The 1964 Plymouth Fury is a full-size Mopar from the unibody C-body era, built solid but now 60+ years old. Most mechanical issues stem from age and sitting rather than inherent design flaws, though the poly-head V8s and early ball-joint suspensions have known weak spots.
Timing Chain Stretch and Gear Wear (Poly V8s: 318/361)
Common · high severityTypical 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
Upper Control Arm Bushings and Ball Joints
Common · high severityTypical 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
Carburetor Sticking and Internal Corrosion (Carter AFB/BBD)
Common · medium severitySymptoms: 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
Single-Reservoir Brake Master Cylinder Failure
Occasional · high severitySymptoms: 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
Heater Core Leaks and Dashboard Removal
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: 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
Torqueflite 727 Transmission Rear Seal and Bushing Wear
Occasional · medium severityTypical 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
Torsion Bar Anchor Corrosion and Ride Height Loss
Occasional · low severitySymptoms: 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
Buy if solid and driving; the mechanicals are stout Mopar stuff and parts exist, but budget for deferred maintenance on anything that's sat—these are restoration projects, not turnkey cruisers.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.