hemsbydodge Posted October 16, 2011 Report Posted October 16, 2011 hi everybody, well here goes, my project 1947 desoto custom coupe is now well underway to being re-commissioned to be used on the road in england after buying it from washington state, the owner was a mr gunner wold, anyone heard of him, it seems he had it a long while and looked after it was well. After getting it running, and all the brakes sorted out, it was time to sort out what at first sight loked a some amount of tin cancer, this has now turned out to be a trunk floor replacement, done, all the outer edge(10inches each side)of the car floor the whole lenght needs replacement, both inner and outer body sills(english term) to be replaced,drivers side done.I have so far made all the parts, inner /outer sills, truck floor pan, and lower crossmember. Well just tried to add pictures ,but cannot do it yet, i will sort this1 Before the floor is replaced, the gearbox with be replaced ,as the car is just to heavy on gas to us over here, at $7.50 per u.s gallon, it too much.So i am going to fit a five speed box from some easy to get, i.e ford transit, or leyland lt77 box, just got to sort out the transmission brake, or just make it as normal,that should keep me out of the pub ,anyway. hope this little project interests some of you, next project is a 1941 dodge three window coupe, rare car anywhere, regards, shaun Quote
Rusty O'Toole Posted October 16, 2011 Report Posted October 16, 2011 Before you rip out the transmission you do realize your car has a 4 speed sliding gear transmission now? It is the same as any manual trans in principle except it has a little hydraulic device to shift the gears. Unfortunately it only has one "shift". You have to select Reverse, Low range and High range manually. The point is there is nothing to be gained in efficiency by replacing the transmission. It even uses 10 weight motor oil as a lubricant, not 80 or 90 like other transmissions of its time. So the friction is as low as any modern transmission. The Fluid Drive unit is 97% efficient at hiway speeds so there is not a lot to be gained there. You might gain a little by adding overdrive if you habitually drive at 70 MPH. But frankly you will be more comfortable at 50 or 55, and at that speed there is very little to be gained from overdrive. On the whole, what little gas you could save would not justify changing the transmission. Now tuning the engine, that is another story. By the way if you think your car is a hopeless gas hog it is not necessarily so. Jon Robinson who drives a similar model (1950 DeSoto sedan) has driven his car over 200,000 miles and says he expects to get 20 MPG in hiway driving. So far his record is 23 MPG on a run from Victorville California to Topok Arizona. He has driven his car from coast to coast 6 times, with stock transmission and gearing. I leave it to you whether this is reasonable for a car of the DeSoto's size and power. Quote
normanpitkin Posted October 16, 2011 Report Posted October 16, 2011 Hi shaun ,I have a 48 chrysler new yorker coupe ,basically the same car as yours ,just a big bigger engine really,I am in Colchester ,essex ,just down the road ,give me a shout if you need to see my car for reference or anything! rgds,william Quote
Don Coatney Posted October 16, 2011 Report Posted October 16, 2011 Jon Robinson who drives a similar model (1950 DeSoto sedan) has driven his car over 200' date='000 miles and says he expects to get 20 MPG in hiway driving. [/quote']I have communicated with Jon Robinson several times and he is a good guy. He assisted me greatly in the install of my full flow oil filter. I also own and have read a couple of the books he has written. One thing bothers me. He claims his Desoto is bone stock yet he has installed a differential from a late 50's Mopar. That makes his car not bone stock. The gearing in that differential contributes greatly to the long life of his engine and the increased fuel mileage. Quote
Rusty O'Toole Posted October 16, 2011 Report Posted October 16, 2011 The point I was trying to make is that the hemsbydodge's 1947 DeSoto is not the hopeless gas hog a lot of people would make it out to be. Compare it to similar English cars. What 6 cylinder luxury cars were there in the late 40s and early 50s? I can think of Austin Princess, Humber Snipe, Armstrong Siddely Sapphire, Jaguar Mk V , Rolls Royce , Bentley and Daimler. What kind of mileage did they get? Let's say the DeSoto only gets 17 MPG in ordinary driving. I believe this is a reasonable estimate. All right. What kind of mileage would similar English cars get? If you ask me they would be lucky to do as well. You also need to ask, how many miles will the DeSoto be driven in a year and at what speeds? If it is not to be driven at over 60 MPH and mileage of no more than 2 or 3000 miles per year, then savings in gas from a transmission swap becomes negligible. To reduce it to figures. Suppose we reckon 3000 miles per year of driving or 60 miles per week, week in and week out. 3000 miles @ 17 MPG = 176 gal X $7.50 = $1320 3000 miles @ 20 MPG = 150 gal X $7.50 = $1125 Potential savings on gas = $195. Even that looks dubious to me as I don't reckon a transmission swap would save that much gas. But if it did, it would still take years to pay its way. Now a really sharp tuneup and a few mileage tricks could save as much gas, without major mods and at much lower expense. Quote
Rusty O'Toole Posted October 16, 2011 Report Posted October 16, 2011 Hi shaun ,I have a 48 chrysler new yorker coupe ,basically the same car as yours ,just a big bigger engine really,I am in Colchester ,essex ,just down the road ,give me a shout if you need to see my car for reference or anything!rgds,william Do you have any comments on the gas mileage and transmission swap idea? I could be all wet here and would be interested in your experience of the Chrysler, Fluid Drive and fuel usage. Quote
normanpitkin Posted October 17, 2011 Report Posted October 17, 2011 hi ,I reckon to get around 16/17 on a run at an average of 55/60 ,however around town probably less,about 13/14. Last year I did about 1200 miles in total ,the cost of oil changes is more than any possible 3 or 4 mpg figure!The real worry is the ethanol levels. Quote
hemsbydodge Posted October 19, 2011 Author Report Posted October 19, 2011 Hi folks, just a few details on this car, I think the original owner, or at least for a long while was ,gunner wold, mead, wastington state, anyone know hi? various service stickers on the door shuts, all the same place, bill brown, sprague ave,spokane, wa. So far, the drivers side has had the inner and outer sill replaced, welded up as well, the whole length was replaced, about 6 ft of it.Now started on the passenger side, should be done within the next week,. With regard to the gearbox, it has to be removed as the thrust bearing in very noisy, and also the fliud flywheel is seized ,i do have a spare, to replace it with. Does anyone know if a gear from a 1941 dodge ,(fluidfly model) will fit and replace the m6 box, i know the prop my be short and the transmission brake is a smaller unit? shaun Quote
Rusty O'Toole Posted October 19, 2011 Report Posted October 19, 2011 Hi folks, just a few details on this car, I think the original owner, or at least for a long while was ,gunner wold, mead, wastington state, anyone know hi? various service stickers on the door shuts, all the same place, bill brown, sprague ave,spokane, wa. So far, the drivers side has had the inner and outer sill replaced, welded up as well, the whole length was replaced, about 6 ft of it.Now started on the passenger side, should be done within the next week,. With regard to the gearbox, it has to be removed as the thrust bearing in very noisy, and also the fliud flywheel is seized ,i do have a spare, to replace it with. Does anyone know if a gear from a 1941 dodge ,(fluidfly model) will fit and replace the m6 box, i know the prop my be short and the transmission brake is a smaller unit? shaun 1941 Dodge is a 3 speed manual trans behind the fluid drive. It differs from a normal manual trans in having longer input shaft. I believe this trans will interchange with the semi auto model. Not sure what you mean by thrust bearing? If you mean throwout bearing it is easy to replace. Quote
Andydodge Posted October 20, 2011 Report Posted October 20, 2011 Rusty........us Commonwealth Types Thrust.........whereas you yanks Throwout...........lol..........just don't get him talking about his wings 7 things..........lol..........regards, andyd Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 20, 2011 Report Posted October 20, 2011 with the number of little British cars I have and reading forums associated with each model..it can be hard to follow a conversation some times especially when these guys start slinging wrenches....I have always owned at least one British car for the past 26 years of so..I oft times have to use my English slang dictionary.. Quote
Don Coatney Posted October 20, 2011 Report Posted October 20, 2011 Dont any of youns speak Whitworth? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 20, 2011 Report Posted October 20, 2011 yes..the 1954 split window 2 dr sedan Morris Minor has a number of Whitworth threads and wrench sizes.. Quote
Don Coatney Posted October 20, 2011 Report Posted October 20, 2011 I have a few Whitworth wrenches in my toolbox left over from my Norton days. Quote
Frank Elder Posted October 20, 2011 Report Posted October 20, 2011 http://dipsolect.com/british-automotive-slang/ Quote
Rusty O'Toole Posted October 20, 2011 Report Posted October 20, 2011 (edited) Bertie Wooster tells me a firkin of Duckham's from Gamage's will replenish your sump for a guinea, with enough over to top up for a fortnight. Old bean. I also have a full set of BSF and Whitworth spanners. But I don't have a King Dick. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Edited October 20, 2011 by Rusty O'Toole Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 20, 2011 Report Posted October 20, 2011 I have a King Dick...part of the original tool kit for the Sunbeam Tiger.. Quote
Don Coatney Posted October 20, 2011 Report Posted October 20, 2011 I used to have a King Dick. But now that I am older I cant find it:confused: Anyone recall Anthony Hopkins playing Burt Monro in the fastest Indian movie talking about his King Dick? Quote
MoparAl- Posted October 22, 2011 Report Posted October 22, 2011 Hi Shaun and William, im just down the road in Romford ! my 48 bus coupe should arrive in mid Nov, maybe we could meet up? Al Quote
normanpitkin Posted October 23, 2011 Report Posted October 23, 2011 hi al ,sounds good ,let me know when the coupe arrives,is it a dodge/chrysler/plymouth?Maybe the eight ball diner on the A12? Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted October 23, 2011 Report Posted October 23, 2011 Sounds like Mopar frenzy happening over there in the UK. Al, where did you get your car? Quote
MoparAl- Posted October 23, 2011 Report Posted October 23, 2011 Car should dock around 12th, then customs clearance etc, its been a San Francisco car all its life and is a 1948 Plymouth Business Coupe in Airwing Gray needing cosmetics, ie interior and paintwork, have bought on description and pics ! described as running like a swiss watch, cant wait to get my hands on it, even extended the garage ! Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 23, 2011 Report Posted October 23, 2011 well lets just hope thw swiss watch is correct and the guy did not mean swiss cheese..nothing like a new toy eh... Quote
MoparAl- Posted October 23, 2011 Report Posted October 23, 2011 Lol, car has minor rust where the rocker mouldings clips are and on the rear either side of boot above bumper, looks to be less work than my 71 Road runner clone drag car needs. A new toy and winter around the corner = loads of time in the garage for me ! now wheres my xmas list gone ? Quote
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