Update

[1950 Special Deluxe]

I had told people I would update progress and post some pictures on my 1950 Dodge Special Deluxe when there was some progress made. Progress has been slow, but am moving forward. I am redoing all wheel brakes, redoing original, new wheel cylinders, hoses and a rebuild of the master. Also, bought some Cat's Eye covers for the headlights, (not sure why, but I like them.) Have the car up on wheel dollies and then jack stands on top of the dollies so I can wheel it around to make room for my wife's van.(block it up before I crawl under it)The good thing about 6-7 monthes of winter is that there is lots of time to do the work slowly and hopefully properly.

I have learned a lot reading everyone's posts and have had many questions answered before I asked them by reading the new posts as well as the archives.

Will include a couple of pictures.

Thanks to everybody for the help along the way.

[Joe Flanagan]

Very nice car. I have a set of those casters myself and it's amazing how easily you can push the car around with those things. You do need to have a very smooth surface. Otherwise, the wheels catch on the tiniest ridge or bump. Looks like your garage floor is perfect. Don't know if it's just ignorance on my part but it seems to me having casters under those jack stands would be really dangerous.

[55 Fargo]

Glad to hear your making progress, nice little car BTW. Just be darn careful if you plan to crawl under the car, with your stands on the wheel dollies, add some more blocking or stands, if you plan to crawl under her. Those look like Princess Auto stands..... PS, you can get new wheel cyls from Rock Auto, they have the Raybestos brand, also if you can have your MC sleeved with stainless, all the better. The lines, hoses you can get from NAPA, as well as the MC kit. Have your drums measured, and get them machined just enough to clean them up, be sure they measure them first, 10 plus .060 over is whats allowed, this means the drum can havea total of .030 machined, for a total of of .060 on overall cross measurement, the brake shop should know this anyway. If you have a problem with thie drums, to be honest, this is a good time to convert to front disc brakes, not a whole lot more in money terms when you factor the price of the 4 new wheel cyls, drums turned brake shoes re-lined, sure wish I di it that way first. I also used DOT 5 silicone brake fluid, not for everyone, but works well for me, especially with cars like ours that sit for months on end in winter.........Good Luck Fred

Edited February 16, 2010 by Rockwood

[55 Fargo]

Here are some prices for Raybestos parts,

-front wheel cyls $33.79 X 4 = $135.16

-drums machined $30

-brake hose front $14.63 X 2=$29.26

-brake shoes relined $100

-approx total for front brakes = $294.42 plus taxes and shipping if needed

-front disc brake conversion could be $500 to $600, so it could be an extra $300, but wellworth it in performance and reliability, as compared to sotck brakes, and no headache to set-up the lockheed brakes.

I know now what I would be doing.

Rockauto has Raybestos MCs for $181.79..........Fred

[greg g]

Looks like you are moving alog nicely. One comment; Your Garage is way to neat!!!

How can you work that way???????

[55 Fargo]

Just noticed, is that a frost shield in the back window. You guys down south who have never seen such an item, have a looksy.

I am not sure you can even buy these anymore, at least I have not bought one since the early 80s here in Canada........

[1950 Special Deluxe]

The jack stands fit quite nicely on the casters, but I would never go under it without extra blocking. I am very careful moving it as well, sweep the floor first. Only move it about 6 feet out from the wall and then back in after I am done.

[1950 Special Deluxe]

Here are some prices for Raybestos parts,

-front wheel cyls $33.79 X 4 = $135.16

-drums machined $30

-brake hose front $14.63 X 2=$29.26

-brake shoes relined $100

-approx total for front brakes = $294.42 plus taxes and shipping if needed

-front disc brake conversion could be $500 to $600, so it could be an extra $300, but wellworth it in performance and reliability, as compared to sotck brakes, and no headache to set-up the lockheed brakes.

I know now what I would be doing.

Rockauto has Raybestos MCs for $181.79..........Fred

If I was to do it again, I would probably go that route but still like to try to keep it as original as I can.

For the amount of miles it will go and not in busy traffic areas, the drum brakes will be fine.

[1950 Special Deluxe]

Looks like you are moving alog nicely. One comment; Your Garage is way to neat!!!

How can you work that way???????

I cleaned it just for the pictures.

[blueskies]

Great looking Dodge...

Interesting to me to note some of the differences between the '50 Dodge and '50 Plymouth. I like the hood lip trim, and the lack of the little trim wings on either side that the Plymouth has.

Pete

[BobT-47P15]

Sounds like progress. Nice to have a good place to work.

I think that frost shield in the rear window is rather like the item

Jon has for the windshield of his 42 Dodge........

[Mustang6147]

Nice ride. I really like the body style. You are right a bought the winter months. I bought a set of those casters (1500 lbs) from Harbor Freight, and this past weekend while I pushed my 41 back over to the side to put the truck in the garage, the 1 caster cam apart, and the other lost its bearings. The other set I got from Summit Racing has held up fine. Harbor did warranty them.

[BobT-47P15]

Another high quality product from H F.........

[JerseyHarold]

A friend of mine bought a set of HF wheel dollies, tried using them, and returned them the next day. The casters were of very low quality and made the car very hard to push.

[1950 Special Deluxe]

Mine are from Princess Auto, head office is in Winnipeg.

They work very good. My garage floor is quite smooth and I sweep before moving it around.

[55 Fargo]

Mine are from Princess Auto, head office is in Winnipeg.

They work very good. My garage floor is quite smooth and I sweep before moving it around.

Lots of good stuff, at Princess Auto, there motto is "No Sale Is Ever Final, till your satisfied".

A lot of there stuff is off-shore made, but a lot is of decent quality.....Fred there link, if the prices seem higher they are, as it is in Canada, in Canadian dollars.

http://www.princessauto.com/

Edited February 17, 2010 by Rockwood