desoto1939

congrats on the new arrival. I have a 39 Desoto and have owned it and driven it for the past 35 years. was at a local car show today and most of the cars were GM, Ford, Chevy. Lot or people were asking lots of questions about the car and they wanted more history on the car. Nice to know that other car owners appreciate the other makes of car and not just the FORD and Chevy brands and the more modern cars with the full bling works in the engine area. Hope you enjoy the car and take you time getting it on the road. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

currently Moparpro has reproduction 1939 Transmission shifter cable listed on Ebay. He lists that he has 6 and the cost is $335. Yes that is correct $335. The 39 is different than the 1940 shifter cable. so if you need you then you have to pay the piper or find a used one. These are hard to find. Rich Hartung.

If the prior owner had changed the driveshaft to a more modern spicer u joint then your are correct onthe slip joint. The front u joint might be the old style pin and trunion style that is attached with four bolts. The rear might also be the same setup. You might want to ask the seller to take a few pictures of the drive shaft area to make sure of what is installed. Also take along a 3 ton floor jack to get the car up inthe air so you can crawl under the car to remove the drive shaft and also some plastic if the car is sitting on a dirt floor. Also WD 40 or PBBlaster to spray on the bolts and a yellow tire marking pencil to indicate where the current bolts are attached to each ujoint assembly. Also some plastic to wrap the drive shaft when transporting it back home. Also you socket set and open and closed wrenches. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I do not recommend bottle jacks because of the very small point of contact of the jack up against the frame of the car. A very good friend of mine that ownes a 1936 Desoto Airflow had the front passengers side of the car up inthe air and was working on the intake and exhaust manifold. His foot hit the bottle jack and the jack then moved inwards and the car fell down on his arm and took off a major section of the skin on his arms. He was a MoPar technician and knew he had done wrong. He had to have skin grafts to his arm. Hence, he has tossed the bottle jack and now only use a 3 ton floor jack with jack stand as rate at 3 tons. ALWAYS make it safe a secure when working on a car when it is support by a floor jack and or jack stands. When my car is ever up on stands or supported by a 3 ton floor jack I always rock the car prior to doing any work under the car to make sure it is securely braced. If you hear any creaking when under the car get away from the car as quickly as possible. If you also have a detached garage or even attached garage I have and also recommend that you purchase a set of baby monitors that have a 2 or 1 way communication sending/ receive options. So, if you are in the garage and working on the car and you wife is in the house then setup the system so that both can talk to each other. If you get in trouble then at least you can call for help. Just an FYI situation. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

A lot of you have been talking about the reaction of Brass Welsh plugs against the cast iron block and or the use or brass distribution tubes. But we all use brass thermostats in the top of engine heads and this is sitting in the cast iron head and the cast section of the outlet and return to the brass radiarot. So i guess just from this point of view then our engine should have leaked and been destroyed because of the brass and cast iron reaction chemical reations. So my engine is original for my S6 39 Desoto with the brass thermostat and original radiator honey comb core. Go figure. I guess pick what ever type of plug is available for your car or truck. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

You can also purchase Autolite 295 Plugs at walmart. A friend of mine that has a 39 Desoto has been running these for severalyears. The cost is approx $1.90 per plug. They can be fund back in the autolotive section near the sparkplugs for lawnmowers. I have these in my spare parts for my 39 Desoto. i have seen these on Ebay for $7 and up plus shipping. Pickup a couple to have a spares. Also the autolite 306 can be purchased from Any Berbaum. Rich Hartung

I have seen these units on ebay but you will need to know your original part number and or autolite part number. My Autolite catalog does not list these parts so i can not provide you with any cross reference numbers. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I have the original jack and handle for my 39 Desoto BUT I would never use the jack because the jack is a round metal rod that just sits in the base plate is a dimple. The jack works on pressure against the rod. It is not safe and reliable to hold the car. I carry a 3ton scissors jack with me in the car. I feel more comfortable with the scissors jack and since it has a long folding handle i then can move the jack into position to support the car on the frame. I would also suggest that you carry and extra 12/12 inch piece of wood to place under the jack in case you are on soft ground. I had a flat and the ground was soft and the jack sank into the ground. The use of a tire stop is another great item to have. I also carry in all of my cars are several reflective strips that are made with plastic and they snap around your arms and legs. Runners use these when running at night time. I also use these on my rear bumpers and they do not scratch the bumpers and since they are a pressure fit they can be removed. The other tink is that I attached several rear flashing bicycle rear lights to my license plate. There are several variations to the blinking pattern and this also helps to get the attention of drivers when they are approaching from the rear and when driving my car in regular traffic. I also carry in the trunk of my 39 Desoto and foldable red reflective triangle that you see when semi trucks have broken down on the road. Any things that can be used to protect you and your car and anyone else that is driving with you is so important because of the speeds that everyone is doing in their modern cars. Assume everyone else is carless and they do not give a hoot about you or your car. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

just purchase all copper wire 10-12 gage at any NAPA or Automovtive store. Also check that you have good clean grounds on the car. Rich Hartung

Thank you for posting the picture of the cam & stop plate. Since there are holes inthe plate I would assume that there is some type of bolt and nut that holds this unit tight inthe dizzy. Also since there is a spacer could the spacer be missing on the original posters question or could the cam stop plate just need to be tightened? I wuld also assume that these stop plates would be the same in our older dizzy since they were al made by Autolite and have a 38 degree cam angle. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

what is a cam stop? Are you talking about the part the cam lobe that is responsible for the opening of the points when it makes contact with the high point when the dissy is spinning? Rich desoto1939@aol.como

I did some research while at Hershey and was looking for the 27 pitch threaded nut that holds the oil pressure line in the back of the oil gage. Mopar used these up into the mid 1950's on the oil gages. Basically, these nuts are hard to find and are like looking for the needle in the haystack. I had a discussion with an early Dodge Brothers vender who also is a machinist. I asked about taking a 24 pitch brass nut and rethreading it to a 27 pitch. He does not recommend this option. I know some members have done this but everyone does not recommend this option. This vender stated he could make them for us. We did not discuss and price and or quantity. It was more of a question can he make the nut and he can. So here is what I am proposing. If we can get enough guys interested in getting these made than I would commit to purchasing a specific amt. Do not know the cost per item. But if these nuts are not available then they only option is to bite the bullet and have them made. I would suggest that if you have any of these older cars and or trucks that you consider getting a few spare oil gage line nuts. If you are interested, please email me so I can put you on a list and after getting more info from this guy I can contact you. This is going to be a winter project for this guy. The following info is what I am going to need from each person, Name, Address, phone, email address and quantity that you would like to purchase. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Ok while attending the Hershey swap meet this past week i stopped at a local vendor that makes and repairs the front window crank out mechanisms. He even had a dodge window crank out assembly to show me. I do not have one of these units in my 39 Desoto sedan but I knew that there are several members that have the trucks and cars that have the crank out windows. I took he brochure and was able to scan it with his information. He is located in Lancaster PA. His product looks to be very good with high quality workmanship. i do not know his costs and also I do not get any money from him if you purchase a unit from him. I asked if i could put this info on our forum and he said yes. Contact: Kit and Terri Fulton 717-808-6612 This Ole Coupe 189 Conestoga Blvd Lancaster, PA 17602. webpage: www.thisolecoupe.com he has been in business for 40 years If you send me you email address I will send you a copy of his brochure. It was to big to post on the forum Just passing along this information as an FYI. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I attneded the Hershey Swap meet and Car show for my 35th year. I have posted some pictures of the Green field and the lower Chocolate field with the vender setup. The weather was hot and was in the upper 70-80 degrees. Alot of people just walking and looking but not alot of buyers. The money is getting tighter every year. Also went to the car show saw an original 1939 Chrysler Royal Dedan and 1948 DeSoto sedan and the owner lives approx 25 miles from my home. Got to talk to him about his car and he is in need of some brake adjustments. We are going to try to schedule sometime to look at his issue. Ther are 4 major fields of venders and this is only a partial view of two of the field. These were taken from the bridge that crosses over from one field to another. We had some rain in the morning for the car show but it then stopped and was overcast. Looking forward to the event in 2024. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

went to Carlise today. The weather was perfect and sunny. Not a lot of cars for sale in the car corral area. Mixed bag of parts. I did find a NOS 6v turn signal flasher condenser and two NOS 6v dual filament sealed beam headlights that were the number 5040 that did not have the three aiming tabs. These 5040 bulbs were used from 1940-1948 on most cars and on our Mopars. In 1949-56 The correct sealed beam would have been the Autolite 6v Bulls Eye bulbs. After 1956-and up six volts bulb would have been the 6006 bulb with the aiming tips. And for 12 volt bulbs it would have been either GE or Tunsten bulbs. The 2 6volt bulbs were still in the box and I got a set of two for $4.00 Now home and getting ready to attend the Hershey event starting on Monday for the next 5 days. I will also be vending at Hershey. My site is in the Orange field Row OAD site number 7&8. Projected to have good weather for the entire week. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Put a reference mark on the engine block with some caulk and also on the body of the dizzy use white or even some tape. This way you now have a focal point to match back up to when putting the dizzy back into the block. Rich Hartung

Ok so far the projected weather forecast is to be great weather for the week. Monday is packin day for the venders and Tuesday to thursday is the official parts swap meet. Remember that Friday is now the car show and the park will not have any sales or cars on the fields on Saturday. Also starting this Thursday also is the Carlise swap meet and it ends on Sunday. If you plan on attending the Hershey event please stop by my two sites and say hello. We are located in the Orange Field which is next to the GIANT Center and were are in ROW OAD site 7&8. If you plan on coming let me know so we can look for you. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

lower the car and take out the floor pan and the upper pan. I have the same master cylinder in my 39 desoto as you do in your car. The easiest way is when the floor boards are removed. More room to access everything and also grease the fittings. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Ivan-B: yes the treads on the screw will thread into the square shanked end of the door handle. This is how the handle was attached so that the handle went in to the latch control. I have this setup on all four doors. I have several of these screws and some have the slotted head for a straight flat blade screw drivers and several have the Phillips head style. So yes there are two styles and i found these at several swap meets. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

On my 1939 Desoto there are two exterior screws that hold the door handle onto the outside door panel. The door hand is then pushed through the metal of the door and at the end of the handle there is a square section that is threaded. I also have a flat headed screw with a build in collar that goes through the interior door panel and then the screw is mounted through this hole and it matches up with the square shank end that has the tapped treads. The screw with the collar is chrome plated as is visible. If you use the screw on the door frame and have it behind the door panel then when you want to remove the handle then you will have to remove the garnish molding and also door panel. Look in your parts manual for your car it will list the screw. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

It really does not matter how old the items are that you asking about. It is now time to replace these items they are to old to keep in your car. So would we all presume that you would still run the old oil that is in the oil pan or drain it to put in fresh oil? I am just being smart with this question, yes new oil. Rich Hartung

I located the Tire valve Stem Protectors on Andy Bernbaums webpage and catalog. Here is the information: So if your hubcaps are moving and bending your rubber valvestem get these to help solve the problem. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Currently Andy Bernbaum is also selling some of the metal adapters that has been shown inthe original posters lisiting. These adapters were used when you had the full wheel cover on your rim and were used to fill the hole in the hubcap to stop the hubcap from moving and cutting into the rubber air valve. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

This is just a friendly reminder to all of the P15D25 members that we are only a few weeks away from the largest on going antique swap meet and car show. This years events dates are Monday October 3 to Friday October 6. Pack in day for the venders to set up is Monday October 3rd and the swap meet officially starts on Tuesday October 3 and the venders will be selling parts and other items thru Thursday Oct 5th. On Friday the AACA holds their annual car show. Some venders will still be onsite. Again the car show is Friday and is no longer held on Saturdays as it has been in the past. If you plan on attending this great event like I have for the past 35 Years it is a great way to find parts and ask questions regarding the restoration of your antique car or truck. There is no entrance fee to walk through the swap meet fields and or the car show on Friday. If you plan on attending you all are invited to stop by my 2 sites and sit for a while and take a rest. We will be in the ORANGE FIELD ROW OAD SITE 7&8. IT WILL BE LISTED UNDER MY LAST NAME HARTUNG AND ALSO UNDER DESOTO PARTS. Hope some of you will stop by and say hello. Looking forward to seeing some of my friends from past years. If someone needs some specific information and or services such as testing their Sisson choke please contact me so I can bring along any specific catalogs and information. Contact me at Desoto1939@aol.com Rich Hartung

Yes most of tools have gone to the recycle or junkyard or scrap dealer. When there was a big push about 10 years ago to close the small MoPar dealership and then stick the dealership with the inventory of cars and parts after Mother MoPar asked for the dealership to help bail them out the dealership were on their own to how to make a living. Most switch over to selling used cars of multiple marquees. Here is a prime example. We have a small local dealership just outside of Media Pa. The name will not be mentioned. The Dealership was start back in the 1920's was was past down the line to current family members that continued to run the dealership. They even have the original 1926 Dodge that the family that owned and still own the car dealership. They retained the small dealership even through the depression and Mother MoPar just threw them away. So they got rid of the items that they could sell and get cash for. The Big Three car manufacturers decide to only keep the large dealership and say go to Hexx to the small dealerships. So yes these older Miller Tools are nearly impossible to find. You have to look and search in boxes at swap meets or find some one that is a tool delaer on ebay and ask them if they have any Miller Factory Tools. If you find what you are looking for then purchase them. I have been looking for 35 years and have a nice collection of early mid 1930-50 miller tools. Rich Hartung