gunnibronco

Thanks, good info. I did a quick gear/rpm calculation and figured the 3.73 would probably work out with an OD trans. I just have absolutely no idea what motor option will pop up. I'm open to about anything. I'm reevaluating my original ideas about a modern Mopar 5.7 EFI. I might be biting off more than I want to chew. I might want to stay smaller & carbed for simplicity, and space/fit.

I've been parting out the extra cars I bought, and put my car and the extra parts in storage. I'm starting the process of getting a title from the state of Colorado. I have a good serial number plate (3229895) on the passenger A-pillar. Unfortunately, the 1972 Oregon title has a VIN #PI4898I3. I can't figure what the VIN# on the title refers to. Any ideas (original motor is long gone)? I think unless I can prove this title belongs to this car, I'm just going to file for a "rebuilder" title, based on a VIN inspection by a State Trooper. Also, I was looking at body tag info. My car lists as an LA car based on the SN. I don't have a Briggs body tag (I'm sure it could have been removed/lost), like the one on my parts sedan (pictured) & coupe(Detroit cars based on SN). My complete coupe has a square/rectangular tag riveted on the passenger side firewall. Sorry the car is in storage and hard to take pictures of. Attached is a pic showing it just above the 2 long bolts coming through the firewall. The tag reads: P8BC-3502 102-661 66-1016 Is this a different type body ID tag? The sedan & coupe parts cars (both Detriot) don't have this tag, but had a Briggs body tag. Also, I've found an Explorer axle and sold my 9" from my 74 Bronco. One of my Bronco club members was selling off the rest of an Explorer he used for EFI & trans swap. The Explorer axle is a little wider 59.5" compared to 58", and already has Explorer brakes and a 5x4.5 wheel lug pattern. So its a lot easier than converting the Bronco axle to Explorer disk brakes and a different lug pattern. Unfortunatley, it doesn't have a limited slip, but they seem readily available on the Mustang forums, and I'll probably have to regear the axle, since its a 3.73. But gearing will depend on motor and trans choices I haven't made yet. I hope to get my Explorer axle from Denver next weekend, a friend might be able to pick it up for me.

If something else happens along, I'll jump on it. But that usually means traveling or paying to ship things in. Not much opportunity for parts in my small town.

Yeah, I know I'll be regearing it. My Bronco came from the factory with 4.11s, great for a rock crawler, not so for a car. There is a disk brake swap from an Explorer to the Bronco axle. For the Bronco guys, they have to convert it to 5x5.5. My axle shafts have been abused for 40 years and need replaced (had to redi-sleeve one already, surprised I didn't have to do the other), so I figure I may have a set of axle shafts made with 5x4.5. I need to read more to be sure. I'll look into those vendors for what they have to offer. I have to go check out the different steering wheels I have, my complete car is a P8 and has the ship in the button, I thought the P7 steering wheels I had just have a black button, and faded reddish rings. But it could be damage from years of sitting out in the elements. Thanks Chad

That convertible is very cool. I saw a '40 convertible at our car show this summer. Nice to see the wood grain interior. I could tell there used to be wood graining on my trim, but its so faded out its almost white. What kind of steering wheel is that? I like the old horn button. Is your outer horn button ring chrome? Looks like my Bronco 9" is close to the right width, spring perches are a ways off, but thats no big deal. Still thinking about motors. We'll see what happens. I live in the boondocks, so I'll probably end up grabbing something that becomes available in my area. Its a 2 hour drive to the nearest salvage yards.

Thanks, I figured the P8 markings = 39, by combing through a bunch of threads, but didn't find info like that.

Thanks that is good info. I'll compare the spring perch measurement to the 74 Bronco 9" I have that I'd like to use. The wheel mounting surface is 58.5" so its very close to the 60" listed. I don't know the spring perch measurement, I'll cut them off & weld on new ones if they don't match. Might have to to get the pinion angles good anyways. Sorry, I was more interested in suspension upgrades than possible rear end swaps. I did not word that well. I guess the stock rear spring packs are a good way to go, unless you want to go coil overs/control arms.

Here is the engine code on the block. P8*22576

Looks like its a horn button from a 49 - 50: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1949-1950-PLYMOUTH-HORN-BUTTON-RAT-ROD-SCTA-HOT-ROD-/221032813180?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item337695127c&vxp=mtr http://www.ebay.com/itm/1950-Plymouth-Mopar-Original-Horn-Button-/370474505046?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5642005356&vxp=mtr I don't think it belonged in the pile of 39's. The center button on the 39 is different. Thanks for the help.

That was my thought, but it doesn't match the size of the horns I have so there might be another piece missing. I'll post up pics of the steering columns/wheels I have and maybe someone can tell me.

Thanks, I will and post up info. Anyone know what this is? It looks like a chrome cap or center piece, with the Plymouth ship. I can't figure out what it is. Chad

I've gone through and acquainted myself with my pile of parts. I've put a few big items up for sale. I'll be going through the smaller stuff, fenders, bumpers, lots of inner fender panels and braces, and putting some of it up for sale soon. Is there a difference between coupe, sedan, and 4 door leaf spring packs? I have a set, probably from the 4 door, and a set still on the chassis from the sedan. And the set on the coupe I'm going to build. What are common ways to update/improve the rear ends of these cars? Are the old spring packs able to perform with a V8? Basically, should I keep the springs I got? or sell them to someone who wants stock stuff? The driveshaft I got measures about 58.5" flange to flange. I'm assuming it came from the 4 door. Can anyone verify. I haven't crawled under my coupe to see the driveshaft, and with 4 flat tires, it wouldn't be the easiest thing to do. Finally, I put pictures of the motor & trans up here: http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg78/c-w-a/motor%20and%20trans/ And was wondering if anyone could tell me what year, etc, or anything about it. Or if there are numbers I need to get from the motor, let me know. I'd like to learn more about it, even though I don't plan on keeping it. Hoping I can get rid of a few items quickly. I was offered a fairly fresh 440, but need to replenish the hot rod fund. Chad

Thanks, The smell is actually getting better. Here are more pics of todays delivery. A coupe that had the interior bracing gutted. Everything above the windows is ok, one door is pretty straight, firewall is ok, floor is ok, in spots. I'm going see if I can sell it off along with the sedan body. I'm going to keep the extra chassis, I think it will really help make the build easier. The pile of parts included doors, hood, fenders, seats, etc from a 39 4 door that I think the guy scrapped. He thought the body was in good shape but didn't think "anyone wanted a 4 door". A real shame, but hopefully someone can buy the doors I'm going to sell and get them back into use. Along with the motor & trans. I spent the day going through my new parts car delivery and will be posting some of the stuff up for sale. I'm going to start by selling stuff specific to the 4 door and the sedan, that won't fit my coupe. I'll have some fenders, bumpers, seats, dashboard, steering columns, etc. to sell as I decide what I want to have keep as "inventory" for my build.

Here are some pics of the inside of my car after I cleaned up.

Some pics of the parts I brought home today. A coupe body (mostly trashed), a good frame & suspension, and a bunch more parts come down tomorrow.

Hi, I joined up a little while ago, and had been reading a few threads before that. I want to introduce myself and my "new" car. I am completely new to building any kind of hot rod. I've built a modified 74 Bronco over the last 15 years. I worked for 4 years at a bodyshop until recently, mostly metal & repair, but I picked up on some painting. I learned how to do body work right, and enough to pass my ASE Master Collision Tech tests. Unfortunately, the economy of my little town forced me to go back into sales to pay the bills. I grew up working for a guy who restored GTO's, and bought and sold a few hot rods while I worked or him. I made a deal with a friend who has too many cars, to buy his 39 Plymouth Coupe after he showed me a couple of old pictures. I always wanted to build a hot rod, and I really liked the lines on this car, and he told me it was in good shape and nearly complete. We went to Grand Junction a few weeks ago and picked it up. It is really in good shape, some rust in the floors, the motor & trans were swapped for some GM V6 & 3 speed, but was never finished. It was missing the center grill trim & emblem, head light reflectors, floor pan, but not much else. I did the nasty task of cleaning 30 years of mouse & rat nests & droppings out a couple weeks ago. The smell is slowly getting better. After I brought the car home in early August, I started really reading into these cars and realized finding parts isn't easy. Through a round about way, I found a guy very close who had a "pile" of 39 Plymouths & parts. I bought them and started bringing them home this week. I didn't need most of what I bought, but he wanted to sell the whole lot. I got nearly every piece I was missing, lots of spare parts, and some fenders & other pieces that are in better shape than mine. There are parts from a coupe, a sedan, and a 4 door. I'm going to post up a thread in the classifieds soon, with the sedan & 4 door parts that won't fit my car. Since I'm still reading and learning a lot, I have an evolving vision of how I'm going to build my car. The body is too solid to cut up, so in the end the exterior and interior will stay very close to original. I do want to install a modern driveline, I have a Ford 9" from my 74 Bronco, and would like to install a V8 & auto. I live in the mountains of Colorado, at about 7700' and have to drive mountain passes and deal with lots of elevation change and remote/no cell service driving, so an EFI motor is very likely going to end up in this car. I've already read about using the stock front suspension and moving the shock mounts, and updating to disk brakes. I want to be able to drive this car anywhere, so safety and reliability are required. And being at nearly 8000' elevation we loose almost 30% H.P. due to the thin air, so the old flat head 6, just won't power a this car around Colorado. Chad