new guy..........couple questions

[19wayfarer51]

Hey guys I'm new here, my names Kevin. I have a 1951 (I think) wayfarer basket case im trying to make something out of for cheap

first question, how can I tell exactly what year this car is?

second, what is this car, D?????? (P15-D24? I'm lost here)

lastly how much can a 230 flat six be bored safely, I see .080 over pistons available, does that mean it can go .080 over? cylinders are badly rust pitted and one is scored from the wrist pin clip coming out and the pin riding the cylinder wall, not sure it can be saved

thanx guys

Kevin

P.S. pic below

Edited December 11, 2010 by 19wayfarer51

[moparbenny]

welcome!if it's a '51 it's a D-41 if it's a '52 it's d-42. here's a pic of my '51 sportabout D-41.

p.s let me know if you find another trunk, i'm missing mine. benny:)

[Dodgeb4ya]

Kevin and Benny...

Just a small correction, D41 is for both lower line models of wayfarer 2 doors and D42 is Meadowbrook and Coronet all models- Coronet being top of the line Dodge.I also have had a couple of the D41 3 passenger coupes. Pretty rare and really hard to find with rear window chrome!

Bob

[moparbenny]

Kevin and Benny...

Just a small correction, D41 is for both lower line models of wayfarer 2 doors and D42 is Meadowbrook and Coronet all models- Coronet being top of the line Dodge.I also have had a couple of the D41 3 passenger coupes. Pretty rare and really hard to find with rear window chrome!

Bob

Bob's right. I was looking at my body identification chart wrong:(

[19wayfarer51]

thanx guys............... so my car is rare because it has chrome rear window trim? I'm missing the piece of trim for the belt line in the rear. You're gonna make me feel bad about cutting this car up.

Kevin

[moparbenny]

according to crestline dodge only made 6702 for both years '51-52.

and as far has cutting your's up don't feel to bad it's not like your cutting a garage kept one owner...i have time's were i think mine would look good with some '56 packard taillights...and '57 Buick grill and headlights...

[greg g]

P15-D24 refers specifically to Plymouths and Dodges manufactured between 1946 and early 1949. Chryslers would be C model numberes and DeSotos are designated by S prefixes. This website was origially targeted to folsk with P's and D's of those years.

It has evolved ofer the years to include folks who own just about any vehcle with a flathead 6 (or even those who have lost their original power plant) Look on the drivers side of the engine above the generator for a flat casting just below the head. There should be a number stamped into that area. That number should start with a D 41 followed by several other numbers. A look on the A pillar door post should net you a serial number tag. This will be the assembly sequence number and with that you can tell when and where your car was assembled.

If you got to the forum by searching the web, make sure you look at the rest of the site for other helpful information regarding the mechanical systems of your car.

Welcome.

[49roadster]

The body appearers to be a 1951. The bottom bar in the grill is chrome. In 1952 that would be panted. But the motor number will tell the tale, if it is original. The number should start with D. What are the rest of the numbers?

[Dodgeb4ya]

The hood medallion is all plastic for 1952. 1951 are cloisenne.1952 dash has a plastic chrome dodge nameplate- 1951 nameplate is diecast chrome as I recall.

[19wayfarer51]

the guy I got this car from told me it was a 50, but the pics of 50's I've seen have a square speedo, this one's round.........so the general consensus is this is probably a 51 as I thought? I will get the engine numbers and body serial number next time I make it up to my father's.

[moose]

You're in Ayer? That's not too far from me in Maynard. Where is the car? Let me know if you need parts, I'm always trying to clear out my garage...

[19wayfarer51]

Ya I'm in Ayer, I've seen u over on the H.A.M.B., been meaning to drop u a line for a few weeks but life always seems to get in the way, we should meet up some time, shoot me a PM.

The car is at my fathers place in Litchfield NH, I got it from a guy in West Groton who was moving and needed to clean out the yard, free, I think I paid too much

[19wayfarer51]

nobody's got any idea how much this motor can be safely bored? I know about sleeving but $$$$$$. if it comes to that I probably will just drop a v8 in it

[martybose]

nobody's got any idea how much this motor can be safely bored? I know about sleeving but $$$$$$. if it comes to that I probably will just drop a v8 in it

When the 230 that I bought turned out to be a worn out 0.060" over motor, my machinist ultrasound-checked all of the cylinders. He said that the bores were nicely centered in the casting and could easily go 0.100" over if we needed to. We had a set of custom pistons made up for a modern ring set and went 0.072" over.

Marty

[greg g]

Back in the old days, my uncle had a Pontiac that was down on compression in one cylinder. He had that one cylinder rebored and placed one oversized piston and rings in that one cylinder. He ran that car for years after the repair with no ill effect. I believe I read that .090 was not a problem, but anything over that might need a sleeve.

Remember you are not dealing with a high compression, high rev engine where critical balancing is a must.

[Andydodge]

Marty........can you give more info re the pistons you had made, who,where,what.....lol..and info re the modern rings.......would be very interested in this info........thanks, andyd

[martybose]

Marty........can you give more info re the pistons you had made, who,where,what.....lol..and info re the modern rings.......would be very interested in this info........thanks, andyd

My machinist found a metric ring set for a Toyota that worked out to be a 0.072" oversize, then I sent one set of rings and one of the old pistons to Venolia. They made me a set of forged pistons that matched the stock piston but used the new rings. We then bolted on a honing plate and bored the block to fit the pistons.

This was about a decade ago, but I would bet they can still make them!

Marty