Mopar of the Month: August, 1999
1963 Plymouth Fury
Doug Weschules writes:
I thought I'd send some recent photos of my pride and joy. I know that the car is not finished yet (are they ever finished?) but I figured visitors to the 1962 to 1965 Mopar Web Site would dig it anyway.
I acquired the 1963 Plymouth Fury a little over two years ago. I had just finished graduate school and was desperate for any Mopar musclecar that I could afford. Even a 383 Roadrunner would have done it for me at that time! I stumbled onto this car at a classic car dealership and from first sight I knew I had to have her. When I told my dad about the car he busted my chops, saying I was buying a 'recruiter car' similar to the cars that Army recruiters drove when he was my age. Needless to say, he changes his tune when he saw the car in person!
Apparently, the car was built by a guy that had passed away and the sheet on the windshield was the only info that came with the car. Some of the details of the engine buildup are still a mystery, but I know much more than I did two years ago! Since finding the Fury, I have been slowly cleaning her up and making the car more showworthy. I couldn't imagine myself owning anything but '62 to '65 Mopar iron.
MoPar to ya!
Specifications for Doug's 1963 Plymouth Fury:
Powerplant
- 440 cubic inch wedge bored 0.030" over (446 cubic inches)
- 11:1 compression ratio
- Competition Cams solid roller camshaft
.575/.575" lift, 262/262 degrees duration @ 0.050", 308 degrees total duration
110 degree lobe separation angle, 106 degrees centerline
- 906 casting heads, ported and polished
- Max wedge valves, 2.08 inch intake, 1.88 inch exhaust
- Crane 1.5 ratio rocker arms
- Holly 850 cfm Double-Pumper carburetor with annular discharge (#9380)
- Weiland 'Team G' single-plane intake manifold
- Hooker Super Competition headers
- 3 inch exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers
- 8 quart oil pan
- Brass works water pump
- Mopar Performance electronic distibutor with vacuum advance
- Accel SuperCoil, Mopar Performance 'chrome box'
- Accel race distributor cap and rotor
- Accel 8.8mm 300+race plug wires
- Mallory Comp-140 electric fuel pump
Transmission
- modified 727 Torqueflight with 3000 stall speed converter
- manual reverse-pattern valve body
- SCS Turbo-Action 'Cheetah' shift kit, with Line Lock
- transmission cooler
Driveline
- narrowed 8 3/4 inch rear end with Sure Grip (489 casting)
- 4.88:1 gear ratio
- one-piece spider
- Moser Engineering axles
- drive shaft loop
Miscellaneous
- Super Stock lightweight hood ('64 hemi-style scoop)
- 4 core radiator
- 4 inch K&N Filtercharger
- Mickey Thompson Sportsman tires
- Weld Draglight wheels
- trunk-mounted battery
Doug, that's a great car! 1963 Plymouths are among my favorite Mopars anyway, but you sure have a supurb example.
Thanks for sharing your Mopar with us. It sure brightens up my day to view photos of your ride!
Gary H.
August, 1999
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