desoto1939

All new Gaskets, New harden valve seats, maybe vale tappets and guides, Maybe grinding the crank and new or oversized bearings, water pump with sealed bearing, new distribution tube, Pressure plate clutch disk throwout bearing and pilot bushing. New engine mounts, new radiator hoses fan belt, rebuild or checkout the generator, starter, rebuild the carb, flushing the radiator, flushing the trans and possible rebuild, flush the rear end. new inner and outer oil seals, New brake shoes and lines and rebuild wheel and master cylinder. flush and clean the gas tan and possible new fuel lines also add an electric fuel pump. New u joints that can be greased maybe a spliced driveshaft. The list can go on and on hope this give you some direction. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I have the 39 Desoto with the factory Lockheed 11 inch brakes. desoto1939@aol.com

Merle: The cup is no let oil run into the base of the dizzy body and oil the two bushings that are inthe body of the dizzy. On my 39 desoto I have a grease cup and that is located around the 4 o clock position. The oil will run down on this gentlemans dizzy body and into the bearing to lube the dizzy shaft. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

yes the area that is being pointed out with the red arrow is a lub oiler. You lift up the cap and drop in some oil to lube the dizzy shaft. If this is hitting a casting point in the block then I feel that you have the dizzy in the wrong position. Take it our and rotate it 180 degress. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.comi

And I still have room to put a body in the trunk rich

Picture of the snap gap tool. There are sleeves that fit the appropriate dizzy cam. You slip the sleeve over the cam. Then use the appropriate setting tool with the adapter. This tool is great since you do not have to have the points being exactly on the point of the cam to se the points. You then adjust your points. then pull out the sleeve and you ar set to go. Makes it much easier if you have to make an emergency points adjustment. One of these units is currently on ebay. I have have one in the car since our dizzy is so low in the engine compartment, it makes it easier to make the adjustment. I have a couple, One in the car and one in the tool cabinet. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Here is the Miller C-413 tool and I have one of these. It is used to drive inthe outer bearing cup on the rear axle housing. This centers the bearing cup race inthe housing and pushes it into the proper depth. Also attached is a picture of the actual tool Rich Hartung Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Doug: The leather on those accelerator pumps should be soaked in a little light oil to soften up the leather to make a good seal. Check on both carbs on this issue. I was also getting rough idle when stopped at a light with the 39 Desoto. I cleanout my two gas filter and found some crap in the glass bowels and also in the section inthe bowel of the carb. Clean this out also. Check you linkage and see if any worn components. My main choke plate at the top of my Carter where the choke rod attached the swagging of the link was worn so found a total NOS piece and chnaged that out. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

etno: I do understand hot rodding. I grew up in the 50's and hung out with some very hot and fast cars. My point was to get the conversation flowing about the upgrades people put on their cars. As stated I am more of a purist in the hobby and have been able to maintain my 1939 Desoto for the past 34+ years as an original car with original equiptment. I am not putting down the guys or gals that want to modify their engines or drive lines. It is their car and they have every right to do so. What I am trying to understand is why spending the dollars for the looks and maybe slight performance changes and updates. I like to get people thinking and commenting. This is what keeps the hobby interesting. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

OK, So as more of a purist in the hobby. I have a question for this discussion. People are wanting to increase the performance for their 60+ year old cars and trucks. So i notice that they are opting for dual carbs on the intake. So with the price of gas now reaching around 3.75 here in PA and we know it is going to go higher, becasue of polictical reasons. So with the dula carbs Iwould figure that you are now going to be using more gas, I might be wrong. So our cars either the 23/25 inch block had the rated horse power of around 85/92 when they were new engines. Now that they might have been rebuilt might increase the HP. But we can only increase to a certain amount based on the design of the engine based on 60+ year old technology. So by spending 300-500 for two carbs, new intake and headers plus the syncing of all these new items what is really being gained? Yes it looks cool to have these fancy items on the car and the newer tuned exhaust sounds and when we go to a car show we can push out our chests to show off to the rest of the world look at my car. Basically with allof the fancy speed equipment, dual carb, fenton aluminum finned heads the car can still only go so fast and maybe get up to 65 mph cruising do the road with the original style brakes and transmission and rear end and some people then even change that out to more modern components. The frame technology would still be the same from 60+ years ago the handling will still be the same from 60+ years ago even with radial tires. So my question is why are the owners spending this money on a 60+ year old technology based car or truck. Why not get a more modern car from the 60/70's that is an antique and have more upto date technology and can handle the speeds that you want to go and also sound like you want it to sound. I am not saying that I am against what you all are doi9ng but what is the real return in investment. I applaud you guys for doing what you are doing but there is only so far that you can improve a 60+ year old vehicle Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

spare dizzy cap, points condensor rotor, plugs already capped, Fire extinguisher is in the back seat area. Have mounted two bicycle red rear flashing lights attached to the license plate. I use these even during a day time run. I have reflective runners reflecting wraping that snap over the rear bumpers. These are not the stickon type and can be removed to wrap around your arms and legs if you are stuckonthe raod at night time. Big battery flashlight. twopieces of wood incase the jack has to sit on wet ground to make a better footing for the jack. Sizzors jack with long crank handle, Go to Harbor Freight and get the plastic trim removal tools these are great for getting your hubcaps off the rim without scrating the paint onthe rim. regular set of tools, I carry a tool called the Snapgap. It is used to help set the point with out having the points be on the highspot on the dizzy cam. Large truck road reflector folding type normal assortment of hand tools. Cell Phone and membership to AAA or some other towing national service. Best of all is to know your car. Rich HArtung

sounds as if the fuse length was not long enough to make a full contact. My fuse is inthe light switch and is held in by a metal plugs that has tabs onthe ends and then you push up the holder to make a tight fit. Try a 20 amp fuse but a longer fuse. Rich Hartung

High beam indicator light works off the dimmer switch. Hit the dimmer switch several time to reclean the contacts. This switch gets all the road crud since it is located under the floor boards. Also pull your light switch off and on several times the contacts also get crud from sitting and need tobe cleaned just by pulling and cleaning up the contacts. It sould also just be the switch is bad. Rich Hartung

Doug: I have also found that the manual is a good reference point. but as the engines get miles on them you always have to fine tune the engine. So TDC is a starting point but might have to retard the dizzy or advance the dizzy to get rid of the ping. Just some thought on the situation. Not sure if this wil solve the issue but just wanted to add some input. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Doug and Deb: Glad that you stopped by our site and was able to assist with your questions onthe sisson chokes. Hershey is a real experience every year. So much to see and not enough time inthe day to see everything even in the four days. Looking forward to next year and hope more people can attend. Rich HArtung

The New AACA main office was dedicated the same week as the great Hershey swap meet. The new headquarter is adjacent to the Orange field. I was able to get into the building and took some pictures. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

There were several members from the P15D25 club that stopped by our site at Hershey. It was so nice to see face to face some of the members that I have had phone conversations and also been communicating via email over the past year. I was glad that I could help Doug and deb with their Sisson choke questions. There was a good number of open sites this year and some of that was due to the C-19 issues. Across from my site there were several Canadians that could not get across the border into the States. Also everyone was commenting on the lack of the European Shoppers and that number of shoppers was down so less cash was being moved around. The weather was perfect everyday and the last two days was sunny and in the 70's. Looking forward again to next years event but please note that the swap meet will start on a Tuesday and the swap meet will end on Thursday and the Car Show will be held on a Friday. Hershey has asked the AACA to adjust the dates because they want to use the parking lots for their Fall events and leading upto their Xmas events in the park. We were told that when the AACA did not use the parking lots last year Hershey was pulling in almost 2 million dollars a day going directly to the Hershey Herco company So that is the main reason for the date changes. I was also able to go into the New Headquarter of the AACA which just across the street from the Hershey Park. I will post some picture of the building and some of the cars that are on display. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

The weatherman looks like he is cooperating with use for the rest of the week. Scheduled to be nice weather. Leaving inthe morning for about an 1 1/2 hour drive and then will be in Heaven with all the car parts. Hope everyone that is coming has a safe drive to Hershey with all of the Chocolate. The Chocolate is cheaper in your regular stores. Rich Hartung Orange Field ROW OAD7&8 Desoto1939@aol.com

Yes this is a rebuilt engine but the car originally came with the PB1/2 filter installed on the car. Rich Hartung

Well only 2 days until Fall Hershey event. Move in and setup day is Tuesday for all the vendors and the swap meet officially starts on Wednesday 10-6-21. Looking forward to this years event and also to the official opening of the new Library and new home of the AACA which is directly across from my vendor site in the Orange field. remember my site is OAD 7&8. Hope some of the member stop by to say hello. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

The important factor is keeping these 6 volt regular acid batteries fully charged. I have a pulse battery charger which is a trickle charger and they have kept my battery work for over 6-8 years. Pull the caps and check the water level, but only refill with distilled water. Keep the cable tight to the posts and also cost the post with a battery spray to prevent corrosion build up. If the battery is in the car and it is a real cold environment and by this I mean upper northern state where you get the low to minus cold weather then might want to store in your house in a cellar or in a place where it is warm along with the trickle charger. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Doug&Deb: Is this your first time at Hershey. If it is then wear good walking shoes. The entire swap meet is on blacktop. ALso bring some raingear with you incase it rains. Ihave been going to Hershey for 35 Years and started when the fields were all dirt and when it rained then it became real mudding with deep rut in each section of the fields. Hershey is a real experience for anyone to see at least once in their life time. Looking forward to meeting you. Rich Hartung

Well the Great Hershey Fall event is just around the corner. The first official day of the Annual AACA Fall Classic starts on Wednesday October 6th. The 5th is the day for al lthe vendor to pac-kin and setup their sites. If you are planning on attending this fantastic event you are in for a treat approx 8 Thousand vendors are attending. I am hoping that there will be a lot of parts since last years show was cancelled because of the Covid 19 issues. If you are attending please feel free to stop by and say hello to Rich Hartung and Les Pesavento. We have two site and are listed under the National Desoto club. We will be in the ORANGE Field which is the parking lot that has the GIANT Center. We will be in ROW OAD site 7&8. Come on over an introduce your self and sit and take a rest. We are both Desoto owners. I have the 39 Desoto and Les has several 1929 and some 1946-48 DeSoto's. We speak MoPar and will have parts and literature. If you miss not seeing me call me on my cell phone 484-431-8157 so we can arrange to get together during the three day event. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Here is some more information to evenmake it more confusing: On ebay there are tow Autolite Bullseye 6 v headlight bubs. One has the number 796 and th eother has 816 that is stamped or even part of the glass lens at the very top of the bulb. So what do these number means. Anyone have any information on why you see different number on the lens. Both bulbs are the Autolite Bullseye bulbs. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

From 1940-48 Autolite produced 6 volt 7 inch round headlight bulbs. In 49 to 56 they used the Bullet Style bulbs. Does anyone have any documnetation or catalogs that cover the Autolite bulbs from 1940-48. I see that there are different numbers stammped on the lens of these bulbs. My Atlas catalog states that there replacement bulb was a 4030 bulb so trying to document what wa the correct autolite bulb number or if there is any information on this topic. Most peole use the 6006 6v volt dual filament bulb from 1940-56 but that is not the correct bulb becasue these 6006 have the alignment tips and they did not start using them until 1956 on car. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com