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brian b

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    46
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Profile Information

  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    sw pa
  • Interests
    hot rods, antique cars, trains, watercraft
  • My Project Cars
    1939 dodge business coupe 440, 727, 8 3/4

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  • Biography
    57 years old, into cars since building models as a kid
  • Occupation
    blind and drapery contractor

Converted

  • Location
    north strabane, south west pa
  • Interests
    cars,trains

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  1. I don't know how you could possibly get an accurate answer to this. For example, years ago someone made the definitive statement that there were 72 1939 Dodge business coupes in existence. Period. For a while I referred to mine as #73 because I couldn't figure how it would be known it existed. I have a regular Penna licence plate, and my yearly registration has no car year, just lists a Dodge Coupe. I don't belong to any clubs that would document it, so how would it be counted? Does the insurance industry give out that info? As pointed out there are a lot of undocumented cars lurking in barns and garages, and yes, rusting in fields, but nonetheless still in existence. Not that many years ago two Deusenburgs showed up that weren't on any register. One was on an estate in Mass or Ct, engine trouble years ago and simply put away and forgotten. The other was a Deusy model A in a garage covered with junk. Of course they called Leno to come buy it. My point is if they can't keep track of Deusenburgs in existence, no way can they track 39 dodge D-11's, or P-15's or D-24's. brian b owner 73'rd coupe in existence ; )
  2. My 39 Dodge coupe has a 330 horse 440, 727, and 8 3/4 rear. I couldn't be happier with the drive train, with a few buts. The oil filter needed to be relocated, Transdapt made a kit to do this. Biggest problem is the steering shaft, starter and exhaust all want to exist in the same small space. The engine is offset to the passenger side a bit, and the hot post on the starter was trimmed to clear the shaft. BTW, a mini starter did not help. My 440 isn't the hi po version from a road runner or super bee, it is from a 67 New Yorker. 4000 rpms is about tops, but its putting out gobs of torque and acceleration, even with a 2.98 to one rear gear. One more thing, add front discs, you will need the stopping power for when a 16 year old girl texting pulls out in front of you. Good luck with your build. brian b
  3. My 39 used to do this, the pistons would stick in the wheel cylinder when the brake was applied, then wham!, the brake would come on full force. This was the left front, and it would try to throw the car out of the lane. The pistons were corroded, almost a galvanic corrosion from dissimilar metals in contact. This in spite of being NOS packed in cosmoline when I first got them . Added to several other brake related problems, I converted to front discs and no more brake problems. brian b
  4. First Mopar experience was my dad's new 68 Imperial, maroon, black interior, every option. We lived in Bethlehem Pa. and went across the state to Pittsburgh to visit my grandmother. I still can remember almost every song on the demo tape that came with the 8 track player, a new toy for us. Played that one tape the whole trip. Most of all I remember the Mopar promotional slot car set that came in the trunk . Eldon 1/32 scale with a Charger and Coronet slot cars, and a pickup truck body easily swapped onto one of the chassis. Box was bright purple. If any exist they would certainly be a holy grail of accessories. Also remember the car was filthy when picked up at the dealer, and looking at a row of GTX's in bright colors. Heady stuff for an 8 year old. Unfortunately for my dad, the car was a terrible lemon. On occasion, my dad would have to get under the hood and stick a quarter into an electrical connection to get the car to start, usually when he and my mom were all dressed up to go out. Traded it in on a gold 69 300 that was even more unreliable, and then went back to Buicks, his true car love. Dad was very much against my buying my Dodge coupe, tried to talk me into a Buick. brian b
  5. My 39 Dodge coupe has a disc brake kit from Master Power Brake, a huge improvement over the stock drums. For a master cylinder I used I used a non power disc drum set up for a Mopar product like a Fury or a Polara, from Napa. Rear brakes are 11" x 2" drums on an 8 3/4 rear end. Car stops very well without a lot of pedal effort. The master cylinder is mounted on the firewall like a modern car. In my opinion, the disc brake kit is the best thing I've ever done to the car. You can save the stock parts, and if you sell the car, the new buyer has everything to convert back to stock if desired. The cheapest new car on the road has four wheel disc stop-o-matic brakes. Your stock drums are fine untill the seventeen year old girl texting almost misses her turn, and slams on her Kia's brakes to make a turn. You will hit her. brian b
  6. Grea235, Once your shock mount project is complete. and your car is back on the road, could you give us a report on the results of the project. From what I've heard and read, its a worthwhile modification, I'm interested in hearing how the car performs. Thanks in advance, brian b
  7. Gary, Your 39 looks terrific, you must be really proud of her. Couple of questions...... Did you wind up having the bumpers chromed, or are they polished steel, as was your original plan. Either way, they look good. Next, were your instruments in good shape, or is there a company making new numbers or doing restoration. Mine are quite brittle, the numbers being printed on a celluloid material. Hard to even handle them without the stuff falling to pieces. Everything looks really good, interior, dash, even the maroon paint, which is close to the shade on my 39, at least what paint is left. Its great to see another 39 coupe brought back to life, and future work on my coupe will most certainly use your photos for reference. Take it for a long cruise, and enjoy the results of your hard work. brian b
  8. Several issues ago, Old School Rods magazine advertised an electric power steering unit that installed under the dash, and had variable assist. I don't know anything about the product, but it sure sounded like a good solution to a tight under hood area, much like my 39 Dodge. Don't know the price either, but i can guess its not cheap. If you don't have access to the magazine, but are interested, I''ll look up the company and contact info. brian b
  9. Something to keep in mind with "bolt in " 8 3/4 rear ends. The cars from the 60's and 70's may have wider leaf springs than the 30's-40's-50's cars, so the "feet" or whatever you call the part that sits on the springs may need to be changed to a narrower part from an old rear. This was the case with my 39. Don't try using the newer wide feet on the narrow springs. I did, the U bolts didn't hold properly, and it sheared off the top of the bolt holding the leafs together. The rear shifted back on the spring, and I was lucky to be close enough to home to drive it back crabbing down the road at an angle. Get the proper sized part for your width of spring. A final point to make in regards to all the fuss over modifying a car. If my 39 coupe hadn't been hot rodded some 45 years ago, it wouldn't be around today. 45 years ago there was little interest in an old Dodge, and even less when Iacocca was making K cars. Ford guys used to call us the ugly cars. Whatever is done to a car can be un-done. Check the HAMB for 32 ford projects using cars pulled out of creeks, or one down under pulled out of an orchard. A v8 equipped car can easily be made back into an inline 6. There is a lot of sheer talent out there, and even more determination. As long as we like them and take them out and drive them, 4, 6. 8, doesn't matter. brian
  10. O K Donald, I think I've got it, thanks again for the explanation. Unfortunately, the wiring on my Dodge is not its strong point. Lots of the wiring has been replaced, disconnected, simplified, typical for a 60's hot rod. When i got the car the horn was a doorbell button screwed to the bottom of the dash, to give you an idea of what I deal with. I rigged a switch as described to get the horn switch back in the steering wheel, but no relay, and yes, its a wimpy horn. Wiring improvements are on the long list, particularly the headlights, and with your explanation, some horn wiring improvements are on the list also. You guys are a great group, I learn something from this site every week. brian b
  11. Andy & Donald, Thanks for the explanation how the stock horn circuit works. Sounds like you would only have one wire through the steering shaft, and the horn would be insulated from the body. My jury rigged set up uses two wires to complete the positive current to the already grounded horn. The factory set up is a clever set up. More than one way to skin a cat. brian b
  12. Can't offer any help on this, my 39 doesn't have a horn ring, just the center part to push on. Original switch long gone, I adapted a push button switch to line up underneath the center part. Works fine, nothing worse than a horn switch sticking. brian b
  13. Very nice 41, The only way to adapt a different wheel is to get a trashed Mopar wheel that fits the splines on your steering shaft, and cut out the center and use it to make an adapter to mount your aftermarket wheel. Don't think anyone has ever made a commercial adapter for a Mopar steering shaft. If you go with a smaller steering wheel and keep the stock steering box, it may be difficult to park or do any slow. tight turns. You may wind up going back to the stock wheel. if you're converting to something like a rack and pinion, everything will change, including the shaft, so you may not need to make the adapter. brian b
  14. thsmedley, Had a chance to look through my barn, found a tube of trim. The vendor was Fat Fendered Relics of Vancouver Washington. Looked on the web, found a phone number, 360-260-0434. I dealt with them a number of years ago and they were very helpful. Bought several trim pieces for my dodge, and recalled a conversation with the owner, stating he was able to re bend and adapt trim from other bodies to fit my coupe. Again, this was some time ago and companies can change, so as always, buyer beware, but I would call and see if they have what you need. brian b
  15. Thsmedley I'm not going to have much for you at this point, but there used to be a vendor who advertised in Cars & Parts magazine who specialized in trim, especially Mopars. I was able to get a couple of pieces for my 39. If I can find a receipt with the trim, I'll post the name. I no longer have my Cars & Parts mags to look for you. Can't keep everything. brian b
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