desoto1939

If you have the older style water pump and on the third hole that the stud comes throught the body. This is the stud that would be on the side that had the manifold he body at this location with the metl backing plate is only about 1/2 thick. On the newer style the body has changed and the body where this stud comes throught is now about 2-3 inches thick, therefore the nut can not be mounted to hold the pump on the engine block. If you have any of the old 1/2 inch thick body DO NOT and I say DO NOT throwout the body. I have checked around and Gould did not have of these bodies left in stock so you will need to have yours rebuilt. So if you have the small thickness on this area on you old WP keep it as a rebuildabe pump. The only solution is that you could pull the stud from the front of the engine block and then use the bolt that is supplied with the newer pumps. But you must use antiseize on the threads. The issue is that you might snap the stud when trying to get them out of the old block.i I ran into this same issue last month justbefor going to the National Desoto Carshow. rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com Rich HArtung

A remote starter switch is great if your car has the push button starter switch on the dash, but when you still have the old style floor mounted stater push rod a starter switch will not work because the push style on the floor acutely makes the connection for the starter drive unit to push the bendex into the flywheel. If anyone knows how to makes this work please advise. rich hartung

The 2015 National Desoto Convention and Car show was held on the grounds of the Gilmore complex. It is a very nice collection of cars in his buildings and if you are ever in the are do stop by. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I just got back from attending Chryslers at Carlilse. It was very hot on the field on Saturday. They had 2600 cars on the show grounds. I went with my friend in his 1957 Desoto Sportsman. He took a 3rd place in his division. The oldest Dodge and oldest vintage original was around 1949/50. a couple of Street rods 32 Chrysler and a 37 Dodge sedan Delivery that was a hotrod. If you have a real early car older that the 60/70 then I would not advise traveling to this show. 99.75% of the items in the swap meet section where for high performance cars I only saw to venders that were carrying anything for the older cars One vender did have some 39 Dodge parts.. I picked up the license lamp assembly from him because this will fit my 39 Desoto and then a complete fender lamp assembly with the milk white lens and all of the mounting brackets. Usually the brackets are rusted away but this was a complete unit and the chrome on the shell was is super great shape. If someone needs this complete unit because of the brackets I will be will to sell it but will not be cheap plus shipping. The temp was 90 and humid on Friday and hot again today. The license lamp assembly is also complete with lens, socket and mounting hardware to hold the lens in the unit. It is used but no rot out on the piece. These are getting very hard to find. This can also be purchased if someone need the unit. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com Cell 484-431-8167 Home 610-630-9188

It might be a bracket to hold the wire that goes from the starter to the sisson electric choke. Just a thought. ALso look for a hole on the firewall to see if there is a threaded section. This is to hold some wire or lead to another piece in the engine compartment. How about the drain hose from the cowel vent and would be located on the firewall on the left side of the firewall in back of the manifold. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

remember this is a draft tube so when going down the road the fore of the air movement from front to back makes a suction at the end of the draft tube and the intake for the air is on the oil filler cap. This is pulling the fumes and oil from the car. It is like a PCV positive crankcase valve on a modern car. it got rid of the oil smell and that is why these old car always have a specific smell to them. I know I am not explaining this well but maybe Don can provide a better answer. Rich Hartung

AndyDodge, Todd Fitch was correct. The black arm would be swung out at the car then pushed into the tunnel to check for clearance. It the arm hit any obstruction the the arm would move back and there was a corresponding point on the cab of this car to check the amount of defelction. They would move the car about two feet at a time to check for clearances. This was done in the spring time after the winter freeze and to also check t make sure if they had to make improvements to the tunnel. Great catch on your part about this train, I thought someone would ask that question. Todd knew the answer so he might have some interest in rr cars. Hartung

This car was trailered from California. Dennis is a member of the Airflow club and Also the National Desoto Club. There were some real nice airflows and several where national winners. It was a great time. This was the fo9rst dual meet and car show between the two clubs. I did a presentation on my old miller tools and the guys from the Airflow club were really appreciative of the lecture. Also did a lecture on swap meeting and the use of Major Automotive PArts catalogs. Learned a lot from the AF members hope we can have another combined meet in the future. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Here are some picture of the Chrysler Airflows: the red Airflow was in the great tour from Peking to Paris France. Notice the Roll-ear in the car.

Chrysler Airflow Pictures

More Desoto Pictures:

Car from the Desoto convention up to 1940 the roadster is a 32 Desoto that is a Grand Natinal Winner and this car took Best of Show. Also had thre 1939 Desotos on the show field. Mine is the Gren one in the middle. How do you like the Des Script gas cap. More pictures to be posted.

Ralph: Yes this was for the Desoto Side of the house. The Airflow club had their own banquet. I felt so bad for this gentleman, he really wanted to drive home but did not want to take the chance of breaking down on the road We took a road trip in the old cars to the Maryland Fire Truck Museum and then to the B&O railroad Roundhouse. Then to Maryland Public TV where they fim Motor week and saw the acutual garage where they film and then off to Pollack restoration shop and then the Combined car show on Saturday. Will post some pictures of the Fire Museum, B&O railyard, Motorweek studio and restoration shop and car show. the pictures here are of the fire museum, Stream liner Locomotive and several of the cars in the roundhouse, Goff GArage studio and a 30 Pierce arrow 4 Dorr convertible with the removal door post over 200K into this car.

Just arrived home from attending the 31st National Desoto Convention and Car Show. It was a dual meet with the Airflow Club of America. There were four Chrysler Airflows that came all the way across from California. One of the drivers was 83 years old and he told me they were doing 70 MPH on the super highways. My 39 Desoto worked great hit 180 degrees on the engine temp and it was at least 90 degrees outside temp. Never had an issue. Cam home and the temp ran around 170-175. A 110 mile trip in both directions. I took the trophy for driving the longest in a Pre-War Desoto. Will post more info and pictures later. Great Trip and the old car performed just perfectly ran at 50-55 MPH for the entire trip Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

On Wednesday morning I will be headed off from valley Forge PA and travel approximately 75 miles to attend the National Desoto Convention and car Show. The 31st Convention will be held from July 6th to Saturday July 9th. The car show which is a combined show with the Airflow Club of America. The host Hotel is the Radisson North Baltimore Plaza 2004 Greenspring Drive, Timonium Md. 21093 1-410-252-7373 This is just off of I83 near Townson MD and is on the outskirts of Baltimore. If you are in the area please stop over for the show on Saturday afternoon The show will be held at the Maryland Fairgrounds which is located very close to the host hotel. If anyone attends please come over and say hello. I will be with the green 39 Desoto there will also be another gray 39 Desoto there also. I was able to get the correct water pump installed last Friday and all is good right now. We are expecting to have a heat wave with temps in the mid 90's. This is not good for our engines but will have to make the best of what we have. Will take pictures and post when my wife and I get back next weekend. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

The wp is installed and is working fine. Thanks for all the suggestions and help. The reason it was leaking is there was some leftover permatex sealent on the engine block. Not enough to see but just enounh to not make a tight seal. Scraped the engine block and sanded the ares so it was clean metal. Put the gasket on and used Dons suggestion to apply some grease. Also used two gaskets to make sure. Now I should be able to drive the car to Baltimore Md on Wed. The National Desoto convention will be in Tamonimum MD and runs from 7-5-16 to 7-10. The car show will be a joint venture with the NDC and also the Airflow club of America.. Wish me good luck and a safe trip will take some pictures and post when I get back. One day we are goi9ng to the TV studio of Road and Track in Mrylad. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com cell 484-431-8157

I have u joints for the 39 Dodge they are the same that are used on my 39 Desoto. This is the pin and trunion style. I have the complete kits with the metal housing. Also have a lot of great cross reference catalogs and manuals for this car. Send me your home email. I live near Valley Forge PA. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com cell 484-431-8157

UPDATE: After taking the pump off for the third time last night I discovered that there was some left over permatex and some of the real old gasket material still on the block. I ran my finger nail over the entire surface and found it. It looked brown but could feel the buildup. Scraped and sanded the entire area to be clean and bright. As per Don's advise I put some grease on both side of the gasket and also installed a second gasket. Bolted up the unit and filled the radiator, NO LEAKS at the back of the WP. Ran the car upto over 180 degress in the garage and no leaks so I quess we are good to Go. Remember you must have a real clean smooth area for the gasket to work correctly. Rich Hartung

Don, Tks for replying back to me. Well I took the pump off for the third time. I looked at lot closer to the front of the engine block and low and behold where the water was leaking I did find some left ove real hard gasket like it was mabe put on originally with some permatex. I use a flat screw driver to scrap clean the surface and then use some heavy grit sand paper and got down to all bare nice real clean shiny metal. I had replaced the water pump maybe 10 years ago but did not have this issue with the gasket. So hopefully on Friday I can get it back together. I amy going to let the fron of the engine bloc air dray and take a real closer look at it in the morning. This has been an all day job. tired for the night. I will get this think fixed before Wednesday of next week. Will keep everyone posted of this issue. I might have some lubriplate in my garge and might try that on the back of the gasket as you di on your engine. This should such a simple job. Rich Hartung

Ok received the correct wp for my 39 Desoto witht he 1/2 inch body on the lower left mounting stud. here is the issue. reconnected the pump witht he new gasket and all bolts are tight. Pump af into the radiator and filled it. Notice that it is leaking and the back plate at the top where the body of the Wp touches the fron on the engine block. This are is clean an nothing left over from the old gasket. Never leak before this time. I have install this new Wp twice and get the same issue. Question do I need to use a permetex on the gasket sealer on both side of the water backing plate or any suggestions on what to do. Need some assistance from the guru's of the club. Trying to get the car ready to take to the National Clun Convention next week. Have been working on this issue all day. Need some Advise. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol Cell 484-431-8157 you can call if you like I am up till 11 Eastern Time i9n Philadelphia, PA.

No not going to hoard them but will have a couple incase the early car owners that have this style wp could have a resource if they need one. I have found out a long time ago that it is better to be prepared then in needed and not have something that is need right now. I thought I had the correctWp but learned something new this week about the repo waterpumps. Rich Hartung

Thanks for all of the sugeestions from everyone. I have Great news, I found a gentleman that has for new pumps that have the sealed bearing and the old style housing. I have purchased one of the pumps and its on its way to my house. It if fits and he also measure the boss Then I will order the remaining three from him. Hope to have the car back together by this Friday afternoon and report on my progress. Don thanks for the picture of the stud remover. It would be just my luck that the stud would break off. Rich Hartung

I need some special help for a water pump to fit a 39 Desoto. On my 39 Desoto there are three studs that come throught the lower body of the WP. When looking directly at the WP witht he flange facing you go to the left side of the pump and where the outlet return water outlet just below this is a hole for a stud to come through the body. On my car the thickness at this point on the body with the backing plate installed is only 1/2 inch. I have a more modern pump that I got several years ago at Hershey but found out that at the same location the body is now thicker and the stud will not protrude out of the body so I can not bolt it down. The real other issue is that I was getting ready to attend the National Desoto convention and car show during the week of July 5-9th in Baltimore MD. I have called around and can not find a replacement pump that is only the 1/2 inch thickness at the left side of the pump. If anyone has a pump that they would sell me I wuld greatly appreciate it. I have search the usual on line mopar venders any they only have the larger bodied wp. even NAPA and I also touched base with Art Gold who does WP and Fuel Pumps and no luck. Can anyone help me with this situation. I could try to pull the stud out of the from of the block but it has been in the car for as long as I have had the car which is 30 Years and it would be my luck to breakoff in the block so I do not want to try that method, prefer the correct water pump. Might have a lead on a pump but not sure. Also have searched Ebay and other areas I KNOW THIS SHOULD BE IN THE WANTED SECTION BUT IN DIRE NEED F THE WP SO I CAN ATTEND THE NATIONAL DESOTO CONVENTION DURING THE WEEK OF JULY 5TH TO THE 11TH Rich Hartung I AM UP TIL 11 pm EVERY NIGHT. 39 Desoto water pump early version desoto1939@aol.com CELL: 484-431-8157 home: 610-630-9188 LIVE NEAR PHIILADELPHIA PA

Another good book is a Hollander cross reference book for the years of your car. The Hollander book was used by junk yard to determine which parts from various years and makes and models will cross over and canbe used on your car or truck. Also do not forget about the Rate Books. Always look at them when at a swap meet they do have part number and according to which rate book they have a lot of cross reference information. The other thing is that you could contact me because I have an extensive collection of cross reference catalogs on the old car/trucks and I have all of these on CD's so you no longer have to have paper copies. My information goesback to 1910 and upto 1956 rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Yes agree the basic information that any owner of an antique car/truck should be the Service manual and any suppliments that were publish for the car/truck and at least the parts manual. A third book would be a Motors Manual, this also lists some of the major repair items for the car/tuck . You can not always rely on a forum member to provide you with the documentation. The asking of questions is fair but if you have not research the issue or even looked in the service manual then you need to get these to help you understand your particular car. Desoto1939@aol.com Rich Hartung