Source of Tune-Up Parts, Any Ideas????

[tblake]

Hi guys, first time poster over here on the Chrysler page. Dad owns a 1948 (thats right '48) Chrysler Windsor Convertible. Its completly restored, inside and out. Its his baby, same age as him, and was built in his hometown and sold to a family friend. When the original owner died, Dad bought it and its been in our garage ever since.

Just recently My sister was in a parade and rode in the "old car". About a week or so before the parade I took it upon myself to get the chrysler looking (and running) good.

Then came parade day, 40 degrees outside, car started and idled great. After the parade we got it up to about 55mph just to burn some carbon out. On the way up to 55mph, it was missing badly, and hardly had any power. All the ignition components are original, so I'm fairly certain it needs at least a set of points and plugs. Just cant find what I need. Below is a list of the items I'd like to replace and places i've found to carry them online.....

Spark Plugs (champion brand from autozone.com)
Spark Plug Wires (cannot find at all, considering fabrication, any ideas?)
Distributor Cap and rotor (duralast brand from autozone.com)
Ignition Points and Condenser (duralast brand from autozone.com)
New air filter (currently has the original oil type, would like to convert to a paper filter if thats possible, and ideas???)

So, thats pretty much it. The car has the inline 6 spitfire motor with 69,900 actual miles on it. So if anyone knows of any websites with maybe tune up procedures or anything like that, that would help too.

What about the duralast brand, I've never really used it, but it might be alright for this car, wouldnt it?

Thanks for any information.

[wafrederick]

You do not want cheap parts in a classic.You might want to consider convetering the points to electronic ignition.Petronix is the only one that does this and Eastwood sells them.Here is Eastwood's website: www.eastwood.com

[tblake]

yeah, i was thinking that, but its going to be expensive isnt it?

[wafrederick]

Check on Eastwood's website and I believe it is not expensive.

[madmanmapper]

Well for wires, you could always get generic racing ("high performance") wires. You have to cut them to fit, yourself, so I imagine they'd fit about any car. A set is about $80 special order from autozone, you may have to get (or be given) 8 wires. I find it hard to believe that autozone doesn't stock wires for any car. Yet I've had my fair share of "we don't have it" from them. Try advance auto parts, their site (I forget the address) has a larger selection of items, many which autozone doesn't stock. Anyway, Duralast is ok, my dad uses it a lot, but complains about it all the time. They give good guarantees on their products, but they must expect people not to use them. Anyway, if you need just average, not perfromance, parts, at a semi-reasonable price, Duralast will suffice. Especially since you probably don't drive that car very often. But if I were you, I wouldn't use Valucrap parts...err Valucraft*

And why not fork over $80 for a nice K&N air filter?

[tblake]

Thanks for your input. You bring up valid points, its just the nestolgia (spelling) factor with Dad's car. He wants it original. Plus I'm pretty sure K&N dont make a filter to fit. I have tried advance and the cant get squat. Dont even have a listing for a 1948 chrysler. Autozone is the only place that carries anything for it.

[madmanmapper]

You're welcome Hmm, well unfortunately, you don't have the option to just go in back of the store and take parts out of boxes until you find a match. I can though, my dad is a mechanic so we shop in the commercial section.

But anyway, if I were you, I don't think I would be able to resist the temptation to drive the car into a Chrysler dealership, ask for service, and observe their reactions. Bring a camcorder and put it on youtube! Though it would be much more hilarious if the car were a junker...

So I'm assuming you don't want performance parts then?...hmm... wait a minute, all you really can't find are wires, yes? I wonder if wires for a later-model Chrysler with the slant 6 would be about the right size? Find a specific Chrysler model and year with the slant 6 (since you can't just walk into an autozone and say, give me wires for a slant 6), they should stock those wires, then see if they are the right size.

[tblake]

Originally Posted by madmanmapper

You're welcome Hmm, well unfortunately, you don't have the option to just go in back of the store and take parts out of boxes until you find a match. I can though, my dad is a mechanic so we shop in the commercial section.

But anyway, if I were you, I don't think I would be able to resist the temptation to drive the car into a Chrysler dealership, ask for service, and observe their reactions. Bring a camcorder and put it on youtube! Though it would be much more hilarious if the car were a junker...

So I'm assuming you don't want performance parts then?...hmm... wait a minute, all you really can't find are wires, yes? I wonder if wires for a later-model Chrysler with the slant 6 would be about the right size? Find a specific Chrysler model and year with the slant 6 (since you can't just walk into an autozone and say, give me wires for a slant 6), they should stock those wires, then see if they are the right size.

Way too funny, I think it would be worth it to just get that on youtube. Dad wouldnt be so thrilled though.

Great Idea with the wires. Maybe I'll just bring my set with me and compare.

And yes, I know what you mean with parts places, I went to one once needing a carb gasket for a quadrajet, they looked at me and said... "application?" Nevermind application, I need a carburator gasket for a quadrajet, how hard was that?

[madmanmapper]

LOL

One time, just to mess with them, I went to autozone and asked them for a radiator for a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle... lol it took them a while to figure it out!

[tblake]

Alright, Now I feel dumb....

Either the beetle wasnt manufactured in 1969 or if it was, it didnt have a radiator, correct?

HA HA

[madmanmapper]

lol... it has no radiator... it was air cooled for its entire life until they made the "new beetle."

[wafrederick]

Here is a truth about AutoZone and Advanced Auto,they care about the lowest price and skip on quality parts.I have seen their garbage from their fuel pumps to suspension parts being replaced a lot.One parts store I know the owner,a Carquest parts store in Muskegon,Mi did some cleaning and found parts for the older cars including.I am sure he sold the parts and did not throw them out.

[madmanmapper]

Umm, yes we all know these part store chains sell cheap crap. No surprise. But pretty much all the stuff from them (except for Valucrap) I have seen providing a decent, just decent, life span. 4 cars, including my LeBaron and Concorde, mom's Grand Caravan, and my friend's Dynasty, are all laden with Duralast parts, and I've had no trouble from them, except for normal wear. But then, these parts are built for *normal* wear. Hence using them for a classic car that you rarely drive is not a problem. Sure, I've seen Duralast parts go bad quickly, but only on cars that are owned by punk teenagers and/or poor people who drive their cars down.

If you want better parts, go to a place like CarQuest, NAPA, or any small privately owned parts store. But then, you'll spend more money. And that's what it's all about isn't it? Autozone and them sell cheap parts, and we mechanics keep buying them, and they keep going bad. Same concept as "what would happen if someone invented a light bulb that didn't burn out?"

Again, I stress that the cheap parts (except Valucrap) have a *normal* life span under *normal* use.

[jpb53]

try rockauto.com