BobT-47P15

Your understanding of the 49 model year is correct, Mr cop................they made the old style for either 3 or 4 months until those boxy models with the ripple bumpers were ready to go. So.....yes......everything on your car is from the model P15 of 46-7-8. (My son in law has an early 49 also, a coupe.) .You can find reproduction gearshift knobs of the correct style.......I tend to watch eBay as prices vary by seller. Also those center dash plastic pieces do fade with time .... so many of the used ones need repainting from the backside if the plastic is good. Shift knob......... Do you have the housing for that center plastic part.......the ribbed item that joins in with the top of the dash chrome trim......

I think the type of decal used on the P15s is called "Di Noc".......possibly made by 3M company. I think it is water based as opposed to self adhesive....just like decals of old. In past years, there were some pretty detailed descriptions on here of how various guys created woodgraining on their dash and windowframes. It's kind of like that process of "antique=ing" for furniture.

I don't think the suicide doors were "rare" in their day........as many makes used suicide doors in those years. The seller says "original car", but to me, the seats/door panels do not appear original but nice replacements. That opinion and about a buck will get you a cuppa coffee.

I would imagine that when new, that DeSoto had the old tire sizing such as 225x15......the old bias ply skinny tire size. I have run 215x 15s on my 47 Plymouth. .. Nowadays, if you want to use modern radials instead of bias ply (they offer better drivability, don't follow the ruts in the road, etc) . There are numerous tire sizes and styles in both non radial and radial, offered by several vendors such as Coker Tire, Universal Tire, Diamond Back and others. If you want a wide whitewall, you can find various widths of white also. It is my opinion, based on certain observations, that you need to buy a tire that is just a bit more expensive than the cheapest WWW offered. About a year ago, I purchased from Coker Tire a set of four "B F Goodrich Silvertown" radials, size P215/75R15, with a whitewall width of 2 1/2 inches..... at a cost of around $250 each (plus tax and shipping if you have them sent to you). I saved shipping and hauled them home myself from the Carlisle, PA swap meet. These tires are a wider tread design, like modern cars. They can be used tubeless, but I use tubes because they are mounted on old Chrysler wire wheels. However......for my spare tire, I bought one of the new "bias ply look" radials...........so it would fit into my spare tire well as it is more narrow tread like the old model tires. The size I'm using is listed as 670R15 ---- compares to the 670-15 bias plys. The whitewall width on this tire, made by American Classic, is 2 3/4 inches. It is maybe an inch wider tread than my old bias tire that was made in 1961 (yeah, my spare was ancient---an old Goodyear Double Eagle purchased back in the 1970s). Cost of this new style radial was around $250 before tax.......it was purchased at Carlisle last fall from Universal Tire Co. and brought home by a friend. I use a tube in it as well. I don't know if this kind of long winded item will help as it just reflects my preferences. The first picture shows my ancient spare on the wheel compated to the new narrow radial just purchased. Very close in both tread width and height to the oldie......the white wall is a little wider. The second pic is old/new comparison, third is the B F Goodrich brand tires on my car. New style radial tire upper......old 1961 model tire lower. Close in tread width.

The dash is woodgrained, matched by the window frames. That strip across the glove box is medium/dark brown....not a woodgrain. I don't know the official name for the grain, but it is a decal. Hopefully others can give you more detail on this. On a convertible, the dash and window frames match the exterior.......no woodgrain used.

They look like a good fit and a nice item. I like them having studs, but that also causes the producer to go to more trouble and expense......probably why yours were priced as they were. (If you want a place to spend money, just get an old car........some times is my motto)

A bit late, I see, but nonetheless Mr. and Mrs. Ed............congratulations on the new addition to your family.

We have some here in Missouri called "diverging diamonds" ..... and I don't know if there are any others with different names. We have one of those diamonds, plus several roundabouts in our town now.......we must be getting into the big time.

I went there about a year or so ago while on a trip to Florida. Nice museum......I don't recall seeing that Chrysler .... but it sure is good looking.

Looks pretty patriotic Mr. C. Wishing you and your family happy Memorial Day.

Regarding new gas tanks.......I had saved this eBay seller sometime back.......so I presume he is still in business and the price of a tank is still the same or close.........Tom's Classic in Isanti, Michigan.............says he has new original style tanks plus original style sending units for Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler. Price in the saved ad was $349. Here is a link to that ad: http://www.ebay.com/itm/231616569157?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Vintage American Parts also offers what sounds like the same tank, at a higher price.....and also have the float. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1946-1947-1948-PLYMOUTH-P15-REPRO-GAS-TANK-FUEL-FITS-LIKE-A-GLOVE-NEW-METAL-/182434024154?hash=item2a79ea4ada:g:UXkAAOSwd0BV5GWk&vxp=mtr

Here is an interesting and probably useful bit of info from one eBay seller..........just putting it out here as it relates to the water tubes. I think I bought an aluminum water tube at Carlisle a couple years ago to have on hand for a future rebuild.......guess it would be OK to use. Visit our eBay Store: TemeculaValleyMoPar Recondition your 1937-54 DeSoto and Chrysler flathead-six cooling system with this set consisting of a new water-distribution tube and new water jacket core plugs. Since the water pump must be removed to replace the distribution tube, we've also include a new gasket. A rusted-out distribution tube is a major cause of overheating and rusted-out core plugs are a major cause of leaks Chrysler Corp's L-head engines incorporated formed sheetmetal tubes to direct coolant from the output of the waterpump to each cylinder. These "water distribution tubes" were originally made of galvanized steel and of course rust-out over time which leads to engine overheating. We offer a distribution tube kit on which also includes new core (freeze) plugs. Frequently we are asked if we can supply the replacement tube and core plugs in brass. The answer is NO. Because the engine block is made of a ferrous metal (iron), everything in contact with the iron block and the coolant water should also be made of an iron-based metal. If you remember your high school chemistry class, you learned that if you immerse two dis-similar metals (iron and brass) in an electrolyte (the coolant water), you will have created a galvanic battery cell that will rapidly erode the least "noble" metal part (your engine bock). You don't want that! Making sure that any metal parts used in the cooling passages are made of a ferrous (iron-based) metal will keep the erosion to a minimum. Because of this, you probably won't find a brass water distribution tube but there are mechanics that will try to install brass core plugs into your engine's water jacket. Don't let them!

This guy is saying he has a 25" tube, which also fits trucks.........he seems to have lots of things........so check with him asap..................... http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1935-1959-CHRYSLER-DESOTO-WATER-DISTRIBUTION-TUBE-ALSO-FITS-35-56-TRUCKS-25-/182438187814?hash=item2a7a29d326:g:B90AAOSw7FRWXc0c&vxp=mtr

Click on the link........this seller on eBay is selling a tube for a 6 cy l........might contact him thru eBay and inquire if he might have one for an eight.......just a shot in the dark................. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1936-54-CHRYSLER-DESOTO-6-CYLINDER-WATER-DISTRIBUTION-TUBE-317-/401290707491?hash=item5d6eca4223:g:QTcAAOSw2gxYxwO2&vxp=mtr

Glad to see that progress is being made. Always a thrill when some item is repaired and resumes working correctly as it should.....like brakes, and other systems. Just takes a while. We got our convert out this afternoon as temp was in the 80s.......wrestled with putting the top down......then took about a 40 mile round trip to a neighboring town for some ice cream. Won't be too long before you can do that, too. Regarding that thing with a flasher attached.....does your car have the factory turn signals, or some aftermarket ones? I

Looks nice. Always things to do on these old cars..........

There is a man who makes a nice reproduction door sill plate.........they are smooth on the bottom with no studs........you have to glue them into place and leave a little space on the inner edge to tuck carpet or mat. They are somewhere around 250 or 300 .... I bought a set. He usually attends Hershey.......also puts them on eBay from time to time. I think his handle is "djyaz". I have not installed mine yet as my originals are still "pretty good", but I wanted to have their replacement on hand. I don't have a good contact to reach the fellow, but will try to find one and post it for anyone who might be interested. ADDENDUM.......update.......I found the business card of the man who sells those sill plates. I believe he told me he designed them but a certain company actually produces the product. They are more of a "plastic-y" material instead of rubber. Their design matches the original very well. They can be installed using certain glues or auto body molding tape, but do not have the studs as original. The seller is Diran Yazejian from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan His phone is (248) 646-0158, or his email is djyaz@yahoo.com

Great looking car......nice work. I can appreciate the plaid "box" seat covers as I had a couple different sets on my P15 convertible over a number of years. Only recently did the interior get redone to pretty much original appearance. Now, Drive it and have fun.

Looks good. Have fun cruising.

Hard to know on amount of those cars left. Some people feel that after all these years, due to accidents, lack of care and other assorted reasons .... there may only be around 10 percent of the original number left. Have you found any forum besides this relating to that model Dodge....or anyone who has kept a register of those cars as he encountered them?

It says so right at the top of the post.......I saw it too.................I wonder if he is still around.......

Here is one from some P15 I got off the internet.Second pic......mine as recovered by a trim shop.

There are some really cool looking Plodges in the mid to later 50s and into the 60s. I purchased a steering wheel a few years ago from an ad on this site.......it has a Dodge horn center, but appears to be exactly the same wheel as my P15. Have been saving it for a spare for possible future use. It is in perfect original condition (brown in color), whereas the wheel on my car is painted maroon to match my dash. It was listed at a cheaper price than the Plymouth ones on eBay at the time.

Found this picture which is in the P15 Parts Manual----I think you actually have to insert it from under the car up into the cowl. I forget just where, but the brace attaches to something under there. Can't recall how many sections of the staff there are.

Yes......that tube with a brace on it resembles an original Mopar antenna for the D24 and P15. I don't think I have an original style antenna floating around any more......have had a couple of them not good enough to use. I currently use an aftermarket antenna with a base that slopes and fits the hole in my cowl. but doesn't go down into the fender very far..