Uncle-Pekka

Potential energy transferred to kinetic energy.., ;-) I loved it as well. Good music also... Sorry for the refer to an local proverb, it really does not relate to this at all, just my flow of thoughts... However that describes my attitude to fords, tend to spread the gospel whenever whereever...

What ho! Did not see any damage done, only slight disorder... ...but then again, disorder is the way of the universe. Of course it had to be a ford bringing it all about... We have an proverb here in flats of western Finland... it translates about: "A maiden servant (piika) is no man and a ford ain't no car"

Ok, Thank you Doug & Merle for the information. I am not in hurry. My D24 is currently on "dry dock" for painting. Probably I'll get her running after the painting and reconsider the rear end after driving one more summer. However, I have a freight forwarder in Lamar, SC, who takes spares to Finland in sea containers along with complete cars. For a big heavy part like the 3rd member that is the economical way.

Never knew there would be anything like this. Seen scale models and cut away cars, but functional 1:1 real transparent car build 1940 - WOW! Thanks for sharing!

Would you sell the bell housing & gearing as shown in Merle's picture above? /Pekka

Rats! What you tell is, they had two different size rear end cases for D24: - Smaller case for 4.1 and higher reductions - Bigger case for 3.9 and lower ratios... ...thus I would need to swap the entire rear axle. Taking in account the over seas freight cost for a complete axle, this may ruin my intentions. However, important fact to know. Last thing I want to do is purchase a set of low reduction gears from US, pull the rear end only to find the "new" gears won't fit...

Gregg, Once again, the problem is the freight from US to Finland. Therefore a complete axel assy is out of the question (too big, too heavy => way too expensive) I already do got quite tall tires, however, does not help enough. My D24 rear end ratio is 4.1:1. My conclusion was, that the next easiest & least expensive step would be changing pinion & ring gear (easier & less expensive compared to overdrive) I may be wrong...? Original 40's-50's Mopar overdrive units are getting rare & expensive. I recall seeing some of you guys using some modern GM OD unit. How extensive modification involved there? Prices and availability of the required components?

Folks, Is it possible to install the rear end gears of a 1949 P18 to 1948 D24 rear axle? Are they interchangeable? Looking to get less reduction rear end...

An year back a cost to ship one car in a container was a bit under 2000 USD. This price was from Houston to Helsinki, including ocean freight to Holland and a feeder from there to Helsinki. It may be, that cost of a container loaded in port of departure to port of arrival does not vary much from which EU port to which US port. There are lots of operators who are selling container freights by a car. They load normally two cars in a 40 footer and take $2000 per car. Back in the 90's some even built sub floor in the container, thus could load FOUR cars in each. Technically possible, but probably not worth the job & materials any more today.

Mike, Your car looks just great! I especially like the wheels with full cover hubcaps. Are the skirts steel ones? If they are, please let me know by private message what price you ask. I do have fiber skirts uninstalle but would be keen to buy steel skirts instead. /Pekka

Ah, Cuba, the mysterious island where oldsmobiles become chevys and chevys become plymouths... Some times for real. Talk about swapping parts.

During my 30 years of motoring, I've had three flats on full speed. All of them with tube type tires (and all in the 80's). It is really scary when a tire shoots flat in a two seconds at speed of 60 mph. Once it was a front tire. It was hard task keeping the car on the lane until it could be stopped. Brakes do not work evenly either when you have one tire flat. I NEVER will use the tube type again. I was so happy when I found out Chrysler did tubeless rims already in 40's. I had my rims sandblasted and paint with industry epoxy before mounted new tubeless radials. The Dodge handles great now. No tire worries with tubeless units. Just like Don said above: If a tubeless leaks, it leaks sloo...ow. That is safe, even gives you time to plan where you fix the problem. Tubeless explosion is dangerous to men & machines, also leaves you on the highway.

Non restored convertible. Go grab it - another over seas freight is too much for ol'unkka, besides I have six cars now and garage for only two... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200599661183&BackToListReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fmy.ebay.com%2Febaymotors%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FMyEbayBeta#v4-38

You're right Neil, it does look the same. Both DeSoto and Chrysler have similar "arched" look on the side windows. Did they share the same body? However Desoto grille is different. Ralph and Gregg G. got this right in Nov.22nd. Here we have a 1930 Chrysler - a beautiful car:

Huomenta Mark, Cool - What do we learn: Finns are just like the chinese- all over the place! I'am born in Kokkola, 200kms south from Oulu in the west coast. Now based in Jyväskylä - (see my "location" on the up right corner ;-)) This is 1929 DeSoto model K. Look up at net or e.g. in Tad Burness "spotter's guide" - all details match. Some makes used wooden spokes until beginning of 30's.

Mark, Not... ...yet. I've been awfully busy in my work this winter. Now when spring is coming I have to spend all possibly available freetime to get the cars on the road for summer again... oh, and the family, of course... thus this "project" may be postponed to next winter. However I still intend to try on this idea. B.r., Pekka

Hi Mark, This is Helsinki - I scanned this from the capital newspaper "Helsingin sanomat". I also put a thread on the web page of the veteran car club of Finland seeking more information of this car. Sadly and to my big surprise it seems, that in spite of that this DeSoto appeared in the first gatherings of the club in late 50's, it is probably been destroyed in the 60's (I do not have details, how it could happen...) Very sad incident - I have never ever seen this old DeSoto "a-live" (=ahead of me). Cheers, Pekka P.s. How come you know finnish language ???

Good taste for good looking cars seems to run in the family. Congratulations. (1940 & 41 Plymouth is a classic. ) I'll take take the risk to get my *ss kicked here and confess I've always appreciated high 1949-52 Chevrolet styling, superior to same age Mopar or ford. Problem is, 50 million flies like it too, thus chevys are over priced today. Oh, back to business: Roof color for the visor, of course...

I've also heard that story of "hat on" also. It's true, that 1949-54 Mopars seem to have higher roofline compared to same era rivals - BUT - you only have to put pictures of -40-48 cars (or the cars) side by side and you see the fact that mopars had high beltline resulting illusion of low roofline. My point is, that the cars may be same overall height, but as the side windows are smaller the car looks lower overall. My philosophy is, that a fine car is a comprehensive act of design and manufacturing (or any car, actually). Radical modification changes a car to something else. For instance: Why would I plant a corvette engine to 1939 chevy? Create a creature like granma with silicon implants? The Corvette would still be much better package for fast driving if that's the target. Granma is/was also beautiful, but the two are measured by their own scales.

Decent project car in California. Would make an impressive cruiser... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290532783363&BackToListReferer=http://my.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll%3FMyEbayBeta

Best of Luck for the Travellers! There will be fans watching your adventurous journey also up North in Finland. Kind regards, Unkka-Pekka

Ok, I suppose this is top of the line model. Where did you got it? (hope you don't mind me being curious)

That's really cool looking deflector - art deco style, eh? How does it keep clean? I would assume the exhaust fumes would mess the red lens?

Congratulations! Hudsons are mighty cars. Including Terraplanes (what a wonderful name for a car) Really a bargain deal, too - Loads of work ahead, though.