HotrodLono Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 I'm still a Newbie here and totally new to Mopar. While I'm still cuting my teeth on this project, I'm 30 years into building. I picked up my 3.9 last weekend and brought her home. Its been apart for 30years and had been a local rod when the owner chose to redo her. The story goes like this. He tore it down to redo it and a 46 plymouth convertible came into his life. She was shelved. Then one fall after enjoying the convertible, it met the same fate, stripped down to be redone but tragity struck when he found a 34 Ford truck. The parts were piled in the body and pushed aside beside the dormant 39. They've both sat sleeping dry under a car tent. The boxes of goodies continue to flow out of storage including the Challenger disks and calipers and NOS bright work for both the cars. And found in one corner... SKIRTS for both of them. I've bought them both and brought the coupe home and today returning for the convertible. I'm not a horder so if anyone is looking for a 46 convertible project, I've got one. Here's the coupe on its arrival on a cold and wet sunday morning: This last week I've stripped it of multiple layers of paint, including (top to bottom) cream, brown, burgandy, orange and black. there have been very few pin holes to deal with but there has been soem bad bodywork done. Someone layed nearly 1/8" of bondo in the drivers door rather than do a little metal shrinking. The same goes for the passenger door and quarter. So here she is today; body and 1 fender stripped, wired and sanded and (warning) sitting at its proposed ride height. Next week I'll focus on making it a roller installing the front end and new springs from Chassis Engineering. There's no drive line at all so I'm working to address that issue as well. My goal is to build it for dependability and long cruizing but with a focus on a very strict budget not to exceed $8,000 including the cost of purchase. It wont be show quality and it wont be Rat. It's going to be much like the first cr I build when I was 15. That was a 55 chev business coupe that was taken from behind a farmers barn and made road worthy. It wasn't perfect and was snobbed by the car show elite, but I loved that car with a passion. Since bringing this girl home, I feel that passion returning. Thanks everyone who posted and emailed me on my many Plymouth questions. I'll post as things progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T120 Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 ..Nice project.The body looks pretty good in the photos.Glad to hear you've found minimal rust.After sitting for 30 years in a tent,it could have been much worse.The climate close to the west coast tends to be damp in the winter.Look forward to seeing your progress.Great to have the NOS parts,saves a lot of time and hunting them down.Also look forward to photos of the '46.Have a safe trip. Ralph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 Glad you were able to rescue both cars. So many times an owner will strip a car down to the frame and then lose interest. Then the parts start to dissappear or nobody remembers what goes where. More times than not the stripped car gets crushed. I have been a bit hard on some newbies on this forum for stripping a car down to the frame first thing after they get it home. It is good to see you putting one back together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 it is not just newbies..I am guilty of having cars apart for a long time..but then I have multiple cars in the shop and some room to let them sit..probably another bad way to do things...but the ends justify the means as if I hit a snag here on one car I will jump to the other..I have other cars sitting in the barn..very much as Don described...PO had good intentions..confliting life events such as kids, wife, health forced sale,. I look at it as saving the car...maybe I will eventually pass on the car to a new owner..maybe I will get to put it together..car is fine with inside storage and the parts to put them together are clean, boxed and set aside. It is all in having fun and the fun is the work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hkestes41 Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 Lono, Good save. What are your plans for the drive train? It is staying all Mopar isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 Lono,Good save. What are your plans for the drive train? It is staying all Mopar isn't it? Good question. I am building on a limited budget and will do my best but please forgive me if I need to dig for the affordable. I loaded up the last of the parts and brought them along with the 46 coupe home this morning. I'll post some pix of the 46 for fun tomorrow. I have discovered the 39's whole front end has been rebuilt and has Charger disks but... No coil springs. Is there a set of springs out there in any make / model that will fit in there and drop it 3 inches? I'll cut if needed, just need some guidance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 (edited) We were delayed getting out of Vernon because of the wonderful customer service of a snot at Uhaul. What a way to get the morning started. No coffee and the first person we meet has a huge chip on her back giving her the demeanor of the hunchback of Notradamn. 7:55 am We wondered in to Uhaul to pick up the trailer I had held on Friday. The gal there met us with her eye's on high beem and didnt blink all the time were were there. We started doing paperwork. 8:10 she fumbles through the on line paperwork to teh point where she asks for my credit card. She reams the card through the machine repeatedly like a 4 year old playing with hot wheels... then says, " Your card doesn't work, has it been canceled?" "No, its not been cancelled, put it in a plastic bag and try it again..." This time it worked. 8:20.. she cant get the computer to complete the transaction. "In 7 years I've been doing this, this has never happened," 8:30... "Maam, is there anyone who can help get this completed, we've got a long day ahead of us," She snapped like a Cobra on a mouse. " I know what I'm doing, cant you see its the system?" 8:40 ..."Dave, can you come here, this thing isnt working right..." Dave tells her, ' that trailer isnt in inventory, you cant rent it. "I looked at the number myself, I have eye's and I know how to write!" Dave slinks away back into the shop. 8:45.. the trailer is now put into the system, my partly finnished paperwork is cancelled and we start again. "Give me your card.. What kind of car is it?" "It's still a 46 plymouth convertible". 8:47.. "I have that year listed but not that Kind of car.. a "Plymouth???" "Have you got chev listed??? you do??? its a 46 chev convertible!!!" "Sir, your card has been declined again." My card was not declined last time, it's your system or worse yet, its you!" 8:48.. I stick my head into the shop.. "Dave, Please, can you come help us, this isnt getting anywhere..." 8:49 Dave comes to the front and helps her do the work... "But his card was declined," she says. "It was not decline, maam, you were unable to get it to work until I told you to put it in the plastic bag. Your machine needs a cleaning." 8:55 "It wont let me issue the paperwork..." Dave: ' Did you type in car hauler correctly?" "Of course, I've been doing this for 7 years" 8:58 Dave: "Look there, type in "Car Hauler"... its not there." 9:00 "Sir, your card isnt working, do you have another?" "Yes maam I do, as a matter of fact I have one for personal, one for business, one for coroprate expences related to travel, one for corporate expences related to equipment and customer promitional expences, each and everyone works and is paid off before they are due. My card works... type it in if you need to or better yet, lets get Dave back out here to operate the keyboard." "Dave cant do any better than I can," "Then maam, you are putting the fear in me because he operates the diagnostic equipment on his customers vehicles...(head back in shop door) Dave, please, for gods sake, we need you here," I cry. 9:02 Dave returns. "Put the card in a plastic bag and run it threw slower this time. " "I did that, it doesnt work it keeps saying card declined." "Maam, does it say card declined or does it just not read the card?" "It just doesnt read the card." "Maam, there is a big difference between saying my card is declined and that card not being read. You saying the card has been decline implies that my use of credit has been stopped, my card is not working ,that I dont pay my bills, that I'm a part of the credit crisis our economy is now experiencing when in fact, its your machine or your inability to use a card reader properly. Saying my card is declined frustrates your customer from wanting to do business with you, rather than saying what the problem really is!" ... "what ever," says she. 9:04 "Maam, do you have a first aid kit here? "Of course" "Good, go get the hydrogen peroxide from the first aid kit and bring it back here, put a little bit on a paper towel and slide it through the card reader to clean it up." I"ve been doing this for 7 years and have never had to do that before..." "Lady, if you had cleaned it once in a while, I would be standing here begging you to clean it so I can pay for a stupid trailer and praying that we can leave this place and get on the road!" Dave got the hydrogen peroxide. 9:10 card swiper cleaned by Dave. The mung on the paper towel was black as he stipped it through 4 times to get all the crud out of it.. "Give me a different card." "No, how will you learn if I just give you a different card, heres my card one last time, slide it though the machine at a normal speed and it will be just fine!" .... presto "Huh, it worked that time," says she "It must have been the system" Total time: 70 minutes A stop at Tim Ho's for a fuel up on double doubles and sugar and its down the road. We exceed the posted 45 painted on the trailer slightly. We landed at HemiKids place and he had cleared the way for us to load up the convert. We piled it on the trailer, strapped it down and loaded all the goodies into it. Buckets of nuts, bolts and washers each in small labeled bags, bottles and cans. Hemikid took the time to do it right, not just once, but for both cars. Opening boxes and ice cream tubs is like Christmas. Its time to hit the road. 01:30 Bruce and I got home and packed it. A couple beer and then bedtime. I couldn't wait to see it in the morning. Around 1:00 there was visible skid marks on the cement from my butt dragging, I was dead tired and ready for a power snooze. Jethro called and said he was on his way up with something for me. hummmmmmmm... Today begins with a quest for front springs. Edited May 11, 2009 by HotrodLono Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodscavenger Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 What a cool looking set of projects. That shop looks more like Santa Fe than B.C. Are you really in B.C.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 When you get tired of the convert ship it on over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 What a cool looking set of projects. That shop looks more like Santa Fe than B.C. Are you really in B.C.? yessum, Just outside Kelowna, about 5 hours north from seattle. It fits in pretty good in the spring and summer but looks out of place during Dec- March white outs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 When you get tired of the convert ship it on over Hey Ed, I grew up on Penn ave. in Bloomington. Thats where the car bug started for me 30 years ago. My hero was a cool kid who loved cars. He let me hand him tools and hang out with the other teen agers, I was 7-9. He was killed on his prom night by a drunk driver. One car he would draw over and over was a open fender model A. A couple years ago I build one based on one of his drawing he gave me long ago. The secret to keeping hot rodding alive for the future? Give a kid a wrench and get him get dirty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 Bloomington like the suburb of Minneapolis?? I'm more in the northern suburbs but I know generally where bloomington is. It was probably considered country 30 years ago now its right in the heart of the metro. I won't tell you how old I was 30 years ago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 Bloomington like the suburb of Minneapolis?? I'm more in the northern suburbs but I know generally where bloomington is. It was probably considered country 30 years ago now its right in the heart of the metro. I won't tell you how old I was 30 years ago... I guess its been sucked into the big city vortex. When I lived there the name Bud Grant meant something to sports fans. I think "the mall" was jammed pretty close to what was my school. Back then we drank from garden hoses, licked icecicles, played hockey in the street and ran with sissors. Somehow I lived. Time marches on.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T120 Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 ..."the wonderful customer service at Uhaul"- Uhaul has got enough of my hard earned cash.I don't rent from them anymore.It's a crap shoot as far as the quality of the equipment you book to rent.When you show up - what you see is what you get.I've done repairs on a lot of their equipment.I didn't have unlimited time to mess around.I now have my own car hauler and it's properly maintained and safe on the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T120 Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 ..BTW. Glad to hear you made the trip okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 I should have taken a picture of the post it note by their phone that read: NO UHAUL REPAIRS UNLESS APPROVED BY UHAUL FIRST- NO EXCEPTIONS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2009 Found my coil springs for up front today so in the mean time I'm focusing on getting some of the bodywork done. It's up to 180 grit now, will come back to it later next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Getting places this week. 2 more doors and the roof and I can focus on mechanical. The new springs should be here mid week and I can get it rolling on its own wheels again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Appears you're making pretty good progress on the coupe. Of course I like the convert, since I have one. Keep us posted on your project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Ah, the convertible. I dont want to be one of those guys who'll say, I'll restore it one day. I give myself until this fall to get it into the shop to start working on it. If it doesnt happen, its going to go up for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my48soto Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 You have my greatest admiration. Im still hand sanding my 48 desoto because my air compressor kicked the bucket and Im to cheap to get a new one LOL. This is the first car I let my boys take sanding blocks to and they are loving every moment of it. You keep up the hard work and hope to see some new pics. Cause i am guilty of not posting any new ones myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Watson Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 I guess its been sucked into the big city vortex.When I lived there the name Bud Grant meant something to sports fans. I think "the mall" was jammed pretty close to what was my school. Back then we drank from garden hoses, licked icecicles, played hockey in the street and ran with sissors. Somehow I lived. Time marches on.... That brought back memories! Can remember Bud Grant and the football team being welcomed home after winning the championship, the players being transported in brand new Dodges. Only the city was not Bloomington, but Winnipeg. The team was the Blue Bombers, the championship the Grey Cup, the Dodges were 1959 models and the mall was Polo Park. Sigh! Yes, time really marches on . . . Bill Vancouver, BC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackster Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Welcome aboard Lono. I was following your progress on the HAMB, nice to see you made your way here. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Welcome aboard Lono. I was following your progress on the HAMB, nice to see you made your way here. . . Thanks Kindly. HAMB isn't always Mopar friendly when it come to the old birds but as they boys eat up teh last of their Ford stock they'll come around. When you say Plymouth its like you have a third eye or something. I'll be honest, if it wasn't for this site and all you, I'd be lost with some of the questions I have on these cars. Now ifI could just teach my third eye to blink... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotrodLono Posted May 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 You have my greatest admiration. Im still hand sanding my 48 desoto because my air compressor kicked the bucket and Im to cheap to get a new one LOL. This is the first car I let my boys take sanding blocks to and they are loving every moment of it. You keep up the hard work and hope to see some new pics. Cause i am guilty of not posting any new ones myself. Blocks, longboards and patience. I pull out the orbital for some of the work too but the only way to get it straight is the old fashion method* ( in my case, I'll still have my painter do the fine tuning befor the splash). Yesterday I finnished the quarter panel and blocked out the doors. This morning after coffee I'll block them out again, 220 the roof and give it a full coat of primer. Then push it outside and clean the shop to get ready for the mechanical that should start rolling in this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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