Greetings from new member...

[thrashingcows]

I've been a mopar man for over 20+ years, and I've been on many mopar forums over the years and I've also been over on the HAMB for a while now.

I have been trying to figure out what car I wanted for some time now. I had really wanted a late 20's early 30's rod but due to my size, 6'8" and 275lbs I decided after looking and talking to rod owners that I just wouldn't be comfortable in one of those.

I had been drawn to the 46-48 mopar for some time now and I finally decided that I wanted a 46-48 Desoto...sorry it's not a Dodge or plymouth...hope you can make an exception for me.

So I did a lot of searching, looked at some 4dr sedans and a couple 2dr coupes, and finally came across some pics of a 2dr sedan....I instantly fell in love and knew the car I had to have.

I started searching for a 46-48 Desoto 2dr sedan. I eventually got a response to one of my on-line want ads form a fellow in southern California.

Well after a lot of pics, info and such it's almost a done deal. Just waiting on the title and such to finish the deal.

This is a 48 Desoto 2dr sedan.

Here are a couple pics,

My plans for the car is to get it running and driving and safetied, so I can register it and get proper insurance. Once that's done it will get dropped a few inches front and rear. Some wide whites with full wheel covers for now, plan on going artillery rims eventually. Kind of a traditional cruiser?

I'm torn now between keeping with the flathead 6 or putting the 331 Hemi in it I had originally planned? Regardless of motor I decide I want to swap in one of Ma' mopars OD833 trannies, and an 8 3/4 rear end.

Edited February 7, 2010 by thrashingcows

[thrashingcows]

Now one issue the car has is the motor is toast.

There is no oil pan and no piston or rods in the block. My guess is the motor spun a bearing, they started to repair things then abandoned the car.

So I'm looking for another flatty 6 for it or even considering loosing the flatty 6 and going small block dodge and a 727. I've put a want ad on CL locally and received a few responses. One fellow has a complete rebuilt 1947 25" flatty with all accessories and a new clutch for the manual 3 speed for about $1K.

Now does anyone know if the tranny mount and clutch linkage will be the same going from the fluid drive to a true manual 3 speed?

[thrashingcows]

Hope to contribute what I can and learn lots about the mopars of this era.

[mackster]

welcome aboard! You are in the right place! I wouldnt be able to decide what engine to go with either... both sound great! I have seen you and your car before on a Desoto forum. I look forward on seeing your progress on your car...

[Cpt.Fred]

welcome, great car you got there! i love the desoto grills...

[Frank Elder]

Welcome aboard, your desoto is a nice car to start with I hope you enjoy many rides:)in your new Hernando!

Edited February 2, 2010 by FRANKIE47

[Jim Benjaminson]

Do you realize this car is a PlySoto? Don't know where you are posting from, but this car is an export Plymouth re-badged by the factory and sold as a DeSoto. Its officially an SP15 series. Chrysler Corporation began the practice of rebadging Plymouths as Dodges in 1932 and DeSoto's in 1937. The cars have Plymouth bodies and engines (short 23" block). The grill, ornaments, hubcaps, taillights, etc., were patterned after the "senior" DeSoto (or Dodge) but these items are not the same as the big cars. Your SP15 is a very rare car. The SP15 was known as the "DeSoto Diplomat". The cars were sold in Mexico and overseas but never sold in the USA--and in the case of the PlySoto, was never sold in Canada.

[Young Ed]

Jim are you sure? It has the flare in the door like a desoto that the P15 bodies didn't have and that is a 25in block. You can tell from the visible bolt heads holding the intake and exhaust together.

[Frank Elder]

It is a desoto as Ed says look at the front fenders, same as a chrysler or dodge.

The red desoto has the same body style, grille, doors as thrashingcows.

[Niel Hoback]

It also has the bigger rear window, unlike the Plymouths.

[greg g]

He said it was the 25 inch block also. Looks like a genuien fried of Hernando to me. heas lamps are also in the De Soto positioin.

What are the other old Mopars in the back ground???

Question does arise with the engine, I thought the 25 inch pistons weren't siamesed as much as these seem to be.

[blueskies]

Great find! I've always thought this was one of the best Desoto designs...

Unless the block is cracked or has severe damage from a thrown rod, why not rebuild it? The flathead six is a great engine and will turn more heads than you'd think... It may not be a neck snapping hemi, but for a reliable cruiser that is unique, I'd keep the six. I've had a ball with my little Plymouth flathead six, and you wouldn't believe the interest it has created over the last 10 years...

Welcome to the forum, looking forward to your progress reports-

Pete

[55 Fargo]

Now one issue the car has is the motor is toast.

There is no oil pan and no piston or rods in the block. My guess is the motor spun a bearing, they started to repair things then abandoned the car.

So I'm looking for another flatty 6 for it or even considering loosing the flatty 6 and going small block dodge and a 727. I've put a want ad on CL locally and received a few responses. One fellow has a complete rebuilt 1947 25" flatty with all accessories and a new clutch for the manual 3 speed for about $1K.

Now does anyone know if the tranny mount and clutch linkage will be the same going from the fluid drive to a true manual 3 speed?

If you decide to buy and install a flathead 6 , dry clutch, and 3spd trans, and the donor engine is a 25 inch block, this is what is involved, as I have this on my car.

The rear engine (actually clutch housing mount), needs to be moved forward to compensate for the shorter distance.When moved into the correct position, your engine will bolt right in at the front mounts, and will now bolt up at the clutch housing mounts too.

Next the shifter linkage should work fine with adjustment, as mine did on my 47 Chrysler.

The clutch rod, that was used with the bigger fluid drive, needs to be shortened, again not a real big deal.

Driveshaft, you need to have the correct length, I took mine from the donor car where engine and trans came from a 1951 Plym.

Other considerations, what the current diff ratio you have, 3.54 to 3.90 would be good, but 4.10 gets a little busy after 50 mph.

Now if your donor engine is a 23 inch block, that would need more consideration, not sure that would work as well.

Investigate and ponder this as much as you can before you commit to buying and installing anything. Personally I would find a 25 inch block, then get a dry clutch and 3 spd trans either as a unit or seprately, or add a R10 OD trans or go with a trans conversion to the 727 or a T5 speed right off the bat.

But ultimately it is up to you and your future driving needs with this car...Welcome BTW

PS I see your in Canada, so most if not all flathead 6s you find here will be a 25 inch block, let me know the engine numbers and will help you determine which size it is.

I would try and find a 251, if you can, as so many up here with the dry clutch, was 218 or 228, nothing wrong with them , its just the 251 has more HP...

Edited February 2, 2010 by Rockwood

[thrashingcows]

Thanks for the welcome guys!!

Frankie47...did you just name my car Fernando?....

Jim freaked me out there for a minute with the claim it was a Plysoto...I had to go back and double check. I was aware of the Plysoto's and knew they didn't run the same doors as the Desoto and Chyslers.

Greg g....Who is Hernando? Another Desoto on the board? As for the cars in the background, the guy had to buy a "lot" of 46-48 desoto's to get the single convertible he wanted. Most are parts cars but the 2dr sedan was too nice to part out so he offered it to me.

Blueskies...I will probably keep the block and stuff as spares. I just need to get it running and driving quickly. So another running motor and tranny will be quicker and easier for now.

[thrashingcows]

Great find! I've always thought this was one of the best Desoto designs...

Unless the block is cracked or has severe damage from a thrown rod, why not rebuild it? The flathead six is a great engine and will turn more heads than you'd think... It may not be a neck snapping hemi, but for a reliable cruiser that is unique, I'd keep the six. I've had a ball with my little Plymouth flathead six, and you wouldn't believe the interest it has created over the last 10 years...

Welcome to the forum, looking forward to your progress reports-

Pete

I am leaning towards keeping the flathead six as my means of powering the car. I'm not really a head snapping kind of guy, so as long as it can get up and go and get me cruising I trhink I will probably go that route....for now at least.

I will eventually build my Hemi , but maybe a different project will come along for that engine.

[blueskies]

I am leaning towards keeping the flathead six as my means of powering the car. I'm not really a head snapping kind of guy, so as long as it can get up and go and get me cruising I trhink I will probably go that route....for now at least.

I will eventually build my Hemi , but maybe a different project will come along for that engine.

The six with an overdrive would cruise very nicely... Wonder what rear end it has?

My '50 with a 230, overdrive and the stock 3.9:1 rear end will run 70-75 all day long. It tachs 2500 rpms at 70mph.

Pete

[homebrewer]

Don't mean to steal someone's thunder, but Hernando was the explorer De Soto's first name. I.E. Hernando De Soto. Neat name for your car. A lot of people call their Ford's "Henry"

[Frank Elder]

Thanks for the welcome guys!!

Frankie47...did you just name my car Fernando?....

Jim freaked me out there for a minute with the claim it was a Plysoto...I had to go back and double check. I was aware of the Plysoto's and knew they didn't run the same doors as the Desoto and Chyslers.

Greg g....Who is Hernando? Another Desoto on the board? As for the cars in the background, the guy had to buy a "lot" of 46-48 desoto's to get the single convertible he wanted. Most are parts cars but the 2dr sedan was too nice to part out so he offered it to me.

Blueskies...I will probably keep the block and stuff as spares. I just need to get it running and driving quickly. So another running motor and tranny will be quicker and easier for now.

No, but that is pretty funny:D:DI hit an F instead of an H, so you can call me HRANKIE47:eek::eek:Welcome again!

[greg g]

Fernando was his seasick cousin.

[thrashingcows]

No, but that is pretty funny:D I hit an F instead of an H, so you can call me HRANKIE47:eek::eek:Welcome again!

Fernando was his seasick cousin.

Don't mean to steal someone's thunder, but Hernando was the explorer De Soto's first name. I.E. Hernando De Soto. Neat name for your car. A lot of people call their Ford's "Henry"

......

I think I like Fernando. I haven't got the car home yet, still in S. Cali, but I think the name suites it so far.

So unless I think the name doesn't suite the car when it gets home, I will call it Fernando.

Thanks guys!!

[1just4don]

as an old farm boy,,,care to elaborate on your handle?? I have heard of thrashing AND cows,,but not so often thrashing cows except for BAD things happening.

Congrads on your car,looks good to me. One thing is to be atuned to number of bolts crank to clutch flywheel and also dimple in back side of crank. Found out when I was still wet behind the ears that a plymouth regular clutch motor wont bolt up to fluid drive for those very reasons. Going the other way would work 'maybe'. If my old brain is in gear dry clutches had 4 bolts,fluid drive had 8 or was that 6? Now I confused my old brain. If it has fluid drive now,,I would vote to keep that and use it,,its wonderful and tough. best thing since sliced bread. You have both a stick and a slush bucket in one.

[Merle Coggins]

Welcome... nice lookin' project... I'm jealous.

If the rebuild '47 engine has the 8 hole crank flange you should be able to just bolt it up to your existing Fluid Drive / trans assembly. New engine, original drive train, get brakes working, enjoy.

Merle

[55 Fargo]

Welcome... nice lookin' project... I'm jealous.

If the rebuild '47 engine has the 8 hole crank flange you should be able to just bolt it up to your existing Fluid Drive / trans assembly. New engine, original drive train, get brakes working, enjoy.

Merle

All Canadian built flathead long block 6s have the 8 bolt crank, never seen one different, to date. Chrysler Canada never built a 23 inch engine, they built only the 25 inch block, with varying displacements for different models of cars/trucks.

I think he does not want the fluid drive, but if he as the fluid drive and 3 spd trans, all he really needs is a good engine, then it may work fine.

Depending on the condition of the fluid coupler, clutch trans, all this will need a going over and the right time to machine flywheel replace clutch, and make sure fluid coupler is okay.

[thrashingcows]

All Canadian built flathead long block 6s have the 8 bolt crank, never seen one different, to date. Chrysler Canada never built a 23 inch engine, they built only the 25 inch block, with varying displacements for different models of cars/trucks.

I think he does not want the fluid drive, but if he as the fluid drive and 3 spd trans, all he really needs is a good engine, then it may work fine.

Depending on the condition of the fluid coupler, clutch trans, all this will need a going over and the right time to machine flywheel replace clutch, and make sure fluid coupler is okay.

I have no experience with these cars, just from what I've read. I do not know how stout the fluid drive trannies are? How are they for sitting for a couple decades and then being thrown back into service?

The only reason I'm considering the manual 3 speed is that the rebuilt motor comes with the tranny as a complete unit. It's originally from a 47 Canadian plymouth. Was rebuilt and used for a few miles then the project changed direction and was removed for a more "Hot rod" theme. This From what the seller has stated so far from our e-mails.

I kind of prefer the manual shifted 3 speed, since there are less problems to go wrong, unlike all the stuff added to the fluid drive trannies.

[55 Fargo]

I have no experience with these cars, just from what I've read. I do not know how stout the fluid drive trannies are? How are they for sitting for a couple decades and then being thrown back into service?

The only reason I'm considering the manual 3 speed is that the rebuilt motor comes with the tranny as a complete unit. It's originally from a 47 Canadian plymouth. Was rebuilt and used for a few miles then the project changed direction and was removed for a more "Hot rod" theme. This From what the seller has stated so far from our e-mails.

I kind of prefer the manual shifted 3 speed, since there are less problems to go wrong, unlike all the stuff added to the fluid drive trannies.

Well first of all, you need to determine which tranny you have, fluid drive is not the trans, it is the fluid coupler between engine and clutch, so no direct connection to engine.

The 2 trans that were used for these fluid drives for this year of Desoto were the 3 spd trans, with a longer input shaft to go through extra length that is required to connect this system.

The you have the M5 semi-auto trans, it has 2 ranges and reverse, hi range is in the 3 spd position on the colum shifter, and lo-range is in the 2nd or up psotion on the column shifter.

Basically you can drive in either range, depending on conditions, so standing still you could shift into high range, take foot of the clutch, engine does not stall, as the fluid coupler makes this possible, then you drive to about 25 mph, take foot off gas, the trans will shift from 2nd gear, to 4 th gear in high range. If you tromp the gas peddle, it will downshift, for passing etc. You need to stop , no problem trans shifts back to 2nd gear, you drive away like an auto trans, to 25 mph take foot offf gas, trans clunks into 4th again, thus nicknamed clunkomatic trans. Desoto used the marketing name, Tip Toe shift.

So you need to see what trans you have, then what condition, and get advice from more learned people I can put you in touch with in Canada.

Let us know what trans you have in the car now, and see what you want to do. Even if you convert to regular clutch and 3 spd trans, save your fluid drive and trans, it can always be converted back.....fred