desoto1939

i got my headliner and windlace from Restoration Supply in Windber PA and the quality was good and they had it presewn with the correct loops. Another person and I put the headliner in the car of my 1939 Desoto. Here is ther link to their webpage: http://www.restorationspecialties.com If you download their PDF catalog then go to page 117 the cost is around $200 and each is a custom made headliner and figure according to heir catalof around 35% for shipping so 200 for headline plus 70 shipping plus the windlace per foot that would be needed. They also sell the windlace Hope this get you on the right track. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Another option might be galvanized pipe or electical conduit Just another idea. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

One of the questions is does your current engine have any type of filter system installed on the engine? HAs you engine ever been rebuilt? Mother MoPAr was way ahead of the game on engines back in the 30's. They used harden values in their engines. The lead inthe gas was used as a lubrication agent. So your current engine can run on unleaded with out any issue. You do not need to use an additive to your gas. A multi viscosity oil is a detergent oil which help to prevent sludge. So if your car used straight weight oil then I would stay with a straight weigth oil. If it had filter then you could use a multi viscocity oil. If you engine has been rebuilt recently then I would go to a mulit oil. But it is all up to you what you want to run in the egine. Rich HArtung

As PLY ADAMS has stated Rhode Island Wiring is a quality company that reproduces factory looking wiring harness that have the proper color and sticker codes for each individual wire that would be used for your particular car or truck. If you are going after point judginf like for an AACA event or NAtional Desoto Jusding then you will need to have a new harness made up for you with the correct brading and color coded wires. Or If you have a driver car that you will show at local shows and are not going for AACA or any ohter specific points judging then you can make you own wire harnes by using modern wire that has the plastic coating on the wires. As a side note the wires that RI wiring uses and also the other companies are also plastice coated but then they pullthe appropriate cloth covering over the plastic coat. It all according to what you want. I have used RI wiring for some of my rewire that I did on my 1939 Desoto and they have a top quality product and they are easy to work with if you have a special request. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Dkopesky: So now that I have listed the Original Wheel Cylinders on your first posting now you can start a search for these NOS America made wheel cylinders. Since they were used from approx 1946 to 55 for all of the Mopar cars you might have some luck in finding them in a swap meet. Here isa suggestion try doing some GOOGLE search for Brake vendors. You might beable to find a few that might still have some of these NOS cylinders in their supply. If they have them then I would buy what ever they have for future use. Do not know what swap meets are in your area but that would also be a good try. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

But the original post said a ford guy goes mopar and then read the post. I saw this car listed on Ebay. The original head would not have been the Spitfire head just a plain cast iron head. The Aluminum head gave the car 100 horse power versus 94 with the stock head. Positive ground is no big issue. Just keep it that way and you will be fine. I have had my car for over 27 years and the car is still positive ground. Negative goes out to the starter switch on top of the starter motor. Positive cable goes to the trans Use double 00 cable size and not 12 v sized cables. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Accoding to my wagner brake master catalog here are the various Wheel Cylinder numbers that you need: Wheel Cyl Right rear EW10588 Wheel Cyl Left rear EW10588 these were used from 1946 to 1955 Front Upper right EW10581 used from 46-55 Front Lower right EW10583 Front Left Upper EW10580 Front Left Lower EW 10582 Dodge/Chrysler/Desoto and Plymouth from 46-55 all used these same wheel cylinders Rich HArtung If you search for these numbers these are the numbers that all major brake companies used to fined they wheel cylinders

Let me look up in My Wagner and EIS brake master catalog. I might be able to get you the proper wheel cylinder numbers for this car. Then you could look for NOS cylinders and this way you would know that you would have some quality parts. Since the are NOS if you find them they might need a slight honing to remove any slight contamination that has formed over the years. Send me you home email and I will try to find this info for you. My hollander book does not go up to your year so I can not answer your question on the interchange but maybe someone elase can. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com cell 484-431-8157

what type of puller are they using to get the drum off? Are they using a 3 legged puller or a five hole puller that can pull equally on all five lugs? I have both of these and I have found that by useing the puller that pulls with all 5 lug nut or bolts is a better unit since you get equal pulling versus only getting a 3 point pull and then two are pulling against one effect.. Also you state that they have been working on the brakes for t hrs labor. I would have a hard time saying they are just dedicated for two hrs pounding onthe drum puller. They have twos of the car on a jack stand or lift but they are not just standing therejust working on your brakes. They are also doing other work on other cars. I would also have to agree about getting new cylinders today. If you can get real NOS cylinders then get those. I have several listing for brake components if you need this information. If you can not get true NOS then I would go and get them resleeved since they wouls still have the original body that can be cut and the sleeve inserted. Just my 25 cents. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Hope the injections work out for your back issue. Just wanted to let you know that I have the 39 Desoto sedan so there is basically one almost in your backyard. Here is my cellphone number 484-431-8157. Wear good walking shoes if you are having back issues since you will be walking on blacktop all day.

Glad that your mom decided to keep it in the family. Would hate to see it go to an outsider since your dad had the car so long and alos that you learned to drive on this car. My father inlaw has a model a four door phaeton that he has owned for over 40+ years so there are three sons inthe family and then me with the 39 Desoto. We are determined to keep the car inthe family somehow. I have driven this car many times and also learned how to drive the old cars when he would tak eme out to car show with him. A family owned car is very special and needs to be kept there. Rich HArtung

after getting rid of the rust and down to bare metal you could brush on PORS-15 for the underside of the panels, but always wear rubber gloves or some type of protection on your hands. PORS15 is hard to get off your hands and fingers when it drys. then you can spray the bottoms with a rustoleum for a desired color if you want. You can also brush on the PORS-15 on the inside of the floor pans to give added protection on the inside and then cover the floor with the rubber mat of choice. read the label on the can of PORS. It all depends on what you can do yourself or have sent out to do. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

Bob: It is more of a hodge podge of venders. If you purchase one of the AACA progrtam booklets then it will list the venders that have paid to be listed. So basically the Mopar guys are scatted thoughout the four major parking lots. And then you might come across venders that have a collection of all manufactures. Wear good walking shoes and also bring some good rain gear. We call it Hershey sunshine and it ususally rains one day. Br preared to walk your feet off. You can doa field a day. I have found that by walking down the middle of a row you can basically tell what a vendor has to sell very quickly and if oyu have been collecting parts you will see very quickly if the vendor might have something of interest. HAppy hunting you never know what you will find in any given year. The venders come to life around 8-9 since they are camping on the parking lots and then making breakfest and then take off their tarps. Look in the dollar piles you sometimes can get some good buys if you know what you are looking at. Prices wil lbe high but if they have the part that you really need then you have to pay to play. I do know that site goes for around $90 so they are trying to recoup their site fees. In the Green field there is a section of Packard dealers but then again the program book will help you if this is your first time being at MECA. Rich Hartung

Bob: I am planning to be there on Thursday and Friday. I will put your number into my cell and try to call you during the day time. Maybe we can meet up at central spot. One of the most easiest spots to meet up is at the bridge that goes over from the Chocolate field over to the Green field which is where the GIANT indoor arena is located. We can arrange on a spot when I contact you. Rich Hartung cell 484-431-8157

If you have any questions about this 1939 Desoto coupe please contact me. I have the 39 Desoto 4 door sedan and can help you with your questions. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

If the hood release cable and pullhandle is similar to my throtle cable on my 39 Desoto you might bebale to repair it. On an older throttle control handle that i found I pulled the handle out on the unit. The handle has a metal a metal rod inwhich the metal wire is attached. I was able to open the rod and then slide in a new wire and then was able to close the road and pinched the cable into the metal housing and then tjreaded the new wire through the spring like housing. You can get any old hood cable mechanisim and use the new wire. If this does not work then install a new handle like Young Ed suggested especially if your car is a driver and not a car being judged. Rich HArtung

according to Autolite.com the 306 is gapped to .025 not .035 Also check your service manual for your car. Inthe back of the book there should be a section on tuneup and spec and it should also list the gap for the plugs. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Don: is this the black colapasble fabic hose that has the metal coil in the hose? If so I think this is just a standard hose that you should beable to get at any good parts store Looks like a black slinkee but covered with black material. Is this the hose that goes from the heater up to the two defroster nossels? Rich HArtung

Hey Bingster: I already beat him to the find, becasue I have both of these two tools, the Miller MT19 with the 7 sleeves and also the AMMCO gage. The Miller tool is like trying to find hens teeth in a rooster!!!!! Rich HArtung

It would be neat if you could acquire several of the bricks from the building just as part of your collection for the car. It is nice to say that you have one of the bricks from the original factory where you car was assembled. I know several years ago the National Desoto club was able to get some of the bricks from the main Desoto plant. Jus tplan nestolgia for any plymouth owner. Rich HArtung

Go to a good auto paint supply store not a napa store but a store that suppliers paint to autobody repair shops. They should have clips in all types of sizes and assortmaents Find a clip that will fit you molding. I like the plastic molding clips that have thye plastic barrel on the end and then you just push the barrel end into the hole. Plastic does not rust and is easier to work with and no one will ever see the clip so use modern stuff and not the old clips. rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

There isa wire that comes from the starter to the sisson choke. WHen the starter is energised it send the electric current to the choke to close the butterfly. This will alwyas happen even if the car is hot or cold. The bi-metal spring on the bottom of the choke housing is what control the mechanism to slowly let off on the chocking of the carb. As the bimetal get colder it then comes down and lets the butterfly open up or retact. In the Technical section there is a compy of a presentation that I did on Sisson chokes. Also send me you home email and I will send you the power point presentatin. Also you need to have the gasket under the choke body and between the manifold, this is very important to help with the function of the choke. Rich Hartung

if you know the tool numbers ( Miller Tools) will be referenced in your Service manual. Then do a search on the Bay. This is how I found my miller tools for my 39 Desoto. Since I do not have Fluid Drive I do not have these tools, sorry that I can not help you. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

on one of my Mopar Decals for the Oil Can style oil filters it said change ever 8 thousand miles. ALso remember that were were using oil that had alot of wax pertrolium products back in the days. The oils of today are better refined and have better protection properites. Also the chnaging of the filter depends on how many miles that you have put onthe old car. The changing of the oil is more important to get the oil sludge out of the oil pan so you do not build up the sludge in the bottom of the pan. In our cases I feelthat you can get two oil chnages and 1 filter change but for an additioanl 8 dollars or so why not chnage the filter. rich hartung

If that is for the MoPar or Fram throwaway metal can that is not tooo bad. i have seen them higher than that. The cost for the one that has the metal housing and the drop in might also run about the same price but in the long run they payfor themselve since the cost of the drop in cartidge is about 8 dollars. Rich HArtung