desoto1939

tyr this option on ebay: AT Clutches Throw out bearing 614036 fits Chrysler Dodge Fargo Plymouth Condition: NewNew Compatibility: See compatible vehicles Quantity: 4 available / 24 sold Price: US $29.20

I have the same master cylinder in my 39 Desoto. One suggestion is take the top off the MC and reerse it so that the filler hole is visible when looking in the engine compartment. The fill hole bolt should be at the front so you can fill it and also look into see if it needs brake fluid. Also make sure that the hole in the cap on the side is open. I did this so I do not have to remove the floor mat and it makes it easier to maintenance the MC. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Check Bernbaums for the full wheel cover inserts to stop the full hub cap from moving and cutting your tire valvestem. saw he had them 4 for $20. Rich Hartung

Is the tag still on the distributor body? Sine you can not read the tag from just leaning over the fender you might have to take the dizzy out of the engine to read the tag. If the tag is worn then put some white paper over the tag and do a pencil rubbing of the tag it then might be readable for the numbers. Also make on the block a specific location as a reference point and also a reference point on where the rotor is pointing on the body or lip or edge of the dizzy body. This will help when putting the dizzy back into the block. Since the end of the dizzy shaft has a boss that goes into a slot on the oil pump you are either dead on or could be 180 out of rotation if the car will not start. I have run for the past 35 years points in my 39 Desoto and it still has the original distributor. I use Autolite points and condensors since this is what was delivered when the car was new. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Here is some info on the sleeve with bearing; Replace the entire unit and start will all new parts. Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Regular brake fluid will eat all paints. If I remember correctly that DOT3 brake fluid is made from the crushed shells of the Almond or might be Pecan shells. The acid in these shells is why you never see these peanuts in the shells. If you touched the outer shell with your bare hands or fingers the acid will burn your skin. DOT5 brake fluid will not eat paint but the other brake fluids will eat your paint. Even with DOT 5 you still should be careful near any painted surfuaces. Rich Hartung

Binster your are welcome. This is one of the main reasons why the purchasing of old time parts catalogs is sooooooo important. These older catalogs provide so much information and knowledge about these older cars and you always learn new information. Rich Hartung

Question: are you adding any thing to the gas tanks such as LEAD Additive or Marvels Mystery oil or any other product? Also check the gap on all the plugs. Also run the engine in your garge at night time will all the lights turned off and open the hood to see if you have any tracers coming off the wires. If you see blue streaks then the wires are leaking and then replace all the wires at the same time. Just my 50 cents worth of input. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com Here is information taken from my Autolite sparkplugs catalog which starts at 1930:

Since these older gasket are not easy to find I make my own gaskets for my by pass oil filter lid. All you need is a compass and pair of sissors and also make a couple gaskets. The mother of invention is the savior when something is necessary needed right now. Rich Hartung

Since the Coker tire company has identified that their tires are getting Browning on their whitewall tires You should askthem to at least send you a sample of the product to use to see if this will remove the Browning on the tires. Explain to them that this is alot cheaper than having to refund your cost for the tires and if it works then you can take pictures as proof and then they can use this in their product sales literature. I would give this a try but only on their dime not yours. You already have spent a lot of money on their tires so they should make good on some product to correct the situation. If you do not ask then you will never know, they might even say yes. Remember a happy customer spreads good recommendations an unhappy customer spreads bad recommendations!!!!!! Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Here is inf on wheel cylinders from my EIS brake catalog: Rich hartung

I spoke with the owners of Universal Tire out in the Hershey area that also supplies tires for our older cars. They DO NOT remommend Bleche-White to clean the whitewall tires. It will dryout the rubber and then you will get cracks. They strongly recommend Simple Green. Rich hartung.

I would box off the existing frame. This way you know all of the existing body mounts will work and also any of the fenders will still attach correctly. Rich hartung 1939 Desoto owner

I have heard that the Coker tire company is no longer owned by the Coker family and it was sold and also the name. Also have heard that they are having issues with the tires. I use Universal Tire Company for all my tires for my 39 Desoto. Do your research on the tires that you want on your car since these things are not cheap. I clean my tires with Simple Green. Rich Hartung

I would like to inform everyone that all 3 sets of these tools have been sold and are going to several MoPar owners. If I come across any more I will repost the tools. Rich Hartung

Even before asking this question you should have access to a parts book. The parts book wil show what parts and the part numbers that will work on both types of doors. The next question is what particular 1940 car need to know that before anyone does any research for you. You list a project car as a 49 fargo. Rich Hartung

Doug: what brand of fuel pump? An Airtex, Carter or what manufacturer? Rich Hartung

Insurance companies realize that EV’s Things could soon get Expensive Some Insurance companies are getting concerned because of the rising cost for Electric Vehicles as compared to Gasoline powered vehicles. Insurers are finding that the costs a car owners faces are higher for EVs that for gas cars. According to the a publishes report by Market watch right at the outset that insurance prices for EV’s are higher than gor gas cars. So the higher the initial cost the more it costs to insurer a car. The average price for an EV reached $58940. This is more than $10000 higher than the industry average cost of a new vehicle at the same time was $48000. Also the coverage for an EV are anywhere from 10-135% higher than the national average depending on which EV you want to insure. Another big factor is also the cost for repairs on an EV. Even though there are fewer parts on an EV, the replacement parts are much more expensive. Example, if a battery pack is damaged they found that the average cost to replace an EV battery ranges from $4500-$18000. There also is as shortage of qualified repair shops and qualified technicians, so higher costs passed onto the customers and insurance companies. EV repair costs are double or more than for gas powered or hybrid vehicles. Note even FORD was forced to push back its expectations as Americans have proven slower to adopt EVs than the industry expected. A customer of a Rivian truck was rearended and he was told the cost to repair the vehicle would be an eye-popping $42000 or about half the cost of the truck in the first place. So some insurance companies when they have to pay a claim because of the costs are being forced to call the whole thing a total loss. So when the battery pack is slightly damaged the insurance companies are forced to write-off the car even with low mileage on the car leading to higher premiums and undercutting gains from going electric. So with all of the above statements always contact your insurance provider to get the total cost of car insurance for an EV replacement versus a gas powered vehicle. Rich Hartung Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

This morning I drove my 1939 DeSoto to attend the 60th annual Macungie car show that is held in Macungie PA, near Alallentown,PA. The drive was approx 40 miles. This is a 3 day car show. Today they had around 1100 cars attend the event. During my time there I walsked throught the fleamarket area and found three unique set of tools. For all of us Mopar car and truck owners that have the Detroint Pin and Trunion sytle Uniersal joint I was able to purche three sets of tools that were still in the original packaging. These tools are used to push and install the pin in the end of our driveshafts. The tool is also used to center the pin in the ball end of the shaft. I already have a set of the tools but when I saw the three sitting on the table I grabbed them all because the price was good. If you need you of these tools contact me. I also purchase in a small box a complete set of fuses for our mopar. The box was labeled for Plymouth. I had a problem with the first picture p1 so do not open this file. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

The real issue with remanufactured stems from first issue is if the remanufacturer is using a TRUE NOS original manufactured part to obtain the original specifications. So if they can only get a part that is not perfect and or not have the blueprint drawing then they are left with a part that might not be perfect. Lets take another point here at the sametime. Some of the parts that were put back into the parts department might be NOS, but they might be there because there might be a small blemish or imperfection on the part. Some sellers have also stated that even thought a part is LISTED AS NOS it still might not be a perfect part. So here also lies another issue is used an older original part that might be NOT Perfect. The reproduction manufactures when re-makeing a new part have been know to make the part smaller becauseof trying to get all of the proper measurements and if they are off a little then the parts will not work properly. Yes the Chineese are making new parts for our cars but they have the most current spec's for these new cars and are not trying to duplicate exactly a part that was made over 50-70 years ago and might not have all of the appropriate documentation and design specifications. Also most Automobile manufactures only have to have parts for their cars for around a 10-12 period after the car has stopped being produced. So even with a modern car you might not even beable to get a part for a car that is still being driven by you. This is just my assessment of remanufacturing parts for cars and truck that are no longer being produced. Rich Hartung

Bingster: I know you have a lot of questions. But trying to get this far indepth will just make it more confussing on your part. These cars and all cars with brake fluid have all had the same setup since the 1930's. It is great that you are asking questions but just reassemble them and they will work just fine. Rich Hartung

If you purchase new wheel cylinders plan on using the old push pins. The newer push pins for some reason are now longer than the original and then you will have a hard time getting the drums back on. Also always keep the old wheel cylinder parts. Rich hartung

My Pre-War 1939 Desoto does not have a straight front axle. It has independent from suspension and this was stock from the factory. I also have coil springs and not leaf springs on the front I have leaf springs on the rear axle. I also run the 600X 16 stock rims with the Goodyear Airtires that are bias ply tires. These are thires that have the ribs on the outside of the tire and were the factory style tire in the late 1930's into the mid 1940;s until they changed over to the 15 inch rim. My happy speed for my car is around the 50-53 MPH. Last June I traveled from Phila, Pa to Altoona,Pa via the Pa turnpike traveling around 53 mph and got around 16-18 mpg over a trip of 550 miles. Not bad for a car that is 84 years old technology and still running the original Bal and Ball Carb and 3 speed trans with no overdrive. Rich Hartung

Here isa picture of the carb gasket in cork. Rich Hartung

Yes we are all feeling the prices going up for these old car parts. Have to remember that these car parts were made approx 50-70 years ago, so the supply is now getting smaller of NOS parts. I have a 1939 Desoto and only 33000 were made so just think how many NOS parts are now avialable for this only 1 year model of Desoto. I feel your pain. Rich Hartung