crosleykook

Interesting. So how do I know if I have it in gear or not? Also- the car was towed about 5 miles a few years ago- if it was in gear, would that have cooked the transmission or Fluid Drive?

That's just what I needed- thanks! Also- since i've never driven this car- is there an obvious way to tell if it's in Neutral? the wheels don't roll well- i'd assumed the brakes were dragging but now i'm wondering if it's actually in gear.... i hope not since i've been moving it all over..

Thanks for all the info! Went thru the shop manual and i didn't see any info about pulling the engine that was unique to the Fluid Drive- if I want to swap out the engine and leave the fluid drivbe and M6 in place, can I just separate the engine from the Fluid Drive and switch motors with the Fluid drive/trans still in place?

Aha! That explains a lot- I'll definitely need to do some more research! Do the Gyro Matics go bad from sitting like a regular automatic trans? This hasn't been run since about 1986.

I have a '52 Dodge Coronet wagon with Fluid Drive that's been sitting a long time. Been trying to get it fired up but I think the motor may be toast. I bought a running motor/fluid coupling/tranny assembly out of a car that is being hot rodded (either '51 or '52 Dodge sedan- can't remember which) and was thinking of doing a straight swap into my '52. Once I compared the two drivelines I noticed some major differences, not the least of which is that the trans in the wagon has some protruding sections on the passenger side with wiring (or maybe small hoses- still in the car so hard to tell) coming off the top, and the linkage on the driver's side connects to a big round aluminum or stainless bracket that covers half that side of the trans. the trans on the assembly I bought is a plain-jane tranny that looks like the others I've seen - no bumps, no bracket. Is there a reason I shouldn't separate the motor and fluid coupling and just install the 'new' motor, using the fluid drive and trans currently in the wagon? I know I've got to watch out for spline changes on the transmission shaft- anything else I should worry about? Thanks!

Howdy- been away from my '52 Dodge (and hence, this board) for a while, but I'm finally working on the car again! just picked up a used engine/tranny out of a '50 that I'm planning to swap into my car. The engine was running and driving until the owner pulled it a few months ago when he decided to swap it out for a hotrod. Here's my question- he had the assembly outside for a few weeks and I'm concerned that rain may have gotten in the screened vent on top of the tranny. I have no experience with the Fluid drive, so I'm not sure what that vents to? I'm thinking I should drain the fluid and replace, but I've also been advised that leaving a fluid drive alone as much as possible is advisable. Advice?

I thought I'd seen info on swapping the bigger Chrysler 6 into a dodge/plymouth/desoto on here, but now i can't find it... I have the opportunity to get a recently rebuilt flat 6 out of an early fifties Chrysler... how much of a bear would this be to install in my '52 Dodge wagon? I know I'd have to move the radiator.. wondering if it would clear the fenderwells, firewall and front axle without chopping anything up? advice is greatly appreciated! tim

Sacramento, California

I love the idea of having small cars for short trips and such... but having taken a 700 mile trip in a car with about half the mass of a vw beetle and I wouldn't wish it on anyone who wasn't excited about the challenge. But for short hops there is nothing cooler than microcars. this is one of the best things I've ever seen about small cars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN0LQJLabqA&feature=related

I've noticed a drop in listings too. I've been doing the same search for certain car stuff for about five years. Used to always be 100-150 items at any given time... now the same search turns up 30-40 items. I suspect that part of it is that some ebayers now list their stuff in stores as opposed to putting it for sale in the auctions, and others realized that it often wasn't worth the trouble. I used to sell a bit on ebay, but with the fees and the time it took to take photos, list the items accurately, answer questions, and then ship the stuff it was really not worth it. I occasionally sell now, but it's pretty rare. I keep trying to figure out what I've got around here that will appeal to Europeans since the Euro is spanking the dollar so hard right now.

If that's a stock '52 dodge, you've probably got a fluid drive too... didn't all dodges come with either Fluid drive or automatics in '52?

Man oh man... that's a nightmare come true. Glad to hear that you're ok, and at least you hadn't painted it yet... good luck!

Actually, that kinda works. My friend Johnny was a stunt driver with the Hell Drivers and other outfits for over 35 years. He's still at it, doing 'outlaw' stunts (i.e. no charge to see, but no insurance) whenever he can and 'sanctioned' shows as possible. His total preparation is to remove the window glass and paint 'CrashARama' on the sides of the cars! He ducks under the dash just before impact and crams himself in place. His protective gear consists of boots, mechanic's coveralls and an old motorcycle helmet. I've watched him do this for years, and several times I was convinced that he had to be dead-- but he always pops out OK at the end. 'Course they may have to turn the car over first...

Bob-- i'm so sorry to hear that your wife passed. Congratulations on being married for 41 years-- that's an amazing achievement. tim

hmmm... but what will my wife say about ANOTHER car? check your private messages...

Wow-- that car looks great! I'm in Sacto, so right down the hill from you. I've got a '52 wagon, but I found it while i was looking for a '46-48 four door.. I love those cars. Good luck with it!

Drove through Sacramento!? Shoot, and I didn't even see it go by. Anybody happen to see the Crosley run? I still haven't heard if he broke 100 this year.

that about matches what i'd heard....

anybody got offy/edmunds comparable pictures handy to post? Anybody run one of these on a fluid drive car, or is that just a complete waste (other than looks)? Then there's the wiring issue. When i popped the hood on my Dodge I could not believe that there was wiring going to the carb! seems so wrong on something so old and otherwise simple. tim

I've thought about going to Speed Week for years but have never made it... Gerald Davenport runs a Crosley every year with hopes of taking the class record back from the honda 600 guys. he had the record for a year I think. I'd love to see him run, and I'm still thinking I might try to go this time out-- it's a long shot, but maybe. I'm thinking I'd just camp out in the back of a pickup-- good idea/bad idea? Do you have to pre-register as a spectator? Any advice for a first-timer is appreciated!

Man oh man.. I think you did, too. nice car! I was pretty taken with the 37 coupe until I started thinking about how useless the rumble seat would be in everyday use. That giant trunk in the bizzy coupes must come in handy. I'm assuming that business coupes would be more desirable (higher $) than rumble seat coupes for that reason?

I've been thinking of buying a 30's -40's runner since the '52 wagon is still a ways from being on the road. I've been watching ebay, hemmings, etc, and the prices are all over the place! Maybe some of this is the difference between 'asking' price and actual sale. I found the Gold Book online, http://www.manheimgold.com/car_lo.html and the prices seem pretty accurate on the cars I own, but the asking prices I'm seeing for old MOPARs are way above their listings. Recent examples: 1936 plymouth Business coupe, decent original driver, 95,000 original miles. asking $18,000. Gold Book says something like $7-8000 1937 Dodge rumble seat coupe, driver, nice exterior, interior a bit rough. asking $9,000. Gold Book says around $5-7000 From watching ebay, the Gold book looks to be the more 'real' value, but then, I'm always amazed at what old cars go for these days. Anybody have an opinion on the Gold Book or on old MOPAR prices in general? thanks--

"So he installed a tape player, amplifier in the car and a couple of speakers up under the front wheel wells. Well on friday and sat nights when we went cruising, he would, when some hot car pulled up next to him, turn on the tapes and play amplified dragster engine sounds out of the wheel wells of his Rambler. " This may be the most genius thing I have ever heard...

This is all great advice and info- thanks again! The engine is free. It turns over with the key (veery slowly) So far: Pulled plugs and put some marvel mystery down the holes. Let sit for 2 weeks. Changed oil, installed new battery, new cables, new plugs. points/condenser seem ok. no start. checked spark at all 6 plugs-- good. tried old plugs. still no start. checked compression. mighty uneven/low/gone, so i think the suggestion about stuck valves may be correct, or rings are stuck. poured 1 quart of ATF in cylinder holes, filler tube. turned engine over with coil wire off to spread ATF around. let sit again. Drained again, pulled off carb, manifolds, etc. carb looked ok, manifolds had rust which i cleaned up a bit. Reassembled. still no start. I still need to check compression again after soaking with the ATF. I'm hoping the trans fluid might have loosened up valves/rings. Also need to change points and condenser and will check distributor. I'll pull the starter and see if it's fried and try some of the other hints. If I can't get it fired up soon I'll just yank the head and see EXACTLY what I'm dealing with. This *should* run-- it was driven into the barn in '87 not because of problems, but because the car collector got a some new toys (he ended up with about 40 cars) to play with. it just sat there til a couple of years ago when I got it. Also glad for the info on the Fluid drive. Since I don't need to be doing burnouts i think this setup will work well for me. Once i researched it i was fascinated by the whole idea that it works without friction... Not a good way to go for the drag strip, but a pretty neat idea for the street... tim