1973 Plymouth Valiant
Before you even ask, NO - I never truly desired a Valiant. However, this is such a sweet little car, I couldn't pass it up. It all started on October 13, 2001. A fellow Corvette member, Chris, asked us (All American Corvette Club) to help promote a senior daycare facility. Happy to assist him (he's a nice guy), I attended the Corvette display. After visiting with the nice folks at the center, I took some pictures for them with my digital camera. I began speaking with Gloria, whose mother was a client of the center. She asked me for my opinion about a '73 Valiant her mother had purchased new. Well, one thing lead to another and now I own a 1973 Valiant!
The Valiant is a cool survivor car - only 26,000 original miles! The interior is in excellent condition: black with checkered interior with bench seat, AM radio and automatic - that's about it! It features the almighty (well, more like everlasting) Slant 6 engine. All reports from my wrench-turning friends basically state this motor will "run forever." Well, I figure maybe 2,000 miles a year is more my style.
The everlasting Slant 6 before cleaning.
A cleaner Slant 6!
Gloria's parents bought the car in 1973. After her dad's passing in 1974, the car was seldom used by her mother. Recently, her mother has been unable to drive so Gloria decided to sell the Valiant. All seems original, including a few scrapes on both sides of the car from Mom wacking the garage doorway. Otherwise, the little Valiant is a cool ride.
1
To my surprise, Valiant was made in Canada on April 1973.
The trunk features the unused original spare tire!
The folks from the senior center where I met Gloria:
My Corvette (on the right) I suppose is indirectly responsible for the car.
More Valiant Pictures:
More Slant 6...
Chicks dig the Valiant...ok, they don't! But I do!
Valiant Car Club? Well, not exactly. There is a club dedicated to cars equipped with the Slant 6 engine. The club is called...the Slant 6 Club of New York & New Jersey. The "Slant-Six Club of America" was founded in the early 1980s by Jack Poehler of Salem, Oregon. In 1989 the "Slant-Six Club of America" absorbed the "Chrysler Products Slant-Six Club," and in the process, took over what is now known as the "New York/New Jersey" chapter of the club. The club is dedicated to the preservation, and enjoyment of all Chrysler products powered by the venerable "Slant-Six" engine. The club welcomes owners of such vehicles, regardless of condition.
Above: The Slant 6.
Click HERE for information about the Slant 6 Club of NY/NJ
CLICK HERE for Slant 6 fall Picnic & Show 2002 Pics
CLICK HERE for Slant 6 fall Picnic & Show 2004 Pics
A Valiant Effort
Restoration Progress Report:
Spring/Summer 2002: I have purchased a variety of items on Ebay: NOS grill (to replace a few busted teeth) and good condition/used hubcaps (the front, passenger side is scraped).
October 6, 2002: At the annual NY/NJ Slant 6 Club Fall Show & Picnic, I detailed the engine compartment - bigtime! Here are the before & after photos:
At the beginning of the show, about 11 AM...
...towards the end of the show, about 3:30 pm...and 4 gallons of water later (and some degreaser).
August 18, 2003: Finally, with the Corvette back in good shape, my trip to Kentucky past and the rain has stopped - I have begun to outline the engine compartment restoration. Although I started with a good basic cleaning last October, my Corvette engine work has given me so much more exprience and confidence. Basically, she needs to be degrease completely, sanded down and reainted - all without removing the block. With so much mor space, and less componants, this will be a lot easier than the Vette. Also installed a new battery today.
Anyway,click here to see the BEFORE PICTURES. This pictures were taken on August 19, 2003.
August 23, 2003: Got some replacement stickers for the engine compartment while at Corvettes at Carlisle for the air cleaner the radiator support (emmissions).
August 29-30, 2003: Degreased the engine big-time. Now I can see the entire block color (Mopar blue). Chunks of grease/grim just fell out - cool!
September 4, 2003: Just ordered NOS Mopar ignition wires.
November 2003: Got new metal pre-heat hose that connects to air cleaner.
early May 2004: Replaced the water pump, alternater & power steering belts, thermostat & radiator cap.
June 16, 2004: Took the old Valiant to a cruise night in Wyckoff, along with 2 Vette buddies - that was a funny site. To my surprise, many people came by to see the Slant Six (no joke). While there, RT, Mario & I changed the spark plugs & Mopar wires. The major milestone occurred on the way back home - she flipped 27,000 miles! It took me a couple of years to leap over the 27,000 mile mark (can you believe I've only driven her about 800 miles?).
June 19, 2004: Painted the air cleaner & valve cover with mom today (I guess she was bored). I painted the air cleaner gloss black, as it was before. Using Chrylser Corporate Blue for the valve cover (and eventually the block) which seems to be a shade darker than the old paint but that may just be that I degreased the block to the extent that the original paint was "bleached" a bit resulting in a lighter shade. Maybe tomorrow I'll paint the rest of the engine. Of, almost forgot - I will replace the valve cover gasket - the rubber one it had was poor. I'll replace it witha cork gasket.
June 20, 2004: Painted the entire block today & intake manifold - looks great (if I do say so myself!). I also dressed the exhaust manifold with a silver paste-like substance that will give 'em a new appearence. As long as I was into it, I removed & repainted the battery tray as well. The engine bay looks soooo much better, it's almost unbelievable that it is the same car! Now I need to move on to the steering componants, some crossmembers & suspension parts, and other miscellaneous brackets. Most of these items will be semi-gloss black. What a Valiant effort....sorry, I know that was corny!
July 3, 2004: Changed oil/filter today while Mom cleaned a few hoses.
----- Last Updated on October 12, 2006 -----
Want to see cool rides? Go to:
Featuring daily and weekly pictures of classic and collectible cars, trucks and motorcycles.
Race cars, classics, muscle, pre war, lowriders, tuners, hot rods, rats and more - we show 'em all!
Note: This site is not recommended for sissys...