Hang on to it. Don't get discouraged with it ever. You will be glad you still have it when you get to be an old man. Wish I had kept some of my past treasures. Best of luck to you.
When I initially bought it my plans were to bring it back to life and move on but I’ve really learned to love this car. It’s already brought such good times so I’m planning on keeping it as long as I can.
Sweet ride , I bought a 56 Savoy, 2dr. sedan in 1967. Drove it, and worked on it for years. Originally was a 277 and Powerflyte auto. I bought a 383 and torqueflyte from a 65 Dodge to install. My brother had a hopped up Poly 318 in his 1959 Plymouth. He swapped the 318 and torqueflyte trans to me for the 383 and trans. This made both engine swaps a bolt-in job. I bought a dual quad manifold and carbs off of a 1958 Fury,from a junk yard for $15 in 1969, and installed them on my 318. Had it painted MoPar Electric Blue metallic. I also put in a 3 speed standard shift trans. The 318 with the dual quads and the factory Fury camshaft was a beast! The transmission would not handle the torque output. I went through three transmissions and four differential chunks ! In the late 80’s, I bought a 73 Plymouth Belvedere from a coworker, for the engine/ trans. An LA small block 318 with a 904 torqueflyte. I removed the old poly 318, and swapped in the LA and trans. Had to fab a trans crossmember, use a smaller Dakota starter, and exhaust manifolds from a high performance 340 to complete the swap. Man I loved that car! I named it Ol’ Blue. After a traumatic divorce, I gave Ol’ Blue to my son. He later sold it. Sad. I may still have some literature. I’ll look.
This is Gold! I love your feedback and appreciate it. Such cool info to here. Awhile ago I thought about doing some simple upgrades to this 277 but with these California gas prices and parts being so hard to find these days I’m just going to drive the poly until it dies. It runs amazingly and has a little power when I step on it during traffic. I wanted to swap the manifold and carb but like I said I’m really digging the gas mileage. The trans does get annoying at times since it’s only a 2 speed when I’m on the highway but it runs smoothly at the moment.
Goodness...lot of labor of love there. Headliner, door panels, you warm this old man's heart. Under the hood, lots of good work few appreciate, but I do!
My folks bought a 56, took delivery on my 12th birthday. Had a flathead 6 whose cam bearings went out just barely out of warranty. Dealership refused to make it right so my dad,being depression era type, fixed it himself and promptly traded for a 57 Chevrolet 210 model, 283. I missed that Plymouth but it was on to learning auto mechanics from my dad. Fond memories working under the hood of the 56 with my dad. The 57 easily got 100K with me and dad keeping it running.
Now that’s a memory. You don’t see these cars much and i think there gorgeous looking cars. Thank God i haven’t had any problems yet. The 277 Polly has been great. Also 57 plymouths are a beaut of themselves.
@@DrivewayProjects I had some experience with a 55 that had your engine. Loaner car from the body shop my 1st car (a 62 Studebaker Golden Hawk) was in. I was 17, you can probably guess why it was in the shop. Anyway, that 55 would get rubber in 3rd gear.
I hate it when an old car is turned into some monster car. Meaning the owner turns it into something it was never meant to be. I applaud you because you are making moderate modifications to your 56 Plymouth to make it a daily driver but keeping it closer to what the car was meant to be. It was originally meant to be economical, lower priced working mans (or womans) car. Keep up the good work.
thanks man l appreciate the response. It sure didn’t come with any bells or whistles especially being a blaze but i guess it make it more straight down. Didn’t even come with reverse lights 😂 i guess that was an option too
Thanks 🙏🏼 I’ll be re wiring everyone soon and trying to make things cleaner since 56 didn’t have a fuse panel. I’d really like to one because I plan on putting ac, heat, stereo etc.
A V8 auto on a ‘56 Plaza postie. What a find! I love Exner cars. I have a ‘61 Pioneer with a Slant and a 3-tree. Thanks for the great vid. Looks like some nice work has been done to this…subtle upgrades, but original for the most part.
Very nice! Like others say here... hold on to it It is a nice survivor. Jay always recommends Wilwood brakes, dual master cylinder and and front disk brakes. I wish I could find such a good example back east. Enjoy!
Thanks man! I appreciate it. Those are on the top of my list actually. Working on painting the roof white and putting a little stereo for now. Then Driving it a bit and enjoying it.
Thanks man I appreciate it! The Plaza I have was there base model to with no bells and whistles. I’ve never seen another at a car show and I’m glad I went Plymouth. I can’t imagine how the Belvedere‘s and fury’s look in person since they have all the goodies.
Very cool! Didn't Chrysler just bolt fins on to the '55 to make it a '56? My high school buddy had a '55, with the flathead 6-the poor thing could hardly pull itself down the road-lol! That V8 sounds good!
I actually have videos on all of them when I was growing up we had a 55 I guess it was a bel air station wagon we took that across the country and back on a camping trip and I was about 11 years old is almost the same color as the score how to white top
that’s awesome! they really are great cars and super underrated. I’m fortunate to have found one not molested. i always thought of searching for a junkyard 56 belvedere wagon. I wanted to chop the top off and turn mine into a one a one of a kind 2 door wagon. The Nomad version if plymouth had made one. Just an idea though. Growing up my grandparents had his and hers Nomads.
Great work dude! We have recently purchased a fresh import 56 Belvedere here in the UK, just in the process of renewing all of the brakes and fuel lines etc, do you know of anywhere i can find brake shoes for it? Any help is much appreciated, keep up the great work
Thanks man I appreciate it! Only place I can get them is from eBay but there a bit pricey and same goes for the drums. Parts are not as easy to find but you can cross reference so many parts to 1963. Best thing I’ve purchased was the green services Manual online. Has very detailed information on absolutely everything on the 1956 model.
@@DrivewayProjects brilliant thanks man! Found all the brake cylinders and master cylinder etc on RockAuto but having trouble finding the shoes but will be sure to try ebay
That’s awesome! Yeah of course man. Message me for anything and I’ll try my best to help out. I’ve done the simple things to turn mine into a daily driver so feel free.
that’s cool! There great cars. Yeah it’s kinda hard finding parts. Ebay and cross reference from pre 62 318’s. A lot of 318 parts work. Also in northern california there’s a great mopar junk yard “Big M automotive” they have basically everything from older mopars even our cars. no website really, the owner is old school. worth a trip up there.
Looks great, nicely done. I just picked up a 56 Belvedere and was wondering how you wired up your tach. I'd really appreciate it if you could give me a quick rundown. Thanks.
Thanks man I appreciate it! Of course. There’s a few ways you can do it. I converted mine to HEI so it might be slightly different. Remove the stereo cover and move the stereo aside and you’ll have real easy access to your ignition switch(key). Some tachs most likely have different color coding so double check instructions if you get a new one. RED (power)- goes to key ACC. 56 doesn’t have fuse panel. BLACK - is ground. GREEN - goes to tach input on distributor for HEI or negative post on your ignition coil for points distributor. For the light on the tach I added a wire to the back of the light switch (head light terminal) and let it come down to the tach (WHITE WIRE). I left it a little longer as well because I added small green lights. When you turn on your headlights the tach light will come on along with any other light if you want to add any. The easier route would be to add a long wire straight from the head light terminal in the front of the car next to the headlight back to the tach and that would give it power to light just the same. I say that because getting to the headlight switch is a real tight space unless you remove the whole dash. Hope this helps.
What is the scheduled build date of your car? Should be under SCHED on your body tag. I have a bunch of '56 Plymouths pretty close to you too. Let me know if you need any help with something.
I have a 56 Savoy. Runs a little hot, new thermostat. and other parts. The fan of your plaza 4 or 5 blade, and where did you purchase it. Thanks Narciso
Nice! I purchased a 6 blade fan from summit for real cheap(80 dollars). Also Southern California summers have been real hot from 90 to 105 temperatures so I’ve been running it without a thermostat since May. I do warm it up for about 5 to 10 mins before i drive it since I’m not using a thermostat though. When I do run it with one I try and get one that opens up at a lower temperature not the regular 180 to 190 because in traffic it stays cooler longer. Also eBay has refurbished water pumps for pretty cheap as well and mine works like a charm. I believe it was 50 in total with shipping. Also use T4 Diesel motor oil help the motor run better.
Thanks man I appreciate it. Yea I have been meaning to get done. I was holding out on fining something that looked factory but I really should get that done soon. Better than my plummets tape and bolt I got that’s for sure.