HotrodLono Posted May 18, 2009 Author Report Posted May 18, 2009 happiness is a clean shop... next stop mechanical! Quote
HotrodLono Posted May 20, 2009 Author Report Posted May 20, 2009 Got out in the shop at 05:30 this morning and sealed the cab, trunk and doors ( no it wont be staying this red colour) Once dry, my attention turned to gathering the front end parts together in preparation for the coils to come soon. Then a knock at the door and mr. Brown had my rear springs in hand. Too cool. Tomorrow I'll pick up my rear end and get it mounted in there. I'm looking forward to seeing some wheel/tires and fenders on it. I just luv this car! Quote
HotrodLono Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Posted May 22, 2009 A big Happy day today. Welded the hangers in, mounted the springs and shackles and bolted down the rear end. I put a pair of 15 inch wheels and rolled it into the sunshine. It was still sitting too high... rolled it back into the shop and undid the rear end. I made up a set of lowering blocks out of 4 x 2 x .25 x 1.5, welded a lid on it and drilled it out for the spring pin, then made a second cap, welded in a 5/8's bolt though a hole and then welded each box closed. In total it gave me 1 3/4 inch more drop. Once the motor and tranny are in and the front end is at ride height, then I'll play with the tires in the back to get it lower yet. I had my wife snap a picture to give an idea of the present height. I'm 6 foot and I'd like to see it come down another 2 inches for sure. I still need to fiddle with pinion angle but that will be next week sometime when I've got the drive shaft made.. The trunk lid is mounted but needs ajustment. My quest for granada drums took me to 2 wrecking yards and then Dorko where they quoted me $137.00 each for drums. I told them I didnt want the whole car. NAPA... $107.00 - same manufacture... how interesting. I need to hit more junk yards. I've managed to get ahead in the last 10 days of working on her. I need to focus on my Honey do list this weekend to keep the peace. Quote
Frank Elder Posted May 22, 2009 Report Posted May 22, 2009 Awesome progress, wish you were here:Dwho is the helper, looks experienced! Quote
HotrodLono Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Posted May 22, 2009 Awesome progress, wish you were here:Dwho is the helper, looks experienced! Our youngest AKA... our oldest... my shop buddy Corky. Part Corgy part Boarder Collie and 100% the coolest Dog I've ever known. Quote
Frank Elder Posted May 22, 2009 Report Posted May 22, 2009 Welcome aboard Corky! Nice goatee, very distinguished. my beagle Friskey, no one could lose my tools faster! Quote
Fireball Posted May 22, 2009 Report Posted May 22, 2009 Cool project and nice job Lono! Greetings from Finland, I'm watching this with my third eye Quote
greg g Posted May 22, 2009 Report Posted May 22, 2009 Wow you must have the industrial strenght motivation ointment. Lots of ice work there. So you being new to MOPAR, and having the front end down to its essentials, what do you think of that system (started in 36, skipped a year or two, the back in 39 compares to some of the other front ends youve torn apart. Just had a discussion with a fellow with a 48 ford regarding the difference between his buggy springs and the Plymouth IFS. Also I remember my father telling a story about a nightmare he had repairing a Chevy knee action front suspension. hopefully you will blow through the honey do list and get back at it. Quote
HotrodLono Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Posted May 22, 2009 So you being new to MOPAR, and having the front end down to its essentials, what do you think of that system (started in 36, skipped a year or two, the back in 39 compares to some of the other front ends youve torn apart. Just had a discussion with a fellow with a 48 ford regarding the difference between his buggy springs and the Plymouth IFS. QUOTE] That's the first reason I strted looking closer at Mopar over Ford again. To Drop the ride height on my A was over $2500 to do it old school. My 39 Plymouth... the cost of a saw blade and a new pair of springs. I'm never going back. I like the looks, the design that went into them and now that the hot rod crowd have stampeeded to model A bodies, I'm tired of them. There are some design elements that dont spin my tach but i'm not looking at making these two cars stock anyway. I'm going to end up being " that crazy Plymouth guy on the hill" ... I can see it coming. ( I'm even developing a 50 Plymouth business coupe fetish... how bent is that???) Quote
Cpt.Fred Posted May 22, 2009 Report Posted May 22, 2009 nice work on that car! can't wait to see the final ride height! be careful with cutting up the front springs too bad, you'll have a hard time with bump steer afterwards if you go too low without doing something to your steering or using dropped uprights. had the same thing here on a caddy, looks cool, but drives horribly! i am watching you with great interest, because i want to drop my P-10 sooner or later after getting it street legal. pretty much the same, so you are doing pioneer work for me:) fred Quote
billwillard Posted May 22, 2009 Report Posted May 22, 2009 You work like I did 20 yrs ago. Do it while you can because at 72 you do slow down a little. Be careful on how low you go because new springs will settle and some time we don't think of that. Put 200lbs in the trunk and see where it sits. I have taken front coils out 3 or 4 times to get them right. Great job you are doing. Can't wait to see next week. Quote
HotrodLono Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Posted May 22, 2009 Fred and Bill, good points guys. Bill I threw 200 pounds of Freddie ( me) in the trunk and it dropped it by an inch. Fred, I wa playing with the idea of getting new uprights from fat man but the price gags me. I was thinking of maybe taking them to a machien shop and having them remove some metal to lower them, whats your thoughts on that? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 22, 2009 Report Posted May 22, 2009 you do not want to remove metal..you only want to positon the king pin knuckle a bit higher on the upright..they are pricy...very pricy even counting the thrown in relocation kit for shocks.. the set I just picked up at a flea markdet that are new from fatman look to be all new metal constuction and heavy steel and nice welds too boot...guess for what they are doing for you and being geometrically correct...you gotta pay to play is all I can say Quote
Fireball Posted May 22, 2009 Report Posted May 22, 2009 Lono, I saw you are seeking skirts for your puppy. Big Jim's has some http://www.bigjims.net/moparsk.htm Jim passed away couple years back but I think his wife continues the business Quote
HotrodLono Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Posted May 22, 2009 Lono, I saw you are seeking skirts for your puppy. Big Jim's has somehttp://www.bigjims.net/moparsk.htm Jim passed away couple years back but I think his wife continues the business thank you for the lead, I found a set a couple weeks back. Will post a picture as soon as they arrive. In the mean time... the coils just came in the front door! No sleep for the boy tonight! Quote
Don Coatney Posted May 23, 2009 Report Posted May 23, 2009 It is such a pleasure to see you bring life back into this hulk you bought. As I mentioned earlier most new car owners strip the car before they have a plan nor knowledge to take it to completion. It appears you have all the resources to take this car to completion and at a record pace. You have gained my respect. No need to tell you that failure is not an option. Keep at it and let me know if I can assist. What are your drivetrain plans? Quote
HotrodLono Posted May 23, 2009 Author Report Posted May 23, 2009 It is such a pleasure to see you bring life back into this hulk you bought. As I mentioned earlier most new car owners strip the car before they have a plan nor knowledge to take it to completion. It appears you have all the resources to take this car to completion and at a record pace. You have gained my respect. No need to tell you that failure is not an option. Keep at it and let me know if I can assist. What are your drivetrain plans? thank you for your comments. I was very lucky that the owner had taken great care in sorting, bagging and labeling every little part and screw. He's a good man who loves cars adn loves working on them. He would have strted working on this one this year but his health has redirected him a lttile do having a driver was more important to him. Drivetrain, i'll keep my story short and to the point. I'm sure will read with total disgust but there is a reason for everything. I set aside exactly $10,000 to build a low 30-40's driver. The purchase of both the 39 and the 46 convert took a bite out of that coin. So the objective was to build it on a very recession/drepression budget. No frills, no glamour, just a cool fun to drive cruiser. A friend of mine owns a 84 Grand Lamans and bought it new. Its got less the 42,000 original miles. That's my donor car. It cost me $200.00. It will serve as my complete drive train, master cylinder, power steering, lights, bells whistles and wireing harness. The motor you ask? its not a 350... nope. Not a 305 or 307. Its a... wait for it....... Buick Fireball V6. hello? anyone there? Geeze, its quiet suddenly. It's going to be one of a kind for sure. Not huge power and no wild cam. It will sound good running through smithies. My coils arrived today and i've been in the shop mounting them along with the challenger disks, Will submit pictures tomorrow. Quote
Fireball Posted May 23, 2009 Report Posted May 23, 2009 At least that engine is named right. To me personally it's more important factor that this beauty will get back into road than whats the transplant nature. MoPar gods will curse you but hey, I'm sure it will be as much fun driving with that engine. It's cool you build this with your own head instead of reaching for acceptance from the public, that's the way sir. There really is life beyond A-pford and flatheads and hemi's. And if the puritans have a hard day to accept that, so be it. You are doing great job there, keep it up and us posted. Now it's time for me to hit the garage and paint my V6 nice, so it'll look more pristine when I put her in my D-24. Quote
mackster Posted May 23, 2009 Report Posted May 23, 2009 thank you for your comments. I was very lucky that the owner had taken great care in sorting, bagging and labeling every little part and screw. He's a good man who loves cars adn loves working on them. He would have strted working on this one this year but his health has redirected him a lttile do having a driver was more important to him.Drivetrain, i'll keep my story short and to the point. I'm sure will read with total disgust but there is a reason for everything. I set aside exactly $10,000 to build a low 30-40's driver. The purchase of both the 39 and the 46 convert took a bite out of that coin. So the objective was to build it on a very recession/drepression budget. No frills, no glamour, just a cool fun to drive cruiser. A friend of mine owns a 84 Grand Lamans and bought it new. Its got less the 42,000 original miles. That's my donor car. It cost me $200.00. It will serve as my complete drive train, master cylinder, power steering, lights, bells whistles and wireing harness. The motor you ask? its not a 350... nope. Not a 305 or 307. Its a... wait for it....... Buick Fireball V6. hello? anyone there? Geeze, its quiet suddenly. It's going to be one of a kind for sure. Not huge power and no wild cam. It will sound good running through smithies. My coils arrived today and i've been in the shop mounting them along with the challenger disks, Will submit pictures tomorrow. You are a weirdo lono. I LIKE YOU! V6. . . wow did yo get it for free or cheap? I m just wondering why the choice. but I like it . . . Quote
HotrodLono Posted May 23, 2009 Author Report Posted May 23, 2009 You are a weirdo lono. I LIKE YOU!V6. . . wow did yo get it for free or cheap? I m just wondering why the choice. but I like it . . . A lady I know just bought a mini van and the dealer offered her $200 for her 84 Lemans on trade in. She asked me what her car was worth and I told her that it might fetch $500.00 in the paper. Like I say she bought it new and its a low miler but it was parked otuside all its life so it looks pretty ugly. Interior is faided, plastic dash is cracked, you know the drill. She made the deal with the dealer. She called me when it was all over and she asked me if I'd come over and have another look at it before she posted it in the paper. I did and found it had the V6 and thought to myself how well the little motor put out in this boat. A light came on. I told her I'd buy it for $500 and told her what I was going to do to it. She said it was mine for $200. Had the economy been better and I had stupid money to spend, a sweet little poly or Hemi would have slipped in there just fine. It's different...its a little unorthidox but hey... so am I. Quote
HotrodLono Posted May 23, 2009 Author Report Posted May 23, 2009 Anyone have a 40 dodge bumper just laying around under foot you'd like to get rid of? Please drop me a note with a price at: freds65vette@yahoo.ca thanks in advance. Quote
greg g Posted May 23, 2009 Report Posted May 23, 2009 In my view hot roddig is all about usig what you have or can find as ecnomically as possible. If it is the buick, down the road you can turbo it if you need more power. Who made the rule that it had to be a bow tie or a flathead to be a hot rod?? Quote
Don Coatney Posted May 23, 2009 Report Posted May 23, 2009 As I write this I am watching a re-run of the 1992 Indy 500 and Big Al driving a Buick powered car just passed Little Al driving a Shiverley powered car. Buick engine should work well in your car. However Little Al won the race in 1992. Now I wonder if my Desoto engine powered Plymouth can wup a V-6 Buick powered Plymouth:cool: Quote
mackster Posted May 23, 2009 Report Posted May 23, 2009 In my view hot roddig is all about usig what you have or can find as ecnomically as possible. If it is the buick, down the road you can turbo it if you need more power.Who made the rule that it had to be a bow tie or a flathead to be a hot rod?? I second (or third) that! Lono thats what hot rodding is all about. . . use what you can get cheap and make it look good! Awesome bro. this thread is an inspiration. you work fast! Quote
HotrodLono Posted May 23, 2009 Author Report Posted May 23, 2009 Thanks you guys, I was feeling a little sheeping bringing up the Buick motor but not no more, I stand corrected and looking forward to hearing it run in the Plymouth. I drove it home from Kelowna, B.C. ( its about 30 miles from where I live) and out on the open road it was puffing blue every time I hit the gas. It felt pretty sluggish too. I hit a gas station and got a quart of tranny fluid, took off the air cleaner and started pouring a fine trickle down the carb while opening the throttle. It created a heck of a smog bank. In about 3 minutes it cleared up and i hit the road again. - No more blue.. a little more umph, it cleaned things up pretty well ( at least for now). It hasnt been on the highway for over 5 years and according to the service record the last tune up was in 1999. Oil changes twice a year mind you and the rad coolant was clean as kool aid. Quote
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