Another Newbie

[Barabbas]

First of all let me thank all of you and particularly Blueskies for inspiring me (or perhaps corrupting me). A few years ago I started looking around for a streetrod project to keep me out of trouble when I retired--an early 50s Mopar was not at the top of my list. My first car was a '52 Cambridge and I never thought it was very cool. But one night whilst I was surfing the internet I hit upon this web site and I became intrigued--then I found Blueskies 50 ply web site and I was hooked.

So now I am the proud owner of "Doris" a 52 Cranbrook and she is very cool.

My intention originally was to make a mild custom--shave, lower, frencht the headlights. But when I towed Doris from the midwest to my new place in Wash state, I find that at every gas stop I made someone had to tell me story about an old plymouth they knew. So I've changed my goal to making her as road worthy as possilbe but keeping the appearance close to original.

So Far I've got her street legal--redid most of the wiring, had the floor pans welded up, undercoated, added sound deadening, new waterpump, repaired radiator and have the interior about 1/2 done. The car came with an Offy intake and dual single bbl Carters

This spring I will upgrade to front disc brakes and dual M/C --am leaning toward an ECI kit. Do the 6V to 12v conversion and see if I can get a O/D from George Asche.

Thanks again for the inspiration and all the help I have already found on this site.

[1955 plymouth]

That is a nice looking car you have there. I also like the color.

here are a couple pictures of my '50 Deluxe

Sure would like to see a couple pics of the carb setup you have.

[Barabbas]

Hmmm, a very nice Color indeed! I really like the 50s grille, I think it's much cleaner than the 52s. I might look around for the chrome center bar and see if I can fit to my car.

I'll try to get a picture of the carbs in the next couple days--if it's not raining.

I still have to clean up the routing of the choke cable--whoever installed the carbs got them set up fine but got sloppy on the cables. Fortunately I found I really don't need a choke, car starts fine in these mild winters

Good looking Belvidere!

[BobT-47P15]

Welcome..........nice car.

The overdrive should make it go down the highway easier.

There are several disc brake kits available, including one from

Charlie (olddaddy) on this forum.

It's always fun to hear stories from people about the old Plymouth

they had in years gone by. Sometimes I even open the hood so

they can see the engine if they express interest. Enjoy your

new ride.

[Young Ed]

Hmmm, a very nice Color indeed! I really like the 50s grille, I think it's much cleaner than the 52s. I might look around for the chrome center bar and see if I can fit to my car.

That 50 grill is all one giant piece. Not likely you'll be able to fit any of it to your 51-52. I still plan to try and fit 2 extra teeth to the stock 51-52 grill for my 51.

[Joe Flanagan]

I'm glad you decided not to chop it up. It would have been a shame. I love the early 50s Mopars. It's interesting how the front ends suddenly got flattened out during that period. I've always liked the Cranbrook and the Cambridge. I would have jumped at that car if I'd had the chance. By the way, the house in the first picture is period correct, I believe. Isn't that 1950s modern?

[blueskies]

First of all let me thank all of you and particularly Blueskies...

...then I found Blueskies 50 ply web site and I was hooked...

Barabbas-

I'm happy to see that my '50 inspired you... Looks like you found a very nice '50 of your own.

What I love most about my car, is the reaction it gets where ever I stop. I've heard countless stories over the last 10 years. What I didn't realize when I bought mine was that these cars were the "ever-man's" car and lots of regular working class folks had them. Not necessarily because it was the car that they wanted to own, but the car that they could comfortably afford. The folks that go out of their way to chat about my car are flooded with memories of learning to drive, first dates, you name it.

I think you will be very happy with an overdrive. It is in my judgment, the best upgrade you can do for your car. Takes it from a parade car to a long haul driver.

Looking forward to your progress posts, enjoy the forum.

Pete

[moose]

Welcome to the forum! That is a pretty car.

Just curious, who won the race? What was your time?

[Barabbas]

If the cuda had spotted me an 1/8 of a mile it would have been a dead heat

The Cuda did 12.76 @ 112, I did 20.1 @ 68--I did have a trunk full of stuff: extra battery, floor jack, tool box and I really didn't push her too hard.

I think a 19.7 would be easy but one of the advantages of my advanced years is knowing when to stop.

[Barabbas]

ED,

I'm thinking of extracting the center tooth on my grille, if I do I'll let you know

[Young Ed]

Let me know I'll take it off your hands. Due to the curve of the stainless piece I'm thinking I might need 5 center pieces to make it work.

[Barabbas]

Good eye on the house. It is a 1951, custom built Modern--it has some interesting features; all the switched electrical circuits are 24 volt that activate relays.

The picture I posted was taken just before I loaded Doris up on a trailer and left Ft.Wayne IN.

[Young Ed]

For the new comers here's my 51 the gold one and Dads convert.

[Barabbas]

Barabbas-

What I love most about my car, is the reaction it gets where ever I stop. I've heard countless stories over the last 10 years.

I agree, that's why I decided it would be a sin to change the external appearance too much. I've just put a journal in my glove box so I can collect some of the stories

[blueskies]

...I've just put a journal in my glove box so I can collect some of the stories

Great idea...

Pete

[Harvey Tank]

Is this the time for bragging rights? I too am a proud owner of a 50 PLY. the first car I got when we first got married. your right Pete. it was an offordable car. I drove it to school. I drove it to work. I literally drove the wheels off it

[JerseyHarold]

Barabbas,

Welcome to the forum. That's a good-looking '52. Is it the original color?

[Barabbas]

Thanks Jersey, As far as I can tell She is the original "Nile Green"

[Johnny S]

Very nice ..... welcome.

[Greenbomb]

That's a good story about how you got "converted". I was on Craigs List looking for something with a V-8 and 4 speed when I came across a '50 Club Coupe. For some reason it intrigued me so I went to look and bought it. Been tickled ever since. you'll have tons-o-fun with yours.

Flo

[Rollie���]

Very nice looking '52 you've got there. I drove from St. Louis to southern Colorado to pick up my '51, and almost at every stop for gas someone would approach me to ask questions and share stories about the Plymouth I had on the trailer. My first car was a '68 Barracuda and I have owned and drove a bunch of A-body Mopars (and one C-body) since. But to me the '51 Plymouth is the coolest Mopar I've ever owned. Share more photos of your car if you find the time.

[Barabbas]

Flo,

Yes I started looking for a 70 Cuda (the first car I bought new) but it took me about 30 seconds on ebay to realize that was way out of my budget. So I started looking at 63 Furys or 64 Dart GTs, but my heart wasn't really into those cars. It was the siren call of the 52 that got me. Funny thing, I get more "thumbs up" etc when I drive the 52 and just driving it makes me smile

[Barabbas]

Rollie,

Yous looks totally complete--just a little wind burned. Great looking Dash.

I don't have too many pictures of mine; I tend to forget to take before pictures.

Here's a couple more. She was originally an Iowa car, I am surprised how rust free she is. I could see pavement thru the passenger floor and it wasn't too solid under the driver side either, but everywhere else she was solid.

[Barabbas]

I don't have a close-up of the carbs but here is a pic of the engine bay