MarcDeSoto

I'm missing the line that connects the fuel pump to my carburetor. I bought a 12" section of 5/16 fuel line today. My plan is to screw one end into the pump, then cut the line in half with a hack saw. Then, screw the other end into the carburetor. Then, put a fuel filter and hoses to connect the severed fuel lines. Does that sound correct, or am I doing something wrong?

Is that 50 DeSoto meant for mounting on your wall or something?

I own a 48 DeSoto business coupe, and I like the looks of my car, but I wouldn't disagree with some people who might call it too gaudy with too much chrome. Customizers almost never choose the 46-48 grilles for their hot rods. They prefer the 51-52 DeSotos. Personally, I always loved the 46-48 Chrysler grilles. Some call the grilles on the late 40s cars eggcrate style. I always thought of the Chryslers as having a harmonica grille with all those fine rectangles. Changing the front end of your Chrysler would be like making it into a Frankencar. It's in such bad taste, I can't believe you want to do it. If you like the DeSoto grille, sell the Chrysler and buy a DeSoto.

Your question has me a bit confused. You can't drive the car without the engine in place. I do know that when you want to upshift from 3rd to 4th gear, you let your foot off of the pedal for a second which takes pressure off of the transmission gears so it can upshift. Also the 1st and 3rd gears are free-wheeling. So if you are going to go down a steep hill or mountain, you would put the transmission in second gear for engine braking. I do know that the propellers turn at the same rpm as the crankshaft. 2500 rpm does seem fast. I know the car idles at 450. I'm not sure what the engine speed is at 60 mph.

I'm still not clear on what I'm supposed to paint. Is it that disk thing with green on it? And does my DeSoto speedo have that triangular prism in it?

Does the 38 have the speedometer feature of a light changing from green to amber at 30, and from amber to red at 50? I wonder how long Chrysler kept that gimmick? Phillip Marlowe also drove Plymouth 38s. If you are familiar with the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters, they were featuring 1940s film noir on stage. They always have a show stopper just before intermission, so they had Phillip Marlowe drive his Plymouth coupe out on the stage. Then, he got out and pulled his gun as gun shots rang out from above. Marlowe was hit and he fell to the ground!

I would check your left front tire before leaving. It looks a little low!

Next time you have a problem like that, give me a call. Only I have all the answers! Now please answer my speedo question.

I took some pics of my speedo and have some questions. What is that toothpaste that is in there? Where precisely do I paint the colors? At the base of the pointer? And how do I put the speedo back in the instrument panel. It Doesn't seem to fit.

All I remember is there was a curled up piece of plastic in the speedo that I thought was the color device, but now I'll look again to see the prism.

Wish I could find it. Nothing comes up on a search except my post.

I have a 48 DeSoto, which had one of those color changing speedos. MoPar speedos had these for quite of few years starting in the 30s. It was green up to 30, then it turned amber up to 50, then red over 50, I think. Can these be easily restored? When I took my speedo out of my car, I saw a curled up piece plastic, which I think were the translucent colors. Is there anyone with some knowledge on how to rebuild this feature, or know where the parts are? Thanks, Marc.

Are your radiators original? Good news on my new DeSoto radiator. I did a flow test and it passed easily. I took it to my radiator shop, so I hope it won't cost too much to rebuilt it.

Another radiator question, should I put on an original radiator cap or try to find a pressurized one?

Thanks Brian. Of course the Dodge is different in that the plates and seal are located on the top of radiator/hood support, rather than on the top tank of the radiator like my DeSoto.

I have a 48 DeSoto, and I'm wondering what is that seal in two parts on the crown of the radiator for? My newly purchased junkyard DeSoto radiator has the two plates that the seal goes on, but the seal is long gone. Maybe it's for preventing wind from whistling through the top of the radiator, or to stop the hood from slamming down on the radiator top tank? I don't know, does anyone have a guess? Does anyone sell new a new rubber seal for these radiators?

Boy, that sure sounds better than paying $1400 for a new core! They also make a radiator cleaner that you put in the radiator to loosen the scale before back flushing it. But the vinegar sounds good if it really works!

I put a hose in the upper hose connector and water flowed quickly out the bottom connector. I turned the Radiator upside down and it flowed in the reverse direction just as easily. Possible it's good, but will have a my radiator shop verify. What is the FSM?

I got the Ebay DeSoto radiator today and it looks OK. It is rusty on the side brackets, but I am removing the rust there. I filled it with water to look for leaks but couldn't find any in the core. Maybe you can't tell unless you do a pressure check? Do you do a pressure check even on radiators that don't have a pressure cap? but the real question is the core. Is it clogged or not? Should I have the inlet and outlet connections replaced if there is heavy rust inside them?

Keith, excellent cooling restoration there! Was that on the 38 Chrysler? You said you had your radiator re-cored. Did you have them put in an original type cellular, or honeycomb core, or a modern core with straight tubes? Did you have the upper and lower hose outlets replaced with new? I just just got a junkyard 48 DeSoto radiator that may need a re-core. What did you pay for the re-core? My radiator man is quoted me $1400 if I want a cellular core. Also, should an old radiator be given a pressure test, if it doesn't use a pressure cap?

I bought the 972210 radiator on Ebay, but I won't know if it's useable untill I get it and check it out. It might need a re-core, so I'm still looking for another radiator in good or better condition.

This is a clue. Busycoupe's 46-48 has this part number on the radiator 1254623? I didn't notice that before! My radiator is also 1254623. So maybe mine must be for a Dodge and would probably also fit a Plymouth even though that part number is not in the Parts Book?

Yes, I don't care about judges or trophies. I'm the one who will notice I guess. Also I'm not planning to try to make a bundle selling it. It's a keeper. Besides, those repro $225 radiators don't even fit in my DeSoto. Besides it's just money. Who cares about money? I've already given the part number of the radiator they gave me 30 years ago. But here it is again: 1254623. No one so far has been able to find that number in a Parts Book. It is a MoPar radiator though and has the right logo cdPd just above the part number.

I'm going to put up my smaller radiator up for sale. I think it fits 1940s Dodge and Plymouth. Just to verify that, Dodge owners, what is the bolt to bolt distance on the top side bolts on your radiator? Is it 22"? And Plymouth owners, is yours also 22"? I would also like the know the height of your radiators? Thanks. Marc.

About the fit, I'm going by the part number. It's the correct part number. I was getting ready to fire up the engine for the first time. Since it will be awhile till I get a radiator in there, is it OK to fire up the engine for about a minute or two just to check it out without coolant?