The New Guy

[Shawn F.]

I am hoping this is the place to post an intro. I thought that I might as well throw an intro on here before posting anything that way you guys know who your talking to and what my situation is here.

First, my name is Shawn, I am 19 years old originally from California and moved here to North Carolina about 6 years ago now. I have been into hot rods and classic pickups along with motorcycles since I was a little kid. I currently own a 1966 F100 pickup, 85 Chevy pickup, 1948 Chevy coupe and just got rid of a 54 Chevy hard top. I work at a hot rod shop and mostly do body work and painting.

Anyways, I recently found a 1946 Chrysler 3 window business man coupe (Windsor) and it is up for sale if I want it. I am thinking about buying it and have been reading this site for a month and a half now and decided to join. This place seems like it's filled with a lot of very smart people with cool cars!

I will try to get some pictures of the car I am looking at.

[Young Ed]

Shawn that looks like a pretty decent start. Probably want to check the floor and rockers.

[PatS....]

Welcome to the forum, Shawn. Lots of help here for you and that old Chrysler looks in decent shape.

If the upholstery is original, it looks like it might be Highlander. Might be a nameplate on the hood or dash. Not a common model at all.

Pat

[Shawn F.]

The floors and rockers are in great shape. The rocker has one little spot but can be fixed very easily because it didn't spread and not all the way through. I have a picture of this car from 6 years ago and it looks like new with very nice glass, paint all very shiney and nice, interior like new, etc. It's an old photo though so not on the computer... Does anyone here own any of these cars? I'd like to lower it some, disk brakes and french the lights, clean the back up some but keep the 3rd brake light. I wont shave it and chop it, etc but want to shave a couple of small things that wont be very noticable like headlight rings welded in and painted, tail lights flushed in, trunk emblem gone but 3rd brake light has to stay, clean up the bumpers some and try to bring the front one closer to the body even if it means shaping the corners some. Just small things like that because the chrome and grill, etc is very nice on this car and dont want to change any of that. Tan interior would be something else I'd change.

Those are just ideas for if I get it (I am pretty sure I will get it).

[rearview]

Welcome to the forum.

Looks like you might have a good start there, except for that visor. I honestly think you should take it off and send it to me.

Bob

[PatS....]

This is one good looking old Chrysler.

[55 Fargo]

Hi Shawn and welcome to the group. Great looking car. I have a 48 Royal Club Coupe. If for some reason, you don't want to buy the car, "not likely", I know a gent in Australia that has been looking for one of these for quite a while. Like as if he is the only one right. Enjoy the car, they are a good looking machine and it will be a pleasure for you to ressurect it again........Fred

[Young Ed]

Pat did you take the pic of that red one? I'm pretty sure thats taken at the MN state fair grounds during back to the 50s. I swear I saw that car there.

[Guest Nile Limbaugh]

Welcome, Shawn. I owned a bizzy coupe like that about 30 years ago. Chrysler only made about 700 of those over three years so they are really rare. I wish I still had mine It always got good comments!

[PatS....]

No, Ed, I found it surfing the 'net. Just though it looked good.

[BobT-47P15]

Hi Shawn.....welcome. I see that the door panels in that coupe are plaid....appears they might be original "Highlander Plaid".....seats might match under the seat covers. That plaid was normally used in the fanciest Chryslers, I think.....like convertibles and Town & Country models.

Not sure what hubcaps are on the car....look somehow a little different. If those wide trim rings that fit under the caps are good, save them. People are always looking for them. What size wheels/tires are on the car......15 or 16? Also, those sun visors are very sought after. Bob

[Normspeed]

Nice coupe Shawn. I'd grab that one up fast!

[Charlie Olson]

Hi Shawn, there is also a Chrysler group here on Yahoo that has alot of really great guys and info. Search PWHM, which stands for Post War Heavy Matal; or search Chrysler 1946 - 1948. Welcome, indeed. Charlie in AZ

[Shawn F.]

Thanks for all of the information guys! The wheels I THINK are 15 but someone said they are 50 Chrysler caps (maybe it's plymouth I can't remember) but from 1950 not the originals. The guys used to drive this car around and then just parked it for 5 or 6 years. I am going to call him tomarrow and try to make a deal with him. He is asking 3 for it.

[Guest Nile Limbaugh]

Those caps look like stock 50 full wheel covers which would make the wheels 15". That will make one great ride!!

[Shawn F.]

Well I talked to the owner yesterday night and I am going to look the car over ONE MORE TIME on Saturday and then make him an offer. Any idea's on things I should really look for or any questions you have about it that I can look and find out for you?

One thing I am worried about is drivability. Say that the motor has little milage on it and I get this thing, refresh the wiring, new brakes and suspension, change ALL of the fluids (tranny, rear end, engine, coolant) and put in a new battery, distributor, plugs, wires, coil, etc then would this old motor be trust worthy to drive back and forth to work on if I take the back roads going 45-60 MPH? I would eventually like to put in a 318 or something and a auto tranny and nice rear end with good driving gears for the freeway that way I can make it a good daily driver (in good weather only) or weekend driver. I wouldn't want to put some blown motor with a huge cam and crazy stall converter, etc, I'd put in a plain crate motor with warranty, nice tranny with a nice little shift kit and just drive it.

Any suggestions here?

Also what about the price, what would you pay for something like this with only a LITTLE bit of rust on the rockers and dent in the back fender.

I've already got a picture in my head and an idea in my mind on the color of paint, interior, etc.

Thanks again guys and sorry for a long post again.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Being able to visualize in your mind the finished product is indeed a plus..maiking it driveable for now should not be that involved if the engine is at least equal in compression across all cylinders. Fluid change and tune up, brakes is a definite area of attention..be sure these are RIGHT..this is your only real safety feature on this car. Swapping in a later engine and tranny is not hard..rear gears are also a quick change..Plenty of choices from Mother Mopar on late model rear gears..do not overlook the Dakota...Ford would be another possible change as the rear bolt patterns is also 5 on 4.5...Brake upgrades are available and reasonably priced..steering upgrade to R&P is also a quick job that will not kill the frame or alter the stock suspension unless you decide to lower the car's upright, however a slight change in the column will be required if you intend to use the same steering wheel and keep the overall looks of the car..it also is not that hard a job.

If you do not have the space to tear this car apart and protect it while working these mods..suggest you do it in stages..

[BobT-47P15]

If the motor is good and tranny is OK, the brakes are easy enough to get back into shape. The steering might be just a little loose.....but mine has been that way for 30 years. Gotta remember it's an OLD car. All the things you mentioned about fluids, tuneup, etc should be done, along with tires if needed. That thing should be a real "trip" to drive.....probably take a little getting used to for size. (Might need to practice your parallel parking). Pricewise......if you can buy it for less, that's good, but as they go -a car that does not need major work is seemingly worth that sort of money nowadays. (I'm so old, that car back in the 70s probably would have sold anywhere from $250 to $750 in the same condition.) If you like it and are willing to work on it.....go for it!!!! :)

For comparison, check out this two door sedan '47 Chrysler Windsor. Pretty nice, but not perfect. Starting price on it is $7,000, however no bids with two days left to go. Link to the ad:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chrysler-Chrysler-Windsor-1947-CHRYSLER-WINDSOR-VINTAGE-CAR-MINT-NO-RESERVE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6181QQihZ010QQitemZ200068430756QQrdZ1 What seems wierd about this car is grey exterior with that green interior. In looking at the firewall, this car must have been green when new.

Here is another ad --for a 48 Chrysler two door.....exterior looks a lot like the first car. (last 2 photos) But this one is way more original......look at the pics for an idea of a nice interior. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chrysler-Chrylser-Windsor-Coupe-1948-Chrysler-Windsor-Coupe-Classic_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6181QQihZ017QQitemZ270079971105QQrdZ1

Last.....here is a coupe in Missouri....pretty rusty......has some unknown reserve on it......makes your car look real good. http://i19.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/84/b1/afcc_1.JPG

Even more lastly.....just for fun, look thru the pics in this ad for a '48 Windsor Highlander convertible. It has the "Highlander Plaid" interior.....some of which I thought I saw on your door panel. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chrysler-windsor-convertible-Highlander-chrysler-windsor-convertible-49-000-original-miles_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6181QQihZ014QQitemZ330076310405QQrdZ1

[Young Ed]

Looks like Don C has been helping the owner with his water pump! That is a nice looking car but if you are changing the color the effort to paint the firewall makes the car look sooooo much better. My pickup has a black firewall when it should be red thanks to whoever painted it way back when. Of course they were also too lazy to remove the bed and paint the front of it or the back of the cab!

[RobertKB]

Regarding driveability. As previously mentioned, brakes are a first concern and the old brakes work amazingly well if properly adjusted (See tech info on this site). As for highway speeds you should have no trouble. I am pretty sure the car will come with a fluid drive transmission which is worked a bit differently to a standard tranny. I have a friend with a '47 Desoto with stock drivetrain and he runs it at 60-65 MPH all day. The fluid drive seems to let you run at highway speeds all day. Keep it stock if you can. More and more of these cars are being rodded and I believe that eventually the cars that are left and in stock condition will go up in value.

[Shawn F.]

Thanks again for the info guys. I do have a place to work on it and a spray booth to use (I work at a hot rod shop and we do full restorations and such). I definately will lower it all the way around and upgrade the front brakes to disk brakes. At first though I want to just get it going and driving nice and drive it for the summer and fall and then just tear it apart after 8 months or so and do it RIGHT. POR 15 is something I will buy and do the chassis and floors in it.

I do later want to do the whole later model small block mopar engine, auto tranny and late model rear end with better gearing but the old flathead, etc I will definately keep. I wont chop this car all up at all and even if I took the flatty out, I would probably fix it up nicely and paint it, etc and keep it as a ornament in the garage haha. I would do SMALL mods to the car like french the headlights, flush mounted LED tail lights (keeping the 3rd brake light though because it just looks AWESOME), take the bird or hood emblem off and weld the seem on the hood up, shave the trunk handle, maybe elminate the rocker panel trim because I always see these things rusting down there and that trim holding water doesn't help any. I'd like to restore the gauges and keep the dash original (no CD player or nothing, I like my dash's stock looking and have that old vintage feel to them).

It's hard to explain what I like but just put it this way. I'd like it to have mods that are not noticable unless you really know your old chryslers and then have a modern drivechain and chassis with a old traditional or vintage look on the interior and body.

So you guys say that this 3 window is a bit rare or not really?

[Shawn F.]

BTW, the tranny is Fluid drive I think, the steering wheel says Fluid Drive on it and the clutch pedal is VERY close to the brake pedal and weird...

[thedahmer]

Fat man has the best front end set up-- I have used several of them and installed a setup with air bags on the 46 windsor limo= a Nova rear end fits near perfect..we have done several mopars here at the shop if you need any help just drop me a line--if you decied that you do not want the pod car= just let me know-- Good luck with it

[Shawn F.]

If I get it then should I look into a Fat Man's MII kit or just dropped uprights, etc? Reason I ask is because I know the guys at Fat Man and they are only 20 minutes from my house so getting one would be easy and even though I can get a nice deal it's still a lot of money. I'd like to put air bags on the car though (not to lay it on the frame but just for ride quality really because air ride handles so nicely).

What about a 57 Chevy rear end? I have one with 3.73 gears in it under my house and it is in great shape. I was going to put it in my 48 Chevy but dont have to.

[falconvan]

Wow, what a beast! This looks to be in great shape, Shawn. Keep working on it and keep posting them pictures!