Desotodav

Sorry to hear that Mark. There's not much lower than a common thief in my eyes! Maybe a couple of signs near the offence area?... Desotodav

Thanks for adding this post Jeff as it has just solved a mystery for me. My horn stopped working and I wondered why - on removing my horn ring for you for the attached photos I found that the wire was broken. I hope the attached photos answer your questions. The number stamped on the inside of my horn ring is DG1272411. This is consistent with my manual: part 1272411 - page 8-31 - code 8-33-4 (the horn ring button is 8-33-41). Desotodav

The HideyBookMobile company vehicle would be the best looking company vehicle on the road if that were the case! Thanks for the compliment on my truck - I am happy with how the blue 52 truck came out. I am in Brisbane Australia mate. I can't wait to see your route van done - perhaps start a build post to keep it all in one place? IMO, Take it slow and do it right! Desotodav

That's a great looking route van Don. I haven't seen any like that here in the land of Oz. I have seen an very cool looking old Morris van called 'Bread Sled' running around at a few of our shows (see attached photo). What's your plans for your van - going the patina look or the fully restored look? Desotodav

I spotted this interesting Spitfire head on Epay today... http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Flathead-Chrysler-230-Spitfire-CYLINDER-Head-HAT-RACK-Original-Custom-Wall-Hemi-/200900120959?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec694917f&_uhb=1#ht_1210wt_1275 . ... and I wasn't even searching in the 'hat rack' section !!! Desotodav

Hi Ryan... it has been a while! The running boards for my 56/57 Dodge Suburban truck appear the same as the ones for the earlier trucks here in Oz. The bigger trucks will naturally have the shorter running boards. The radiator was missing from my Suburban truck, but the mounts look similar to the earlier model trucks. The gas tanks appear the same in the early and later models here in Oz - bearing in mind that our trucks changed from 6 volt around 1953, so the sender unit area on top of the tank is slightly different between the 6v and 12v tanks (6v has twisting lock ring and 12v has about 5 small fastening down bolts) for fastening down the sender unit. I saw that bus from your photo on Gumtree... http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kettering/other-automotive/dodge-fargo-bus/1012329093 .I wish I had of known about it when I was down there in December as I would have gone for a closer look. Have a look at these trucks down that way as well... http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/claremont/cars-vans-utes/1954-dodge-other-van-minivan/1012625331 . Drop me an email and I can send you photos to support my comments if you wish. How'd you go in that tornado down your way on the weekend? My Aunt and Uncle's house at Kiama was spared damage somehow. Desotodav

Good job on the wiring harness Ed. Those diagrams for the truck wiring harness came from our member Allan Parkhurst. They came in most handy for me when I was restoring my 52 Desoto truck! I thank Allan again for making life a whole lot easier for myself and others during this process of the restoration phase. Desotodav

Man, that has to be the ugliest MOPAR that I have seen yet !!! Desotodav

I'm with you Ed - cars and trucks separate is good, but separating by age range not so good. Desotodav

Very nice Jeff, but I strained my eyes to find any of those dents and battle scars that you mentioned that you were leaving in there! Looks perfect to me !!! Desotodav

I checked all of the manuals (truck and car ones) that I have before I added the previous photo Tom and I couldn't find you a picture. The one that I pictured was for a truck (as I mentioned earlier). The car mechanism from Bob's photo looks different to that truck one that I posted. You will have to remove the door latch mechanism as Joe said. I have also found that the square hole has been worn in some of the mechanisms that I have come across. I suppose that if yours was too badly worn then you could build up the square end of the external door handle if needed or look for another mechanism? The small spring appears to place a little pressure on the door handle to stop if from drooping. I plan on fixing my spring like Joe F had to do (bending back tabs etc.) as that seems the best way to get the replacement spring in place. Desotodav

I also like the forum how it is now. I agree that there are many similarities between most models, so I don't think that having separate forums for different year models would achieve much. More specific words used in posts allows for the great search engine (that I use on a regular basis) to easily locate relevant topics. I find that the tagged, bookmarked and answered abilities that we now now have are an added improvement to the already great forum site that we previously had. I do like the idea of having the trucks and cars separate though. I found that the second and third question contradicted themself somewhat - sure separate forums for trucks and cars but not specific to model years IMHO. Hats off to you GTK for trying to improve on an already great thing! Desotodav

I have the same problem with my truck external door handles that I am yet to fix. As far as I can work out, the internal door latch mechanism has a second spring which corrects the door handle positioning. I have circled it in red in the attached picture... (bear in mind that this was from a right-hand drive truck from here in Oz)... Desotodav

Andy, Did you try Les Sonter? I think it was either him or Jim Robinson that were making them now. Might save you some freight if you buy them here in Oz? Desotodav

I didn't realize that there were 2 different style horn rings, but then in my defense I don't think that we really saw them here in Oz. The one that I bought for the 52 truck on Ebay a while back looks as pictured below. How does the one without the lugs stay attached to the steering column? From memory, my standard horn button was a little larger in diameter than the one in the horn ring. Could you use a standard button for now Joe and install the horn ring after you get the truck passed for registration? Desotodav

$85 a piece sounds harsh, but then again they are not the sort of thing that you can just walk into any parts store and pick off the shelf. Unfortunately, there is no cheap (and reliable) option available for me to freight things over to you guys in USA. Maybe I need a 'parts mule'? I wonder if that is legal? You're welcome anytime Mark - just give me a couple of months notice and I will take some time off work to show you around. Bring empty suitcases! I am working on obtaining a few more parts trucks at present. Desotodav

I have plenty of spare good ones here - freight costs would probably upset you though. How about a holiday in Oz and you can take them in your suitcase on your way home? Desotodav

Here's one for you Frankie... this NSW number plate sold recently at a Shannon's auction here for $93k... http://www.shannons.com.au/auctions/lot/SI65006A8BVD5MMF?cmpid=SHN:GI:PI:NPS:EDM:20120531:131&2473PSEM . Desotodav

Welcome aboard Ken. Got any pictures of your truck for us? Try this link where we discussed mate a while back... http://mopar.pairserver.com/p15d24ph_forum/index.php?/topic/25120-interior-product-that-lasts/page-4?hl=floor#entry306438 . Desotodav

I had to cut my original battery holder down a bit to get it to fit the 6 volt Optima Battery. I was worried about the cable terminals contacting with the metal battery hold down frame so I chopped some old rubber tube pieces and placed them down over the terminals. You can buy the hold down bolts for just a few dollars... there's a few sets on Ebay... http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=battery+hold+down+dodge&_ipg=100&rt=nc. Desotodav

Does this answer your question S E?... Desotodav

I've bought a few parts from Andy Bernbaum over the years. I was quite happy with the price, service, and the quality. The only problem that I found was that if they were out of stock of a requested item they would suggest that you call them back in a few months time. I'd have to say that generally when a fella is undertaking a restoration project he can't afford to wait a few months for a part to come into stock! Otherwise no complaints from me. I may have to get onto them soon as I will need some more 'L' shape fuzzy bits (A-381) for the next truck project/s. Desotodav

Glad to hear that you're alright Andy. My wifey chatted with her aunty down that way about half hour ago and they are pretty wet up on the hill there just north of you. She watched some fool drive his car into flood waters while she was on the phone, and then the car occupants scampered onto the roof of the car awaiting rescue. She reports that water is lapping at the foundations of Blue Goose pub just down the road, but otherwise all is well. They have probably around 80 of their 90 acres under water at present. I imagine that the old family home at Post Office Lane in Ulmarra has water lapping at the roof of the second storey by now! We have many areas up this way totally devastated by flood water (mainly around Bundaberg, Maryborough and Rockhampton). Brisbane and Ipswich appear to have been spared somewhat with flood waters reaching almost a metre below their expected high. Waters are still rising in Logan and are due to peak at around 10pm tonight. The large level of silt in the water has caused dramas with the Brisbane water purifying plant and the council now plan on trucking water into some suburbs on the southside of Brisbane. I came close to losing my 3 trucks in the shed when a large Gum tree fell (in just the right direction thankfully) as a result of the ridiculously strong winds. The big cleanup has begun down the Gold Coast as many buildings were damaged or left roofless. There are still some 80,000 houses from Gympie to the Gold Coast presently without power. It appears that my family has escaped relatively unscathed with our numerous properties, although I am not so sure about my sister's properties in Bundaberg. I have convinced my parents to delay their journey home from Kiama by a couple of days. The weather front is reported to have moved out to sea now, so hopefully all others are spared the damage. Ark building for dummies - seems they wrote that book just for you mate! Stay dry my friend! Dav (aka Desotodav)

Most of us on the east coast have been copping a pounding from the latest storm. There is no shortage of stupidity when it comes to messing around in the sea foam... http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/car-bursts-wave-sea-foam-nearly-hits-police-210152919.html . Many people within a few hundred kilometre radius from Brisbane are experiencing the heartache of losing it all again - as they did in the December 2010/January 2011 flood crisis. AndyD will be in the thick of it today. The flood waters were about to peak in his hometown at around lunchtime today. Earlier news reports showed that flood waters were getting very close to breaking over the levy wall. Updated news reports have recently shown that the levy wall was breached at Fry Street South Grafton. I know that Andy's home will be ok as it is situated on a rise some distance from the Clarence River, but his shop will more than likely be invaded by flood waters as it is in a low-lying area very close to the river. I hope all is well with you AndyD. Our thoughts are with you. Desotodav

I spotted these on Ebay... http://www.ebay.com/itm/1950-Mopar-Desoto-dual-horn-/170981477988?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27cf4a4e64&vxp=mtr . Surely someone here would be interested in them for the starting price of $1? I have no connection to the horns or the seller - posted in the hope that a member might benefit. Desotodav