BobT-47P15

Looks great Chet. Always enjoyed your "weekend update" progress reports. Now, have fun.

How many folks have hardwood floors in their garage...raise your hand.

Does the dash (what's left of it) indicate which variety the car is?

My first car, in 1959, was a 47 Chevy Fleetline two door fastback with vacuum shift. It was bought by my grandfather, who said he had gotten Dad a car at 16 so he would get me one too. Found the Chev on the back row at the local Mercury dealer for $115. Tried to drag one or two friends in high school, but that vacuum shift wouldn't shift quickly. One day I drove that Chevy to Springfield, MO from my home town of Aurora.....about 35 miles......and on the way back it chewed a couple teeth off the timing gear. So, I'm sitting on the shoulder wondering how I can afford a tow truck.....when along comes a fellow 3 or 4 years older than me (from my town) in his 52 Olds. He said "I'll push you home". So he began pushing me and we actually made the trip of about 25 miles with no real problems. The Chevy would ride up on his bumper and start to move a little sideways......so when he saw that happening, he simply let off til mine straightened out, and then gently got back on my bumper. Kind of a white knuckle ride for me...but we made it. It was a two lane road all the way.....I don't think we actually held up traffic as he had us going pretty good. Eventually had the timing gear replaced. Next car after that was an oxidized pink and white 54 Belvedere in my second year of college. Was kinda worn out and used it's share of oil, but got me around for a year or better. That's the only car I ever let Dad pick out for me sight unseen. He just didn't realize how bad it really was. I'm enjoying hearing about everyone's first cars.....keep it going.

You might check with these folks in Arlington (Dallas) Texas. They have several buildings fulla all kinds of stuff. Phone: 817-275-2381 Fax 775-234-9858 Email: antiqueautosupply@yahoo.com

Simply joining up for commercial (or personal) sales purposes only is actually a no-no, I think. ((Now, if you'd been searching for those caps for years and they magically appear then you'd think it was a good thing.)) But, no intro and a sales pitch only - not so cool. There are times when a mention of some thing for sale as part of a thread in order to help out someone on their project is ok. But the seller usually asks the potential buyer to talk via a PM.

A nice look and different.........does remind one of the 1942 trim.

Nope......56s were a totally different style cap. I think they used the ones pictured in 57 and 58. ebay ads list both years as 14". Then went to those big tall ones in 59.

Yep, sure nuff, that's a P15 center section (radio grille) in that dash. Looking good.......you've certainly done a lot. That's also a P15 center brake light bezel on the trunk lid.......did that come on the car? I'm thinking the original in your year was round.

I bought carpet material plus a heel pad from an automotive upholstry supply place. You also need to get some material to be used for piping around the edges. Also got some felt stuff for insulation under the carpet. Then, I took the carpet to a local trim shop who agreed to install it. For cutting, fitting and binding carpet both in the car, and in the bottom of the trunk as well, he charged me $250. He made a split in the carpet next to the center hump so it can be folded back to check the brake fluid level, add fluid, etc. Here's a picture of that feature......

There is a number stamped into the frame on the drivers side, around the rear axle area. You would have to wire brush the frame to be able to read it. It would be the same as the number on the side of the original engine......which many states used as the "v i n" or serial number when these cars were new. This number will start with "P15" for a 46-48 Plymouth. Either the parts manual or the repair manual lists serial number runs made in each year, as I recall.

What did that mean???

quite some time back, my switch would blow the fuse. I found I had switched places with two wires.....once they were attached to their proper places all works fine again. I just had to study on the wiring diagram for a while. Since those diagrams get confusing to me.....I sit down with my magnifying glass, and draw out just the item I'm working with and just the wires involved.....taking them from point A to point B and so on.

Tim, I would say judging by the knight's head in the center, they are originals. Often the knockoffs had crossed flags in the center. Just my assessment. (the following comment posted just a couple minutes after the first) However.......he said they are 15", and I think the originals in 57 were 14". So......maybe not originals.

I like Meguiars products also. As the convertible leaks in various places when caught in the rain, or washed with a hose......I normally just dust it off, then wax it without washing. Works for me anyway. Haven't used microfiber cloths.... just the old T shirt type of stuff and old bath towels. May try the micro once the new paint job gets done. Appreciate the tips offered above.

My standard question pertains to the condition of the brake line rubber hoses. In my case, the little hose at the rear axle looked perfectly good on the outside. But, on the inside it was collapsing, preventing the fluid from returning to the MC and locking up the rear brakes after a quick-ish stop. If left to sit for a while, the fluid would work its way back to the MC and you could go again. To relieve the pressure immediately, I would open the bleeders, let out a little fluid and allow the brakes to back off some. Replaced the hose & all was well again. The other advice above is good also.

Hi Rodney. Glad you caught those things in time. With these old cars, we often think they don't leak, but then suddenly the trans or differential is low or empty. Where does the stuff go?? I think someone was probably looking out for you allright. Hope tomorrow is a better day.

The Plymouth that's the subject of this thread is, I think, a notch or two better looking than this old kustom wagon.......... Here's a link to a page with photos of a bunch of 50s customs of all brands........fun to look at even if you don't necessarily agree with how it turned out. Many had major modifications....testimony to the ability or lack thereof of the body men of that day. http://kustomcarpictures.com/index2.html

No........this is Bob K's 52 Chevy. It does have 52 Dodge tail light lenses set into the rear fenders. His top appears to be chopped a little. Super nice car with a straight six......he drives it everywhere. Did about 5,000 miles on a recent trip that included Bonneville, the HAMB drags here in Joplin and other places.

Saw this DeSoto at the Springfield, MO NSRA nats this summer. Looks like it received a bit of a "haircut". They all want to "lower the lid", even on convertibles...........

Good point, Tim. Of course, anyone can copy anything. And, you couldn't blame the originator for being a bit P O'd by having clones running around. In the case of this 53 Plymouth, the original so far has not been found. I thought that using 54 Chevy rear fender trim, reversed and spread apart, was perhaps a clever idea. Even if not everyone likes the result. There are numerous customs styled after the "Matranga Merc", the "Hirohata Merc" and other old famous vehicles. Some customs were so far out they were just plain weird and/or ugly. Not all were winners.

Really neat when kids do something like that for their parents. There was a fellow here in Joplin who fixed up a 55 Ford for his father (for his birthday, I think). That story was on the HAMB quite sometime back.

Here's a Google page with several listings for them........... http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&rlz=1R2ADRA_enUS393&q=pro+antique+windsor+locks+ct&rlz=1R2ADRA_enUS393&oq=Pro-Antique&gs_l=hp.1.3.0i10i30j0i30l3.3109.19406.0.25734.12.12.0.0.0.0.969.3907.0j6j2j1j0j2j1.12.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.sDkMLUYkZ4M&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=baef827db5508c9b&biw=1024&bih=537 However, when I tried to bring up the first one that appeared to be the business site, my computer said it could not be displayed.....hmmm.

Could you have one brake that's locking up or dragging? I know, it sounds pretty farfetched....... At one time, the rear brake hose was collapsed on the inside on my car. After applying the brakes a few times, not all the fluid ran back to the reservoir, causing the rear brakes to not fully release. Hence, you were pullling against the brakes.

Glad to see you made it home OK, Ed. Nothing like a mystery problem when away from home. Some things you just gotta laugh about (later), like the fold down fender.