47heaven

Yeah, I was thinking that too, but my main concern is if I'd losened the nut would I have taken a chance and broken anything. That's a good idea though and looks like it may be my only option. I also just noticed that the needle is longer on the 47, as well. Hmmmmmmm. I thought these gauges were all interchangeable during the 40's era.

Okay...went down to G & G Mopar in Colton today to look for a NOS/used temp gauge and sending unit. I didn't see any '47-'48 gauges, but saw a 1942Plymouth gauge w/sending unit all intact. It looked the same, except the face was a little different, but that was no problem because I can switch the face. Anyway, I paid the guy his outrageous price and when I got home I compared it to the '47 gauge and everything looked right except the mounting plate in the back of the gauges. The holes on the '42 are still in the same place, but the distance between the two is farther than on the '47. My question is if the '47 mounting plate can be disattached and put on the '42gauge. Again, there is a nut that seems to be holding it to the gauge unit itself. Can this task be done or do I risk damaging the newly bought unit? Any ideas or answers?

Hey all....well, the engine is done and I've had the car for a couple days, but unable to drive it because I was busy. Anyway, the mechanic accidentally broke the bulb off of the temp gauge sending unit when he was installing it back into the engine. He did replace it with a temporary after market one, but told me that if I could find another that he would pay for it. I tried looking for some on ebay, but it's all dry on sending units for the P15. I was looking in the forun archives and I found a couple posts, not on the gauge particularly, but telling about it being swapped with a '41 sending unit screwed onto the face of the '46-'48 one. First, does anyone on here have an extra working sending to sell? Second, are there any ideas on how to repair this one?

Don...I'm in So. Cal too, in Pomona, and I had most of the restoration work done here locally. Of course, I did everything backwards, meaning the the paint and body, interior and now finishing up the engine...all in that order, when it should have been the other way around. Most of the car's interior is almost close to original specs, except I didn't woodgrain the dash and window garnishes. Instead, I had them painted the original Plymouth Airwing Gray. I felt it gave it a cleaner look, and besides the '46-'48 woody and convertible models had solid colors painted on the dashes and trim...so I'm really not too far off. Wood graining is way too expensive and I'm just not fond of it. I, like you, am just making a daily driver that looks nice. Not planning to get into any shows because I know the Plymouth judges would laugh at me, so why bother. Just as long as I can enjoy my ride and people enjoy looking at it...I'm happy. Are you going to try to stay original with the interior or just put in new-style fabric? I did my own panels and I can help you with those. Hopefully, you still have the same trim pieces that go the inside of the doors. Anyway, if you want to drop me an email I'll be glad to give some more info on where I got my stuff. Contact me through here. Darin

Yeah, Bob...I'll be glad to let you know. I really hoping to get it back this week. I just painted the air cleaner and overdrive cable mount, for under the dash, yesterday and will take them to him later today. He checked the overdrive and said that it was in good condition...it turned well, no chipped or damaged gears, etc. I think he's still working on the electrical part of it...I'm not sure. I'll know more later when I go there. Here's some "then and now" comparison photos of the car showing some interior shots. These will give you an idea of how far it's come. I'll see if I can take some of the engine tomorrow. BEFORE NOW BEFORE NOW BEFORE NOW

My engine is a mix match now. I have a 1949 Dodge 230 block with a 1955 Plymouth crank, 1955 Plymouth head and a 1952 OD transmission. So much for original P15...LOL!

Yes, that is nice. Hey, aren't those Plymouth tail lights on that? I thought the Dodges of that time had the reflector on top.

Bob...yes, I did do the engine compartment area, but when I took the inner fenders out and started to remove the overspray, I saw that they were black. I didn't see any sign of gray. So I painted the firewall the color of the car and the inner fenders black. The trunk compartment is still gray, but the gray-blue mixture I tried to match from the photo that was on here didn't match the gray in the trunk. I'll have to take the car down to the paint shop and try to match the piant chips to find the closest match for it. I'm surprised there is no color code for that gray on record. Nonetheless, it compliments the engine pretty well.

Yeah...I know. I can't escape the easter egg syndrome, but the green seems to be darker with the sun on it and when the sun is going down or it's an a building with flourescent lighting...it looks a lot lighter. I still have to get that clock fixed.

Jack...that is supposed to be a '47 Chrysler color called Seacrest Green, but it wasn't matched exactly to the original specs, so it's a tab bit lighter than it should be. So it's taken on more of a Seafoam Green.

Thanks, Bob...that day I saw you I almost lost it because my brakes were going out...remember? It should be out of the shop with the new, rebuilt engine next week. I'll drive it out and let you take a look.

Man, Norm...where have you been hiding out with these pics? You never told me you had them. Send me more because my camera can't take them as nice.

Notice he cuts the tape just before he hits a stopped car at the stop sign. LOL

Well, it doesn't exactly have an article written about it, but it did show up with another car (in the background) in one of the photos which was taken at a So-Cal car show in Pomona last April. Hey, it's probably the closest I'll ever get to having it in a magazine...LOL!

Awwww...just rub it in, Norm! I hope this nice weather holds up because my car should be out next week. He's got the engine and trans in and has already fired it up. I'm painting the air cleaner today and will take it out to him tomorrow. Just has a few loose ends to tighten up and she's ready to go out and cruise around.

In the famous POMONA, CALIFORNIA!

Hey guys...the message board "critic" here (one of them, at least) giving my two cents. Bluntly put: it looks like crap! Whoever did this "hack" job must've had his eyes closed while doing it. Also, whoever did this apparently doesn't have respect for the car, and it shows. What a waste of what was once a good car.

You can put that car on a diet and the butt will still look big. I say leave em!

Come to think of it...what were the optional reverse lights for the P15's?

Oh, tell me about it. I'm enjoying this weather because I can move around better and not be so drained, which is what the heat does to me. I'll PM you about the parts here in a sec.

LOL! Well, maybe I need to rephrase that...they were worn out because a while back the shaft chamber was overgreased and the snap rings popped out when I pressed the clutch pedal down...at the same time losing three of the four bearings. This one mechanic I knew, at the time, made some temporary ones, but my present mechanic said that the proper ones need to be in there or the same thing will happen again down the road. I only have one existing, original one left. I'll give 'ol Grumpy a call and see what he has to offer. Maybe I'll catch him in a better mood.

The mechanic called me up today and said that he had the clutch taken apart and noticed that the bearings (two half pieces) that fit around the snap ring (a bracket that has a round ball shape at the end that goes into the clutch shaft on each end of it) were broken. He asked me to ask on here where I might be able to pick some new ones up. Does anyone have any idea?

Really? You must have caught him on a good day. When I called him, he said that once I bought something from him that it was mine...no refunds...even if the item had a malfuntion. I thought that was strange business. I've also been warned by others on here to be careful of him, but then again...he could be having a good day or bad day.

Oh...okay...it just sonded like it was relating to what I had posted. LOL