1947 Plymouth Hemi Build

[Adam H P15 D30]

Hello to All..... Now that my 49 Dodge is pretty much where I want it (for now), I decided it was time to get back to work on the Plym after a 5 year break. Here are some pictures as I left it, same story kids, life.......

[Adam H P15 D30]

The story behind this car goes: I had a 39 Plym Bus coupe in high school and my best friend wanted something similar. He found a running 47 S/D. Well he stripped it down in hopes of making a modern type streetrod. My dad and his best friend helped us do the clip partially set up the chassis.

The floors and rockers were completely rusted out and after it sitting for a couple of years his pops made him get rid of it. He sold it to a mutual friend and it sat for another 10 years. Then I got a call that it was going to be scrapped, so I stepped in and bought it for 100.00. Probably paid too much for it????

Time to get to business (about 10 years ago). Floors and rockers were first, then the firewall had to come back because I was NOT going to run the SB chebby it was set up for. After the floors and rockers were finished I narrowed the rear and redid the trunk and wheel wells. Then all work stopped for a number of years.

[scotty t]

i'll be following this build, i've got a 354 for my 48 biz coupe. what front susp are you using? how about a pic of the the motor mounts? thanks

[Adam H P15 D30]

Front clip is a 71 Firechicken. Going to put the Fatman narrow control arms on it. Got the motor mounts and trans mount done this weekend. Decided to loose the 700r4 trans for a 518 Torqueflite. Here are some more pictures..... Out with the old and in with the new.

[Adam H P15 D30]

Here are some more pictures including my helper. Could not have done it without him. Motor mounts are from Hot Heads. But they are TCI units I believe.

[Adam H P15 D30]

Here is a shot of a narrowed control arm from Fatman. Had to do a little surgery to the radiator support to clear the steering box but I don't know how I could have put the Hemi in there with the stock steering where is was. Clearence is tight and the Firebird frame rails are spaced farther apart than the old Plym ones were. Remember, the subframe was done 20+ years ago. I probably would have done it again the same way but with the new control arms it was just as expensive as a Mustang II kit. I believe the quality of the heavier GM units is better than the Mustang II because they were designed for a much heavier car. I will have to do major surgery to the inner fender panels to clear the cylinder heads so the control arms will be visable from under the hood.

[Adam H P15 D30]

Engine shifted to the right 1", no room for a steering box. Had to cut the crossmember to clear drivers header, Will plate that in and finish when engine comes back out.

[Adam H P15 D30]

Got the transmission crossmember built and installed today. No more blocks under the car holding everything up

[thrashingcows]

Looking good so far. And I'm sure your helper will make things a little easier too....sure he's been bugging you to get to work on the old beast.

[mrwrstory]

Good job! The 518 is an OD, right? How you gonna shift it? I'm just now sorting that issue out on my project.

Keep the pics and updates acomin.

Edited April 3, 2012 by mrwrstory

[Adam H P15 D30]

The 518 is a 727 with an overdrive hanging off the back of it. It uses the same shifter that a 727 would. Mine is NOT a lock up transmission so I can use any 727 torque converter. There is a 2 wire connector, power and ground shifts it into overdrive. Can split every gear if you want to. Much easier than a 700r4.

[handlebar lou]

i'll be following this build, i've got a 354 for my 48 biz coupe. what front susp are you using? how about a pic of the the motor mounts? thanks

I'm 4 years into putting a 354 in my 46 3 window coupe. Kept the original suspension due to bad(Pennsylvania) roads and clearence issues. Motor mounts are from Hot Heads. Moved the radiator to the other side of the core support. Used a cavilear rack and pinion. So far so good but it's not on the road yet.

[fstfish66]

nice build,,,

[rockable]

I'm liking it! Keep up the great work!

[Adam H P15 D30]

Will be back on it this weekend. Hopefully start on the steering, then I can final fit the front end and bumpers before I take it all apart again to finish weld everything.

[littlemo]

Adam; Great build, keep those pics coming. I'm sure there are many of us here who are always looking for new ways to solve our own "build" problems!!! eek: Cass, alias littlemo... Add; bet your helper doesn't work cheap !!! lol...

[Adam H P15 D30]

Hi all,  well life got in the way a little on the Plym build and I had to take a few months off.  I did use the time productively by putting a few thousand miles on the Dodge though.  Sunday I got the inner fenders finished so all that's left is dealing with the front bumper brackets then the body can come off for the last time, and for the life of me I can't figure out where these 2 panels go.  I'm pretty sure they go in front, but remember this car was taken apart 20 years and 2 owners ago so I'm not sure.....  Any thoughts.  The panels are in the third picture, Thanks!!!

Edited January 23, 2013 by Adam H P15 D30

[jcmiller]

The one on the left looks like vertical pieces on my '42 that connect to both sides of the dust/gravel pan. 

Edited January 24, 2013 by jcmiller

[Adam H P15 D30]

Thanks!!!  I'm missing most of those panels.

[fstfish66]

nice to see u back at it

[WatchingWolf]

one on the right looks similar to the plate that hold the hood latch on am Dodge.

[Adam H P15 D30]

Well it's been a year or so, new career, 4 kids and another old mopar to drive around has kind of put the Plymouth on the back burner. I did lift the body back off the frame to finish weld everything, paint and assemble it. I work on it in the driveway by day and push it under the body at night. Wish I had a 2 car garage. Mocked up the new suspension and finished the front bumper brackets. Kind of goes in spirts

Edited April 11, 2014 by Adam H P15 D30

[Adam H P15 D30]

Couple more

[mrwrstory]

Welcome back!  Seems when you get to the project that progress happens real fast.  Anxious to see more.

[Adam H P15 D30]

Got a little more done today. Shortened the steering arms, put my new brakes together, put my new steering box and other goodies together. Feels good to start going through all those new parts that have been sitting for years.