desoto1939

DR47: You should get a parts book and a service manual for your car. This is the basic information that you should have to support the maintenance. You can get reprints and these will answer your questions and also help when doing other repairs. I am not trying to reply with a smart answer but you need these two manuals for your car. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

Next time you go to a swap meet look for paint chips that would be specific to your car and year. The color code would also be on the list next to the paint chips. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

according to my wagner brake catalog the piston and cup for the Chrysler product for your year is wagner part number FC12136 1 1/8 inches. So if you go to a good parts store this should help you get the correct part for your car. The piston is the same for both upper and lower cylinders. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

I have a MOPAR small parts catalog and I looked in the section for gaskets- annular Type a and found the oil pan cooper gasket information for my 39 Desoro which is part number 105456. ID + .890 OD = 1 1/8 thickness 3/32 copper asb So if you can tell me your part number I might be able to give you the specific size for your oil pan. This is why I tell car owners to collect catalogs so you can get the information. I have this catalog on CD and the information that is contained is very useful.. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

I looked in my 36-42 Desoto Master Parts book and for the 36-42 years it does show a drain plug and a metal washer. The one on my 39 Desoto has a copper washer. If the oil pan is not leaking at the plug than you might has a good seal but keep the washer put a note some where in your garage that on the next time to install the washer when you change the oil. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Rich, Rich Hartung with the 39 Desoto. On your original 39 Plymouth there would have been three studs that were threaded and these went thru the water pump body and the unit was then bolted to the fron of the engine block. On the new pump that you got from Andy B the body is thicker where the outlet hose connects so this unit will not bolt upto the original setup. You will have to remove the lower studs and use the bolt that came with the unit. Just anted to let you know this prior to trying to install the WP. The original WP body at this section was only approx. 1/2 thick and this permits the stud to stick out the hole and then you can use the original nut. Also when installing the WP make sure that you clean and use some emery paper on the front of the engine block to get rid of any left over sealant or gaskets. If there is any thing left on the face of the block you willhave a leak. Also put some white grease on both sides of the wp gasket to help create a good seal. Cal me if you have any questions. You need the early water pump body and not the newer version of the repro water pump or you will have to pull the stud and since the studs has been in the block a long time there isa great chance that it will snap off with threads still in the front of the block. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com Cell 484-431-8157

Jerry: The first question and I will assume that the answer is NO. From your question we can assume that you do not have a service manual or a parts manual for your car. This is the first two items that you need to purchase inorder to work onyour car. The service manual would have an line drawing of the wiring systems and will show where the original brake switch was located on the frame or on the end of the master cylinder. I am not trying to be provide a smart reply but get a reproduction copy for your own education on the car. After doing some research all of the members are willing to provide you with more input to your questions but you need to get up close to the car and get to know your car. We all do not know all of the answers we will give it a good try. Also sometimes in the service manual you will see pictures of the various parts and this will also help you learn about your car. As you can determine I have a 39 Desoto and my brake switch is just in front of the master cylinder and is attached to a four way brass connection. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I am all packed and will be heading to MECA or ortherwise know as Hershey in the morning. Heard that we might have some good weather for the next few days. Will take some picture with my phone to post on the forum. Already heard from Clayton from Ct and here is already there today and he stated that about 50% of the vendors are already doing business. This will be my 32nd year of attending and I fondly remember all of the mud and ruts when waling in the fields after it had rained even watching people slip and slide down the red field hil and then after they got allmuddly they became little kids again and then went back up to the top of the hill to on purpose fall and slide down on their buts and or stomachs. Oh the thrills of getting muddy and wet. Those were the good times. Now every field is paved and it is harder on your feet and the blacktop gets hot when the sun is out but who is complaining when you are amongst 8000 car vendors. Rich HArtung

No not Fireflies or Lightning Bugs. This is a new bug that came in from Japan or china. It attachs the Maple trees and then sucks the sap and then they lay their eggs in the tree and then the tree gets killed. They are very harmful to Maple trees and have hit the east coat. If they do get to the New England states it will severly affect their maple sugar product. Do a look up on Lantern Flies. The spotted lanternfly is a planthopper that is indigenous to parts of China, India, Vietnam, and eastern Asia. Although it has two pairs of wings, it jumps more than it flies. Its host plants include grapes, stone fruits, and Malus species, though its preferred host is Ailanthus altissima. In its native habitat it is kept in check by natural predators or pathogens. It was accidentally introduced in Korea in 2006 and has since been considered a pest. In September 2014, it was first recorded in the United States, and it is now an invasive species in eastern Pennsylvania, southwestern New Jersey, northern Delaware as well as northern Virginia. Rich Hartung

My name is Rich Hartung and I live near valley Forge PA. I have several Maple trees that had a good amount of Lantern Flies on the trucks and also branches. I went to Home Depot and purchased a product that you hook up to your hose. The product is called Spectracide Triazicide Insect killer. I directly sprayed the product on the flies that were on the truck and branches. This then knocked them off the tree. I then sprayed the ones on the ground. I went back out about a 1 hour later and the ones on the ground were all dead and no new amount of lantern flies were on the tree. The cost is around $9.00 per 32oz bottle. Give it a try it is cheap protection and might save your trees. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com cell 484-431-8157

If anyone from the forum is going to attended the AACA Eastern regional swap meet in Hershey, PA the event is from October 9 thru the 12th. On the 12th is the car show with approx. 1800-2000 cars on the show field. If you do attend you are welcome to rest your feet and tired legs at my vendor location which is in the Orange field ROW OAD site number 7 and 8. I will be getting their on Wednesday morning and will be vending on Thursday and Friday and partial Saturday. If I am not at the site please feel free to call me directly at cell 484-431-8157. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Do you have bobded brakes shoes and how old are they? We have been finding that the braking material on the bonded shoes sometimes gets hard and glazed and this will cause a wheel to pull. I have a similar issue with my 39 Desoto the right front and after the brakes warm up the issue goes away. It also might be just a moisture issue. Pull the drum sand down the lining clean out any dust with brake shoe cleaner. This helps on my 39 Desoto. Rich Hartung

The LED will draw more current and to help with this go to the alternator to insure you have enough current to run them when also running the radio heater and what else or other electrical drawing accessories. Rich Hartung

If you go to LED I would suggest that you change out the generator to a 6volt Alternator. Also assuming that you still have 6volt positive ground so you would need to have a 6volt positive ground aftermarket alternator and you will also need to have to purchase the moutning bracket. Look on ebay to get a price. Rich Hartung

Brakes are out of adjustment. Need to do a minor brake adjustment to each wheel. Too much travel or space to the brake shoe to the drum. Rich Hartung

Bob, It was pleasure meeting with you and you friend that came along for the experience. Sorry to hear about his passing. Yes it is a unique experience. I have had the pleasure of being about a 2 hr ride from Hershey so it is easy for me to get there. I know a lot of people cannot make the trip but everyone needs to put it on their bucket list. I will try to take some pictures this year and post on the site. Take care and hope for a great 2020 and end of 2019. Rich HArtung

To all P15D25 members and friends: The annual Hershey Swap meeting is fast approaching coming in October. The dates are October 9,10,11 and the car show is the 12th. I will be in the Orange field row OAD site 7 and 8. Stop by if you can make it to Hershey and sit for awahile. We will be selling Desoto Parts and the President of the National Desoto club will also be at these two sites. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

after getting the car then join the national Desoto club. the 2020 National Convention will be held in Milwaukie Wis. Here is the link to the NDC webpage. https://desoto.org/ Also if you will be in the area of Hershey Pa during October 9-12 the Antique automobile Club will be hosting their annual swap meet. They have over 8-10000 venders. I will be having two sites I will be located in the Orange field row OAD7 & 8 Stop by a chat. I own a 1939 Desoto. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

Lwebb: send me a PM on your question, Rich Hartung

looked in my Hollander book do you have the 2 dr touring sedan, or 4 dr sedan or the 4d touring sedan.I need to know this to let youknow which other car trucks will fit. Desoto1939@aol.com rich hartung

Yes they sell the paint and also all of the tools. They sell a do it yourself kit. You will need the specific grain plate and the rubber roller to transfer the grain to your dash. You can use any rattle can spray paint that is close to your base coat. Then you roll the grain onto the dah. Let it dry. Then spray a clear coat on top of the grain. Then you use the regular wood stain that you can get at home depot and then wipe this on the dash. One coat might get the dark color of a contrast that you want. If not then let it dry then spray another clear coat. If you want a depper color then wipe on another coating let it dry and then clear coat again. Some people use a high shine clear coat and some people like the stain clear coat. I have been told that chrylser used more of a satin finish but I am not an expert. I have the home version of the grain it kit and it is a simple process. Just experiment. remember that graining is not a perfect job. As wood grain when wood is pieced together the grains do not always match up. That is the buety of grining it just haS TO LOOK LIKE IS WAS REAL WOOD. Call me and I will explain the entire process to you. The grain it guy did a presentation at the AACA annual convention with his home owners kits. He asked if anyone one would like to try and I steped up. After graing a piece of trim that he gave me he asked if I had ever done this before and I stated NO. I was able to duplicate what he had just done and he asked if I would go to Florida with him to work in his shop. Also more to this story. Rich Hartung Cell 484-431-8157 Home 610-630-9188

contact the company called grain-it. They have the base colors and proper plates to do the home version of wood graining. I have done it and it is very simple process. The kit is not cheap but cheaper that having it done by a professional at approx. 2500 for a dash is and maybe more. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com