desoto1939

have you replaced the rubber flexible fuel line that connects to the FP and the metal line that is along the lower right side of the radiator. The line might be so old that the rubber in the line has collapsed and is blocking the flow of the fuel into the pump and then into the carb. Also are you getting any gas into the fuel bowl in the carb. Is the float adjusted correctly also might be a stuck needle in the float area. Rich Hartung

has anyone ever stated why the switch willnot work with Dot 5 fluid. I have been using Dot5 for over 32 years and have only replaced one brake light switch. I have used NOS switches and not new ones so I donot understand why they should fail. Possibly bad manufacturing process. The dot 5 is silicone and should not corrode the contacts. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

First suggestion is to get a set of already predilled brake shoe lining for your car because the holes are countersunk and they have to be at the proper depth. It also depends on the size rivet and the number of drill holes in the lining.. I have relinded sevral sets of my brakes shoes for my 39 Desoto. I live near Philadelphia pa. If you want to callme you can and I can provide you with some detailed information on rivet size, proper number for the brake lining and other information. I have several brake lining catalogs with this info. Rich Hartung Cell 484-431-8157 home 610-630-9188

Look on ebay or contact Andy Bernbaum in Mass. Rich hartung

I just looked in my Globe window regulator catalog and under the truck section for Dodge trucks 1933-1938 all use the following regulars. Also note that the numbers provide are universal with all suppliers. So 1933-38 right door is number DT-10 left door is DT-11. I do have this catalog saved and is available in CD formatted information if anyone is intereste. Covers all cars/trucks from approx. 1933 - 1948. Good reference to have in your car libray. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

The brake shoes are not that hard to get. I have serveral cross reference catalogs that refer to brakes, wheel cylinders, transmissions, autolite electrical and tune up parts speedometer cable. Send me your more email and I will send you my catalog listing. Also would suggest that you get a service manual and alsoparts manual for your car they tell you a lot of great info on how to keep the car running. Rich hartung Desoto1939@aol.com cell 484-431-8157 live near Philadelphia PA

the headliner is ususally a cotton nap fiber and if it is original then when trying to clean it you might do more damage because of the age of the material. I would suggest that you drive the car to a good automotive interior specialist and have them look at the issue witht he stains. They might be able to steam out the stains and or give you some advise on how to remove the stains. rich hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

It is a headlight relay. To improve the headlights to get brighter and to lessen the amount the electrical voltage has to travel to get to the headlight bulbs. So when the relay was not used the current ran from the headlight swith to the foot dimmer swith and then out to the junction box on the front fender and then to each individual headlight. So instead of having the electricity having to go throught this entire wiring situation the headlight relay was added and the power came directly from the battery to power the relay and then the electricity then went out to the headlights. If you still have 6v power then keep the headlight relay and since it was converted to sealed beam this will also give you a brighter light. I did this to my 1939 Desoto to get brighter lights. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com cell 484-431-8157

Tim: the first question that anyone in the club or forum will ask you is do you have a copy of the parts catalog for your car and alsoa service manual for your car. If you have the parts book then it will inform you of the correct Mopar radiator part number. These are the two most important books to have in you collection to help maintain your car. My current catalogs do not cover your car so I can not answer your question. Rich Hartung

12v battery cables should be changed to 6v 00 or 0 gugage battery cables so that you carry enough voltage to the starter. This is a mistake that most people replace the battery cable with modern cable and when the car is hot then the engine willnot turnover. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com

I did a sarch on ebay use this topic label: 1935 DODGE TRUCK, CARTER CARBURETOR SPEC, INFO SHEET The carb CTD2 is listed under this spec sheet it might also have the carter rebuild kit that is the correct kit for your carb. Also the horn which is the top part might not sit completely flat on the top of the carb. Could take a piece of flat glass but some sand paper down and then lightly move the air horn to remove any high sport and then reassemble the carb. Hope this helps Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com

That will be a very nice looking concept when you are done and best of luck with the customizations. I like the frenched headlights instead of the sealed beam round lights. Riich Hartung

according to my autolite manual the weight and spring set is autolite IGB-353BS used on the following cars 1949-51 Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, Dodge Truck 1950-51 and Plymouth 1949-51 this is used on the 6 cylinder cars so any distributor that fits these years the spring set and weights will work. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

40Desoto: Thanks for the explanation for the reason to install airbags instead of coil springs. I do respect your idea of a custom 1940 Desoto. Just tryingto point out what might be a situation from my view point. Are you also planning on changing out the egine to a more modern engine. Rich Hartung

so why do you want to replace the coil spring with the airbag is the first question? The second issue that I would have is if the airbag goes bad on you on a tour and you are not near someone that has experience with fixing and or replacing the air bag then you are might be disable for several days. If you are on the road with the replacement coils spring this would be an easier fix and I have a 39 desoto that still has the original coil springs and still going strong. So you then have to cut the fraont suspension housing and then you are stuck with the air bags for the rest of the cars life and if done incorrectly it does not look good for resale. Are you a member of the National Desoto club? rich hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Contact anyone that does antque car radio repairs and they should have the adapter for the end of the modern antenna cable because the new cable use a push in pin type and the older radios cable connecter ususally had to tits and twisted into the mounting hole on the radio body. These adapters should run about $5 dollars. rich hartung

I use a product called StayBil 360 inmy 39 desoto. It is a new product made by stBil and when the fluid mixes witht he gas it makes a vapor to coat the upper portion of the metal tank to prevent rust from forming and also keeps the tank clean and also the fuel lines and acts as a cleaning agent for the carb. Best price is a Walmart they have the cheapest cost. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

are the arm real tight onto the metal that sticks out from the wiper motor. If they are loose then the wiper transmission is just rotating. If loose then the serrations might be cutting away the metal inside the wiper arm. check this first. rich Hartung

first what is the location of the current or old position where the antenna base was mounted on the car? Was it a single mount or a double mount. The double mount would have gone on the side of the cowl and on my 39 Desoto it was on the drivers side. The double mount has two mounting holes that would require to have two holes drilled into the side of the cowl. The original would have been cloth covered antenna cable but the modern is now rubber cable. You might need an adapter to fit into the radio metal housing where the original cable connected. You can get original style side mount or top mount single that would go into the top of the fender. The original would have had the famous red-ball at the top of the mast but these if original are very costly to purchase. My 39 desoto has the antenna under each running board and these are factory installed on my car. they look like lighting rods and this was call the roadway antenna and the skyway antenna is the type that is mounted on the cowl. Anther style is the type that mounted on the center of the roof just above the division bar on the front windshield, also very expensive to get as NOS. plus the potential of rain leakage into your car.c Hope this helps. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

Gary call me at home. The long rod that comes over the top of the head has a spring and might have some washers at the end. There might be too many washers also there isa set screw at the bottom of the carb if I remember correctly should be the same setup as on my 39 desoto. Rich Hartung 484-431-8157

if you know the mopar brake spring number and you have a real good napa store then go there and give them the spring number ( mopar0 and they might beale to cross referece the part and get you a spring. Else pay for shipping off a vendor such as Andy. Rich Hartung

If you mixed non compatable fluid then the rubber cups could be swelling up so the brake pedal is hard and the cups in the wheel cylinders have sweeled and then the piston can not move. Rich Hartung

Marting: Did you use Dot 5, Dot 3 or Dot 4 Brake fluid. If you used dot5 which is silicone then you would have needed to have cleaned the entire system and flushed the entire system with denatured alcohol and replace allof the rubber brake lines and rubber in the MC and brake cylinders.. Which type of brake fluid did you used. Rich Hartung