Bingster

I've taken all of mine out and refurbished them. They're in primer awaiting wood graining. They just lift off after taking all the crews out. It may feel attached by something else, but it's probably just stuck from rust or something. At least this is the way I did it on my S-11. Do be sure to keep the screws in jars or something. Photograph the vent window handle mechanism and the upper pivot bar and any other part that comes off before taking them apart. You know, how the vent handle springs are kept in place and stuff like that. You're going to need this photo reference when you go to put them back together. There is a fuzzy on the garnish moldings along the lower edge to protect the window when its rolled up and down. That will need to be replaced, and there is a thread about methods to do this somewhere on this site. I sandblasted the garnish moldings with a fine sand and then hand-sanded them with yellow sanding pads. 180 at first and then 220. Tap out any dents. You can sand out scratches that are not too deep with a more aggressive sandpaper weight. Any larger dents I tapped out with a piece of steel coming in from the inside inside of the frame. Then finish sand it on the outside. If you have to, fill whatever cannot be smoothed out. I had to get another frame from a salvage yard. Mine was too rusted on the inside. Then primed them. It's a toss-up where to replace the fuzzy strips before you paint the moldings or after. I wanted to get everything primed first and deal with the fuzzies later.

On the rear windows of my 1947 De Soto S-11, there is a metal channel that is covered in a cloth fabric that goes around the perimeter of the roll-up window glass. I looked at the Restoration Specialties catalog and didn't find anything like that, unless I missed something. I don't know what kind of a glass run channel I could by that would make the radius on each upper corner. I assume that there might be a cloth that I can use to cover the metal frame of the channel, which has a little tab that locks into a slot at the top of the window frame. I don't know if this part is the same on other Mopar cars of the same year..

Would you do me a favor and take a photo of the bolts/washers that were used to hold down your floor board?

Thanks.

They're not too far. I'd like to have their name. Thanks.

Anyone in Iowa?

Yes, very nice. Looks like my '47 S-11 with a different grille.

Nor would I be, even in a 1947 De Soto S-11!

I wonder when they started using bullet proof glass for presidential cars?

I was watching the inauguration and as I saw the Bidens getting into a Cadillac limo, I couldn't help think that if I were an incoming president, I would have had a line-up of '46-'48 Chrysler or De Soto black limos in their place.

Sounds like a great one! Let's see some pics when you can.

I've used the Spray Max system where they advertise that they can match a color and their spray tip lays down a pattern so smooth that body shops can use it for light touch-up work without having to dirty a gun. There is a push button under the can that releases a catalyst, and then with shaking it mixes with the paint. It can only be used when activation occurs. The window of spraying time isn't long. But any color can be filled into the can. I've only used their primers, which were excellent and dried smooth as a baby's . . . If you Google the name I'm sure you can get more info

One of the things I like about these old cars is the nice cushy ride. Not bouncy, but you can feel that heavy steel smoothly cruising along. I don't have anything to compare to with regard to these cars when they were new. So I don't know if the ride I felt when I got the cars was simply a worn out spring and shock ride. I hear you guys saying that the cars handle much better with new springs, which I can understand. But how different is the "crossing over r.r. tracks" cushion type of ride with new springs as compared to leaving on the old?

Do you like cars with or without the bumper guard? My S-11 came with one, and although it isn't stock it gives the car a sort of "business" look like a locomotive or something of that sort.

Isn't that a woodworking pocket hole cutter?

That looks great! I have to do mine as well. Now, is the JB Weld strong enough to withstand flexing from turning the wheel?

Can you imagine that guy's arm and shoulders after a day of painting? I was wondering if that was primer or top coat. He didn't seem to be laying it on too particular. But I guess only the best painters applied the topcoats. They must have run the car through an oven. I was intrigued by the engine castings that came out of the molds so rough and all the finishing work that was done to them. Did you see how they hand-ground off rough spots and casting sprues? It also made me appreciate and wonder how the car companies have to re-tool every year. They must be working on the next year's tooling while they use the current year's. I really do wish that we'd get away from the boxy car body and see some real styling. Chevy has come very close with their model - what's it called? - that has fender impressions and an old Chevy truck type of grille. I have been hoping they'd make a full-size sedan like that.

I thought it was interesting how we work and work with our "hand tools" to get our cars back to original and this plant just knocks 'em out so routinely. But I've gotta think that some of those workers jobs weren't the healthiest.

You may have seen this, but I thought I'd post it because it's a great 30 minute documentary on a Ford assembly plant from the thirties.

I've heard that the early 1949 S-11's were the same as the '48's till the new models came out later in the year.

Was it an early '49 Desoto that had the same design as the '46-'48 or the new model?

James. I've got a '47 Custom S-11. What other stuff might you have in that parts box?

Thanks. I somehow got the impression that the new pumps were either Chinese junk or the staking pins came out and such stuff like that.

Didn't I once see on here some place who did a good job rebuilding water pumps?

That load is not fair to anybody behind him that doesn't know the hazards of what their seeing. It could wipe out an entire family. I couldn't take that chance. It would ruin your life as well.