Labrauer

I have ordered from Andy more than several times and have done it through the internet each and every time. I have always gotten the right parts for the job that I was working on. The first time I ever ordered from Andy was oh probably 8 years ago over the phone and was pleased with the conversation from the sales guy. I know that I have heard and read of people having trouble with his service and getting the wrong parts but I wonder if maybe people ordered the wrong number for the parts or when talking over the phone just didn't say the right things to the sales guy. I have done both these things in the past before and when the order got to me I realized what I had done but have always had good luck with getting the right part when I get a call asking me questions about the order and the car it fits. I appreciate Andy's knowledge of these old cars as I do for the people on this forum that have helped me in many accusations about something I am having trouble with. We all have bad days in our lives and sometimes we take it out on other people so keep that in mind next time you order a part.

Heck when I bought my 48 Plymouth Sedan I had to face the heat from the wife saying I didn't need another old car. She had no idea that I purchased it until I had it home sitting in the drive way. She frowned and shook her head in disbelief that I went and bought another old 48. To my defense I told her that it was for her to drive as it had a back seat for the grand kids to ride without being in the front seat like they have to ride in the coupe. After a day or so she was back to normal but now I have to keep up making excuses of why she can't sell it. Women what would we do without them? Well I could think of 100 things and all involve old cars..

If you don't have an extra bolt or two after the rebuild you must have done something wrong. I always have at least a nut, bolt, washer or something left.

You can make replacement knobs for your car with the 3D printers. My nephew made some for me on his 3 D printer he made and they work just fine. You can thread them to screw on the gear shift handle and the ones that go on the other items or shafts he threaded a tiny set screw that you tighten down. You can make them in any color, shape, length and ect. You can even put the lettering on them as the originals. He made them and polished to make them all pretty. This guy my nephew is my computer man when ever I need something done. He made his own 3 D printer from scratch piece by piece. I have some pictures on my camera that I have down loaded and I will and post them. The length of time to make depends on what size, texture, polishing, threading and ect. I think he said he spent about one hour per knob on mine not including the threading. Oh heck I just went ahead and down loaded the pictures but they just don't give the knobs justices.

I would replace the lower bumper as in mine they were gone too and when I jacked the car the wheels would turn in at the top. If the lower bumpers are not in what is going to keep the control arm from hitting the frame?

I have used JB Weld on the gas line fitting going into the carburetor and it works just fine but now I have another situation on the engine block. My 218 engine block has been repaired (welded) before I got the car and since I am doing a rebuild when the motor is running there is a few leaks where the weld is. My guess is that when the block was cleaned at the machine shop some of the corrosion in the water jacket came loose causing it to leak. My question is do you think if I put JB Weld on the out side of the block it would stop the leak and if so how would I prepare the block so it will stick and last forever? If it will not last I guess I will have to find someone that has a good 218 block they want to sell or donate to a good cause of getting another 48 Plymouth Special Deluxe Coupe back on the road. Larry

I have an electric fuel pump and a one way valve on my 48 coupe and I have no problem with the mechanical pump pulling fuel through the electric one in fact I don't have the electric one powered anymore. I will reconnect it later on when I bypass the mechanical one but leave in the car for extra protection. I have heard that the diagram in the mechanical could fail and gas getting into the crank case but with the easier starting of the engine do to the gas being there when I need it I will take the chance. On the other hand when I installed the one way valve it still didn't help with the gas situation in the carburetor. Some how I still lost gas I guess from evaporation from the carb or the fuel lines. mysteries always happen around here.

I love the car and I also love the instrument panels in those old Chrysler cars with the round spedo that curves around the steering culmon. Great find and I hope you enjoy it as much as would if I had found it before you did. HA Ha

I have had the same problem with my 48 Plymouth a while back and took the carburetor off to do a rebuild. Put the carb back on and like magic the problem went away. I would go with Don's answer and look at the accelerator pump.

Man that is a really good looking car you have there. Desoto's look so heavy when just sitting there by itself. Enjoy the old girl.

Welcome to the forum Tony. That's a nice looking car Tony I am sure that you will have a lot of fun working on it when the time comes. Just have a lot of passion with the car as it is old and old stuff needs a lot of tender loving care. There is nothing like driving an old car down the road looking at the people and their eyes seeing a part of history on the road beside them. You will get a lot of thumbs up as people pass you on the road. I have two 48 Plymouths one coupe and a four door sedan. The sedan I just finished putting all new brake lines and a new system. I have all the interior out of the sedan too to redo it but now my main project now is getting the coupe back on the road. I am doing an over haul on the coupes engine and putting an R10 overdrive in it. Here are a couple of pics of the cars today. There are a lot of wise people on this forum that will help you any way they can. And remember there are not stupid questions as we have all been there from time to time. Good luck with the rebuild. Larry

Robin, I am also interested in the set up for the overdrive. I have a two wire push button on the gear shifter but I would like to see about what you have described here with the one wire set up. I would be in the market if your guy will make some more. If you have a diagram of the set up and wiring please send to me PM. Larry Brauer

John in post number 9 the third picture what is the red light for on the lower dash? That is a good looking car and I think I have found the color that I want to paint my dash and inside trim in these pictures you have shown here. I really like the way it would go with my head liner and door panels. There is some interesting item like the glass shifting knob I have never seen one quit like it. Any how thanks for the pictures.

Kinda looks like Georges dash.

Well I did find something in the bottom of the pan like shavings and there seemed to be some grit but no big rocks or what I would have thought as a rock. I don't know what size of rocks he put in there as we have anywhere from brick size to pin head size here on the farm. I have got to cool off before I start on anything that pertains to the engine right now. Got to figure out what is my best way to go about this disaster. I just hope this $2,000 dollars is not all down the drain washed away.

Well after all this discussion on the engine I have found out what the problem seems to be. Hold on to your seat because when I found out I exploded. Took the night to calm down but now I know to not let a five year old near an engine alone. It seems that my five year old grandson had some fun putting rocks in of the holes of the block. Didn't find out till last night. My wife asked him if it was just one and he said he put a lot in there holy crap I lost it then. I swear if he didn't have C.P. ( Cerlible pulsey). I would have whore his little ass out where he couldn't sit for a week but I just bit my lip and left the room. Now I have to pull the damn engine out of the car again and start all over which makes my blood bowl to know end. I sure as hell hope it only messed up the bearings and not anything else or I think I will just have to be a baby and cry.

Took the oil pan off this afternoon and took number 6 piston rod bearing out to find ware spots and the dog ear on the upper bearing gone.Don't know what happened there but the bearing looked like this engine had been running for years. Took number 5 out too with the same results. Went to number one and did the same to find a grove in the center of the bearing like there was something on the crank when assembled but I know for a fact I cleaned it before it was assembled. Number two showed the same ware on the rod bearings as did the rest. tomorrow I am going to get a mike and mike the crank shaft to see what the bearings are suppose to be and get some new ones. On the number one rod on the crank it looks as if there is a grove on the crank like they didn't finish the turning. I hope that is not the case I would hate to have to pull the crank again. I did use some engine lube that has (as I seen tonight) had some graphite in it. This grease is recommended on all engine impassably from be arings to ect. In this re-install of the bearings I will be going with white grease lubricate type grease and hopefully things will be getting better.

No the clearances was not taken but I do know that the pistons are 60 over and the crank was turned 10/10 with the correct bearings installed. Could it be that the piston rod got reversed and put in wrong? I would think not because it it was I think you would have heard the knocking when cranked up. If I do pull the head and the pan how hard is it to change the piston rod bearing or anything else. Larry

Hey guys I am open for suggestions on where I should start the tear down on the engine again. I had the 218 Plymouth engine overhauled a couple of week ago and she seemed to run fine but now I hear a knock on number 5 or 6 cylinder. I took my stethoscope and tried to find out where the noise was coming from so I checked the tappets area, then went to the head it self. Started at number one cylinder and worked my way to number 6. The closer I got to number 6 the louder the noise got until it was pretty loud between 5 and 6. My question is do I start by removing the oil pan and disconnect number 6 piston rod bearing to see if a bearing has spun or do I take the head back off and start there? I just hate to take the head back off again so is there any way to see what might be wrong with the oil pan dropped? Any how what is you all suggestion on what might have gone wrong and the best way to fix it? Thanks, Larry

I don't know what would make your drive any better as I would love to be on the roads that you have in the pictures. Love those old country roads where there isn't any concrete or asphalt.

I have put new Halogen lights on my 48 Plymouth coupe a while back and haven't had a bit of trouble so far. I know that I can see a whole lot better at night with them. I had to cut the back of the canister out a little for them to fit but after fitting them I have never looked back. Had to readjust the head lights again because of the brightness blinding other people on the road. I enjoy seeing at night but have seen an increase in the heat these bulbs produce. I have had no other problem with them so far. I got them off of e-bay for about 20 dollars and haven't looked back although they do take a little more amps but not that much.

Very, Very nice looking Dodge truck. I am going to get one of those one day. I know you are proud of your find and you should very well should be. What does the 49 look like?

It is a darn shame that these great old cars are just rusting away. Sometimes it is just that people that purchase these great automobiles don't appreciate what they have.

Although it seems you have a tremendous amount of talent in the body work I have seen in all the pictures you posted I love the fact that each and every one of us on this forum has a different taste in what we like. I am not a fan of chopping a car up to make it look like something it was never met to look like. I understand we have all wanted a look that is different than anyone else so we do what we think we have to do to achieve this. The way the car looks now reminds me of the rat raced Chevy's. This is just my 2 cents that I have offered and by no means do I mean to disrespect your talent as I do love the means of talent you have. Keep on your track to the look you want and remember to keep it somewhat a mopar.