desoto1939

when using dot 5 you will need to rebuild each brake cyclinder with new rubber components, new brake hoses and also the master cylinder will also need to be rebuilt with new rubber components. You will need to flush out all the lines with denatured alcohol to clear the metal brake lines of the old dot 3 brake fluid. Also check all the metal brake lines and replace any or all to start fresh lines. I have had dot 5 in my 39 desoto since 1988. rich hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Don Thanks for the suggestion I will have to take a look under the car. In 70 years who knows what ever happened with the prior owners. Rich Hartung

there should be a recess arounf the vent on the cowl. The rubber gasket gets glued into this recess. The gasket is not glued to the vent flap or the part that comes up and down. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Joe: You are correct. There should covers on both rear springs, but maybe the prior owner had some spring work done or maybe the covers got torn and they removed them when it was in for servicing. Being over 70+ years old I am not going to worry about getting replacement covers. The car is a driver and not a show car and is not officially judged at AACA or Desoto events. If I every find some then might consider but that is low on my priority list of things to do. I see that you are in Ohio. I did the bicycle ride call TOSROV or Tour of the Scioto river Valley very Mothers day weekend that started in Columbus Oh and went to Portsmouth Ky and then returned back to Columbus on Sunday. Did this back in the mid 70's 100 miles each day. Are you located arounf that area? Went throught the town of Cicrleville and Chilocothee, OH. Rich HArtung

my 39 desoto has the metal leaf spring covers on the driver rear side of the car and this is the side where the gas filler tube is located. On the passenger side the cover is not on this spring. I have a friend that has the same car another 39 Desoto and his car is setup in the same manner. Seems odd that both cars would only have the left cover and not the right one also covered. But it might have something to do with the gas tank. Not sure but just a WAG on my part. I do have literature that shows them on both sides from the MOOG corporation Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Is thias the original windlace or has it been replaced? If original then i would also suspect as tim stated the tacking strip might have torn loose and the outer material is now disconnected from the tacking strip. If it was replaced the smae thing could also be happening. There is a tacking strip and mabe there are not enought tacks or the distance between the tacks is to great to hold the windlace in position. You will have to remove the maternial also the piller post to see what is up and then go from that point. Rich Hartung

Just asking to see if we know if any of the forum members might have been caught in the the Tornados that ripped across the southern part of the US over the weekend. If anyone knows of someone please letus know so we can help in any way. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Just asking to see if we know if any of the forum members might have been caught in the the Tornados that ripped across the southern part of the US over the weekend. If anyone knows of someone please letus know so we can help in any way. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Tones52: The lights look bright in the picture during the day. Also check them at night time also. A good ground is very very important with the 6v system. Glad that all of the suggestions helped you find your issue. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Glad that I could provide you with the correct numbers. That is why I have started to collect the old catalogs becasue the counter gys and some of the venders do not have the knowledge and or even the books to look up the parts. Just trying to presever the information for future restorers. Paper gets worn out but when you save to disk it is kept longer until they come up with a new solution but this will also change. Let me know if these work on your truck? Rich Hartung

were you able to look in your fargo parts lisiting to verify the part number that I posted about the tierod ends for your truck? I was using the dodge section in the catalog and using the c3b without the preceeding f. Assuming that these shoul dbe the same frame an suspension. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

according to my McQuay Norris catalog the tie rod end for your truck would be ES-158R and Es158L 1948 - 61 dodge c3b uses these tierods. I did a search on ebay with ES-158 and would a lot of ties rod for your truck. This is why I collect the old catalogs and have then scanned onto CD's. This is the information that you guys need to have to find parts for your cars/trucks. the mopar number are 1238405 r es 158r 1238405 left es158l The es158 was used from 1948-61 so I would think there would be a fair amount to be available. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I have a 39 Desoto that uses the same Autolite electric motor EW 4001 if i remember the number correctly. Send me you home email and then I will copy the wiring diagram from the wiper switch to the wiper motor. There are three wires A, B, C and these go to the same letter onthe switch. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Here is your answer to the floor shift question. In 1938 the Desoto had the floor shift. In 1939 The Chrysler, Dodge and Desoto all switched to the Three on the tree, coulmn shifting. The lower priced model of the Plymouth and I can not remember which model still retained the floor shift but the upper model had it on the coumn. 1939 Chr, Des, and Dodge had the electric wiper motor and the Plymouth retained the vaccum wioer motor. The glass and doors and running boards from the 39 Des,Chry and dodge can interchange. The dodge hood will not fit on the Chr/Des cars because they are about an 1 to 1/12 shorter. rears were the same and also trans. The 39 dodge trunk will fit the 39 Desoto. The licence lamp on the 39 Chr/Des/Dodge is the same unit but the Desoto had a small trim piece on the outside. Most people do not know this and you can use the non chrome licence lamp on all the cars. Ply had its own licence lamp unit. Ply use the left tail light that had a silver knob on it and did not use the silver knob on the right rear light. The know was used to reflect the light whenthe car was parked on the side of the road at the curb. Chr/Des/Dodge had the careye glass reflector in the chrome trim ring for the two taillights. 39 Desoto had a left and right taillight lens. Quick way to tell the difference is that when you look at the lens and on the bottom corner there is the word DET. If the Det is in the lower right corner then this is a left lens. If the Det is inthe lower left corner then it is a right lens. Quick way to spot them. ALso when you turnover the lens there is in the upper top corner either an L or R in the lens and it is embossed in the lens. These are hard to see so I use the Det script method. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Longevity: On my 1939 Desoto the rubber that goes around the rear side quarter windows that look like a teardrop and push out from the rear stillhave the original rubber gasket on my car. I have not replaced this because it is still pliable and is not cracking Yes hard to believe that in 74 years that the rubber is still looking good. Yes the car has a cover over it when not in use in a garge. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

If it is this cold what about your regular car or truck. How did you prepare it for winter. Assuming that you might have a block heater in the modern car. In your parts car/truck do you have a heater and did you also drain that if it is out of the vehicle. Did you drain your garden hoses and turn off the spigots to the outside lines and drain any source of water. Rich Hartung

Chris you can contact the Chrysler Historical section and the cost is about $45 and they will provide you with the basic history and build sheet on your car. I did this for my 39 Desoto and I got the original build sheet on the car. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

I would then ask the last mechanic to replace the manual he lost with another one. And tell him this is the one that you want. it is hs job not to loose this type of materials. If he does not want to rebuy the book then I would let it be know tht he is not a top mechanic to be trusted with your parts and materials.I just had my 39 into the shop with the repair and shop manual and also several miller tools and they took very good care of the book and also cleaned the tools. This is what I expect of any mechanic when they do not have the books or tools they need to respect your items. Rich Hartung

Here is a link on the Bay for the manual on this car and wiring. Cost $23.00 And then you will have the complete information on the car http://www.ebay.com/itm/1949-1950-1951-1952-Desoto-Shop-Service-Repair-Manual-Engine-Drivetrain-Wiring-/130741202030?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1950%7CMake%3ADeSoto&hash=item1e70c86c6e&vxp=mtr Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

I just listed it in the mail section to let people know about the catalog. I will also list it in the for sale section once I have it ready for sale if anyone is interested. Rich Hartung

To All: I just received in the mail today a McQuay_NOORIS catalog that goes back to 1915 and goes to 1937. It covers the following for allof the major car manufacturers: Ring, Pistons and Pin Assembly Valve Assemblies Motor Bearings Water Pump Parts King Bolts- Pins and Bushings Tie Rod Sockets and Rods Spring Bolts and Bushings Thee are excellent pictures in each section for each car Vehicles covered: Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, Chrysler, Desoto, Dodge, ford, Graham, Hudson, Lafayette, LaSalle, Lincoln, Nash, Olds, Packard, Plymouth, Pontiac, Reo, Studebaker, Terraplane and Willys. I will be scanning this to CD's this week or later next week. Great book for a reference book and also a great XMAS item for anyone with an older car. These books do not come along very often. McQuay_Norris was a major dist of motor parts for all car manufacturers. If interested contact Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

The picture of my car on this post was taken at the WWII re-enactment weekend at the Reading Spatts Aifiedl in reading PA. The event is held in June to coinside with the D-Day rememberance. They bring in the old war planes and there are re-enactment camps of all the various campaigns. We do get a gathering of WWII veterans that return for the event and when I see a Veteran i alwasy walk up to them and thank them for their service. Most of them say it was their pleasure to serve. My dad, served inthe Navy and was assigned to radar. I still have his duffle bag, uniform, picture of his ship and his training manual. I show these at the event. Less we not forget what these young men did to defend our country at that time. The younger generation does not know what they did and the sacrificew they gave for this great county. When you see a current member of our armed forces say thank you and shake their hand, they appreciate it but they wil not make a big deal of it. Raise your America Flag and fly it with Pride for the rest of the world to see. My daughters competitive marching band is doing a salute to JFK this year sinc e it is the 50th year since 1963. I lived throught that event. We have a flag lowering in the show and the older crowd really gets into the show and we get alot of complements about the show. We have two snipets in the show, the Ask not what from his innaguations speech and the snipet abound why we went to the moon not because it is easy but because it is hard. Stand Proud if your are a Veteran or have a Son or Daughter that has Served or is currently Serving. Rich HArtung

You can get the same hoses at your local napa dealer and not have to pay postage. It may be a little more for the hoses but figure in postage and if there is any issue then you have to send them back. Deal local and then you start to establish a contact and then you can get them to look up other parts for you. I will look in my wagner book for the Brake Hose number for your 51. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

Scot: I looked at the pictures that you posted. I would also be concernd about the rusting out of the frame onthe drivers side of the car. I would first try to determine the cost of fixing the various items on the car versus buying a car that is already driveable. I do not know what you already have in parts but from what i see you are going to have a large investment in parts and other body and frame work that is going to be some major dollars unless you can do all the work yourslef. What also scares me is that you have the various jackstands under the car on the wheel rollers and these rollers are not choched to prevent the car from moving if you ever were underneath the car. It could roll onm you and is not a very stable situation. I would either lower the car down so that it is sitting only onthe jackstands on the cement and would also have your floor jack up and under the rear pumpkin just to act as a safety item. This is just my oprion only you have to make the final decision to continue or not Rich HArtung

Have to figure that when cars sit out in all types of weather, rain, snow, sleet/hail,wind and the the summer heat the gaskets have to be died out and have shrunken after all these years. It is a shame that the auctioneer did not use the proper way to get the cars in line for the sale. If i was the buyer I would have field a complaint with the autioneer to let them know what happened to the bottom of the cars, but byer beware as the saying goes so when you bid on the internet you take your chances on what you will get. So when you go to look at a car you have a better idea of what you are getting or at least bidding on. It sound as if the aution was like a shark frenzie going after live bait inthe water. Everyone got caught up in the moment and the bidding. But they forgot that these are just old cars and that they will all need a total resrotation if they want to be driveable. The cameo pickup was overpriced for the damaged roof. You can not show this car at an AACA national meet because each car or truck even if original needs to be driven onto the show field under its own power. So I can not see how this truck wil ever be shown or only if a special ruling is made at a show. Just my 25 cents worth. Rich Hartung