Cleaner Filter Cartridge	15000
Change Automatic Transmission Lubricant (Type A)	20000
Repack Universal Joints	20000
Change Rear Axle lubricant (90wt. oil 3¾ pints)	20000

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