ntxcustoms Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 I found this 39 on CL and fell in love with it the minute I laid eyes on it. Turns out this car has been in the DFW area all its life and I'm the third owner. The PO had installed a 318 in a very sloppy fashion and was just ugly. I am going with a 318 but the motor in the car was locked and pretty much wasted. I had a previous customer redo his 69 charger in the shop and I traded some labor for his complete drive train as he was going with a new mill and trans. So I plan on using this 69s 318, 904, and 8 3/4 rear. Here's how she looked when I brought her into the shop after resting for over 20 years. Notice the custom light treatments on the back? You can see the cobbled job of putting a 318 in the car before. The motor is seriously half way inside the car and they used headers which would put them right by your calf-knee area! What year plymouth is this? So lovely:rolleyes: They used the column, wheels, motor, pedals, and even springs in the dodge. The springs were for a heavy big block car so I guess they were trying for the gasser look? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntxcustoms Posted March 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 So after tear down I sent everything but the shell over to the blast room to get it down to white metal. Takes the dress off so to speak and then you can see what needs to be done. During tear down I found that the floor was an aluminum sign that was held in place by only a few screws and pop rivits. The sad thing was that the seats were bolted to this floor! I can't imagine what would have happened to someone if they had got in a wreck. I also found that I have my work cut out for me with the inner rockers, rear body panel, and the right front outer a pillar. I don't think there are panels available? So I'll be making a few. Something that irkes me about a few different cars are the body mounts with the metal sleeve running through the rubber like these cars have. The sleeves are prone to rot and are hard to find and I didn't feel like forking over $220 for rubbers. So I changed my mounts to a square biscuit and shim style bushing like used in a 50s fords and chevys. I did this by cutting the top portion of the frame mount off and after drilling out the lower half's rivits, moved them up flush with the top of the frame. I then made a steel plate with a "stock" look and welded it on. I should have taken more pics. These mounts will be ground smooth before the frame goes back into the blast booth again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntxcustoms Posted March 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Here's the block after rehab. She winds up quick and sounds great. Heres its new home. I using Chassis Engineering biscuit style mounts. I plan on running a rack so I have to have the block back a bit but not near as much as what was before! I will also be using a mustang radiator so I have plenty of room up front...still debating on a electric or clutch fan... Thats it for tonight. I'll post some more pictures of how the motor is mocked in place. Its tacked in now but there is still plenty of mocking up to do before the mounts are welded in solid. Tyler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadkingcoupe Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 The vehicle pictured is a 1939 Dodge (US built) They are attractive and will make a great project that will turn heads! If you google "1939 Dodge Coupe" and click on images it will give you a detailed illustration of what the car looks like. The original tail lights are a "chevron" shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 The steering column and wheel you show ws introduced around 1969 if memory serves me correct..style was used across the line up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40plyrod Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 nice work. looks like you're well on your way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntxcustoms Posted March 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Thanks guys! Roadking, I was asking about the column;) I do need the original tail lights as mine are trailer deluxe. Man they want a fortune for them though! How many 39s were built? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadkingcoupe Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 “There is some question as to whether the body style production figures that some quote are correct. Several entrants mention production of the Deluxe two-door sedan as 270, and indeed this figure has been published. But McPherson, the _Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942_ and the _Encyclopedia of American Cars_ (Publications International, 2002) all take issue with this and state that Dodge production figures for 1939 are inconclusive. The Standard Catalog, researched by John Gunnell, suggests the lower figure is confused with Canadian production. McPherson gives total 1939 Dodge production as 186,700, and if we subtract the total Special production of 71,000 (on which everyone seems to agree) we get 115,474 Deluxe cars. In the Special series, two-door sedans made up 38% of the total, so applying this to the Deluxe total gives us an estimate of 43,425 two-doors, a lot more than 270. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 more I look at that steering and cloumn the more I say 76 Valiant.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntxcustoms Posted March 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Roadking..thanks for that info sounds like a mess. The column and pedals were just thrown in and pieces of metal were welded all around until they stayed in place. I wish I had taken more pictures so we could all see what not to do. Since the motor was so far back the firewall was set back about one and a half feet. I need taillights, column, pedals, and some dash pieces if any of you guys have parts. I think it might just be easier to use some 40 ford parts though as the column are all just straight tubes and the 40 pedals are easy to adapt mustang masters to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 The 39 plymouth taillight buckets are quite prone to rust and therefore expensive. Your 39 dodge ones might be subject to the same thing. Some of the 39 guys get creative and adapt 39 ford buckets which are a similar shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntxcustoms Posted March 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Ed I was thinking about the ford lights since they are readily available and are quite alike. Are there any posts on here on modifying these lights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Ed I was thinking about the ford lights since they are readily available and are quite alike. Are there any posts on here on modifying these lights? Not that I'm aware of. I think I was talking in person to an owner of a 39 about it. I know when Dad had his 39 plymouth we never did find good tail light buckets for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Elder Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 By golly that sure is a nice car Tyler! Good luck with your parts hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadkingcoupe Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 (edited) I know when Dad had his 39 plymouth we never did find good tail light buckets for it. The 1939 Plymouth tail lamp assemblies actually had an inner and an outer bucket. The rear wheels sent a constant spray onto the assemblies and they rusted out easily. The outer bucket or "shield" was often rusted right off the car, leaving the inner bucket exposed. 9 out of 10 - 1939 Plymouth's out there are missing the outer buckets (shield) and the owners are unaware of their existence! Unfortunately it is designed so that the outer bucket compresses the assembly against the car body. The outer bucket bolts on to two threaded studs and pushes up against the fender from underneath. Even though it was a flawed design....they sure are puuuurty! Edited March 21, 2012 by Roadkingcoupe add pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntxcustoms Posted March 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Thanks Frankie! Looking to get a couple more pics up tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntxcustoms Posted March 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 So I have the block mocked and the frame side of the mounts just tacked for now. I want to have the frame at about ride height so I can level the intake plane. The good biscuit style mounts will have a metal band around them to keep the rubber in place and will last a long time. Here's the guys moving adjusting clearances at this point its just floating.. I put the rack up for a trial fit. Because the rack has to have room for the tie rods I can't bring the motor any further forward. Its real easy to use these mounts as you just bolt them to together and trim to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntxcustoms Posted March 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I also have the motor over about 1" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlemo Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 How far below the top of your frame is the "frame-mount" attatched ?? Thanks !! Cass.. alias littlemo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Nice job! You're going to have a pretty slick ride when you're done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntxcustoms Posted March 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Thanks Falcon! Mo - I can measure it and post it on the thread if you like. In our chat you were saying that you planned to stick with a the stock steering so if you do your setup will be different. I would prefer to go up and forward more but the rack is there. I think I should set my rack first and then hug the block as much as I can. As it sits now I'm into the firewall. Tyler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlemo Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 ntxcustom; Would it give you more room up front if you went with a "rear-sump" oil pan ? I had to do that to clear my tie-rods in the 47 Ply. Cass, alias littlemo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntxcustoms Posted March 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 Cass - I believe it would but then I would need to go up more to clear the cross member and the trans is already near the top of the x member at level. I could notch the front cross member though...If I switch to a rear sump what else am I looking at besides the pan? Pick up tube? Dipstick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Watson Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 “There is some question as to whether the body style production figures that some quote are correct. Several entrants mention production of the Deluxe two-door sedan as 270, and indeed this figure has been published. But McPherson, the _Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942_ and the _Encyclopedia of American Cars_ (Publications International, 2002) all take issue with this and state that Dodge production figures for 1939 are inconclusive. The Standard Catalog, researched by John Gunnell, suggests the lower figure is confused with Canadian production. McPherson gives total 1939 Dodge production as 186,700, and if we subtract the total Special production of 71,000 (on which everyone seems to agree) we get 115,474 Deluxe cars. In the Special series, two-door sedans made up 38% of the total, so applying this to the Deluxe total gives us an estimate of 43,425 two-doors, a lot more than 270. The 270 2-door sedans is for the Canada-only D13 series. Jerry Heasley's production figure book mentions only the D11S (US only) and D13 (Canada only) series and nothing on the D11D and D12, which were built in both Canada and the U.S. The correct and complete production figures for the 1939 Dodge - D11S - Luxuryliner Special (US) : Business Coupe - 12,300 2-dr Sedan - 26,700 4-dr Sedan - 32,000 Total - 71,000 D11D - Luxuryliner Deluxe (US) and Custom Six (Canada) : Business Coupe - 12,800 4-pass Victoria Coupe - 4,712 Hayes-built Club Coupe - 363 * 2-dr Sedan - 17,608 4-dr Sedan - 80,169 LWB 7-pass Sedan - 1,332 LWB 7-pass Limous - 142 Chassis - 875 Total - 118,001 (* Not built in Canada) D12 - Six (Export - US) and Six (Canada) : Business Coupe - 559 4-pass Coupe - 881 * 2-dr Sedan - 439 2-dr Touring Sedan - 559 4-dr Sedan - 677 4-dr Touring Sedan - 4,594 2-dr Convertible Coupe - 74 * 4-dr Convertible Sedan - 13 * Station Wagon - 91 * Commercial Sedan - 131 * LWB 7-pass Sedan - 570 * Chassis - 1,393 Total - 9,181 (* - Not Built or sold in Canada) D13 - DeLuxe Six (Canada) and DeLuxe Special Six (Canada) : Business Coupe - 630 2-dr Sedan - 270 2-dr Touring Sedan - 1,585 4-dr Sedan - 270 4-dr Touring Sedan - 5,545 Total - 8,300 Production for Canadian-built D11D and D12 models included with American production in the above lists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Watson Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Serial Numbers for the 1939 Dodge : D11S : Hamtramck : 4,276,701 to 4,347,700 : 71,000 Total : 71,000 D11 : Hamtramck : 30,100,001 to 30,214,458 : 114,458 D11 : Windsor : 9,416,686 to 9,420,227 - 3,542 Total : 118,000 D12 : Lynch Road : 3,928,001 to 3,934,809 : 6,809 D12 : Windsor : 9,390,906 to 9,393,277 : 2,372 Total : 9,181 D13 : Windsor : 9,486,416 to 9,494,715 : 8,100 Total : 8,100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.