desoto1939

Tim, Thnks for the input on this topic. I was going to go with the bigger unit of 53 amps but jsut wanted to get some inout from anyone that had sonme electical background. I do not drive the car that often at night but want the extra security to know that I am covered when switching over to the alternator. I want to do it once and do it right. Since the car is a driver and not a show queen I am not concerned about it being judged at an AACA event or National Desoto event. Just want to have fun driving the car and for it to be reliable and safe. Rich Hartung

Need some advise from the group. I ahve a 39 desoto with generator an regualtor and this is a 28 Amp system. I have a heater, radio and fog lights on the car. There is a compnay that makes a 35 amp and 53 amp 6v positive alternator. The only difference in price betweenthe two is $10 more for the 53 Amp model. Should i go for the 53amp model even thought the original system only was a 28 amp system. In my estimation I would think of going to the 53amp. Whats the groups opinion on this. At night I do run the fodlights to help put more light onthe road for me to see so this is why i am thinking of the 53 amy just to keep up the amps for night time driving. What is everyone else using if they have the 6v alternator? Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Ruth and those that want to see the modern air filter In the old days when our car were being used we did have a lot of unpaved roads and this is why the oil bath filter worked very well to collect the dust from getting sucked in to the engine. Hench with most of raosd now being paved excet for the ocassial county dirt road upto a fram or back into a forest etc we have changed over to the modern paper elelment. Yes some of you will state then why does KD have the new paper filter with an oil. This is is being used to make a new product again. I like paper because of the lack of the mess and oil that is my personal choice for a driver car but i still keep the mesh when having it shown at a car show. Here are picture of the paper filter in my 39 Desoto.

This is a correct cannister throwaway filter for the mopar vehiles. It has the correct part numebr and the correct years on the outside of the box. This is a factory item and can be used on your car and point s will not be taken off for judging. The item can get a point off becasue of chips inthe paint and for small flaws but whn an item it 50-60 years old this happens and you would have to repaint to have a 100 point unit. If I were juusding this at an AACA event there would be no point taken off for authenticity. This is a correct unit. If you again are looking to have an AACA or POC authentic car then this is the oitem that you work for you. If you are going to have a driver then this wil lalso work so why spend the extra moeny for a through away oil filter. Get the canister style and paint in intht esame color combination with the same decal and you will also be ok and same a lot of money and the inner filter can be changed. An AACA or POC jusge can not take apart your car or filter element. They are not even aloud to craw under the car to look at the under carrage. they have to go down an one knee and look under the car. Again Mike the big question that you need to anser to the group and again I have asked this before what are you planning to do with the car? For in order for the member to anser some of your questions we need to know the answer to this question. I have written several times when you have asked a question but you still will not awnser this basic question. We will help you but you NEED to HELP US also. Please tell us or some of the guys will not respond back to you since they feel they are wasting their time. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Mike: I replaced my old oil bath mesh filter with a Napa Gold paper filter. When going to a show or just a cruise in in run witht he paper filter. If the car is being jusged then I take the orginal with me and then take the paper filter out. The paper filter is better then the old oil filter and you do not have the oily mess to deal with. Just measure the inside diameter and outside diameter and the height of you orginal filter, You might find one with the same size at nap or very close. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Mike: Do a search on the Web. I would also suggest that you have then quartz the unit. They change the guts but the unit will run better. I did this on my 39 Desoto and ued this gentleman and the he did my clock over 10 years ago and it is still working. rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Mike: In my 39 Desoto the dash gage could also be adjusted. There were two point that got heated because of the sending of the poser back from the tank gage. Look in you parts repair manual on your specific car and read up on the dash gas gage it might tell you more not sure on your ca but thats how it works on my 39 Desoto. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

The current is running thru the turn signal switch on the truck. Therefor the unit is gounded and the four ways worked. also the turnsignals also worked. When I hit the brake the bulb would not light up. Thsi all happened because I had some damaged to the rear fender and had it repainted. After the repaint is when I lost the ground. I then ran a ground wire fromt he bracket that hold the socket to a good spot on the frame of the car and this solved my problem. Good advise is to alwasys runs a ground wire from each headlight and also taillight. This will insure you have good bright lights. Remeber that in a modern car there is only one wire running to an accessory or light to supply the current the body of the car is basically the other wire or the ground to complete the circuit. In our cars we donot have two wires to a lamp like you have in a house with a black and white wire to conplete the circuit. The cars that had the Lucus system had two wires and this is why they had so many issues that if one wire went bad then the lights went out. Her is how to test use a wire with an aligator clip, attache to the light socket and then attach the other end of the to an another aligator clip and then attach this to a good bare spor on the frame see if the light then works. If so then the grounding issue has been found. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

If you also look in your parts book you will find references to export items. During my research on my 1939 Desoto which was built inthe US I have found that the export versions had 12volt system and not the 6volt systems that were used in the USA. I do not know the reason for this at this point in time. PAging through your parts book can yield a great deal of information. Here is an example: onthe 39 Dodges they had the Fender Lamps list as accessories. But for the 39 Desoto the same lamps witht he same part numbers are listed as for export. So if you do some looking some items can be used on other cars to enhance their appearance. I always keep my parts book with me when I go to a judged event just in case someone questions the fender lamps. Attached is a picture of the car with the lamps. rich desoto1939@aol.com

Thanks for the offer also. Question regarding the ends? Are thenysodering the ends on, or crimping, or are these the bolt on style? Also kost of the cars in the 30s had a cloth covering over the cables. Can they put the black cloth wire loom on the cables so to make them look period correct instead of having the plastic cover showing. This is only an issue for people that are looking for replacement cables that look to be authentic. For us drivers it does not matter so much. Rich Desoto1939@aol.com

Here is a general question for the entire group; I am trying to determine why Chrysler used a cork float on the gas gas sending units? As we all know we have a brass float that is used on our carbs. I would have thought that this same brass float would have been used in the gas tank. We know that the corks are losing the varnish and then the corks fall apart. So when this happens is anyone replacing the cork with a brass float from an older carb and if so any tips on how and what brass float they are using. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Mike: If you are worried that you do not have enough amps then you might think about converting the car over to a 6v alternator either a 1 wire or a three wire unit. If you are creating a driver and willbe taking on long trips and will be having alot of accessoried then this is the way to go. There is a company and you will have to search the web that converts your old generator into an alternator. This is expensive but if you are trying to keep a stock looking car then you might consider this route also. Please let the group know what you are planning for the car so we can provide you with possible answers to your questions. rich hartung desoto1939@aol.com

There was a great writeup of the Dodge Town Sedan in I think last months newsletter in the WPC. I have copied this and will send the info to anyone that sends me their email address. rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Mike: i know you have been asking alot of good questions regarding your car. I first big overall question that needs to be answered is if you are going to have a tralier queen car to be judged at an AACA or POC event. If yes then you will need to get the correct syled battery for your car since the battery willbe showing in the engine compartment. The Willard probably is the correct battery for the car. If you are just going to local shows and crusie nights then any 6v battery will work fine. Most of us have drivers so all we are concerned about is having a quality battery that will get the car started and have enought cc amps. If you are going for judging then I would suggest that you contact the AACA and get a copy of their most current Judgin book. This will provide a great deal of info on how and what they look for at an event like Hershey. If you can get to Hershey in the Fall this oct 7-10 then you can get a great deal of info and also might see some examples of your car being judged. rich hartung desoto1939@aol.com

To all of you dodge truck owners. I just received an email regarding that there will be an auction for a 1954 Dodge 5 window pickup. I only have seen 1 side view of the truck. It has been repainted green. It looks to to be in great shape but can not really tell from the single picture. If I bid on the truck what is a good price and also what should I be looking at to help determine a fair price? Where should i look for defects that you all might know that happen over the years with all of your experience? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Try this to see if it is a grounding issue. Take an aligator clip with a pice of wire attached to the clip and attache this to the socket or the braket that holds the socket. The attach the other end of the wire with another alligator clip to some good bare metal on the frame. If the lights brighten up then you have a grounding issue. Permanently attach a wire to the braket or the light socket and then attach to a good bare metal point on the frame. Alwasy check for grounding especially when you have a 6volt system and or even 12v system. Let us know if this works rich desoto1939@aol.com

Jim. This is a shot but is the relief hole in the master cylinder cap clean. There is a hole in the filler cap alsoto let pressure out. Check this and cleanout the hole with a small wire. I do not know if this will help but just an idea to check. Could your brake lines be collapsing on you? Rich Hartung

Boxer: Since you have the electric wipers the AC 588 fuel pump should work on the engine. I have this on my 39 Desoto and the 39 has electric wipers.

I prefer the all vynal fender welting over the old style that had the cord in the welting. The old cloth syle would hold water and this is what caused the rusting between the fender and the body and also you had the hole on the end that was open. With the all vynal there is no opening is is one complete molded unit. It also acts as anti squeek between the fender and body willnot hold water and if you get any wax on the vynal it will wipe off and not leave the white mark that the cloth does. I have this on my 39 DeSoto for over 12 years. If you are looking for POC or AACA then you should use the old cloth style and remember the welting never was painted the color of the car. You will lose points at an AACA or POC judging show. This is just my thoughts on the fender welting. rich desoto1939@aol.com

If you are using a single stage Fulel pump then an AC 588 should work in your car. These are avialble at any good auto supply house such as NAPA, Auto Zone. I would also suggest that you put in an electric FP at the rear of the car. This is a backup to the mechanical and helps if you ever have a vapor lock and also helps to send fule up to the carb when the car has been sitting for a while. Use a small toggle switch to activate the electric fp. This way you can push the gas to the carb befor trying to start the car and youdo not have to grind the engine this helps to prime the carb. Just my two cents for what its worth, rich desoto1939@aol.com

Bob: Have you looked into getting the MC resleeved? It might be alittle cheaper. You can try White Post in Virginia. Theyhave been doing this for MC and regular brake cylinder for a long time. rich

John, My condolences to you an any other family member. Life passes us all to quickly. We all need to cherish those special moments together and remember the great times that you and your wife had together. Keep her in your thoughts for this will help you get through this time in your life. Rich, 1939 desoto

To stop any potential fluid from coming out the brake line I put a block of wood behind the brake pedal and then wedge it against the floor board this will stop you from pressing the pedal and will also prevent it from slowing going down a pressing out fluid and stops the possibilty of getting any air into the brake line. Then clean around the brake switch were it screws into the MC or tee line to get all the crud removed from the areas, disconnect the two wires then unscrew the old unit screw inthe new unit attach the wires, remove the block of wood press the brake pedal and you should ahve brake lights. The fluid being pressing into the switch sends a small ball bearing up and then make contact with the top of the switch and then completes the cuircuit and send the electric to the brake lights very simple process. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

I am member along with my wife. I joined AARP because of their Automobile Club Plan. It was cheaper that AAA for me. I have a duaghter that is at college and has a car at college. We have used the plan on several times when they have had a flat tire and it has worked out very well. It was of having a piece of mind for both my wife and kids when traveling. They also will tow my antuque car if it ever breaks down onthe road. The other nice feature is that if you are a member and a re traveling in another persons car that does not have AAA or a auton club service they will honor your card for towing for the ownere of the car that you are traveling in. This is just tahat extra piece of security. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Mike> Look under the knob I think there might be a little set screw that holds the knob onto the shaft for each switch. I know on my 39 DeSoto there is a spring clips that has to be pulled back towards the front onthe know and then you can pull the know off the switch. i do know that onmy 39 Desoto the choke know does not come off it is glued to the cable. I hope this helps. MAybe some of the guys that have your car can supply you with more info. rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com