1957 Plymouth Sport Suburban wagon, Locked tailgate. What's in the trunk? Tailgate glass replacement

Рет қаралды 37,675

Күн бұрын

The keys are lost to time, but the tailgate is locked and stuck on this 1957 Plymouth Sport Suburban.
A falling tree busted out the tailgate glass at some point while the car was abandoned in the woods. How do we get the tailgate open and replace that glass? Also, what might be inside the trunk? You never know!
See the process of opening a locked tailgate and getting it unstuck as well as the internals and working mechanisms of the tailgates on 1957-1959 Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler station wagons. We will also replace the tailgate glass to keep the weather out!

Пікірлер: 106

@harrisonpurdy2004 Жыл бұрын

It is so cool to see this car! I would LOVE a wagon. I have a 57 Belvedere in this same Dusty Coral.

@ObsoleteAutomotive Жыл бұрын

Coral is one of my favorite colors of ‘57.

@harrisonpurdy2004 Жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive I do too, it's a unique color that doesn't seem as common and is total cool 1950's.

@shartne 11 ай бұрын

That stationn wagon is super cool looking. Its not too bad really for as old as it is and it been outside for a long time. It looks like it can be saved. I am excited about its a very fancy old wagon.

@miebrus79 2 жыл бұрын

I like your cat ...I mean your beautifull car...the way you replaced the rear window. nice

@cellpat2686 11 ай бұрын

Wow another car I had no idea existed. A Christine wagon. And it is in surprisingly good condition too.

@gerrysears6695 Ай бұрын

I think this old girl appreciates you pulling her out of the woods .

@pclayton5063 2 жыл бұрын

When I used to do all my junkyard crawling, years ago, I always told everyone that the cars to save would be the wagons since they were the first to be crushed in most yards. Dad got me hooked on wagons with the 55 Pontiac Safari we had and drove from Kansas to Alaska in 1961. Mom hated the 2 doors as she had to move when us kids wanted in or out. On my 7th wagon now. Great video!

@scotthay1486 Жыл бұрын

Looks like a clean car. Very little corrosion. Great find.

@resurrectionmotors2421 2 жыл бұрын

Hello, this channel came across I scroll this morning. I like Mopar, so I clicked on it. Right off the top of my head I would say Scott at cold war motors KZfaq channel will probably have a back glass for that think and many other parts. You can see Dylan McCool that's working on one that's a four door just like that. I look forward to seeing more projects on this car. Maybe in the future possibly introduce yourself so we know who you are. God bless

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

There’s more to come with my various projects and finds. Also probably an introductory video of some sort. Thanks for following along!

@Oyvind88 2 жыл бұрын

Awsome wagon,work and video👌😎🇳🇴 Cute cat😍

@ObsoleteAutomotive Жыл бұрын

Thanks 👍

@joepilbeam4722 2 жыл бұрын

It's great to see there is still people like you.

@ObsoleteAutomotive Жыл бұрын

I hope that is a compliment! Ha

@66skate 2 жыл бұрын

One thing you should have done is clean the channels where the glass attaches and put fresh lithium grease in them. That old grease makes the window difficult to move.

@1977jed 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful wagon Austin! Happy to see it get saved! We just bought two.... A 56 and a 57 NewYorker Town and Country..Gotta love the long roofs!

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

Nice!

@birdssurfshed 2 жыл бұрын

Well done and informative thank you.

@americanrambler4972 2 жыл бұрын

Seeing this car with so little serious rust in the back of it is incredible!

@skipstein744 2 жыл бұрын

WE had a 1959 version to this Plymouth when I was a kid. A fine vehicle. Thanks for your efforts, she is worth it. Onward!

@trippberry 6 ай бұрын

Great work

@TheKimmer1969 2 жыл бұрын

Congratulations...! What a project. Looking forward to see more....👍

@joes3485 2 жыл бұрын

If I remember correctly, Chrysler used separate keys for the ignition switch, glove box and the doors & rear tailgate. You should be able to take the tail-gate lock assembly to a locksmith and get a new key made for that latch. Then get an extra one to check & see if it also fits the side doors. It will be neat to see the correct key operating the doors and tailgate again. After you get the trunk area cleaned out good, use a drill with wire brush attachment and remove as much scale rust as you can, follow that with some POR-15 rust converter to stop the rust advancement and convert the rust to a protective coating. Then use a primer to match with whatever paint type you use to re-paint the trunk floor. You may be able to get new weatherstrip seals from Andy Bernbaum and also some tailgate window channel materials from him too. The window channel material will help make movement of the glass assembly smoother along with good lubrication of the moving parts. It is so nice to see someone taking the time and effort to restore one of these wagons. Many of these older station wagons were more roomy than current SUVs. Good luck!

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

On Chryslers the doors and ignition switches used the same key. The tailgate lock is its own and I had a new key made for it. I also had new keys made for the ignition switch but unfortunately they did not work the door locks. (It’s common for ignition switches to get swapped out over the years) However a locksmith can rekey the locks to match in most cases.

@caspaabriel4794 Жыл бұрын

I would've thought that gate's not opening, may till you remove all that glass and frame. I'd love to have this wagon, top of the line Sports Suburban, yeah!

@geralddavies2333 2 жыл бұрын

Keep up the good work

@ObsoleteAutomotive Жыл бұрын

Thanks, will do!

@birdssurfshed 2 жыл бұрын

If your lucky you'll find the jack clipped in place under the rear bench seat. My 57 has the spare tire in the passenger side rear rear wing section of the wagon with a outside cover that unclips to allow for access. The panel looks like a wheel cover but when removed the spare is in a vertical position and has a lock on one of the lug bolts. The cargo area in mine was fully lined with a cool houndstooth type of vinyl snapped in place. There is a mercury activated lamp inside that turns on when the lid id opened.There is a single lock that positioned in the middle at the rear of the cover for security.

@StreetFreaksGarage Жыл бұрын

Great video. This is exactly what I was looking for. We have a 57 two door wagon at the shop that's missing the rear window mechanism. Now we know what to look for. Our wagon debuts on our channel later today actually. Thanks again Street Freaks Garage on KZfaq.

@ObsoleteAutomotive Жыл бұрын

All 1957-1959 MoPar Wagons used the same tailgates. There are differences between the power and manual crank tailgates. I’m assuming your car is a manual crank version. In that case you can use the tailgate and mechanisms/tracks off any 57-59 MoPar wagon with the manual crank window.

@StreetFreaksGarage Жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive great thank you. I'm assuming this was manual since it is the two door six passenger car and I didn't see any signs of wiring leading to the tailgate.

@StreetFreaksGarage Жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive it does have the outside crank handle.

@herbemont7627 2 жыл бұрын

Only have watched three of your videos, when you were picking this wagon up I thought to myself "Good luck finding a back glass for that car" then boom, pulls one out of his stash. Probably bought this wagon just to use the back window in your inventory!, Cool car, keep the videos coming.

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

That’s why I try to save everything I can! You just never know when you might need it!

@79tazman 2 жыл бұрын

Love the old triple A sticker on the bumper someone was a American Automobile Association member. I remember seeing them on many bumpers as a kid

@EYE_SPIDER 8 ай бұрын

Fun channel, great video Brotha!

@Mitkawatch 3 ай бұрын

I see you questioning your life choices half way through that😂 well done sorting it out!

@fine9100 2 жыл бұрын

Good job!! That is some rusty joints.

@isaacsrandomvideos667 2 жыл бұрын

What a cool car

@cuda426hemi 2 жыл бұрын

Dad bought our '57 Custom Suburban early '57 - had the cool bumper wingettes on it. I would say it was less than TWO years in Chicago area ir sprouted rust over the headlights on top fenders as well as bottom rear fenders. That was what killed Chryslers reputation - right after they bragged in '57 "Suddenly It's 1960" - yeah well - they didn't say it would RUST before 1960!!! Approx. 1964 the rear seat fell through the chassis - the car was sitting in Massachusetts at the time. But because of Pops I've been Mopar guy ever since to point my 2nd car at 21 was brand new last year E-Body 'Cuda! 🚗

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

These cars did rust badly especially up north. The lower trim models and wagons with the rubber flooring also held moisture which didn’t help. But really all cars rusted bad where salt was used on roads.

@birdssurfshed 2 жыл бұрын

The small attached rod is used to prop the floor section up.

@MikeGuy993 2 жыл бұрын

Loving the content!

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@shaunclifton5281 2 жыл бұрын

AWESOME 👍!!!

@bigguy1960 2 жыл бұрын

I see by one of your replies that the car has already been "re-homed". I hope whomever purchased it will do a series on getting it roadworthy! I would also like to see some videos on the green '61 Plymouth in your picture - '61's fascinate me, and there's a great episode of "Car 54 Where Re You?" where they deal with a stolen '61 sedan that gets swapped with their police car and repainted several times!

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

I do hope the car makes it back on the highway. My goal was it save it from abandonment. I will have a video on my ‘61 Plymouth in the near future. I drove it from a California to North Carolina last year.

@hairylarry6167 Жыл бұрын

I know a guy who has a 57 Edsel Station Wagon. It's all there, sitting on blocks.

@stephenholland5930 4 ай бұрын

Maybe a 1958 - that was Edsel's first year.

@creativeloafer9792 Жыл бұрын

Ah man great video! The window on mine is stuck down and the window crank just spins. I figured that spline piece was broken. I have the big access panel off but trying to figure out how to free the glass from the regulator arms.

@ObsoleteAutomotive Жыл бұрын

You should be able to take the clips off the arms of the regulator where they go into the slots of the glass and then pry them out. Then the glass is able to be slid out.

@79tazman 2 жыл бұрын

I see some likes their old Mopars. I'm a big Mopar guy myself so your not alone anyway that's a awesome Suburban it's in good shape for a 1957. does it still have the old flathead 6 in it those things are die hard engines. What a great find

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

It’s a Poly 301 V8

@66skate 2 жыл бұрын

Nice overall condition. Mopar wagons seem pretty scarce these days. I had a 61 Chrysler Newport wagon years ago. That 64 Dodge Custom 880 is another car not seen often.

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

Wagons used to be unwanted so many got scrapped or parted out but they have gained in popularity so now they aren’t just seen as junk. I’ll have some videos of the 880 in the future.

@patrickwayne3701 2 жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive very cool to see the inner workings. I need to do the same thing on the one I picked up from Kansas. Just subbed when this vid was suggested and I saw the wagon. Outstanding to see it has survived!

@patrickwayne3701 2 жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive in 1978 and 79 I lived in Mango Florida, outside Tampa in a trailer park where a bunch of retirees and the road manager for Lynyrd Skynyrd lived. As a budding car guy I was happy to wash and wax the 65 Imperial for the tour manager, and just a few slots down, Gene and Marge Medsger were an old couple I mowed grass and changed oil and filters for them in their PERFECT 63 Custom 880, white with red interior. They were such sweet folks. And had number tattoos on their arms, as they were kids in the concentration camps in Germany when American and Russian forces arrived and liberated them. They became like surrogate grandparents to me. In 1980 that Custom 880 only had 36k miles on it. I would LOVE to have been old enough to buy that when they passed. Seeing your 64 brought back those memories. Keep the Faith!

@emersonleander4388 2 жыл бұрын

You are likely already aware of this; there is a club (likely many) that is for owners of station wagons. The main club, that I know of. Is called Wagon Masters. Check them out. I have never been a member. Yet, I have been a member of other auto collectors clubs.

@billclay832 2 жыл бұрын

Love that wagon! When you're ready to sell, let me know!

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

This car has actually already been rehomed! My main goal was to save it from possibly being scrapped.

@philipdecatanzaro1822 2 жыл бұрын

I would suggest using something more aggressive than WD40 to lube the door with. WD40 is more of a solvent and only works for a short time.

@billywird Жыл бұрын

WD40 was developed for keeping parts from rusting. It stands for Water Displacement formula #40. The story is that this formula was developed on the 40th try and the name stuck WD40. I agree with you on some points where it should take a more aggressive rust dissolver spray and there are different brands out in the industry. Back when I was a little tyke my Granddaddy used Liquid Wrench to penetrate rusted up mechanisms. At least this fellow uses a spray lubricant to get things moving initially. On his last video he worked WD40 into the hood hinge mechanisms to loosen them up. Most people doing these videos just muscle the parts and can bend things up. I see a lot of them are not properly prepared for what they are fooling with but the more experienced ones they know what to expect and what to bring when they go after these older vehicles. I use WD40 and PB Blaster on rusted up parts and of course patience. I tell people "you would be surprised what you can fix with a can of oil".

@bobadams179 2 жыл бұрын

I'm sure you probably know this but if you take that lock cylinder to a lock smith they can make a key which might fit that and the rest of the locks in the car.

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

Already did that. Went to my local locksmith and they were able to make new keys for ignition and tailgate.

@bobadams179 2 жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive 👍

@larryippert8143 2 жыл бұрын

I like the dodge custom 880 right next to you

@ObsoleteAutomotive Жыл бұрын

I'll have a video on it in the future.

@goldenboy5500 2 жыл бұрын

my dad had a 57 too in black 3 on the tree had a back facing seat window only the back window was electric

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

The 3 seater came with the electric window. But the electric window was optional on other models.

@goldenboy5500 2 жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive thanks for sharing that I I was 10 years old that would make that car 3 years old he didnt keep it long so it must been problematic

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

@@goldenboy5500 A lot of people trade their cars in every few years just to have a new car.

@goldenboy5500 2 жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive tell me it all started in 2009 I bought a 2008 tucson traded for a 2010 santa fe that got totalled leased a 2010 sonata after 14 months got a 2012 santa fe than a 2013 sonata limited than a 2014 tucson than a 2015 sonata ltd. hybrid than a 2016 elantra gt 2017 santa fe sport ( hated that car from the day I got it ) than got a 2017 tucson got a great deal on a 2018 tucson that became a 2020 Kona Ultima 1.6 turbo that was a fun to drive car but we had to get a scooter for my husband so we got a 2020 santa fe loaded it had everything you could think of but also loaded with problems they ended up buying it back I now have a 2022 tucson again loaded you don't want to know what my payments are, at this point I have no idea what a new car smell is anymore

@birdssurfshed 2 жыл бұрын

If at all possible do NOT remove the torsion bars inside of the tail gate that keep the tension on the tail gate itself. a REAL hassle to re assemble.

@dantarver622 2 жыл бұрын

how on earth did you find a new rear window?

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

Had one in my parts stash. Always got to save parts that can be useful later!

@danielulz1640 2 жыл бұрын

I think that glass was used through 64, 59 for sure.

@merc-ni7hy 2 жыл бұрын

pretty cool car..where are you located??,,just curios cuzz it looks like you are in the northeastern part of the country ....i'm in P.A

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

North Carolina

@windowcreek1798 2 жыл бұрын

When your old rusty hinges are so frozen and hard to open, I alway soak them with used engine oil. Works every time and then put the wd40 to it.

@plantboy100 2 жыл бұрын

always use grease on window runners and gears

@stevendease4054 2 жыл бұрын

The moving parts could use some grease.

@birdssurfshed 2 жыл бұрын

Tail gate not replaced but mechanism most likely.

@birdssurfshed 2 жыл бұрын

The rear window needs to be completely rolled down for the tailgate to be lowered. Lubricate before kicking the crap out of it. These are VERY hard to get parts for.

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

It’s shown in the video that the glass must be down to open the gate. I’m very well versed on how the tailgates function. I’ve owned many of these wagons and had to open several stuck tailgates over the years!

@birdssurfshed 2 жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive No malice was intended. Merely making an observation so sorry If I bummed out your trip. Cool car

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

@@birdssurfshed I ain’t worried about it. I hope you enjoy the videos.

@birdssurfshed 2 жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive Absolutely

@marcstruglia5910 8 ай бұрын

Is this Swagger?

@prestonpatton2846 2 жыл бұрын

Great wagon, Hope to see more videos on it. Also, do you still have the 1961 Plymouth on your profile picture? Maybe a walk around on that car too.

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

This ‘57 wagon has found a new home… which is always the end goal. I’ll be making videos of the ‘61 Plymouth wagon in the future however! Thanks for following along.

@patrickwayne3701 2 жыл бұрын

@@ObsoleteAutomotive oh SNAP!! That was for sale??!! Man,, where did you advertise it??

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

@@patrickwayne3701 Instagram.

@kirkmacdonald5680 2 жыл бұрын

Those gloves are fighting you all the way

@pd8206 2 жыл бұрын

Him kud knot pay me enuff 2 work on my worst junk !!

@paulworsaa8739 2 жыл бұрын

WD40 is for screen doors... Get some pb blaster,, or some kroil...take up meditation,,, aquire some patience Grass Hopper,,, the faster you force something ,the quicker you bend it.. it's easier to conserve,, than it is to restore.

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

Meditation won’t break free stuck latches. Lubricant/penetrating oil and some force will.

@OnkelPHMagee 2 жыл бұрын

With stories that I've heard about quality control on the 1957 cars, the idea that it possibly needed a new tailgate window regulator after seven years does not surprise me.

@ObsoleteAutomotive 2 жыл бұрын

My thought was maybe the car got rear ended in the tailgate so the entire assembly may have been replaced. The tailgate and drivers rear quarter had been painted at the same time it seemed.

@imp81 10 ай бұрын

if the tailgate had been replaced they wouldnt have painted the inside of it the same color as the rest of the car, i dont see any sign of damage inside the gate so id say the gate is original to the car.....@@ObsoleteAutomotive