Thread: restore or customize?

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I've got a 53 Chrysler deluxe that is collecting snow right now. I'm torn between rodding it or restoring it. It's fairly complete but not running. Any suggestions?

Mike

Actually. it has a spitfire flathead straight six. But I like the rest so far...

mike

20s, 18s , laying flat on airride , ls1 ,6 speed , all factory on the outside. thats my vote

I agree with kennyd, except put a new hemi in it instead of the LS1, since it's a Chrysler and all...

Pat

yes rod it.... make a head-turner out of it

I think restore to stock. ...................... Cuz' I just can't see choppin' up an older car just to go fast. ............................ o..............o................h.................he................He...............HE...........HE HEHEHEHE.
Sorry, I can't keep a Str8 face Ann E. More.

ROD IT. !!!!!!!!!

Stuff some late model drivetrain in that bad boy, put some chromies on it, and let er rip!

I have a dual carb intake and dual exhaust manifolds for that motor and they are a factory option for the dodge trucks that used that six and have mopar part numbers.

You do realize that you have a very rare motor there???

What made the flathead so versatile was its dependability and torque. The largest flathead six Chrysler used in its automobiles was 265.5 cubic inches that produced 218 ft/lbs of torque at 1600 RPM. So, at just off idle, this engine produced maximum torque, making it ideal for the applications above.

And you can still find, "off the shelf" new parts for the flatheads,,,they were that good.

Dont scrap that motor just yet.

Oh,,and here's a site for ya:
http://www.allpar.com/mopar/flat.html

Hey, is it one like this, helping a good friend do a bit of work on this one, sure is a neat car. And yes, it has a hemi!!!!!

Yup, looks like that one. I'm leaning towards leaving it stock and I'll know more about the engine when I yank it out some time next month.

Thanks, Mike

Oh and BTW, are those trannies hard to go through? It's got the auto/manual box.

Thanks again, Mike

If it was my car I would stick with the flat head. I'd shave the head a little bit to bump compression then have it ceramic caoted so ir would look like aluminum. Get a dual car intake and dual outlet exhaust manifold. Send your cam to crower and they will grind you a custom one for like 200. For the body, I'd leave it stock appearing maybe a 2 tone job like seafoam with a white top. Run some chrome steelies without caps with some wide whites. Lower the front like 2-3inches and the rear an inch less than the front. I think that would be a bad ass cruiser.

Originally posted by Streets
Restore it to "Original stock" and keep the "Fluid drive" tranny complete...

Ditto. i agree with Street's

I guess I would go with a few mild custom touches, just enough to personalize the car, nothing radical. On the one I'm working on, we'll be switching the front to disc brakes, updating the electrical system to 12 volt, and some mild mods on the body. But hey, I've never seen a car I could leave stock!!!!