desoto1939

Joe: i just basically using a timing light and set my 39 Desoto to be 2 degrees before TDC. Then I make the other ajustments for the idle speed . I do not get into the real fine adjustments. I can run my car at 50MPH and that is fine for me. Rich HArtung

if you lived inthe staes and were going to have the car judged at national car shows then painting it inthe colors and style you mention would hurt the car for points judging. If you are planning on having this car as a driver and to have fun with the car and are not worried aboiut judging then paint it inthe color scheme that suits you. You are the one that will be enjoying the fruits of your labor and it is yours do towith as your personal tastes dictate. These are not the cars that can demand the outlandish prices that you see on the Major car auctions. They will only sell for what a person is willing to buy it for. Just enjoy the car and have alot of great fun dribing it. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

I have heard from alot of people that the cowel mirrors are really for looks and that they are not very good for use when trying to see who is along side or in back of you. rich Hartung

These can be relined and if the lining is worn down than that would be the way to go. i have seen the entire bands now go for over !00 dollars for NOS. You will have to inspect the lining and check you service manaul on how to adjust and check for the clearance amount that should be betweenthe drum and the lining. This might be not set to the correct number. Rich Hartung

I went to a good quality autobody paint supplier and was able to get the plastic clips for my 1939 Desoto. If you take a piece of your trim and also know the hole size you can then see what they have that will fit your car. The nice thing about plastic is that you never have to worry about rust and with the plastic it would have the ridges on the end that goes into the holes and makes for a complete seal. Us the more modern items when they can not be seen. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

another good way to get the wires is to purchase a NOS breaker plate that is the one for your specific dizzy. rich hartung

Another good way to get these replacement wires is by purchasing a NOS breaker plate that is the correct one for your car or truck. The compete breaker plate with upper and lower plate will come complete with the wires, points and condenser already in place. When ever I do a tuneup I have a couple of spare NOS breaker plates and just install the new one and then rebuild the old one with NOS parts. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

on what car or truck is this attached to. This is important to know. I can not tell where it is located or what type of light it is? More info please Rich Hartung

They are not bare wire they are cloth covered and have the small stranded cooper wire and the proper end clips or rings for the particular dizzy. You might be able to get these from NAPA but you should also look for them when going to a swap meet. This is why I collect the various car and repair catalogs to get this info so these are the things that should should be looking for at swap meets. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

I have attached some information about the Distributor Lead wires and the ones that were used on our cars and trucks. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

If you have a 49 Desoto aprts manual check the section on the differential. It should list the various ring and pinion rnages that would have been avilable for your 49 Desoto. If you can find the number then keep searching onthe bay but I would also get a matched set to insure that the ring and pinion will mate up with each other. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Buick John: Not sure what you are asking. Are you asking the question if there was an option to have fluid drive in a dodge truck? Please restate you question. Thanks,

Joe: Sent you a PM last Night. I live in the suburbs of Philly near Valley Forge NAtioanl PArk jus off of the Pa Turnpike. The closest town would be King of Prussia and Norristown, PA. Let me know were you are staying and maybe we can meet up. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com Cell 484-431-8147

it also could be a ground issue. hook a good wire to the light socket and then run the wire to a very good clean bare metal spot maybe on the frame. See if the light get brighter then it would be a ground issue. As another person stated the bulb might be insert incorrect and indexed the wrong way. Rich Hartung

I think you are ok. But think of this situation in a different way. Lets say that you were running yes running at full speed that you body can handle. You are seating but the air movement across you body will cool you and wick some of the perspiration oof you body. But then you slowed down and came to a stop or waited to cross an intesection. Your body is still creating heat and the body will sweat more to try to cool your body temp you feel hotter. Now you take off running and the body willstart to cool becasue of the air movement. Same when riding a bicyle inthe heat. So your car will act the same way. It was hot from running at the extend speed came to a stop had no air pushing the heat off the engince blcok. Then started up agian and the air was pushed across the block. Rich HArtung.

Ok Now that I got your attention as to what the topic is all about. Over the weekend I came across a special vehicle that all of us older kids will recognize and also will know the words to a very popular song that we all sang as kids. A clue is that a very little person would pop out of the top of the vehicle and he would be wearing a chefs hat. The vehicle was orange and yellow. The body looked like a bun I guess you have figured it out by now. Yes its the OSCAR Mayer Wienermobile. It was parked in a hotel around the corner from my home here in Valley Forge PA. So who can remember the words to the song? I will start you out: I Wish I was an Oscar Mayer Wiener because everybody would be in love with me eee. Now this song will be in your mind for a whole day, but what a great song to hear. Here are pictures of the wienermobile. And Yes I still have my original wienermoble whistle. Hope this brings back a lot of good memories Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Ok Now that I got your attention as to what the topic is all about. Over the weekend I came across a special vehicle that all of us older kids will recognize and also will know the words to a very popular song that we all sang as kids. A clue is that a very little person would pop out of the top of the vehicle and he would be wearing a chefs hat. The vehicle was orange and yellow. The body looked like a bun I guess you have figured it out by now. Yes its the OSCAR Mayer Wienermobile. It was parked in a hotel around the corner from my home here in Valley Forge PA. So who can remember the words to the song? I will start you out: I Wish I was an Oscar Mayer Wiener because everybody would be in love with me eee. Now this song will be in your mind for a whole day, but what a great song to hear. Here are pictures of the wienermobile. And Yes I still have my original wienermoble whistle. Hope this brings back a lot of good memories Rich HartungDesoto1939@aol.com

Terry, What do you mean by Balance a clutch assembly? Rich HArtung

I would say that the rubber bumper got old and came off the metal stud an was probably the original bumper. Yes I woudld but in a new bumper when you do the front end. What is left over is probably the metal piece that was valcanized into the rubber bumper. Just my take on what you are showing in the picture. Rich HArtung

I have a 39 Desoto that has the same setup witht he same screwin ploug that you have. I just stripped the end of the large coil wire to expose the metal wire. Inserted it into the plastic srew and made sure that it was sticking out the other end Pushed the wire up so that is make contact witht eh brass threads and then screwed ito the coil. I have been running the 39 desoto this way for 27 years. i have never seen anything else on how to make this work other that what i have done. Then put a rubber cap over the end of the wire to make sure it holds the wire in place onto the plastic screw. The setup that you have in your second photo is how I have mine setup. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Ok here is your answer: According to my Moog Coil spring catalog and suspention catalog Fron coil springs for Dodge 41-48 D19, D22, d24 All except 7 pass sedan and Limo use the MOOG number 730 for regular and and extra service and for Heavy Duty number 813 ALso for 1949 D29.D30 and 1950 D33 and D34 I do not have any information on the measurements but this might help you get the information for the correct size. You might also beable to contact MOOG and see if they can supply you with any other info and sixe in height. thickness of the the coil diameter of the coil. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

I think my MOOG Suspension catalog might have a lsiting for this car. I will check and see if there is a MOOG front spring number. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

no it is so small that it will not affect the balance. The zerk fitting is in the metal housing of the U joint. This would permit you to lub the ujoint. I have a couple of these joint hosuing with the zerk fitting already drilled into the unit. rich hartung

Now that you have removed the pins and the metal housing you are ready to clean the entire driveshaft. Put the boot on first and not not put the clamps on. Then put the metal housing on the shaft and then have the pins installed. If you have the housing already off the before reassembly check to see if a machine shop can tap in a zerk fitting on the housing so that you can use a lube gun to put grease into the housing. Rich HArtung

Flat Spots on your bia ply tires after letting the car sit for a period of time. Do you have this same issue. I was at a major car museum that has very high priced Number 1 cars and every car had bia ply tires on them and were all sitting on a concrete floor. BUT the curator of the museum notes to us that every car inthe collection is driven, to prevent the tires from getting the flat spot they placed a piece of rug under each tire. This prevents the flat spot from happening. I have alwasy stored my 39 Desotoin my garage that has a concrete floor and have an old rug that sits entirely under the car and all four wheels. I have owned the car 25+ years and I can not remember ever having the flat spot so I guess he was correct to use the rug under each tires. I think moisture will also affect the tires and the breakdown of the rubber and cords. JUST a GREAT FYI. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com