austinsailor

$20 including sandblasting, primer and shipping. Let me know, it can be on the way priority mail today. PM or reply here. Thanks, Gene

There is a new speedometer on Ebay for a '53 Plymouth for $79, buy it now. Cheaper than you could get one redone. I'd jump all over it but mine is fine. There are several 53 Plymouth owners here, maybe one of you needs this: Item # 1495806

If my wife saw that she'd be scared to death that I was going after it! I think, in her mind, most of the things I bring home look just like that. Gene

I have a crusty old one out of the tank, and a new one from Bernbaum not installed. I'll have to dig it out to see if the new one is just like the original, but if pictures of either would help let me know. Gene

Thanks go out to Mark and Ed for finding the door, Mark for storing it, Mark again for delivering it to a friend of mine who was in Minneapolis, and my friend who drove it back this morning. It's friends like this, including some, like Mark, who I haven't met in person, who make these old cars even more special. By the way, I'll be traveling from Austin, Texas to central Mo next week in my new Dodge dually with an empty bed. Does anything need a ride? Gene (In Mo. this month)

I got that he put a 318 and auto in a 54 dodge, put the dodge 6 and overdrive in this. If it was close I'd be interested in driving a bit and taking a look. But not 1500 miles!

I doubt it'll stay at this price, but if the overdrive is intact, it's worth the starting price of the car: Ebay # 230866166239

Looks like mine probably did years ago. I see it unbolts instead of being sawed out. That is good. Guess I should get mine out now. Gene

I'd get pictures before getting too excited. I've been locating trim for my '53, and some described as real nice is real junk. All in the eyes of the beholder.

Rock auto has floor pans and rocker panels for my '53 Plymouth listed. Prices are about the same as classicparts4u on Ebay. Several people have said that the parts from classicparts4u are not the best. Anyone have any experience with the Rock Auto body panels?

This one that started me on the search for the blue paint has one. YOu might not have noticed.

"Were can I get a visor for my 53 ? " They are on Ebay occasionally, new, about $675 as I recall. "your question broght this question tomy mind..onthe 53, what took the place of the center divide support? " Tim, the '53 is the first year of the curved windshield. No support needed. Also, that is why the generic visor won't fit. Gene

not sure about epoxy, but the polyester heavy fill primers, which you might use, can be tinted with normal fiberglass tints for polyester resin or gel coat. I use it like a guide coat, but you could easily tint it to near your final color so scratches wouldn't show so bad, which is what I'm guessing you would be doing it for. Another thought. If you spray it with epoxy and let it sit for more than a day or two, you must sand it before the next coat. If you cover it the same day, maybe up to 24 hours later, no sanding is necessary. A chemical bond is made instead of mechanical into the sanding roughness, which is going to be better anyway. If you put a sanding primer, like the high build polyester stuff, over the epoxy, it is much easier to sand, and you're going to sand that anyway.

Got them sandblasted and painted. I now see that my shop isn't going to work for painting - too much crap in the air. The wheels will work fine, not much will show from under the hubcaps. As to checking to see if they are true, I didn't notice any bend, not a complete check, but the only time I've had problems with untrue wheels is after some jerk in shops uses their tire machine get old tires off. They'll just keep on forcing until the wheel is bent. I was getting ready to primer them and called to town to find those valve stems that will fit the oblong holes in these wheels. Couldn't locate anything, so I welded them up and drilled new standard valve stem sized. Solved that problem. Hope to mount my new Diamondback Wide whites tomorrow.

Well, I finally found the paint for my '53. Long story, but the local guy finally found a lead to a guy who had all the old paint stuff and could cross it to something modern. Some guy in a little town in Arkansas. They used to have all the old stuff here, but the Orielys Auto Parts, where the paint shop was, burned to the ground last spring. Got the old tires sawed off. Safest way, the local guys with their power tire changers bent too many of my wheels. I can get 4 off in about half an hour, saves $20 and no bent wheels. And no disposal fees for the tires. And got half the wheels sandblasted, will finish and paint them this weekend. I guess I'll know then if I really like this San Pedro Blue color.

Looks pretty sharp. I like it.

Probably. They also have a Honda dealership here that they bought recently.I'm guessing they have many. I think it's institutional with nearly all car dealers. It's the unusual case when they do what you'd think they should.

No clips. As I sandblasted the first wheel, I realized it's the same wheel as one with clips, just no clips installed in the holes where they are usually installed. I'm guessing the Lancer had 14" wheels, I have 15".

What you can find if you keep searching. Here's the formula for that color: http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisplay.cgi?year=1954&manuf=Chrysler&smodel=Plymouth&info=&page=7 It says lacquer on there, not sure if that will easily translate to modern paint, but I'm making progress. I'm sandblasting my wheels, 1 done, 3 to go. I want to paint them this weekend so I can mount the tires.

I spent a little time on Ebay looking at paint chips. Looks like San Pedro Blue is a 54 Plymouth color and looks a lot like that picture. I'll print out the paint chip page and take it to a couple paint shops. With that info one of them should be able to come up with it. Thanks for the tip. I looked at all the '53 colors and didn't see any that appealed to me. The original paint on mine is a light green, but I think the 54 colors were better.

Had financing arranged at 2.35%, zero down at the CU before I shopped. Chrysler says they are matching it, will probably go with the CU since I know there are no gotchas with them. You have to read the fine print with the dealer's stuff. Rule of 78, crap like that slips in. I'd planned to visit the local dealer with the new truck that should be entertaining. Just found out there is a $1000 savings in sales tax right now if bought out of state. Now, isn't that just the icing on the cake!? Still trying to get the rear axle model nailed down to get air lockers ordered. I'm curious to see how they work. I had to get out often and dig out with a shovel last year when pushing snow. I think the lockers will pretty much stop that. I had a couple f150 4x4 in the '90's with limited slip front and rear. Tell you what, if it didn't sink to China, it was going. Soft sand, whatever.

Went to the paint store today. The picture has too many varied colors due to lighting to do any good. Tried to match the chips they had, nothing looked good. they said it's best if I can either get a paint code or year/color, or bring something bigger than a credit card to shoot with their gun. Guess I might be watching cars on the street, may ask someone to follow me to the paint store! I've got the fender skirts, can buy the visor any day I want to part with $600 or so, the the continental kit is a bit more elusive. Got my 3" wide white Diamondback a couple days ago. I'd like to paint the wheels before I mount them, but the paint code is hindering me. Hopefully, by the time you read this I'll own these moon hubcaps for it, I like them better than the flippers, which are still pretty cool. I think the moons go with this style car.

I'm starting on my '53 and I love the color of this '54 someone posted on a previous thread. I'm trying to figure out how to have paint mixed like it, or pretty close. I'm not sure if the owner would be flattered or pissed that I want to duplicate his paint, but if anyone can tell me the color or whose car it is so I can ask, I'd appreciate it.

I've bought 10 or 11 new trucks and cars in the last 10 years, and you are absolutely right. Car salesmen are known for being liers and cheats, but they don't hold a candle to the guys who do the closings. I won't bore you with 11 stories of lies or attempted lies, but let me tell you, every one of them tried to pull some real crap. Don't believe a word of anything they tell you, and anything they try to sell you at the closing is a big ripoff. I can say that with complete sincerity. I don't care how long and boring it is, read every word of anything you sign. Both sides. If you don't understand it, that is what they want, and there is a reason for that. As for the DEF, it's needed on the 2013 trucks, not the 2012 consumer type Dodge pickups. Chassis cabs and on up have for a couple years, but not the normal type pickups. I think Ford and Chevy have for a time, this may be the last of them not using it. From my brief look into it, it adds about 25% to your fuel cost. I understand there are chips sold that will let it run without the stuff, but I'm guessing that will get you in hot water down the road. By the way, never did hear from the Missouri dealer. Guess they don't want to sell trucks. I have a business about 2 blocks from them and I'll promise you I'd sell them anything I have or wear myself out trying. I'm now trying to figure out for sure what the rear axle is so I can arrange to go from the dealer to a 4Wheel Drive parts store nearby to have Air Lockers installed. A 4 wheel drive that spins 2 of it's wheels is a real shortcoming. Someone asked if I'm trading the old one. No, I'll keep it for a bit, take off my snow plow mounts, camper mounts, leave the class 5 receiver and 25,000 lb. gooseneck hitch, along with the front receiver. It's exactly what the farmers want here to pull cow trailers and so on and is highly sought after. I'll probably swap my close to new heavy luged tires to my new one, put the new all terrain (meaning good on pavement) tires on the old one and then sell it. I'm kind of curious as to how well the Jake brake on these works.

Not entirely off topic, since it relates to a Dodge truck. It never ceases to amaze me when I call a business, they know it's a serious call, but you just get no response. Yesterday I called two Dodge dealerships about buying a new 2012 Dodge diesel pickup to replace my current one. Now, at 220,000 miles and just after it's first clutch replacement it's finally broken in. Why would I replace it? It works out well with the tax man, and it's the last year I won't have to add that silly expensive fluid for the EPA. And my wife says I should because the carpet is worn through. When your wife tells you to buy a new truck, you should listen! This one should last me the rest of my life. So, called Fletcher Dodge in Columbia, Mo. Told the lady exactly what I wanted. All salesmen are in a meeting, they'll call me soon. Called Benny Boyd Dodge in Lampasas, Texas. Immediately was put in touch with a salesman. In less than half an hour, I had an email with what I wanted at a good price. Wrong color. Took an hour for him to locate one in a color exactly like I have with everything I wanted at a better price. $500 less than I paid for the 2005, and I get a Jake brake as well. Thought I got a good price in '05. Still no call from Fletcher. 2 hours later, called Fletcher, asked if they still sold trucks. Sure she says, can we help you. Told her I was still waiting for a call back. She finally located a salesman, he took down what I wanted, said they didn't have one in stock, would have to locate one, which I expected. By 3 in the afternoon, had the truck deal done with Benny Boyd, 2 ways of financing figured out, all is good. Even got a bigger discount since I have to drive 800 miles to pick it up. Today, still waiting on Fletcher to call me back. Never did find out if I could have gotten an equal deal there. Pretty sad, dealer nearly within walking distance can't do anything, dealer 800 miles from home nails it in an hour or two. I have several businesses, any time we have contact with a customer or possible customer I make sure they leave happy. What ever it takes. I don't feel sorry for many businesses that fail. There is often a reason. OK, done ranting.