Bingster

Tim, what is the electric washer you installed?

Rain is one thing, but after living in Iowa for eleven years on a gravel road, modern window washer systems are a must. But aftermarket jars and bags seem to have been the only options back in '47 when my car was built. How many of you have these installed and do they work well? I was toying with the idea of going to a scrap yard and buying a contemporary washer system and stepping the voltage down to six.

Hi all! We've had an ice storm here for about 24 hours and my car (not my Desoto) is encased in ice. In my younger days I tried the hot water routine and did some damage. Any tips on how to remove the ice without damaging the paint?

Speaking of a '48 Desoto floor pan . . . I have a '47 Desot and the pan is undoubtedly identical. Does anyone have a source for those bolts with the large washers that hold the pan down, or do we just make them up ourselves?

I got samples from SMS Auto Fabrics in Canby, Oregon, and they can supply perfect matches to original. I have a '47 Desoto. They're pricey! email: info@smsautofabrics.com

Anybody know if these are the same spring used for a '47 Desoto Custom hood? Would Mopar have made separate springs?

I will second that thank you. I really appreciate it. Thanks.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you Larry and everybody the Forum. It is the best forum I've been on and invaluable when I need info. I have the security that whenever I encounter a problem putting my Desoto back together, you folks will be able to set me straight. It's like having a mechanic on-line 24/7, which, in a way, it is!! Thanks, David Perata

Got a car repair guy to remove the wheel and bought a new tire at Wal-Mart. The repair guy had a socket that did fit over the stuck socket and he got it off. So all ended okay. I can't blame the kid for not getting the tire fixed. I couldn't get it off with the tools I had and didn't want to screw up any good tools or buy new ones. Hence, let the repair guy do it and the kid's mother paid for it. To his credit, he tried at ten o'clock at night on zero degree weather to get that rim off. There was no way he could have done it. So he tried the conventional methods and if that special wrench had of been there he'd have been on his way. That's another story. His parents bought him the car and it apparently didn't come with the wrench intact where it should have been. This was his first flat and so he found out the hard way about locking lug nuts. Also, there is a huge behind the scenes thing going on with him and his folks. It's been very stressful for all of us. Yeah, some thing has to be done about the mom. This kid's got to make some choices. My daughter does not like his family and who wants to be stuck with them for life? So something has to be done. Thanks again for the input.

Actually he does have Fix-A-Flat but being off the rim it doesn't apply here. Tried to get the special lug nut off and could not do it. Froze my feet trying. Tomorrow we're going to the Firestone dealer two blocks down and let them deal with it. Thanks for all your input. I appreciate it very much. Take care. David

Thanks again. I'll let you know what happened.

That's great info, guys. Thanks. He says it's somewhere between 89-92. Typical, egh? Ah, he's a nice kid. Rather frustrated at the moment. Gee, we've all been there done that. I'll look in the glove box. Who would have that wrench on a Sunday?

Hi. This is off topic but the tire came off the rim on my daughter's boyfriend's Olds 98 Regency and he just called (11:00 at night) telling me that the car is stranded and he apparently needs some special wrench to remove a nut on the wheel?? He said there is some cap over it. I have no idea right now what he's referring to but will look at the car Sunday morning. Anybody have any ideas about this? Of course he doesn't have the special tool in his trunk. What could I use? Thanks.

Yeah, man, you'll be in my prayers. I'm dealing with the job thing as well, and other things. Plus, this time of year seems to magnify things. Hang in there, stay healthy. Take care, David

Yes, a Happy & Blessed Day to all of you!

Do you play ABBA's "Fernando" while working on the car?

Gee, I thought maybe Spock invented it!

No, I stand corrected! Mine '47 is a four door; not a two door.

Nice car! I have a '47 that looks just like it. Does it run? Love to hear some details. I don't know how much you know about where to get parts and such, but I have done a lot of research and know some good sources. I've been doing the brakes and general refurbishing on mine. I didn't devote too much time to it this year. It's an ongoing project. How good is your chrome?

The feller says there was a separate spacer in the original kit that he does not have. How vital is that spacer?

I'll throw in my two cents worth. . . There was a 1947 Desoto sedan parked in a town near me that I admired for a long time. It was sitting out in the weather. I found out who owned it and went to the car and administered WD-40 and such when the owner indicated he might trade with some cash. Anyway, I ended up buying the car for $3900.00 I think it was. Part of the deal was that I could work on it in his garage (he owned a car repair place.) It's been about two years and the car is still in his garage. I have been working on it. But in the meantime I have seen another '47 Desoto that was in better condition than mine and less money. The point is, a specific car may get you interested in a make and model, but you might do better searching for a better one once you decide that's the kind you want. I have no regrets about buying "Carlo", but I may have had an easier time with less chrome to plate and such if I had looked around instead of buying the specific car near me.

Yeah, ya gotta realize that when the cars were newly built, nobody had to stand around guessing how they came apart and were put back together, or degrease it, or straighten this and that, etc. It all just fell into place. The beauty of the assembly line. If Chrysler was to tool up and build one of these old designs today, it would cost as much as a new 300. So a new "old" car would maybe be more in line with what we have into ours.

I got a bid on the '47 Desoto grill about a year ago. $1,000 for the center section and I think $350 for each side piece with the turn signals. The bumper was $350.00 The chrome will cost more than I paid for the car.

Anybody know where to get new push rods? I have a '47 Desoto.

Thanks. I'll try that!