BobDeSoto

I see what you did there.

Early 70's I was driving from Georgia to Madison - in the Rockford area.  To pay the toll the driver threw the coins into a collection basket on the side of the booth at the time.  As I approached the booth I ran over their rumble strips.  Immediately BOTH rear Good Year tires blew at the same time after driving all night from Albany, GA.   Why?

Speaking of carpet; my 1951 DeSoto two door custom has a fitted rubber mat in the front (obviously original) and carpet in the rear.

Is this normal?

I stuck a piece of #12 wire in the castlenut for the trip home.

I was driving from Madison to Rockford for work early one morning in a friend's car. As I turned into the parking lot the car stopped like I had run into a brick wall!  I got out to look and discovered that the front wheels were splayed - the left pointing to the left and the right pointing to the right.  I looked underneath and saw that everything had come apart.  Luckily I was able to find the castlenut that had come off.  I got everything back together, worked for eight hours and headed back home.  What if that had all come

apart at 70 mph on the interstate?

Usually on the driver's side.

I've always used Dot 3.

You can use Dot 4.

You can mix Dot 3 and Dot 4.

Don't use or mix Dot 5.

From the shop manual:

Under normal operating conditions, pressure is not built up in the system.

However, if an abnormal condition develops, such as overheating, high

speed driving, etc., the valve at the bottom closes; seating against

the gasket.  This action pressurizes the system up to approximately

4 pounds, at which time the valve and seat raise and allow the built-up

pressure to escape through the overflow tube.

So, since my car is a 1951 DeSoto, I can assume that the system 

is supposed to be pressurized.

Thanks

soth122003

You stated back in October that the flat head is a non pressurized cooling system.

When I get back from a drive the upper radiator hose is under pressure. 

I did install a new aluminum radiator a couple of years ago.

It never pushes any coolant out the overflow tube or anywhere else.

The radiator cap came with the new radiator.

Let me know what you think.

I had a battery explode in my face forty years ago.  That was not any fun!

(what is your excuse for being Grumpy?)

Anyhow - don't lean over the battery while you are connecting, etc.

Clear as mud!   

Thanks

So, my 1951 DeSoto is a S17 ???

I have my batteries on battery tenders all the time - both 6 volt and 12 volt.

SO, MY 1951 DESOTO IS A S17

What do these and other designations stand for such as:

        P15

        D24

        D15

        S........

Are you saying that a battery tender will not charge a battery?

Don't forget those left hand threaded lugs.

I was wondering ------

If I take jumper cables and connect them to a 12V battery

while the 6V is in the car (keeping it simple) while it make

the starter spin faster and will it harm anything on either end.

I've heard of people using a 12 volt battery to speed up the starter.

My 1951 DeSoto is all stock - 6 volt positive ground - fluid drive .....

Can I jump start it leaving everything as it is but use a 12 volt battery

and jumper cables?

I'm 74 years old and would gladly pay $5 for spare parts. 

Tank is usually about 1/2 full - no ethanol gas and Sta Bil.

I didn't mention that the gas gauge works fine.

So, probably best to leave it all alone.

Tell me more about draining the gas tank.  I've owned a 1951 DeSoto Custom for 35 years.

It always runs, shifts, etc. and has 65,000 original miles.

I wasn't aware that the gas tank has a drain and I'm not sure the tank needs to be drained.

The car is stored in an unheated shed with a concrete floor in Wisconsin.

I have always had 87 octane with no ethanol available.

Car has no rust on the body and only a little corrosion underneath.

Seems I should keep doing what I've been doing.

Turned out to be a hot topic.