Robin (UK)

20 hours ago, Ivan_B said:

Why would you ever want one? I was constantly looking for it when I first switched from a modern car to a classic (and that is only because I mainly drove manual transmission cars before). Now, once I got used to driving a classic with just the speedometer (be that a car or a motorcycle) there appears to be absolutely no use in a tachometer. Besides, maybe, idle adjustment 😉

Also, your idle is probably too high 😇

That picture was taken with the car running on choke.
Idle is set to about 600rpm when warm.
I run a tach because my car's hopped up with vintage speed equipment... and I race it.
 

1 hour ago, John Fleming said:

Can you tell us about your tachometer and how it is wired ?

The tach was custom made by Westach.
It's 2" diameter, 6v, 0-5000 RPM.
I specified it with their 'bullet case' and a stainless surround. Plus a lighting kit. And with a white pointer, to match the original Plymouth gauges.
It's sits really nicely on the column, and is wired into the distributor.

Here's a link to the gauge: https://www.westach.com/product-page/2ct53-6v
Bullet mount: https://www.westach.com/product-page/692b-714
Lighting kit: https://www.westach.com/product-page/186-6a2

 

And here are the other parts in the factory set-up...

The pictures above show a D24 bezel. The Plymouth bezel is angled.
The under-dash set up is similar, but the bracket for the bulb-holders has a different profile.

10 hours ago, Ivan_B said:

Did you paint the dash with the windshield installed in place? 🤨

The car was painted by previous owners. I think the dash was last done in the 1970s.

This is a factory option turn signal indicator bezel which I've had sitting around for many years.
I recently got it fitted when my car was re-wired and I'm really pleased with it.
 

Video here:
 

On 5/4/2024 at 3:36 PM, bamfordsgarage said:

 

Thank you Robin. When I have experimentally pulled on the handle at speed in OD, it didn't want to move and I feared some mechanical mayhem if I insisted.

 

To clarify: you can/do pullout the OD handle when the car is in OD and in motion at above the kick-in speed (and, of course, under load)? And if so, does the OD kick out immediately or wait until the accelerator is released?

To clarify, my OD is wired though a push button which activates a latchable relay. This could be replaced by a switch, so for this answer I'll call it a switch.
Assuming you're in 3rd gear with overdrive engaged, the handle will be pushed in and the switch will be on.

To come out of overdrive:

• Turn the switch off (to cut the electrical supply)
• Release the gas pedal, to allow freewheeling

You'll now be out of overdrive, in 3rd, but the transmission will freewheel when not under load

To get back to direct drive

• Press the gas pedal to load the gearbox
• Pull the lockout handle out

I hope this helps.
Robin

George's description is correct.
When the transmission is under load (not freewheeling) you can pull the OD handle to lock out the overdrive.
I use mine like this regularly.

That's a fabulous looking car and it's great to see another 46-48 MoPar in the UK.
There are a whole bunch of these great cars over here (although not many DeSotos).
We have a facebook group for UK owners and hold an annual meet-up in the middle of the country (The P-15 Picnic) - You'll be very welcome to join us online and in person.
Please drop me a DM with your email address and I'll send info over and keep you in touch with what we're doing. This year's P15 Picnic will be on 20th and 21st April.
Welcome to this great Forum - you'll get lots of great advice here.
And it's good to hear you talking about Race The Waves. Dean and I race our Plymouths at Pendine Sands.
Look forward to catching up,
Robin

4 hours ago, greg g said:

Wonder if the woodwork came from US?

I'm certain that's a US-built body, Greg.
Locally built cars would not have been able to match that construction.
So my guess is that it was shipped to Europe complete.

5 hours ago, Doug&Deb said:

I’m assuming that’s an export model. It looks like a Plymouth with different trim. I’d like to see the grille. 

It's an SP15 DeSoto, which is effectively a badge-engineered Plymouth produced for export markets.
Here's a French car with a good view of the front end, hood ornament and badging.

Has anyone ever seen another picture of a DeSoto SP15 Wagon?
This one was in Switzerland.

I've always enjoyed driving my P15, and I'm having even more fun now that my son's old enough to get behind the wheel.
We worked the car hard at a recent Speed Hill Climb at historic Prescott Hill.
The wet course was super slippery, so we got some sideways action on the hairpins!

I'm also in the UK and have benefitted from the generosity of several owners who have sent me items and asked only for a 'thank you' or payment of shipping costs.
And I've repaid the favor by doing the same for others.
This P15-D24 community is a great space.
Thank you all for your enthusiasm, advice and help over the past 20+ years.

7 hours ago, nonstop said:

On a side note, why the drop to 3.73?  For the cost, it is not much trade off - 0.17 difference.  You might want to consider going to 3.55 gears.  You would certainly lower RPM’s, but the other question is, can your car handle it?

Thanks for the info on the splines.
The rear end swap is all about marginal gains. I have a hotter motor that'll be fitted soon. It'll definitely pull the higher gear, so I'm aiming to move that sweet spot a little bit and gain some more top end speed. 17% is enough as I already run an R10 OD.

Hi all,
I'd like to swap out the 3.9 rear end in my '47 Plymouth and replace with a 3.73.
Searching this Forum, I've found some discussion about the swap, including mention of the spline count.
Does anyone have a list of which models would have run a 3.73 crown wheel and pinion that would be a straight swap?
Any information that could help me in the search would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Robin

I host this facebook group, which has a lot of European members: Flathead Mopar Parts - For Sale & Wanted

I hope it's useful.

Good luck with your car.

12 hours ago, Eneto-55 said:

Not my photo - copied it from another post here on the forum, but I didn't make a note of where, or whose photo it was.

That's mine.
I picked up the bezel, then got the bulb holders from a Dodge set-up and made the bracket to suit the Plymouth part.
I also took the amber inserts from the Dodge bezel but they aren't fitted in this picture.
 

4 hours ago, SteveR said:

So sorry we couldn't make it ☹️ Maybe next year.

Really hope so, Steve.
We'll keep you posted.

5 hours ago, andyd said:

Robin........you are to be congratulated, thats a wonderful turnout........how many cars in total?...........that pic taken at the service station is a classic.........mnay thanks for your efforts......andyd.

Thanks Andy.
There was a total of 25 cars:
14x 1946-1948 MoPars
7x Other 30-50s MoPars
1x C10 Chevy Pickup
1x '39 Cadillac

1x '53 Chevy

1x MGB GT

 

We've just enjoyed a fantastic weekend with lots of beautiful cars and lovely people at The P-15 Picnic.
'Participants' Choice' was Ian's stunning grey RHD P-15 Plymouth convertible and the winning 'Guest Car' was an amazing '39 Cadillac.
There were a nice variety of 1930s-1950s Mopars on show, including a '36 Plymouth coupe, a '41 Chrysler convertible, a P-15 Police car clone and a 41 'Ply-Soto' running a 426 Hemi.
Here are some pictures from the weekend.
If you're Stateside and would like to take part in something like this, please support The P-15 Picnic USA in September.

51 minutes ago, desoto1939 said:

did anyone notice the pair of escalators inthe center of the showroom.  This must have been a very upscale chrysler dealership with two floors. possibly offices or maybe another floor for cars to be stored. Also notice the very art deco lighting and the entire art deco style for the interior.

 

Rich hartung

Desoto1939

It's the most upscale dealership ever, and definitely has a lot more more than two floors... it's the Chrysler Building in New York...

Love that picture, Merle. Thanks for sharing.
Here are some others I've 'harvested' from the web, through the years...

We're only five weeks out from The P-15 Picnic and now have thirty cars booked in, including eighteen 1946-1948 MoPars, which will be a UK record (if they all make it).
All classic cars and trucks are welcome, so if anyone else would like to join us please drop me a message and we can get you registered for the day, or for the weekend.