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Hello Gang;
I have been following this discussion with
interest and would like to make a few points from my perspective. I believe that
it is one thing to use better technology in perishable parts like belts, tires,
and hoses within reason. Some will in fact go to the extreme of using factory
grade N.O.S parts in these applications(except tires) just to have
a totally original car, I don't subscribe to this idea but some do. As I
see it in these applications you are not altering the way the car functions
or its appearance.
In the case of my car the engine was seized up until
last fall when I finally broke it loose. Prior to doing that a fellow that I
know kept suggesting that I dump the original motor and put a 383 or 360 under
the hood. Before even looking at the car he suggested that I convert the
electrical system to 12 volts and install an alternator. He kept bugging me with
this idea until I showed him how the power steering pump was driven after
which he dropped the idea. For those of you with newer cars the 56' and earlier
Chrysler products had the power steering pump driven off of the back of the
generator, an engineering headache for replacing it with an
alternator.
With regards to the engine swap idea I
ignored it all along. Since I have put so much work into getting the engine
apart I am certainly not going to change my mind now and chuck that hemi on the
scrap heap. Another reason is practicality, yes I could get a newer working
MoPar engine and transmission fairly cheap to put in there. However the amount
of time that I would spend modifying and fiddling to get the whole thing to
fit would be more then it would take to finish rebuilding the original
power plant. And considering the fact that I would have to modify the power
steering and other systems as well for the new engine, the cost would
not be any cheaper in the end.
So this was my choice, work with the original
machinery and have a desirable car, or heavely alter it and have a car that
no one would want and dump a pile of money into doing it. The choice to me
was obvious.
Best Regards
Arran Foster
1954 Imperial Newport
Needing A left Side Taillight Bezel and other trim
parts.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2002 6:49
AM
Subject: Re: IML: Technology, and our
Imperial's "purity"
I see things in a different light too. You're
compromising your Imperial's value and originality. If I was in the market for
a nice Imperial, and saw one that was still original and another modified,
even if done tastefully, if thats even possible, with GM or other non Mopar
parts, I'd take the more original Imp, just out of fear that some "boy racer"
had owned it before or the modifications weren't properly engineered. Your
Imperial may oe may not become more dependable, but any undependability
before was due to age or non-maintenence, not any problem with the original
engineering which you are changing so quickly. If what you're doing to your
car makes or keeps you happy, that's fine. But, when you're at a car show, and
some local fellow with his Camaro or S-10 full of decals, puffing oil smoke
and dripping coolant, has a nice laugh at you and comments on all the GM parts
you need to keep your Mopar running, that's when you'll have realized you
turned your car into a Chimperial. And I bet you'll find, not too many people
will want to buy one of those, if you ever go to sell. I bet your mechanic
isn't that worried about the resale value or heritage of your Imperial, that's
for sure.
Make Mine and Keeping Mine, All
Mopar...
Phil
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 11:52
PM
Subject: IML: Technology, and our
Imperials
I know there are those on the list that are against doing anything
unoriginal to our old cars, but I see things in a different light. There
have been many technological improvements to automobiles since our Imperials
were designed, and I feel taking advantage of some of these technologies to
keep our old cars dependable and out on the streets for not only us as
owners to enjoy, but for everyone who sees our cars, (many for the very
first time), to enjoy also. The brake fluid canister on the '59 is a good
example of a bad design, requiring a team of three people just to check your
brake fluid. As long as you are not compromising the original powerplant and
ride of the car, I feel it is fine to incorporate some of the newer
technology such as advanced spark plugs, silicone wires, new exhaust
systems, alternators, and something most of us probably ride on, radial
tires. As long as the old parts are being saved for whenever they may be
called back into action . My Imperial is becoming more dependable by the
day, and my objective is to keep it out of the mechanics garage, and in mine
as much as possible, after all I bought it for my enjoyment, and I love to
admire it's beauty everyday. I even alter the walks I take with my dog so I
can walk past my Imperial, and it's the only time I let him sniff around as
much as he likes, so I can admire my car. My car is not ready to be put in a
museum, Queen Victoria still has a life with me. I will tell you one thing,
if Chrysler was to reintroduce the Imperial in a downsized retro style of
the 1959, I would be the first in line to buy one, but of course I would
never part with my original. Bill '59 Crown
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