1964 PLYMOUTH FURY

Typical onset: 80,000+ mi or any age if sitting long periods

Symptoms: Rattling on cold start that fades as oil pressure builds, Erratic ignition timing that won't stay adjusted, Hard starting when hot, backfiring through carburetor, Metal shavings in oil, especially with nylon cam gear teeth

Fix: Replace timing chain, both gears, and tensioner. Poly engines used nylon-toothed cam gears that deteriorate with heat cycling and age—metal replacement mandatory. Requires front cover removal, harmonic balancer puller, new gaskets, and timing set. 4-6 labor hours for experienced tech, more if you're cleaning up debris from a grenaded gear.

Estimated cost: $600-1,200

Typical onset: Any—original parts are 60 years old

Symptoms: Clunking over bumps, especially when turning, Wandering at highway speed, constant steering correction needed, Uneven tire wear on inside or outside edges, Visible play when prying on suspension with bar

Fix: These torsion-bar C-bodies use tall upper ball joints that wear at the stud and socket. Bushings crack and collapse from age even without mileage. Replacement requires pressing or cutting out old bushings, installing new rubber or polyurethane, plus ball joint replacement. Must re-align afterward. Budget 5-7 hours for both sides with proper equipment.

Estimated cost: $800-1,400

Symptoms: Flooding, fuel dripping from throttle shafts or base, Sticking throttle or choke blade, Hesitation on acceleration, flat spots, Hard starting, high idle that won't drop

Fix: Ethanol fuel eats old gaskets and leaves varnish in passages. Carter carbs from this era need complete disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, new gaskets/seals, float adjustment, and recalibration. Throttle shaft bushings often worn allowing vacuum leaks. Full rebuild kit plus 3-4 hours labor, or swap to Edelbrock replacement if originality doesn't matter.

Estimated cost: $350-700

Symptoms: Pedal slowly sinks to floor when held at light, Complete brake loss with no warning if seal fails, Fluid weeping from pushrod boot, Spongy pedal that doesn't firm up after bleeding

Fix: 1964 used single-chamber masters—one seal failure means total brake loss. Internal corrosion common after decades. Rebuild kits available but modern dual-chamber conversion strongly recommended for safety (requires adapter bracket and residual valves). Bench bleed and system flush mandatory. 2-3 hours labor for straight replacement, 4-5 for dual conversion.

Estimated cost: $250-600

Symptoms: Sweet coolant smell in cabin, especially with heat on, Wet passenger-side carpet, Fogged windshield that won't clear, Coolant loss without external leaks visible

Fix: Heater core buried deep behind dash. Requires extensive disassembly—steering column drop, instrument cluster removal, radio delete, ductwork disassembly. Original copper/brass cores rot through. Aftermarket aluminum cores available. Budget 8-12 hours labor if dash isn't already apart for other reasons. Many owners bypass rather than replace.

Estimated cost: $700-1,500

Typical onset: 90,000+ mi

Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddle under tailshaft, Clunk when shifting from Park to Reverse, Driveshaft yoke play at output shaft, Whining noise in gear that changes with speed

Fix: Output shaft bushing wears allowing driveshaft yoke to wobble, destroying rear seal. Requires transmission drop, tail housing removal, bushing replacement, new seal. Check front pump bushing and seal while apart. 4-6 hours labor if transmission is already healthy otherwise. Good opportunity to service filter and bands.

Estimated cost: $500-900

Symptoms: Front end sits noticeably lower than original, Headlights aim low, can't adjust high enough, Torsion bar adjustment bolts seized or stripped, Uneven side-to-side ride height

Fix: Torsion bars themselves rarely fail but adjusters corrode in place and anchors rust. Penetrating oil and heat usually needed. Replacement bars available if originals are set or broken. Requires unloading suspension, removing LCA, sliding bar out rearward. Clean and anti-seize all threads on reassembly. 3-4 hours per side if you're fighting rust.

Estimated cost: $400-800