desoto1939

The gasket that held the glass into the metal is a rubber and also cork material. Take to heat gun or real good harir drier and heat up the frame to soften the material then you should be able to pull the glass out of the frame. They new way of installing the glass is with black glass silicone setting caulking This then allows you to move the glass allitle to get it in place and straight with out having to force the glass into the frame and possibly breaking or cracking the glass. If you are going for points judging this you need the glass setting tape or you will lose points in judging. For a driver use the modern style it is easier. You can take the frame to an auto glass installer and they can do it real fast for you. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

I have seen engine hoist with three and four leg setup. Get the one with a four leg setup the unit is more stable because of being on the ground at four point and not three. Rich Hartung.

This is a tool that can be mailed. I am not traveling and hand delivering it to your home. Contact me directly about the use of the tool. rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I have the door latch assemblies for my 39 desoto both front anr rears. Basically the latch assemblies for the specific years should work for the coupe, 4 door and 2 dr sedans. The difference is the length of the arm that attaches to the door handle accuator. I will try to take a picture of one of mine to show you the location of the springs inthe mechnais,. Send me you home email so I can send you the pictures. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

Hvae you used either the Ammco brake tool or the miller brake tools to set the arch of the shoes to the drum. It sounds as if you have not done the major brake adjustment or if you did it is not correct. I have the Ammco Brake tool. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Contact ME. I live near Valley forge PA Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com cell 484-431-8157 Home 610-630-9188

I put a 6 volt third brake lite in the rear widow of my 39 Desoto. It is a light bar that is held in position by two suction cups. I also have turn signal wired into the light. So the light is high up and the people behind me can see the light in the rear window. It is very bright and also does not hinder my view when looking out the back window. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

In have an AC canister stylein my 39 Desoto that has the paper filter element that is a drop in unit. I can walk into any NAPA store and get their off the shelf NAPA Gold 1010 filter and do not have to order it. So if you have a problem see if one of these willfit your canister and then get two and always have an extra one on hand. Its not like we a changing the oil on these cars as often as we do our modern cars. which is about twice a year or mabye three times a years based on your mileage that you drive. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Does your engine have the Oil filter already installed, HAs the engine been rebuilt or is it old and still original. If a filter then a multi weight oil detergent could be used. If no filter then sugeest straight weith 30. I have a rebuilt engine inmy 39 Desotoand have been using 10/40 and have the oil filter with the drop in filter. for 27 Years. Rich HArtungT

Sisson Choke: Yes the bimetal plate is heat sensitive. So first of all DO NOT and I say DO NOT ever bend this metal plate. The starter send an electric charge to the choke and then sets the choke buttlerfly inthe carb. This willhappen when the engine is cold and or hot. The bimetal spring or metal plate then will hold then choke plate closed and then will slowly allow the plate to retract as the manifold warms up. If the engine is hot from running then the choke butterfly should retract and take off the choking of the carb. Very basic in nature. I do have the sisson choke manual saved in a PDF format and saved to CD if anyone needs a copy. I also have the factory testing stand that was used by the dealers to test that the choke was working properly. As all of you currently know the prices for these old chokes has gone through the roof and the 49-55 sison choke for the Plymouths have gotten out of control and are going in the range of close to 175-200 dollars. You also need to have the gasket underneath the body of the choke when mounted on the manifold. I have literature on these chokes and also the adjusting tools. If you want pictures of the tools send me an email two years ago I did a lecture on the sisson chokes at the AACA annual meeting here in Philadelphia. I am not an expert but have some knowledge on these chokes. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

I have used the grain-it method. The guy has a homeusers kit and it is very easy to do. But it will look good in your car but it will not be the great looking job that the professionals can do. But when you are talking 3-5k for an entire car and then the car is only worth about that much when completed does the expert cost make sense. The kit is easy to do and if you do not like what the grain looks like on the metal you can wipe it off and redo it again before it dries. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Hey Greg, WHen I said THEY I am refer to the Government. State and also Fed. If they can get rid of our old cars then they chnage the fuel to run on various amount of ethinol. We are just pawn in the game. These old cars do not make any money for the gov't since they have already been taxed. The state of Pa only get the one time reg so we are a non revenuse creation to them fee and there is no inspection required. Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Try to find a GAtes Water pump. Number 42554 they sell for arounf 45 dollars. Tese new pumps not have the sealed bearing installed instead of the old two bronze bushing like the originals. The Chrysler 8 cylinder water pumps used the sealed bearing and now they are using this inthe 6 cylinder version. I spoke to a Gates rep and he confirmed that the new pumps have the seal bearing go to www.gates.com and search for their water pump 42554 Also as a side note Airtex has repoped the old AC 588 fuel pump and the new number is 73201. Confoirmed this with an Airtex rep. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

I also agree get rid of the old fuel. Put clean fuel in the tank with stabilizer added since you are not running the car alot. Recommend that at least turn the car over and start it every week when it is sitting inthe garage and also pump the brakes to keep them free. This ethinol is bad and now they want to have us use 85% based ethinol gas. The antique car hobby will be in big trouble. They just want our old cars off the road and tobe crushed and out of site. Just think of how many small and also mid sized companies would be affected if they trashed the old cars? Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

Most guys get the mechanicals working to at least get the car road worthy to make sure they have a car they can drive for awhile. Then decide it they want to do a full up resto or a partial resto. Also alot depends on how mush $$$$$ you have to spend on the car, the cost to value ration is one thing to consider. You can spend alot of money for a 4 door sedan with a full resto, including the interior, redoing the dashboard and all of the garnish moldings. This alone will cost you a lot of money if it is done professionaly figure 2K and then you have the interior cloth and headliner and rubber mat and ro rug for the car. If the car is a low production model and then car is in great shape and is not missing alot of parts then you have a great foundation to start with. So the first questions that you need to ask yourself is, What do I plan to do with this car. Am i going for a full resto and Point judging, then cannot drive the car until you have gotton to the point that you want as a finaly judged car. AACA National 1st car then you need to do a full up resto. Attend at leaset two AACA meets so your car can be judged. First you need to win a 1st Junior adn then the next show you can then compete for a 1st Senior, But if there are better cars you still could not make enought points to get your 1st Senior award. Then you have to attend another AACA event. You will also have to protest the car in between each show and fix any issues that theymight find. You will also need a good vehicle to pull the car on your trailer since you do not want to get any road grime on the undercarrage. The car has to look as if it came out of the Dealership today just like a freshly made car, Perfect in every way. Or do you want a nice driver that has a nice paint job and the mechanicals are good and you have a safe car? This is the first step then decide from that point on what to fix and repair. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I have persoanlly visited the White Post restoration facility several times. The National Desoto Club held one of their annual convnetions on the White Post property. They had just completed a restoration of a 57 Desoto at that time. Also when Billy Thompson was alive, he was the owner of White Post, he would host a weekend event onhis property for all car owners to attend. His shop was open to visitiros to look at what his skilled craftsmen do. we did notice at that time he did not have the new computerized equipment but was using the good old lathes inwhich they miced the piece they were working on. So the restores in his shop had to have the tecnical and also work experience skills to get the job done properly. White post has always done great work. They drill out the cylinders and then instert a sleeve and then they make sure this is at the correct spec for each item. Costly but done right and then you still hvae the old original part but new guts onthe inside. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

If brass was sooooooo bad then why did they make the thermostats out of BRASS. I have also asked this same vender that lives on the West Coast the same answer and he can not provide an answer. Brass Thermostats have been used in our cars and they stay there for many years. Even if there isa chemical reaction and with the amount of iron block material I also do not think there isa a problem to e concerned about. desoto1939@aol.com Rich HArtung

They made a fanblade tool that was tack welded onto a flat bar. The flat bar was long enough to extend past the fan blade. They used a 1/2 inch socket that was cut down in depth. I have the same tool and the tool fits in between the back of the rad and then you can slip the socket onto the bolts that holds the fan blade onto the pump. I uput some tape in the end of the socket to hold the bolt when it has been removed. So loosen the generator and get slack in the fab belt. reach in with the tool and get a hold of one of the bolts then the fan blade is free to turn by hand and you can then get the bolt to unthread it self from the water pump end. Just do the opposite to install. If you would like to see a picture of the tool write to me and I will send you a copy..There are a couple on the bay right now. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol

go to Monroe shocks on the web and look in the search page. They still carry shocks for our cars. Dodge 48 Front 5752 rear 3100 Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

This should be listed in your Parts manual. Write to me I have a Wagner Brake catalog and if you have the mopar number I might beable to cross reference the Wagner number. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

How old is the coil? That also might be the issue. The internal winding may have broken and when cool the the wires touch but when they warm and het hot they could have a slight break and then pull apart and then you lose the spark. Then engine then cools off and the cars starts again but when gets hot the situation is repeated. I knew a friend that had replaced the lowere rad hose and this hose had an internal spring to keep the hose open. When they chnaged the original hose with a replacement they did not install the spring. When the car started to get hot the lower hose colapased and the engine would then get hot and it would basically shutdown. Took them awhile to figure this out. I do not think this is your issue but just passing along information. Just a thought Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

Hey Don: Very nice posting on the Fluid Drive information, always great to read information. My 39 Desoto did not have FD but the 39 Chryslers had that as an option. That is strange because Desoto seemed to be the experimental car for the Chrysler. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Try this link to the MOOG Suspension parts Universal sawy Bar bushings> The video also tells you how to measure the thinkness of your swapbar to ge the proper bushing. This might help you get what you need. http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/Universal-Sway-Bar-Bushings.asp Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

I think they used the bolt to prevent a mechanic from just thinking it is a regular grease fitting and then put the grease gun on the zerk and give it a full push and then the force of the grease then goes past the seal and then you need a brake show replacement. You are to remove the bolt and then push the grease into the hole with your finger tip this prevents you from over greasing the bearing. So it really should not be done with a zerk put done by packing the hole by hand. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Joe: Looked in my Wagner brake catalog: 1119410 equal wagner Frame tee FC10593 1118161 equals wagner axle tee FC10592 The next number that someone provided for the 49 is not in my x-reference number under the Mopar section