It is most interesting to read about the Plymouth Cranbrook. I've had 2 of them, both 1951 versions. I believe that name was on the 1951 to 1953 models and then changed to Belvedere for that model line in 1954.
As for the gas mileage, they might well get 30 M.P.H. As it was said, they would never accelerate the fastest, but they were a simple and fun car to drive. My parents had a Canadian 1951 Dodge Regent, essentially a Plymouth Cranbrook with Dodge emblems and body script. I bought my first 1951 Cranbrook as a daily driver at age 19 and parked it 2 years later due to due to the engine needing a valve, piston and ring job and not enough money to pay for it. In the end I gave it away.
The second Plymouth I bought 3 years ago for heritage status from the original owner who had to give up her car and home. They as you say are fairly cheap cars to come by, simple to work on and a joy to drive. I'm glad that others share the same enthusiasm with them too.
Bruce Pettinger.
Dear Plymouth Fans;
I am 49 years old, and have owned a 1953 Plymouth since the age of 9!
Presently, I am the PROUD Owner of that same Plymouth, as well as the following:
1946 Dodge Custom. "Fluid Drive";
1949 Dodge Coronet; "Fluid Drive;
1950 Plymouth Deluxe;
1951 DeSoto Custom; "Fluid Drive";
1952 Plymouth Cambridge;
1954 Plymouth Savoy,2 door;
1954 Plymouth Savoy 4door;
1955 Plymouth Belvedere;
1956 Plymouth Savoy;
1956 Chrysler New Yorker; (354 Hemi.) ;
1960 Plymouth Savoy 2door;
1960 Dodge Dart Pioneer; v8;
1968 Plymouth Signet Valiant.
The 1953 Plymouth was a great improvement over the previous models, and received rather unfair treatment which time has helped reverse!!
It is my sincere hope that this new "Changing of the Guard" at Chrysler will help it return to its' proper roots, and also quickly bring back "PLYMOUTH"; the GREAT Car of distinction, and Muscle History!!
Sincerely;
Frankie "MoPar" Marchese
Retired President, Granite State Antique Auto Club (Founded.1964)
I need someone to tell me of a way to find the drums for the 1953 Plymouth Cranbook. (front and rear) Thanks.
I just got a 53 belvedere 2dr. It needs brakes and a tune up. I was wondering if anybody could could tell me where I could find information on how to do a brake job and the best place to get parts for it. Thanks any information would be great. You can e-mail at flandersaaron@hotmail.com. And I will keep checking back on this site.
I need someone to tell me of a way to find the drums for the 1953 Plymouth Cranbook. (front and rear) Thanks.
Jack up the car and take the lug nuts off. Pull off the wheel and there they are!
"19th Nov 2007, 17:05.
I need someone to tell me of a way to find the drums for the 1953 Plymouth Cranbook. (front and rear) Thanks.
1st Mar 2008, 20:09.
I just got a 53 Belvedere 2dr. It needs brakes and a tune up. I was wondering if anybody could could tell me where I could find information on how to do a brake job and the best place to get parts for it. Thanks any information would be great. You can e-mail at flandersaaron@hotmail.com. And I will keep checking back on this site."
When in doubt, just go to Google and type in variations of what you're looking for --- 1953 Cranbook brake drums, classic car brakes, etc. You're bound to find someplace that sells whatever you need. Sometimes their website will show you what you need, but you'll probably have to call and order. I drive an old Charger, and have found that Advance Auto etc. just doesn't stock the original parts anymore, so I had to surf on-line a lot for places that sold original heater control valves, chrome pieces, etc. There are lots of places out there that specialize in antique car parts. Like as not you'll find your brake drums somewhere.
As for doing a brake job, are you just looking to change the brake shoes? Are the slave cylinders leaking? Just changing the shoes is no problem, but you'll want to make a drawing or take pictures of what it looks like when you take the shoes off, so you can put them back on in the right order.
The shoes are easy, just a matter of pushing in the spring-loaded retaining washers, rotating them, and letting them slide off the retaining pins. The shoes will come right off, but mind how the brackets and springs are held in. The shoe bottoms just rest against a yoke, and with new shoes, you'll have to shorten the length of the shaft to accommodate the new thickness; a slave cylinder piston pushes the tops of the shoes apart and just rest against little pins. If the slave cylinders are leaking, you should replace them, or hone out the cylinders and replace the seals.
On a car this old, you should also consider replacing the rubber brake lines on the front, and also check the metal lines for rust and consider replacing them.
Try www.oldmoparts.com for brake drums.
Hello, I have a '53 Cranbrook and I'm having a hell of a time trying to get parts for it. If there is someone out there that has info. on getting parts please let me know. I need the running light lenses for the front & one hub cap.
Thanks Eric.
My e mail is ewalk420@ yahoo.com
Try the website mentioned above (www.oldmoparts.com) ; they say they have "thousands" of lenses. A hubcap should be easy enough to find on ebay if you keep checking.
Hello and thanks for the tip on the parts. Now what I can't seem to find for the '53 Plymouth Cranbrook are lugnuts; they are both right and left threads and oldmoparts.com does not have them. Any one have info. on that?
Thanks again, Eric.
You can always check out the backwoods junkyards. Mopars were still using opposing threads up into the early to mid sixties. My '64 Dodge Polara had left-handed threads on the drive wheel, right-handed on the non-drive. (Or maybe I have those backwards... been a long time!)
As an alternative, you could press out the left-hand thread studs and replace them with equivalent right-hand thread ones. Not as hard as it sounds.
The lugs for the Cranbrook are actually bolts not nuts. And are both left and right threaded.
"28th Aug 2008, 23:00.
The lugs for the Cranbrook are actually bolts not nuts. And are both left and right threaded."
Yes, that is what is already being discussed. Thanks.
The point was, they are bolts, not studs that could be exchanged for right hand thread ones. And left hand thread lug bolts will indeed be difficult to find. Motormite stopped making them several years ago due to lack of demand. Your best hope would be to place a "wanted" ad on mopar websites if you have not been able to find any advertised for sale. You might also luck out and find a salvage yard that still has 1950's era cars in it. There are still a few out there.