Just Got My Dads 1971 Charger 500 383 NEED HELP TRYING TO START

[herbg123]

HELLO FRIENDS,
I JUST GOT THE OK FROM MY FATHER TO TAKE POSSESION OF HIS 1971 CHARGER 500 383.  ITS GOING TO NEED SOME WORK BUT NOT THAT MUCH I'M PRAYING.
IT HAS A 1996 INSPECTION STICKER AND HE SAYS HE JUST STOP DRIVING IT. IT HAS HAD A COVER ON IT .  SOME RUST MOSTLY SURFACE BUT QUARTERPANELS SMALL HOLES. I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN TRYING TO GET IT RUNNING I COME UP WITH SOME OF THE PARTS I MIGHT NEED TO GET IT GOING BUT I WOULD LOVE SOME SUGGESTIONS AND REAL EXPERIENCE.  I HAVE A MECHANIC WHO IS CHEAP AND WORKS ON MY FRIENDS RACE CARS AND OLD CARS SO HE IS LEGIT.  IM GOING TO BUY THE PARTS AND LET HIM GET IT STARTED. HERE IS WHAT I HAVE COME UP WITH.

BATTERY
FUEL PUMP
TANK TO FUEL PUMP LINE
DISTRIBUTOR CAP
INGNIITON COILS
PLUGS AND WIRES

ANYTHING TO ADD WILL BE GREAT
I KNOW IM A NEWBIE SO IF THERE IS OLDER POST PLEASE ADD THOSE

[cudaken]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Mopar!   

Here is a link you might want to read.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,101995.0.html

I lost interest in my 68 Road Runner and let her sit outside for 8 years, at first I thought it was only 7. So I wanted to make sure she was lubed up good before I fired her up.

He is another link about my Road Runner.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,101965.0.html

I am about a half hour away from starting her up! 

Good luck with the Charger. 

Cuda Ken

 

[Pete in NH]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum!

I would look over Cuda Ken' Threads on bringing his 383 back to life. There's a lot of good information there. I would add to your list belts, hoses and anything else on the engine made of rubber. Also, follow Ken's advice about pulling the spark plugs out and adding a penetrating oil like Marvel Mystery Oil and letting it sit for a few days. Then try to turn the engine over by hand with a socket and breaker bar on the crankshaft balancer bolt. Also change the oil, filter and engine coolant. You might want to pull the fuel to the fuel pump from a clean container filled with new, clean gas until you can attend to the fuel lines from the tank and the old gas in the tank which is very likely turned to varnish by now. Take your time and don't rush things trying to get it started. Those old 383's are really rugged, with a little care it should come back to life.

Good luck with the project and some pictures would be great. By the way, my Charger is a 71 383 so I know exactly what you're working on.

[herbg123]

THANKS ALOT IM GOING TO LOOK AT THE POST AND GET BACK WITH THE BOTH OF YOU.  IM HAVING TROUBLE POSTING PICS IT SAYS IT  TOO LARGE OR TOO BIG OF A FILE.  FUNNY I CAN POST ON CRAIGSLIST WITH FROM MY PHONE BUT NOT WITH MY NIKON D50.  HELP IF ANY OTHER WAY OF POSTING

[JB400]

Don't over look the brakes and trans as well.  Changing the fluids and filter wouldn't hurt being that they could have collected water.


Posting pix are pretty hard for the first timer.  They have to have a unique name and be under 200 kb.

[DC_1]

Post pics, post pics!!!!


......oh and

[cudaken]

THANKS ALOT IM GOING TO LOOK AT THE POST AND GET BACK WITH THE BOTH OF YOU.  IM HAVING TROUBLE POSTING PICS IT SAYS IT  TOO LARGE OR TOO BIG OF A FILE.  FUNNY I CAN POST ON CRAIGSLIST WITH FROM MY PHONE BUT NOT WITH MY NIKON D50.  HELP IF ANY OTHER WAY OF POSTING

Get a photo bucket account. I use photo bucket and it will re-sizes the picture but they will be big here on the site but they will post. Most of my pictures I re-size using a free Photo Program called Picasa.

After you get the 383 turning over, next part will be to figure out why it stopped running in the first places. See if Dad can remember any details.

Cuda Ken   

[herbg123]

Trying to get this picture situation figured out in the next couple of days.  I got a couple with my phone that ill try to post and see how they look. Please bear with me.  Where can i get a list for all the hoses and belts i will need for the start up.  I dont trust these autoparts stores all the time.  sometimes they give me the computer to look at parts brought back numerous parts in past no time for it on this project.  I have way more detailed pics to come as soon as i get the hang of it.

[herbg123]

lets try again

[herbg123]

Thanks Cuda Ken it worked great. (Picasa)  I have a great deal of detailed pics(problem areas etc) .  Give me a couple days. Could use advice.  most of them are in zipfiles

[cudaken]

Thanks Cuda Ken it worked great. (Picasa)  I have a great deal of detailed pics(problem areas etc) .  Give me a couple days. Could use advice.  most of them are in zipfiles

Your more than welcome, by the way what is your real name?

Do you only have a smart phone?  In that case I am clues, my phones only do one thing and they are hooked to the wall! 

Looking forward to seeing more pictures, mainly the body. I love Bodywork!  Rather do that than wrench! 

Cuda Ken

[74Rallye]

That's a great looking car.
A word of caution, be careful who you let work on the car. Chevy guys generally don't do well with Mopars.

[cudaken]

herbg123 is still at 5 post. Hope herbg123 has not gave up. 

Cuda Ken

[ACUDANUT]

Nice car !!

[GOTWING]

how many people did your dad have to turn away with it being stored in the open like that?  great color combo? would love to see interior pics too, do yourself a favor and replace fuel tank and brake system.

[mauve66]

congrats and good luck

[herbg123]

I am going home to clean it out next week and get a couple of things for it still looking for the right belts and hoses.  Need some help on that.  Funny you brought up the mopar chevy aspect of the mechanics.  All I have seen this guy work on is chevy and he has a ford tatoo on his arm.  Im going to check him out a  little more. The more I thnk about it i may give it a try myself without dropping it of at a shop.    Promise I will have more pics to come.  Work has been crazy so im not online as much but I also don't have much but but the pics are coming.  I have been scaring my parents neighbors who like the car so they know im not joking around.  Patience more pics to come.  I'm happy on the feedback i thought it was in good shape but another eye is always good

[Pete in NH]

That's a great looking car.
A word of caution, be careful who you let work on the car. Chevy guys generally don't do well with Mopars.

Hi,

I'll second those comments.

I've always loved that gun metal color on the 71's, some day in new paint that car is going to look great!

Yes, be careful who you let work on the car. I have to say a guy who works mostly on Chevys and has Ford tattooed on his arm is not exactly a ringing endorsement to work on an old Mopar. Back in the late 60's and early 70's Chrysler had the best drivetrains in the industry hands down. But, along with their outstanding engineering they also had their own unique ways of doing things. It's hard today to find younger mechanics who understand old Mopars. I would look for an older guy who by now would be at least in his late 50's or early 60's. Also, this is very likely going to be a longer term project, because as others have mentioned the brake system is going to need a complete overhaul after sitting so long. If you have to pay someone to do all the work required it going to get rather pricey fast. You might want to think about doing as much as you can yourself. You'll learn about your car and there are plenty of guys on here willing to help you along the way.

[Cooter]

Be careful of so called 'Mopar'guys as well. I've seen plenty of dumbass Chrysler mechanics that claimed they knew all things mopar too.

[ws23rt]

That's a great looking car.
A word of caution, be careful who you let work on the car. Chevy guys generally don't do well with Mopars.

Hi,

I'll second those comments.

I've always loved that gun metal color on the 71's, some day in new paint that car is going to look great!

Yes, be careful who you let work on the car. I have to say a guy who works mostly on Chevys and has Ford tattooed on his arm is not exactly a ringing endorsement to work on an old Mopar. Back in the late 60's and early 70's Chrysler had the best drivetrains in the industry hands down. But, along with their outstanding engineering they also had their own unique ways of doing things. It's hard today to find younger mechanics who understand old Mopars. I would look for an older guy who by now would be at least in his late 50's or early 60's. Also, this is very likely going to be a longer term project, because as others have mentioned the brake system is going to need a complete overhaul after sitting so long. If you have to pay someone to do all the work required it going to get rather pricey fast. You might want to think about doing as much as you can yourself. You'll learn about your car and there are plenty of guys on here willing to help you along the way.

I will third those comments.
A lot of well meaning car mechanics do want to help but some are reluctant to say "I'm not sure" when they really should.
Also in the short time I have been lurking around on this site it seems there is a higher percentage of mopar folks from the 60s and 70s than on other sites.   And they are more than willing to help with the wealth of experience they have. They have all the stuff that is not in the repair manuals and a good sense of humor to help out. -- Even better---It's free 

I recall breaking off several left hand thread wheel studs  ( It wasn't easy) one time and the help I got was laughing with me not at me. It makes a lot of difference. Hobbies are for fun

[cudaken]

 Herbg123 Before I spend money on parts that you need if you get the engine running like belts and hoses I would see if you still have a good motor. Get her prelubed, oil in the holes and turn her over by hand.

Cuda Ken

[nvrbdn]

ken definately knows how to prepare an engine for start up. listen to his advise. nice looking car. good luck with her.

[herbg123]

Thanks for the patience.  Everything looks in place not messed with.  Is there anything i can do to make sure the engine is ok and workable?   I know trying to turn the engine by hand but i don't know it is something that i can do without damaging anything.  I have good know how but I dont want to start of bad.  How bad is the driver floorboard?  It has small holes but i know ill have to cut and patch it hopefully not a big deal.  Thanks

[cudaken]

 Herbg123, have you read this post?

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,101995.0.html

After you have done what I posted about doing with my Road Runner you should be good to take a crack at it!

Make sure you get some Zinc additive for the oil!

My Road Runner Lives!

Ken

[Pete in NH]

Hi,

It looks like that interior is cleaning up nicely. The rust in the floor, which now looks like pin holes, will likely turn out to be a somewhat larger area than it looks like now. It would be repaired by cutting out the rusted section until you are back into sound, clean metal and then fabricating a patch to fit that area. The patch is then welded in. A good body shop will be able to do this for you.

On checking out the engine, You want to be sure to get oil into things before turning it over or even think about firing it up. I would first pull out the spark plugs and use a pump oil can to squirt a good dose of penetrating oil, like, Marvel Mystery Oil, into each cylinder. Perhaps someone will have another recommended oil as well. I'd let that sit in the cylinders for several days before trying to turn the engine over by hand with a breaker bar and 1 1/4" socket on the front of the crankshaft. Hopefully, it will turn. If not I'd give it some more oil and a few more days before trying again.  Once you can turn it by hand we can talk about the next steps.

While the oil is soaking into the cylinders I would take the air cleaner off the carb. and cover the carb. throat with plastic and a good tough rubber band and use some spray on engine cleaner, soap and water, with a garden hose and clean up the engine a bit. Don't blast the alternator or distributor directly with the garden hose.

I really think with going slowly and checking things out that old 383 will fire up.