New Guy - '65 273 Valiant Convertible

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punkybub

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Hello from North California - Redding to be exact. I'm Eric and my first car was a 1962 Plymouth Valiant slant 6 (the mighty 170!) three on the tree. I drove that for so long and it was such a good car that I was hooked from then on. It didn't hurt that my stepfather was a Mopar mechanic - he's who bought the Valiant for me for a graduation present wayyyy back in '72.

I've got a '65 273 V8 Valiant convertible right now in the last stages of having the engine rebuilt. It had a 2barrel carb but my friend who's rebuilding it put a 4barrel manifold/carb in that I found (was looking for an Edlelbrock D4B but found a stock mani instead....).

It's looking good but I'm having trouble finding an air filter cannister for this new carb/manifold combo....in case someone out there might have one they'd sell - please let me know!
 
Welcome to FABO Eric!!! Can't wait to see some pics of your 'vert. Sounds like a nice car.

You should post your parts request in the Parts Wanted forum. Folks that have stuff to sell will look in there. There is a place in member's profile to review feedback scores for sellers and buyers.
 
66fyssh - Thanks! I'll take some pics soon and post 'em.

Thanks for the tip on Parts Wanted too - I'll post there right now. It's springtime and a terrible shame to have a non-working convertible sitting there looking at me... :)
 
welcome! I have a unsilenced black airfilter for the original 4bbl AFB. You need?
 
Mopar Tim - it's a Carter carb and I'm not sure what AFB is. The throat/opening is 4"+ and the air filter case can't be more than 2" tall or so in order for the hood to close.

What does "unsilenced" mean in this context? I'm not looking for a muscle-car sound from this old bird - just sorta slide along as quiet as can be - but maybe that's not what it does.
Sorry for my ignorance... I would like an original black case though.

So I guess the answer to your question is... idk.#-o

If it will fit a Carter and doesn't increase the engine noise and if I can drive with the hood closed - how much do you want for it?
 
punkybub said:
Mopar Tim - it's a Carter carb and I'm not sure what AFB is. The throat/opening is 4"+ and the air filter case can't be more than 2" tall or so in order for the hood to close.

What does "unsilenced" mean in this context? I'm not looking for a muscle-car sound from this old bird - just sorta slide along as quiet as can be - but maybe that's not what it does.
Sorry for my ignorance... I would like an original black case though.

So I guess the answer to your question is... idk.#-o

If it will fit a Carter and doesn't increase the engine noise and if I can drive with the hood closed - how much do you want for it?
Click to expand...

The original Commando/Charger 4bbl air cleaner top was chrome. The black ones came on some mid 60's 383's. Coincidentally, the air cleaner top from certain year Slant 6's were the same as well, but, obviously the bases were different.
 
I posted questions here and in Parts Wanted - I'll just reply in Parts Wanted after this.
Sorry for the duplicates. I also now know AFB=Aluminum Four Barrel.
 
Two7T3Dart - since there's no commentary in the parts section (from what I read) I'd like to ask you here: is it the 4bbl carb that makes the difference between a regular Valiant (Signet in this case) and a Commando?

This car had a 2bbl originally and during this rebuild I had the 4bbl manifold/carb put on with pretty much stock cam I think (?). I just wanted the power when I needed it and the economy when I didn't need power.

So much to learn - thanks for any info.
 
punkybub said:
Two7T3Dart - since there's no commentary in the parts section (from what I read) I'd like to ask you here: is it the 4bbl carb that makes the difference between a regular Valiant (Signet in this case) and a Commando?

This car had a 2bbl originally and during this rebuild I had the 4bbl manifold/carb put on with pretty much stock cam I think (?). I just wanted the power when I needed it and the economy when I didn't need power.

So much to learn - thanks for any info.
Click to expand...

Basically, the differences between a regular 273 (2bbl) and a 273 Commando (Plymouth's name) and a 273 Charger (Dodge's name) are: Hi-comp pistons (10.5:1), a bit hotter camshaft, the iron 4bbl intake with Carter 500cfm AFB 4bbl carb, dual-point distributor, fancy valve covers, and chrome air cleaner.

Even using the iron 4bbl intake and AFB carb will be a vast improvement over the 2bbl setup. You can run the 2bbl cam as well...actually preferable given the "cat-piss" they call gasoline these days. Being a small displacement engine, it's real easy to over-cam or over-carb these things.
 
Thanks for the info - I'm anxious to get her on the road with the new intake. Glad to hear the 2bbl cam will be ok - I don't really want hot rod noises and it was fairly powerful even with the 2bbl - the 4bbl will be a hoot!

I was told I should install updated electronic ignition instead of points - do you think that'd be a good idea? I'm planning down the road for disc brakes too. I rebuilt the drum brakes years ago and after all that work....they were a lot less effective than I hoped.

Also the rear end is from a /6 Valiant and from what I've read, the gears aren't right for a V8. There is supposed to be a gear shop here in town that can put the correct ones in the same housing so that's another entry for the to-do list...

I'm happily in a place where I can get this car taken care of at last, and grateful for all the knowledge you guys offer to such a newbie.
 
Electronic ignition is a good idea. The factory Chrysler one is good. You can buy it all in a kit...new dizzy, box, regulator and wiring...

...or...

you can go with Pertronix....it sets up right in your current distributor.

You need to determine what gears you have in the rear end. If they are high "2's" to low "3's", you'll be good to go.

Post some pics of your ride, when you can....we LOVE pics here...ask anyone!!!

Here's a few pics of mine a few years ago, now sold....
http://s41.photobucket.com/user/65val/library/1965 Valiant Custom 100 Stuff?sort=4&page=1
 
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