1962 PLYMOUTH FURY

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Rattling noise from front of engine on cold start that quiets after warmup, Rough idle or poor performance due to retarded cam timing, Difficulty starting when hot, Metal shavings in oil pan if sprockets have deteriorated

Fix: Replace timing chain, both sprockets, and timing cover gasket. On 318/361/383 engines, expect 4-6 hours labor. Must drop oil pan on some setups to retrieve debris. Smart shops replace cam thrust plate and fuel pump eccentric while they're in there.

Estimated cost: $450-850

Symptoms: Pushbuttons don't engage gears or stick halfway, Car rolls in Park position, Cable housing cracked or frayed at firewall, Transmission shifts fine manually but buttons don't correspond to actual gear

Fix: Replacement cables are NLA from Chrysler; requires custom fabrication or NOS parts ($200-400 alone). Park pawl mechanism in transmission may need rebuild if worn. Cable replacement: 2-3 hours. Transmission park mechanism overhaul: add 6-8 hours for removal and internal work.

Estimated cost: $600-1,800

Symptoms: Brake pedal slowly sinks to floor when held at stop, Fluid puddles inside wheel drums or under master cylinder, Brake fade or pulling to one side, Low brake pedal with spongy feel even after bleeding

Fix: Single-reservoir master cylinders dry-rot after decades. All four wheel cylinders typically need replacement/rebuild simultaneously. Master cylinder rebuild or replacement: 1.5 hours. All four wheel cylinders plus shoes and hardware: add 3-4 hours. Strongly recommend converting to dual-reservoir master for safety.

Estimated cost: $450-900

Symptoms: Visible holes in driver/passenger floor under carpet or mat, Rocker panels crumbling when pressed with screwdriver, Exhaust fumes entering cabin, Structural flexing or cracking noises over bumps, Moisture accumulation inside car after rain

Fix: Rust repair is labor-intensive. Patch panels available for common areas but full floor replacement may need custom fabrication. Front floor pans: 8-12 hours per side. Rockers: 6-10 hours per side. Requires welding equipment and metalworking skills—beyond most DIYers.

Estimated cost: $1,500-4,500

Symptoms: Ammeter shows discharge at idle, marginal charge at highway speed, Dim headlights at idle that brighten with RPM, Battery repeatedly goes dead overnight, Generator brushes worn down to springs (inspect every 40k mi)

Fix: 1962 uses generator with external voltage regulator, not modern alternator. Generator rebuild (brushes, bearings, armature resurfacing): 2-3 hours. Voltage regulator replacement: 0.5 hours. Many shops won't touch generators—may need specialty electrical shop. Alternator conversion kits available but require bracket changes.

Estimated cost: $250-600

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Excessive play at steering wheel (more than 2 inches of wheel movement before wheels turn), Wandering on highway requiring constant correction, Clunking from steering box area over bumps, Leaking gear oil from steering box seals

Fix: Steering box can be adjusted first (free, 0.5 hours) but eventually needs rebuild or replacement. Box rebuild: 4-5 hours. Pitman arm, idler arm, and tie rod ends typically need replacement simultaneously. Full front-end rebuild with box: 8-10 hours.

Estimated cost: $600-1,400

Symptoms: Fuel gauge reads empty when tank is full or stuck in one position, Engine stalls or sputters after sitting, runs fine after fuel system prime, Visible rust particles in fuel filter or carburetor bowl, Fuel smell near tank or visible exterior rust

Fix: Gas tanks rust internally after decades, especially if stored with old fuel. Tank removal, cleaning/coating or replacement: 3-4 hours. Sending unit replacement: included. If tank cannot be saved, reproduction tanks run $300-500. Fuel line replacement from tank to pump recommended simultaneously.

Estimated cost: $450-950