Hello from Non-Muscular Newbie

db · Post by db » Fri Jul 11, 14 11:36 pm

Great car! Welcome to the club, I'm looking forward to seeing more of this

JerryL · Post by **JerryL** » Sat Jul 12, 14 7:14 am

Cannonball wrote:i have never seen a 383 with a cast crank, i would think its a steel crank so yes get rid of that flex plate you need one that looks the same but no cut out as yours has,, but double check and as has been mentioned check your crank damper the regular steel crank damper is only circa 1" thick the cast crank type are much thicker,,,
facel vega beautifiul car they drive so sweetly nothing like a sixties mopar you would think they are a solid decade newer,

do your side windows over lap the rears with no seals inbetween ???

Yes to the last

Thanks again for the information. The harmonic balancer fitted would again indicate a forged crank as there is no obvious offset balance weight. So it looks like I have an incorrect flex plate. My book says that the cast cranks came in about 1971 but there is evidence this engine has been in trouble sometime, with welding on one conrod - as told to me by the grinding guys. I did not notice this when I pulled the pistons out!!

I was not sure if the cutout in the flex plate is for balance reasons or to allow access to the torque converter drain plug which is on the same PCD as the fixing bolts. Further investigation needed.

Unfortunately I can't be at the Nats as I will be in Cornwall flying my radio controlled racing gliders over St Agnes Head - weather permitting

I will try Chris at WASP. I thought if I buy a lot from Rockauto it would help alleviate the delivery costs but if stuff had to come from multiple warehouses this would not work. I have read through their FAQs so am now informed, thanks.

JerryL · Post by **JerryL** » Sat Jul 12, 14 7:35 am

drewcrane wrote:WOW very cool car, I have sat here on the phone discussing this with my friend Seth, 1st ones had 276,291,330 hemi desoto engines.

were some 4 speeds?

Yes, some of these cars were fitted with a 4-on-the-floor manual box which by all accounts was very heavy to use. Made by Pont-a-Mousson. When Facel introduced the smaller Facellia to capture a lower cost market, that car was fitted with a Pont-a-Mousson 1600cc twin OHC engine. Unfortunately each cam had only 2 bearings and the resulting flex broke many engines. Loss of confidence and replacing these FOC broke the company.

Engines in the early FV's and HK500's varied as you say. The 383 was fitted in HK500's from about 1959 on. Larger 6.7L units went into the Excellence.

terryr · Post by **terryr** » Sat Jul 12, 14 10:09 am

im with dunc,ive never seen an external balance 383 ,don't think they made one ,that flex plate would knock out your ends in no time,think I have a stock one ,im only down the road from you in kettering ,yours if you want it

JerryL · Post by **JerryL** » Sat Jul 12, 14 11:31 am

terryr wrote:im with dunc,ive never seen an external balance 383 ,don't think they made one ,that flex plate would knock out your ends in no time,think I have a stock one ,im only down the road from you in kettering ,yours if you want it

Thanks Terry. PM sent.

I had this morning thought about just taking a slice out of the opposite side of the plate to balance it up, but this is a much better way.

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Sat Jul 12, 14 2:37 pm

JerryL wrote:
drewcrane wrote:WOW very cool car, I have sat here on the phone discussing this with my friend Seth, 1st ones had 276,291,330 hemi desoto engines.

were some 4 speeds?
Yes, some of these cars were fitted with a 4-on-the-floor manual box which by all accounts was very heavy to use. Made by Pont-a-Mousson. When Facel introduced the smaller Facellia to capture a lower cost market, that car was fitted with a Pont-a-Mousson 1600cc twin OHC engine. Unfortunately each cam had only 2 bearings and the resulting flex broke many engines. Loss of confidence and replacing these FOC broke the company.

Engines in the early FV's and HK500's varied as you say. The 383 was fitted in HK500's from about 1959 on. Larger 6.7L units went into the Excellence.

Ahh lost of info to pass on, very interesting car I bet you get stopped all the time, I know I would

JerryL · Post by **JerryL** » Sat Jul 12, 14 6:53 pm

drewcrane wrote:
Ahh lost of info to pass on, very interesting car I bet you get stopped all the time, I know I would

Well, TBH it has not been out and about much since I've had it. But it did attracted quite a lot of attention at the Kettering Area Motor Club arranged Drive-it Day in April and one day I was parked on London Rd in Kettering talking to a friend who lived there and one guy screeched to a halt beside us and got out for a chat.

Once I get it sorted, it will be out some more.

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Sat Jul 12, 14 9:40 pm

the cut out in your plate is not to get at the drain plug, it is for a cast crank mtr, so you can use a regular t converter,

sinny · Post by **sinny** » Sat Jul 12, 14 11:37 pm

What did I tell you Jerry, the guys would love it!

MMA..............best car club on the planet!

JerryL · Post by **JerryL** » Sun Jul 13, 14 10:30 am

sinny wrote:What did I tell you Jerry, the guys would love it!

MMA..............best car club on the planet!

You are welcome

Certainly for the relatively small membership, this is a very active and helpful forum. Excellent stuff ....................

db · Post by db » Sun Jul 13, 14 10:17 pm

JerryL wrote:
sinny wrote:What did I tell you Jerry, the guys would love it!

MMA..............best car club on the planet!
You are welcome

Certainly for the relatively small membership, this is a very active and helpful forum. Excellent stuff ....................

Nah, we're all just really nosey

JerryL · Post by **JerryL** » Mon Jul 14, 14 5:57 am

JerryL wrote:
terryr wrote:im with dunc,ive never seen an external balance 383 ,don't think they made one ,that flex plate would knock out your ends in no time,think I have a stock one ,im only down the road from you in kettering ,yours if you want it
Thanks Terry. PM sent.

I had this morning thought about just taking a slice out of the opposite side of the plate to balance it up, but this is a much better way.

Thanks to Terry. I picked up the proper type of flex plate yesterday.

I need some advices on the engine rebuild so will start another thread in Workshop.

Charger · Post by **Charger** » Mon Jul 14, 14 5:22 pm

hello there

, nice car

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Jul 14, 14 8:03 pm

Makes a rare change, very nice car - I hope to see it at the Nats at some time.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Tue Jul 15, 14 10:34 am

Hi Jerry...welcome to the club mate and love the car. You will have great fun in her when you are happy everything is ok and catch you at a show or two soon,

cheers Steve