Been a while...Desoto is finaly home...

[thrashingcows]

Well I've been off the board for some time now, not because I wanted to be, but due to circumstance. I bought a 84 dodge crewcab with a cummins/5spd conversion, back in March and it turned into a real lemon. 7 months later, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears...and money, I finally got it on the road.

Thought I'd share some pics and info on how things went.

Met up with Jim in Seattle WA to pick up a Spitfire head...sorry I can't remember your handle Jim, but he still owns the 46-48? Plymouth convertible he bought when he was 14!!!

Well I left Saturday morning at 9am to go get my 48 Desoto from Tigard OR. Went down bare, no trailer, took me about 6 hours to get there. Went 400 miles on 15 gallons...that's 26.6 mpg.

Picked up the U-Haul trailer Sunday morning and loaded up Fernando, my old 48 Desoto.

Hear I am ready to roll out of OR,

Truck hauled well. Here's the truck at the first rest area I stopped at.

Who's this that keeps following me so close.

Took me a little over 8 hours to get to Belingham WA, with a couple major highway slow downs due to accidents...WA state and rain....who knew they couldn't drive in that weather.

Here's where I slept last night....Not the most comfortable sleep for a guy my size, 6'8" and 275lbs, but good enough to save me another $75 for a hotel room.

I arrived at the Canada/USA border at 8 am, got the US paper work taken care of in a matter of minutes...the Canadians Customs...well I was there for over 90 minutes and got the royal run around.

Here's one at the Canadian customs...

And finally the Desoto is at it's new home.

I was impressed at how well the truck did, the only thing that went wrong was the clutch fan seized solid, so it's pulling a begeezes amount of air and making a heck of a noise at RPM's over 1500. I have a new clutch on the way. So all in all a good trip and I'm very happy with the way old RAE performed.

I haven't fuel up, but think I used about the same amount of fuel, 15 gallons, and went 350 miles...so pulling it got 23 mpg!!

Glad to get Fernando home...Finally...but now have to catch up on my "Honey Do" list. Wife was not happy about the 7 months of working on the truck and not getting any of the summer projects done!! Will work on the car when I can find time and will be on the board a bit more now I have a car to actually work on.

[RobertKB]

Sounds like you had quite the adventure. Please keep us posted on your project. I love the name of your Desoto. Fernando......hmmm........wonder where it came from?

[moparbenny]

wow you drove throw my neck of the woods:)

[65rbdodge]

nice desoto! i am currently working on a 47 2 door sedan.

i`ve replaced the front clip with an 88 dakota front clip-

i`m working on rebuilding the front suspension now.

Edited November 9, 2010 by 65rbdodge

[48P15Annie]

Nice DeSoto!

[Bingster]

Nice car! I have a '47 that looks just like it. Does it run? Love to hear some details. I don't know how much you know about where to get parts and such, but I have done a lot of research and know some good sources. I've been doing the brakes and general refurbishing on mine. I didn't devote too much time to it this year. It's an ongoing project. How good is your chrome?

[P-12 Tommy]

Congrats on getting Fernando home. And we look forward to your updates.

Tom

[thrashingcows]

nice desoto! i am currently working on a 47 2 door sedan.

i`ve replaced the front clip with an 88 dakota front clip-

i`m working on rebuilding the front suspension now.

Wow...another 2dr sedan...you just don't see them that often. Looks like a great car you have there. Are you going to be running a maggy motor?

[thrashingcows]

Nice car! I have a '47 that looks just like it. Does it run? Love to hear some details. I don't know how much you know about where to get parts and such, but I have done a lot of research and know some good sources. I've been doing the brakes and general refurbishing on mine. I didn't devote too much time to it this year. It's an ongoing project. How good is your chrome?

So you have a 47 2dr sedan as well?

Well the details...Car was originally from San Fransico CA area when new. When the original owner passed away it wet to a brother? who then drove it to Montana. It was then retired to pasture...literally..with some sort of engine trouble. The oil pan was removed and several of the pistons as well. And it then languished for a couple decades.

Over time the owner amassed a few 46-48 Desotos, couple 4drs and a convertible. The fellow I bought the car from wanted the convertible but the guy wouldn't just sell the convertible...he had to buy all 4 cars to get the 'vert. He then transported everything back down to southern CA. And that is where I got it from.

Car is factory black, with a tan interior. Fluid drive, 251 flat 6, with dual heaters, radio and dome light. That's about it. Car is almost completely rust free, just the bottom of the spare tire well is a little rotten, and a couple small areas on the floor need a small patch...that's it!! The trunk lid lip is mint as well. Chrome is in pretty nice shape, some small pitting but not bad for 60+ year old chrome. And it's not missing any trim either, seller was very good about making sure everything was there, and he even pillage some of the "better" parts off the 4dr parts cars for me.

Can't wait to get working on it, but as stated there needs to be a reduction to the "Honey Do" list before that can happen.

[65rbdodge]

Wow...another 2dr sedan...you just don't see them that often. Looks like a great car you have there. Are you going to be running a maggy motor?

i built a non magnum(i dont care for all the pullys/accessorys they have) 318 for it and an 833od, w/ a 9.25 rear out of a ramcharger. i did use early 2 1/8" ex. magnum manifolds for it though. motor pic-

[carls 49]

great story and pics brian, thanks. looks like a sweet 48!

[pflaming]

"Went 400 miles on 15 gallons...that's 26.6 mpg." WOW, that's amazing, what year is it, and what power train is in it? Neat car.

'

[Bingster]

No, I stand corrected! Mine '47 is a four door; not a two door.

[thrashingcows]

"Went 400 miles on 15 gallons...that's 26.6 mpg." WOW, that's amazing, what year is it, and what power train is in it?

'

The dodge ram crewcab is 84 D350 2wd with a retrofitted 89 cummins 12V motor with a 95 NV4500 5spd manual tranny, and a 3.54 Dana.

[thrashingcows]

i built a non magnum(i dont care for all the pullys/accessorys they have) 318 for it and an 833od, w/ a 9.25 rear out of a ramcharger. i did use early 2 1/8" ex. magnum manifolds for it though. motor pic-

That looks great!! Love the color and think you made a wise choice with the earlier 318, and the 833od will make it a great cruiser. I plan on running the 833od as well.

[Frank Elder]

i built a non magnum(i dont care for all the pullys/accessorys they have) 318 for it and an 833od, w/ a 9.25 rear out of a ramcharger. i did use early 2 1/8" ex. magnum manifolds for it though. motor pic-

What pulleys and ACC make a Magnum motor:confused:Less pulleys and ACC make more HP........EDIT, or are you talking about a modern magnum motor?

[Plymouthy Adams]

Frankie, maybe it was in reference to the serpentine setup of the later magnums and the fact that you will have to wire all the electronics up to take advantage of the clean smooth power they offer..

[Frank Elder]

Frankie, maybe it was in reference to the serpentine setup of the later magnums and the fact that you will have to wire all the electronics up to take advantage of the clean smooth power they offer..

Ha.....There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

[65rbdodge]

ya i meant the modern magnum motors.

[Frank Elder]

ya i meant the modern magnum motors.

Thanks 65rbdodge!