Plymouthy Adams

Christopher..pictures are en-route to your home account..let me know if you need a more detailed shot or a measurement etc... Sorry to hear about the bad weather and loss of roof..I lost part of a roof to Hurricane Hugo..the water damage was a bit more than the shingle replacement..and I consider myself fortunate when I looked at most my neighbors..I put on a many shingle that year..mine and family/friends.

There is a ton of work that goes into a chopped top..and anyone who starts one and gets it completed with clean lines..well that is an accomplishment. I think a number of cars look especially good chopped..other do not..I do not think I would ever attemp to alter the roofline..

I am a hamber..I made the comment..I have seen a plenty of the work represented over there..while I admit the "goldchainers" and Coddington crowd is not represented there..which I do like about the HAMB...but I have seen a lot of thrown together vehicles..while maybe the general theme is traditional hotrods..not all of your member have the pocketbook but can share your enthusiasm if not you purse. The reference to custom by crash and rip and tear interior is home grown and is such that one would put together himself..not that the actual fabric is ripped and torn and the fenders are dented...but fabic sewed at home and body massaged by your own hand...not the custom work secured by some guy siting on his couch writing checks. While you take offense at some of the words I used..I totally hate the word RESTORED as the overall majority of cars in the industry could not hold a candle to a restored car. so..all in all it is a wash..you call it one thing..I call it another..and by the way the term rat rot was not to idicate the car is junk..it originally started out reflecting cars that did not have the chrome or brite trim replated due to the extremely high cost..ans if this is wrong then accept the fact that we are from different parts of the world...

requires four bushing per shackle for complete renew...

ad pulled before I got to see what all the hubbub was about...

Christopher..just in for a quci bite of supper..working a bit in the shop..will definitely get copies back out to you later tonight... Are you snowed in??????? Not sure but would hate to mention I am in shirt sleeves spraying a bit of primer out of doors..I'm loving it but am sure the COLD axe will soon fall...

Is that the same stuff Clark put in his non-nuclear cereal varnish? I would not be more surprised if I woke up with my hair stapled to the carpet.

I just put my hands on both my 51 and 52 Plymouth steering wheels..both have 4 screws on them that hold the horm button in place...you will look close you will see them form the rear..if not, at least be able to feel them with your finger...these screws enter into the horn button cover as the cover has brass nuts molded within the part.

I would have to go dig out my column from storage but something in the back of my mind screams 4 little screws holding the coverplate in place...

is there not screws on the back

Amen Allan..however at looking at car in question..that is basically what I was referring to in doing the cut..the glass section of the rear will have to lay a bit flatter in regard to the removal of the top so the lines will "flow" Whatever you take off the top..the seats will have to go lower for a good seated position and then you have the other extreme..seeing over the dash..most folks at the last show where I saw these lowered vehicles were driven after being lowered..looked to be some of the most uncomfortable drivers and occupants there was at the event. If you noticed the special seats designed with the ganster lean built in as found in the fiberglass cookie cutter rods..look as ugly as they have to sit IMHO

hokey assed message board H.A.M.B these guys are dedicated cutters of cars in all manner...if it is chopped, flopped or tomahawked..these guys have done it..there are no rules..rat rod heaven where shops such as "Custom by Crash" and interiors: "Rip and Tear" are common...not that bad really..but these guys are more into go than show..

Pressing of the bush is now making me think you are at the front silent block of the spring and not at the shackle. Shackle bushing go in with your fingers and at best a mild soapy solution to lube them up. Removable of the silent block is a pain at best..insertion is a breeze in comparison. I had to first drive out my metal core liners...cut the rubber, then compress the shell to the inner opening by driving a punch between the spring and the shell... I inserted the new ones with a bit of lube..large socket and the 6 inch vise..just pushed into aligment withthe greatest of ease..I have done three sets of the silent blocks..in reality though none were to the point they needed changing..just did in in the rebuild.

I think restoration specialties sells oversize hinge pins...the ones on my dodge had a larger diameter at the top and it is this portion that locks the pin in place...the actual used section of the pin was of a smaller diameter. Oversize hinge pins will be larger than the stock pin and should be just less than the top wedge section. This wear will force you to drill the center boss (door part) and install the new pin..severe wear may require the drilling of both side of the hinge as the pin will be bigger both ends. Some hinges are bushed and require only the bush changed or drilled to next larger size..It is not a hard takd to accomplish..drill press and a drill vise is a must for a good smooth job. you can clamp the hinge in the vice with a piece of round stock sticking up and use your samll level to ensure vertical alignment.

Bob is correct..I know on my 41 Dodge that I removed the door first..then removed the hinges..thought I had to rebuld them but turns out one of the pins had worked its way up and thus had plenty of slop..reseated for a like new fit. Be aware that there is a screw deep within the pocket of the hinge on the A-post.

That cresent wrench looks like the one I was bending with my "mind" prior to it falling off the flatbed on the mobile stage..they demanded a mobile stage to rule out other forces that may or may not alter the wrench. Yes I am bored out of my wits here....

Larry, ask this question on the HAMB..if it has been done..odds are you will get an answer like real quick... Would not think this would be an easy task though given the lines of the roof..with all the other mods you are making on the car, I think I would get it on the road and see how the thing drives with the newly transplated 5th Ave supsension and drivetrain..then if all is well with the world..then entertian the chop...At least by doing it in stages, the car would be marketable if for some reason you had to move the car...

If something is within a reasonable commute to me and a member here would like a look-see..would do my best to give a report..as long as that man understand that I am not a professional appraiser. I bought the wife's motorcycle that way..friend said it was for sale local to him...I ask if he could look-see..he called back with two word.."its gorgeous" I called the man within the hours..left town for a 8 hour one way trip to get the bike and was back home the following night.

sounds like you were at oldmoparts site

being the tight knit group that were are.,,if there is ever a car in a members back yard and someone is interested..a quick look-see can at least see if for real and general description....this is not an attemp to make a member an appraiser or such mind you..just a spotter...

From over on the Stude forum I read a post as recent as last week that there are now a number of scams selling cars that don't exist..pictures/descriptions are skimmed off of other forums and such and posted for sale...people go to get their purchase and nothing is there.. making it harder and harder to do trading these days..and some of these folks are homegrown..even have decent English grammer...

Of interest here is that you inspect the shackle closely..the bolt section gets pretty much abused by both the elements and if the bushings were shot for a long period of time, it also get pretty much worn out of round. You can maybe find new shackles or either rework you existing with new bolts..getting a stepped bolt to maintain the proper gap may be a bit difficult but necessay.

Jeff..the infamous bigbutt coupe...love them..I have the 41 year model..slight difference with the front fenders and spare tire location. excellent choice of vehicles...

That would make one heck of a package tray wouldn't it..that was the sweet part of the Dodge business coupe....that short tray and no back seat...

and people say I waste my time on old cars....