desoto1939

Hey clay: I am at Hershey and I can not find you any Where. The weather is just so perfect no rain at all. i have been looking for you all day but I have not seen you and there is no one here. I thought I would beable to spot you very quickly on the parking lots. What a shame that they cancelled Hershey with this perfect weather. Rich Hartung

ok Here we go. According my my Tri-State Mopar Catalog and used by the suppliers of MoPar parts for Chrylser,Dodge, Desoto and Ply from 1937-52 inthe clutch section the pilot bushing for all mopars from 1937-52 is the same part number 53298. So with that information I do not think there is any difference it it is the Dodge/Ply or the Chrysler/Desoto engine. This is the best that we can do Above is a copy from the parts wharehouse supplier catalog so I hope this helps. This is why there isa need for everyone to have catalogs and parts manuals in their library to answer these questions. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com Desoto1939@aol.com

Ok if you question the pilot bushing then measure the diameter of the input shaft to see if it is the same as the inside measure ment of the pilot bushing then also measure the size of the hole in the flywheel to determine the size of the hole if they are the same then they willfit. So there is a miller tool to drive inthe oillite pilot bushing and the same tool is used to burnish the inside to the proper size. Here is the factory tool being shown in use I have these two tools. Rich Desoto1939@aol.com

I own a 39 Desoto and according my documentation from my 1936-42 Desotomaster parts manual the shes have a primary and a secondary shoe lining. The parts manual shows that the secondary shoe which is the small lining alwasy is mounted on the rear of each wheel. These are not self energizing shoes so the short on fron and long on the back was done in later years go back to the proper setup. Also each brake lining should be chamfers at both ends of the lining material so as to make a smoother transition when the brakes are applied. I would not go to the effort of chaning out the drum and studs. Your car will have the bolt on sytem for each drum and it should have the mounting pin cast into the drums faces. I have these same drums on my 39 Desoto. I have a five hole drum puller and it also has the hole for the pin. I have never had any issues with pulling these drums. Suggest that every year pull the rear drums and you will never have an issue. Write to me and I will show you my drum puller. Note the extra hole on the left side around 11 o clock this is for the mounting pin. If you have studs then this is not needed. So why chnage and spend the money to convert to studs. Just use a good quality drum puller. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Clay: I use the same window channel clips on my 39 Desoto. It is looking soooooo nice. Just take your time and then one day you will realize it is all done. Do you plan to have it judged at an AACA show? If completely done at the first show then you can get your first Junior and then have to wait until the next AACA show to go for the AACA Senior Award and then just drive the hell out of the car. Rich Hartung

I think red rims on a car that has full wheel covers is ok but if you are using the 10 dogdish hub cap and the car is a totally different color than the red then they would look out of place just my feeling i have a total green car and the rims are the same color as they would have been from the factory , but if they were red then it would look like a Xmas car and not look correct. I think you have to look at each car from a distance to determine if they would look ok or not. Rich Hartung

clay it is looking so nice and you are taking your time to put it back together. Fall Carlise was a real bust you should glad that you did not go. Lots of empty vendor spots. Most venders thought it would be packed and fullof venders becasue of not having hershey next week but maybe that is the reason. No major Mopar dealers not even ed speigel no packard dealers either some hit a miss dealers but mostly junk. Looking forward to Hershey of next year 2021. Rich Hartung

I had one about 7 years ago witht he cables and the operating manual. i took it to Hershey and it sold for over $200. I still might have the operating manual around the home in my various catalogs. They got a good buy for only $50 but the shipping costs might cost a lot. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Dodgeb4ya: You have so much experience with these older cars and that for your reply. I did notice that a mechanic had my shoes installed incorrectly with the small lining up front becasue the newer way is to do it that way but he did not know the old proper way that they should have been installed. I am always learning about this car even after owning it for 32 years. Never too old to learn something and when you stop learning that is when you die. This is why I like this forum becasue people ask questions and there is someone that knows the answer and is willing to give advice. I was always taught to pass along information becasue that is how we keep moving forwards. To hold back on knowledge is not good especially when dealing with old cars. Thanks again Rich Hartung

So the question is that since I have the Old style lockheed brake system and each shoe is adjusted individually and the 1936-42 Desoto Master parts book shows the factory setup with short on the rear and long on the front is this incorrect? I do not have self energizing brakes. So what is correct old school or new school brake setup? Big question that alot of people are asking. I am not the expert but would like to know what is correct. Thanks for anyone's input. Always willing to learn more about my 39 Desoto. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I reline all of my brake shoes for my 39 Desoto that have the riveted lining and also have the Starr brake band that holds the lining tight against the metal shoe and the rivet tool to peen over the back of the rivet. The manin thing is to get the correct brake linings for your car. I do have several brake catalogs that tell the exact width lenth and thickness for various cars from the mid 1930 into the fifties and even the number of rivets and the correct rivet size. It is not a hard job to do and for me it is fun and you get to understand how the brakes work. As per dodge 4 the modern positioning of the brake shoes was chnaged to put the smaller shoe up front and the larger shoe onthe rear but my owers and service manual for my 39 Desoto states differently so I go by which is set fromt he factory. Also on my factory shoes the small lining is attached at the bottom of the metal shoe. Also make sure that the ends of each lining is chafered on an angles for approx 11/2 to 3/4 inches this is so that the lining does not break becsue of the rotation. I noticed that both of your lining were not chamfered and this probably the reason why the lining broke off you need to have a smooth tranfer becauseof the roatation of the drum Some of the slides from my power point presentation on brakes Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

The first thing that I did notice is that you have bonded brake lining but the one shoe has the old rivit holes. Does not affect the braking. But most lining would have been chamfered on each end to help with the brake shoes. the lining in your picture might have brokrn off and I would double check that the end of the broken lining is still being held on tightly. If any doubt then replace the brake shoes with new lining and also onthe other brake drum do both wheels at the same time. Check your service manaul in my 1936-42 Desoto parts Master Book it states that the small or short lining is placed on the back or rearward facing of the brake drum. Some brake shoe are done witht he smaller shoe on the forward side of the drum. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

The picture of the above vent tube can be found on Ebay and since you already have yours out get a brand new vent when putting it back together. In your parts manuals look on the rear end section and you should see a part Rich Hartung

65 for the complete ready to installband is a very good price I know you can find lining cheaper than Andy put he is making a profit. If you search on band lining you can find a manufacturer and then get the lining for your old band and have a spare. I would go with the new lining and metal band. Rich Hartung

you can purchase emergency band lining from Bernbaum and will need the brass rivets and the riveting tool to set the rivets and a counter sink tool to imake the holes inthe proper locations onthe lining. Also look on ebay these brake linings and the metal housing do come up for sale. I have several complete units that fit the 38/39 Chrysler/Dodge/Ply/Desoto. I know the mounting notch or upper bracket is is a different location on the band than onthe later units. Send me you emailI will check my Brake catalogs to see which band you might need. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I put Stabile 360 in my tank every couple of weeks or when I fill the tank. This keeps the gas tank clean and also helps with the fuelpump and carb and cleans the lines and internals on the carb. Have to keep a lookout on these areas Rich Hartung.

Rich Instead of painting the one you have I might have the correct colored one and would trade with your since it is the correct color for my 39 Desoto. Call me 610-630-9188home cell 484-431-8157

Hey Guys the owner that is asking the question plase have him contact me I have a lot of info on sisson chokes and the setup. I looks as if ths choke is located in front of the carb and if so would then take the sisson choke used onthe 49-53 Plymouths becasue of the arm lever setup. Sad to say but this model of sisson choke is the one that is more costly and can run from $200-300 for a NOS one. There shoudl be two mounting studs onthe manifold. Have the owner contact me at Desoto1939@aol.com or home phone 610-630-9188. Rich Hartung

rich looking at the knobs I have the color of the same knobs onmy 39 Desoto as the one on the bottom. I also have a cigar light that is NOS with the knob and element and that knob is the color of the one on the top. SO I think that the bottom one is for the 39 Desoto and the top is the correct color. There was a difference in the color of the knobs. If this is not the correct knob would you want to sell it? Rich Hartung Desoto1939i

Today my wife and I were invited to a member of the AACA that had a special invite only picnic to display some of his cars and I also took some pictures of the cars that attended. I was totally impressed with his personal collection of his vintage mopar vehicles and of the invited quests that drove to the event. The only sad part to the day was that it rained in the morning so the number of attendees was down from prior years. Some of the cars include Packards, Studebakers, Graham, DeSoto, Chrylser, Cads. You will like the picture of the 1931 Chrysler CG Imperal Convertable Victoria It took over 6000 hours to get it to the current condition and was at Ameila Island Concours show. The name of the owner willnot be displayed just to protect him and his collection But overall he was a super nice guy to meet and talk with him about his cars. To even make it a better day my wife was talking to the owner of the whitel with yellow top DeSoto and he was from her hometown in New Jersey and he knew all the people that she also knew small world. Rich Hartung Desoto Rich Hartung

I also order a trans tail shaft seal from Andy B and mine is a metal body that has neoprime seals, rubber There are three rubber rings to mine. Have not installed it but looking to do it over the winter when the car is down for any repairs.This was for my 39 Desoto so I would think that this would be used into the later cars. rich hartung

what abut vacuum advance. Is it set at the correct timing mark. What are the points set at and the gapping onthe plugs. Is there an sisson choke onthe manifold and is this adjusted properly anything sticking inthe carb. Did you rebuild it correctly, there are two small ball bearings and if you switch them into the wrong location can cause issues. Did you soak the accelerate pump leather in light oil? Any air leaks around the manifold and base of the carb. Did you put the correct base gasket back onthe bottom of the carb at the manifld Should have the slotted gaset since you are not running any govenor onthe car. Just some thoughts. rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

The testing stand and all of the factory tools came with it and also in the factory leather case. This is the only one that I have ever seen and the tools a very very scarce to find. Has the tools to adjust the Chysler eigth sisson choke and the regular choke that we have on out 6 cylinder cars. So if the chokes are selling for over $200 what do you think the testing stand is worth? Not for sale at this point but in some future date will be, when I sell the 39 Desoto and also my factory Miller Tools at the same time This was a neat find on Ebay about 12 years ago and I have done several lectures on the stand and the testing and the use of the tools at several AACA clubs and at the AACA Annual Meeting that is held in February in Philadelphia. Have several Sisson choke catalogs and manuals on the choke rods lengths. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Here is info onthe teting stand for the sissonchoke. from rich hartung

Here is infor taken from my Federal Throwout bearing catalog for your car. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com