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1937 Dodge, Ol Bessy Is Coming Home!


Sharps40

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How about a new motor-guaranteed, easy as a Chevy sb. Make the car worth more and not another everybody has one motor?? Add a torqeflite trans, can't get much easier.

 

Just one way. would be much appreciated on this forum I believe!  ?

 

DJ

 

 

Blueprint Engines BPC4082CT SBC 408ci Stroker Base Engine 375HP JEGS.html

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1 hour ago, DJ194950 said:

How about a new motor-guaranteed, easy as a Chevy sb. Make the car worth more and not another everybody has one motor?? Add a torqeflite trans, can't get much easier.

 

Just one way. would be much appreciated on this forum I believe!  ?

 

DJ

 

 

Blueprint Engines BPC4082CT SBC 408ci Stroker Base Engine 375HP JEGS.html 290.56 kB · 1 download

 

 

nah, already set up for chevy.  Plus I like chevy motors and trans better than mopar or ford.

Edited by Sharps40
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 Dash is fully secured now, top and bottom. Top screws are stainless with stainless nuts and washers as the windshield opens for ventilation and is subject to water. I have three windshield drains to hook up. Running boards by Smoothie Fab are on. Pretty good fit for 82 year old car and lots of body work. Drivers side is a bit off but i still have front sheet metal to align. Back to front is where it needs to be and locked down snug. These are made for stepping on, top coat is black bed liner instead of the old style rubber mat.

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1. Shop changed owners

 

2. Dad lost $15000 to finish her to the departing owner.

 

3. New owner quotes $39000 to pick up where first owner left off and finish the job.

 

4.  Dad is 80 and some health issues.  I need to finish her so he can drive his car configured much like he wanted it back in 1957 when he bought it for $50.

Edited by Sharps40
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14 hours ago, Sharps40 said:

1. Shop changed owners

 

2. Dad lost $15000 to finish her to the departing owner.

 

3. New owner quotes $39000 to pick up where first owner left off and finish the job.

 

4.  Dad is 80 and some health issues.  I need to finish her so he can drive his car configured much like he wanted it back in 1957 when he bought it for $50.

Sorry to hear things went sideways with the restoration.  It will all work out eventually.

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Its working now!!!!!!

 

Dad, tonights work.
 
- Glass inventory. Three cars worth will yield 8 near perfect sections of glass of the 11 pieces needed. We'll buy 1 drivers window, and 2 vent wings for the front doors. Savings will be about $700.....don't worry, we'll spend that on rubber!
 
- The window crank mechanism in the dash is cleaned, lubed and the zinc gears in near new condition. I have a spare mechanism for parts, and this part is not available at any price!
 
- Windshield in good shape, I'd replaced it in 91, and the rubber is still soft and plyable, no cracks, so, cleaning it up and it'll go back on the car this week. Located every screw needed, those hard to find 8x32 dome top tapered bottom screws.....at least the shop kept them in jar in the box, in the trunk!
 
- I properly installed the cigarette holder and cigar lighter box, seems the shop forgot the bolts.
 
- The cowl vent is rebuilt with its bug screen and ready to install.....However, rather than remove the hinge bolts under the dash, they cut the damn things off. I'll soak them in PB blaster and see if i can drill them out from the underside. If not, i have to remove all the upper dash bolts and rotate the dash down and back out of the way. Galls my ass they did such good work on the car and got lazy with two bolts.

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Dad,
 
Tonights work. Rubber for trunk, opera windows, vent windows and cowl vent should be here Saturday.
 
I'll start buttoning her cabin up snug, back to front like all the work. So, the first piece of glass is restored. Drivers side rear seat vent window. Frame and paint good, glass tight and the latch is now polished again. Compare to the Passenger side on the right. I have spare frames to replace the missing hardware so they'll stay open when driving.
 
Will probably also build the original trunk shelf this weekend.
 
And, buttoned up the dash for the last time I think. Here on the underside is the passenger side cowl vent hinge mounting point. they cut the studs off, no way to get to them from the top, but loosening the dash made enough room for the drill the studs came out. It'll be a 3.5 handed job to get the bolts and nuts back in there through the hinge, but i think duct tape and a drop of superglue on the wrench will make it go smooth in such a tight space.
 
Finally, the windshield is coming along. I should be ready to prime and paint it in a couple evenings and then hopefully install it this weekend.
 
If i get the cowl vent and crank open windshield done sunday, I'll let you know that the innovative MOPAR Bug Induction System is back up and running!

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Dad,
 
As I work on the 37 Dodge, I continue to review the theme, what you might have done with her in the late 50s to mid 60s.
 
I think back to your original set up with the flat head six, though you always wanted a V8. Your set up of the six was bored, shaved, split dual exhaust and twin factory 1 barrel carburetors....with that set up, you won a lot of races against more powerful cars.
 
Uncle Mike, your brother, did similar things with his Fords.
 
So....since the computer controlled engine and transmission is coming out, I'm going to try getting us back in line with the agreed upon original theme.
 
Pending some fitment questions from the manufacturer, the photo shows your potential new fuel system. Something an 18 year old could have done in 1960. Dual 2 barrel GM carburetors on an original look adapter, because of course, why have one boring 4 barrel carburetor when you can bolt on more!

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Dad....Opera windows are in....harder than I remember.....arthritis fingers...but still doable as a one man job.....trunk shelf is next and gotta buy more rubber for the doors. And just like the old days, Bessy's license plate gets cocked at the drop of a hat. Also, FatMan responded, some bowing is normal, finish it, settle it, then disassemble and trim coils for best ride height.

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I don't really like the rubber from Mopar Direct.  Plenty soft and nice quality but small in all dimensions compared to original seals.   I may try the front rubber components from Andy Bernbaum.   I can't afford the Lynn Steele stuff, its priced so high.  Must be made of Unobtainium.

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Dad,
 
I'm no professional restorer/hot rodder....but I put my hands on her/your car every night for a couple hours.  They wouldn't do that.  She'll be a mix of new and old.   Professional and amateur.   But in the end, every original and new part will function properly and look at least good.
 
Started cleaning up the windshield frame, inside is scuffed, primed and painted.   Couple days, I'll flip it over and treat the face.   Not willing to risk breaking the frame to remove the glass and the rubber is good in any event, still soft and pliable and no checking at the tight corners.
 
Started cleaning up and painting the front vent wing frames.   I found a complete set of hardware and trim for each.   One wing primed and painted.   The other wing still in the cleaning up stage.   The stainless and chrome hardware polished nicely.
 

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Edited by Sharps40
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Dad,

Finished installing chrome hardware on the vent window frames for the front door. Finished the sanding and painting of the windshield frame. I removed the stainless trim for cleaning. Its looking somewhat better. Will install in 48 hours when the paint dries hard. Also located the steering column drop spacer that the shop lost. $50 for the proper tapered spacer but, where else ya gonna find a critical 83 year old part than on Ebay? We will see if we can use the oversize hole they drilled in the firewall behind the head for the column. If not......I'll figure it out. Coulda used a 1.5" hole rather than a 2 1/4" hole.....HA! Maybe i can use that hole for a wiring bulkhead if its not right for the column. Coming along. I'll call this weekend. Time to buy the last of the rubber and glass channel and get her buttoned up in the next week or two.

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Dad,
 
Worlds first Bug Induction System is back online. Brought to you by Dodge, because they care. Not even an Indian Motorcycle can so effectively channel protein supplements directly into your mouth as you motor down the road. Seal is good, window opens full and the crank mechanism works like a champ.

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Dad,
 
Parts are on the way to finish buttoning up Ol Bessy.
 
Shipping 2 weeks out:
2 Front Vent Glass Panels
1 Front Drivers Roll Up Window Glass
 
Shipping Today:
2 Front Vent Wing Rubber inserts
2 Front Roll Up Vertical Division Seals
2 8' Sections of Window Glass Sweeper
24 Feet of Roll Up Window Glass Channel
1 Set Top of Door Seals
1 Pair Headlight Rubber Inserts
7 Feet of Hood to Cowl Lacing
4 Rubber Hood Corners
1 License Plate Bracket Pad
 
Not much left in the way of rubber requirements after this but a handful of door, hood and glove box bumpers and bumper grommets.
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Dad,
 
First time Ol Bessy had her trunk shelf in place, in my memory. So, call it 50+ years without its shelf. Originally, the shelf came all the way to the trunk lid and the spare tire under it had hold down clamps accessible at the lip of the deck. Since the floor is nicely replaced and all those clamps and fittings long gone, I put in a half shelf and we'll mount a compact spare under the shelf on the passenger side. The shorter 20" shelf will leave room to install and access a center hold down bolt for the spare, jack, etc. After thats in place, just like originally, i'll install an off center support for the shelf that runs from the shelf edge to the trunk floor. Then she'll be roomy enough to carry three dead deer or 2 big coolers full of them and our rifles......looks like room for a nice 4 gun rack right there on the back of the back seat across the big X member.

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Dad,
 
Having committed to Gunsmithing over nearly 40 years, I have acquired a rather eclectic mix of thread cutting taps and dies.
 
On shutting the door, the sole lock on the car popped out and hit the floor. No worries, no key for that one anyhow.
 
Dug through the parts inventory and found Bessy's original door lock and key. A good start. The set screw tube, like all of these old cars, had long since rusted and required the shop to drill out the set screw. Doing so destroys the 10x32 thread.
 
No worries, off to the gun box where i round up those ancient taps, dies and screws used to repair rifles from the turn of the century when all the threaded fasteners were equipped with odd ball thread pitches.
 
In this case, the seldom used these days size of 12 x 24 threads per inch cleaned up the set screw bore and I scrounged up a nice new stainless steel screw and lock washer for the job.
 
Everything lubed up and working and with a toothpick to guide the floppy square shaft of the lock cylinder, in it went. Cinched it all down and viola!
 
Bessy's Passenger Side front door locks and unlocks properly.
 
As you will recall, Dodge pushed Safety in 1937. As such, all doors lock from the inside by raising the door handle. You were to enter and exit the car curbside and lock the final door using the key, thereby never standing in or opening a door into traffic. (Of course Dodge has a steel dash.....but they advertised recessed knobs and controls to prevent injury.....I suppose flatening your face was fine so long as there were no projections to cause a depressed skull fracture. :) )

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Edited by Sharps40
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