Desotodav

Mark: the spark plug caps are bakerlite. It's a long story but the fella that did a lot of my mechanical rebuild had crate fulls of NOS Mopar parts. He said that lead plugs like mine were fitted to a lot of vehicles here in Oz in those days. He just happened to have most of them in stock at the time that I was restoring my truck. Hank: our ID plates are mostly mounted to the firewall. I haven't seen a truck here yet where they are mounted otherwise. Wally: we were fortunate here to be offered trucks in the Desoto brand. I am told that they were the 'top of the line' in those days (meaning that they were offered with more accessories than the Dodge or Fargo). My 52 didn't have any fancy bits on it when I got it - but now supports an 802 radio, internal mirror, left rear vision mirror, and soon (hopefully) an underdash NOS ashtray. Desotodav

Throttle, choke and temp go through the elongated hole with the metal (silver) clamp. Oil pressure goes through a rubber grommet to the top of the firewall between the horn bracket and where the electrical wire loom comes out through another rubber grommet (best seen in my first photo). Desotodav

Here you go... Disregard my drip tube though as I have extended mine a little. They should only protrude an inch or two... and take into consideration that my truck right hand drive. Desotodav

What are you looking for in particular Mark? I'll duck out and take some photos for you now if I know what you're after. Desotodav

Well done Jason - looking good! I was playing with an old 48 about the same size as yours a week or so ago. I may end up buying it yet for a few more parts. I haven't had much to do with the mid-sized trucks to date. It's interesting that your gearbox appears the same size as the smaller trucks. I know someone after a gearbox like that. Desotodav

Unbelievable!! Thanks for the experience Kevin Desotodav

Great job Tom. You're excited already, and the real fun is just about to begin! Nice looking old truck mate. Enjoy. Desotodav

Rob, welcome to the forum from one of the Oz members. I can't really help you too much with pricing as almost everything seems a whole lot dearer over here. Check out this recent post for a reference point on pricing if you wish http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=30369&highlight=seller . Use the search function on this forum to gain knowledge from previous post topics. Desotodav

I'm glad that it's finally working out for you 49D. I have found a number of these cast iron steering box mounts cracked or broken in the past few years that I have played with these trucks. I thought that you might be interested to see what the mount from a 48 Oz truck looks like as a comparison (see attached). It's just about a mirror image of yours - to allow for the difference in left and right hand drive. Our trucks appear to have had the same steering column from 48 until around 53. Desotodav

Have you got a picture Mike? It sounds interesting. Desotodav

Mike, congratulations to you and your lovely bride Vicky. May your marriage endure many happy years of life's little challenges! Great photos by the way. I have an Uncle at Trenayr Rd Junction Hill - small world hey! Tell your old man to look for the 'Trenayr panorama' sign on the front gate. Let me know if you ever need anything taken down that way as we make the trip a few times a year. Desotodav

Well done Ed (to you and the Mama). Congratulations to you both! I assume that young Leo would be a healthy weight too - being 41+ weeks in the oven. Just think, only a few more years now until you can rest and recover! Desotodav

I have often wondered what Dakota's are when I have heard you guys talking about them. I guess yours are nothing like this one on Epay over here at present as it has no rear end???... http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1987-DODGE-CHRYSLER-DAKOTA-UTE-EXTREMELY-LOW-KMS-/120834044493?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item1c2245324d#ht_500wt_1413 . Desotodav

I've got a New Year's resolution Tim: finish some minor cosmetics on my 52 and start the restoration project my 53 coupe ute! Best wishes for the new year's festivities to one and all. Desotodav

Merry Christmas to one and all. "salt's for racing - asphalt's for getting there" (Wayne Carini). Safe journey to those that have to travel by road to be with loved ones and relatives. Desotodav

I found my internal mirror bar on a 53'ish Dodge coupe truck. I actually picked up the truck for that part alone. The fellow that owned it said that he wanted all the running gear but I could have the rest. After many hours of wrecking the truck and returning most of the good bits to the truck's previous owner, I had myself a used mirror centre bar (which I used in my 52 truck). I have another one here somewhere but I'm not sure what it came off. I found Desoto bonnet emblems the hardest part to find over here. I ended up having mine made. Desotodav

I'll email you some photos Ryan. I have one of those gearboxes sitting out in the garage at present. Desotodav

I stumbled across my 52 Desoto in a mate's shed and ended up buying it a couple of days later. The odd look and shape of the truck is what appealed to me the most. I was also drawn to the truck as it was not a Ford or a Chev - but then again it's not a Dodge or Fargo either! 6 years down the track and I think it looks alright. I had 7 trucks recently, but I'm down to 4 now. What started as a hobby is now a habit!!! Desotodav

Use of hand-held mobile phones whilst driving here in Oz (Queensland) carries a $300 fine. Most of the other states here carry a similar penalty. Authorities have deemed the offence to be in the 'life endangering' category as it has statistically contributed to a considerable percentage of road trauma. The offence is only committed if the phone is in the hand of the driver whilst driving (or stopped in the line of traffic). The definition of 'use' is not restricted to talking or texting - it includes performing any function of the phone..ie... looking at the time or turning the phone on or off etc. The use of hands-free phones is not an offence unless the phone is in the driver's hand. Desotodav

What a timely thread...I just returned home from picking up the carby for my 53 coupe truck after it was rebuilt. It appears that someone has made a mixture adjustment on the main jet, but the rest is original. There's a bit of a difference between the 2 photos - same carby though! I paid $20 for a carby gasket kit and a lot more to have it rebuilt. It looks like your rebuild kits are quite reasonably priced over there. Desotodav

Twig: colloquial.. to look at; observe... to catch sight of; perceive... to understand. We talk a bit different here in Oz 48d!! Desotodav

Mark, I got my rubber headlight bucket to fender gaskets from Andy B (B-300 @ $12.50 per pair). I'm sure that other suppliers over there would have the same. I had my aluminium buckets painted rather than anodized or plated. I should have taken photos of them as I was rebuilding them. I used the existing rubber grommets that pass through into the headlight buckets as they were in reasonably good condition. I did notice the same crimp thing that you mentioned on my wires to the headlight, but did not worry about the crimp on my new wiring harness. I imagined that the crimp was most likely used to prevent the wire harness pulling through. Be careful when you are attaching the internal mounting springs as too much pressure will pull the small spring mounting bracket away from where it is spot-welded to the inside of the bucket. I'm thinking of having some of those springs made in stainless too! I replaced the rubber grommets on the rear of my parker lights with a new rubber grommet (that looked something like a spark plug wire grommet) which I bought at a local rubber supply shop. I changed the wiring with a double-filament connector so that I could incorporate indicators in the same parker/s. The tube section on the rear of the buckets pressed out easily and it was quite easy for me to slip the double-filament metal tube fitting in their place. I hid the indicator switch under the dash - next to where our wiper switch is located in the Oz trucks. The headlight harness (also called a pig tail by my harness maker???) was made with flat ends soldered on which attached to the connector block mounted to the radiator support. I ran the headlight wires through the grommets in the headlight buckets before soldering on the 3-pronged plug for the rear of the headlight bulb. My headlights ran an internal earth wire, which I initially had problems with as there was too much paint in there and not enough bare metal. Be sure to make a good earth there! I would solder all connections for the headlight if I were you. I didn't find any parker light gaskets, so I made my own out of thin cork as I found the 1mm cork (pictured) was too thick and made the parker light stick out. Although, I'm not sure if your parker lights are the same as ours over here? I hope it all works out well for you. Desotodav

Here's a later model van in Oz for you Paneleer that recently popped up on Epay...http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1960-Dodge-Fargo-Van-/230719173157?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item35b7ef3225#ht_500wt_1413 . Desotodav

Jeff: If you don't have any tags to go by- try looking for a VIN number stamped on top of the chassis rail around your front left (driver's side) shock absorber mount. I didn't have one stamped on my 52, but I noticed recently that my 48 had one stamped on the chassis rail in that location. There have been previous discussions on VIN #'s here on the forum. Desotodav

Welcome aboard Jeff, from one of the Oz members. I (too) have a C series truck awaiting restoration. I'm sure that you will find all the knowledge and resources that you require to complete the project at this location. Enjoy! Desotodav