desoto1939

DON: I know I am not required to have the orange triangle on the car. I had one made of three magnetic strips that had red reflective tape on the non magnetic side. I put this on my trunk lid.. This could be seen during the daylight and since it is reflective is could be seen at dusk when the car light hit the reflective material. I feel that having the reflective triangle added another safety item to help identify that I might be going slower that the traffic at 50+ mph. You have to protect you rear end when driving these old cars and possibly your own rear end pardon the pun. Cannot hurt and was never stopped by any local or PA, Del and or NJ state police. Rich HArtung

Yes would have to agree that when you get back into one of these older cars you need to readjust your driving habits. These car are 60+ YEARS OLD TECHNOLOGY AND WE SHOULD all be setting our driving habits back to that period of time. We should anticipate the driving of these cars, watch to see how long that green light has been green. These cars stop but require some distance. So anticipate the stopping time and distance because of fade. Also people think we can just jump out from a standing stopped position at a red light or stop sign. Life was slower back then but life is at a mush faster pace now. So be prepared for everyone to be in a hurry and they will be right up your tailpipe from a red light. I have driven model A's and other older cars such as a 1915 Overland so I have the experience with the older cars but always have to remind myself when driving an antique car. Just think before you take it out of the garage and Always, Always anticipate the reactions of other drivers on the road!!!!! ALso try to make you car standout with some form of rear orange triangle or flashing light in the rear to get the other drivers attention. rich Hartung

so are you asking about the return spring and the small metal cap and rod that goes through each shoe into the backing plate? If you have dula wheel cylinders then you will need the two long springs thes are used to pull the brake show back from the drum after releasing the brake pedal. The other small metal cap is used to hold the shoe against the backing plate, you should have the spring and the small cap and rod and a small spring. The other question, is do you have a fluid drive on your car? The connection is part of the relay for the fluid drive setup. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

wolfy: This is rich Hartung. I looked at the pictures and I can tellthat someone has turned the eccentric at some point in its life time. I sent you a PM about the Ammco brake tool. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

you have to be a member of the WPC and then also pay the convention reg fees to show your car. I would check their webpage to get more info. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Mark: That is the week after the NAtional Desoto Club convention up in Kalamazoo Mich. I will be going to Chicago during the MOnday/Tues 6/20/21 then over to Dearborn to see the FURD Museum. Not sure if we can arrange to stop down to he Chrysler meet but will see if we can make some arrangement. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

So are you saying that you have used the upper adjusting bolt and you have gone out as far as you can and you do not lock the drum when doing this on one of the shoes? If this is happening then the shoes might have worn down and they might need to be replaced or there might be a possibility that the drums have been overcut past the maximum. You should have the drums micrometered to see what they are. If they have been over cut then you might be able to use a riveted lining and put shims under the lining to make up the difference or get nos drums. So I really think the next step ist o pull the drums to see what is going on with each wheel. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Merle: My 39 Desoto has the armored cable that runs to the back of the coil and my coil comes thru the firewall. So 1 wire would have to attach to the back of the coil and then the other wire would have to attach to the small thin wire that goes down to the breaker plate? Correct Or could the one wire be connect directly at the breaker plate. I would also assume there would need to be a wire to pickup power somewhere? Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

Don: Thanks for the picture that helps a lot. Since my 39 Desoto does not have a fuse box then where would that line connect to? I can see where the other line connect. Hey, also are you thinking about coming to the Desoto convention in Kalamazoo in July 15-19th? Rich Hartung

You should pull the brake drums to checkthe condition of the brake shoes and to see if you have any leakage at the wheel cylinders. Could also be that you might need to replace the shoes because they migh be past their serviceable wear limit or they could also be out of adjustment. The use of the AMMCO brake gage tool of the miller factory brake tool will help you determine if the need adjustment. I do find that out of adjustment brakes shoes seem to cause a soft pedal. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

So how do you wire the tach upto the engine and dizzy? I would order one but not sure how to hook one of these up on my 39 Desoto. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

Tatback I think a 10W30 is a detergent oil. A straight weight oil such SAE30 is non detergent. Also are you using a filter on your car if you are using 10W30? Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Question on the original old style PB1/2 metal oil filters the sticker on the filter stated that every 8000 miles to change the filter. This is wild to think that we had the old style motor oils back in the 30-40-50's that still had a lot of the wax impurities in the oil based. Now our motor oil are refined to a high quality and everyone is still in the thinking of the 2-3k mileage and they have to change the filter and oil. For my 2009 VOlvo fram oil filter has an insert cartridge that they say can be used and kept in the car for up to 15K and this is with full syn oil. My volvo which uses Castrol GTX 5/30 goes 7500 miles before and oil and filter change. So why are we still changing our oil and filter at 3K. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I di not have to countersink ,ine then flat pan head is so small it get hidden withinthe fuzzies. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

When I installed the new ones on my 39 Desoto I got my sweeper material from restoration supply in Windber PA. Then I use a small flat head shhet metal screw to attaché them the screw will be not seen since it goes intot he fussy material. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

That is high just for liability coverage. Who did you get a quote from? Try some of the others major players, JC Taylor, Grundy, Congdon and Skelly, Hagerty. I have full coverage with Grundy for my 39 Desoto valued around 19K and I think my policy is around 130 Rich HArtung

Larry: I just checked my Autolite catalog and here is the information: Ply 46-48 Breaker Plate IGS 3004 if canadian car then IGS 3004A Break down of the two plates: IGS 3004 upper plate IGS1082RS lower plate IGS1004 IGS3004A lower plate IGS1004E upper plate IGS1082RS I use the IGS3004A in my 39 Desoto. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

so are you saying that the screw that holds down the breaker plate is stripped of the screw that is used to adjust the gap for the points? If the screw that is used to adjust the points is stripped then I would look to find a NOS breaker plate but if the screw that holds down the breaker plate assembly is stripped then you would need to remove the entire breaker plate and remove both screws and then retap the one that is bad. Not totally sure what screw you are talking about. Let me know you car and year and I might beable to tell you the correct breaker plate assembly to look for. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

I am assuming that you have a cloth top on the car. What ever product you do decided to use I would first test it on a section of the top that is not seen or on a section that is some what hidden to make sure it does not harm the top. I would also try to find someone that does automotive upholstery and tops to see what they might suggest. I can not suggest a product since I have a hard top but some of the other guys might have a product that they use. Rich Hartung

If you wheels are shaking after you hit a bump in the road I would think it is more that the steering box. I would check the tie rods ends for play, the kingpins to see if they are worn out and need replacement also the upper and lower control arms and also the eccentric bushing and all bushings and also the sway bar control links. The steering box kit would have the items to repairs the cone and roller and the seals but you also might need the sector and also a pitman arm. The steering worm gear that meshes with the sector could also need to be looked at. So just to say a rebuild of the steering box could not just be the entire solution. How is the wear on your tires. When going down the road does the car pull is there uneven wear on the tires. So there is a lot to look at with a front suspension. The large upper control arm might be worn out. Also check to see that the steering box bolts that go through the frame tight. How about the rubber gasket that mounts to the frame and the steering box. Is this still there or is it gone. Just some things to look at on the front end. I have some cross refence catalogs that might help contact me Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

That is correct. The major carriers such as JC Taylor, Grundy, Congdon and Skelly all require the car to be in a locked garage. I have had this conversation with each carrier. You might try your regular car carrier but it might be the same. The all want the car to secured and not to be able to be damaged. One gentleman had a secure garage for his car but left the car out over night. During the night time some kids egged his car. The carrier did not cover the damaged because the car was not put back into the lockable garage. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Hey Don hope you can make, would like to meet you. I know Don Smith is coming so the more the merrier. Rich Hartung cell 484-431-8157

For all of the members and also the Desoto owners The 30th Annual National Desoto Convention will be held from Wed July 15,2015 to Sunday July 19. The Convention is being held In Kalamazoo Mich. The main car show will be held on Saturday the grounds of the Gilmore Car Museum The Convention site hotel is: Four Points by Sheraton Kalamazoo 3600 East Cork St Kalamazoo, Mich 49001 If you are in the vicinity come on up and join the fun for some nice De Soto's. I will be going to the convention from the Philadelphia area but will not be taking my 39 Desoto. If you can attend or have an idea of just coming for the show let me know so we can try to meet. You can contact me via my email address: Desoto1939@aol.com Rich Hartung

Dear My K440. Yes we all would agree with your statement about replacing all 4 drums. But you also have to understand that the car this gentleman has is 65 years old. These drums are not jsut sitting in a localNAPA store to be purchased right off the shelf. By the end of your name it sounds as if you have a more modern car and yes these drums for your car might be readily available. And if the drums for most of ir f they were available we would get new ones if we could but sometimes they are not that easy to find. We are not picking on you just trying to explain the problem that this car owner is facing. Rich HArtung

did this happen while driving the car or where you trying to remove the drum. This is a major failure for the drum, just completly cracked. What made you pull the wheel. Any signs of trouble before the drum brke. Just curious to know what happened. I think everyone would like to know/ Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com