Wife says I need a hobby.

[desertdog71]

So, I decided to buy a car that is in boxes and pieces.

Here is a few pics of my new hobby.

[desertdog71]

[desertdog71]

[RobertKB]

Congratulations on having an understanding wife and a great project. A '46-'48 Desoto Club Coupe is quite an unusual car. Looks like the motor has been done before you got it.

Anyway, welcome to the best forum there is for these old Mopar flatheads. Actually welcome to the best forum there is. There are lots of very knowledgeable guys here who are willing to share so ask any and all questions. The Search function can be your friend as well.

Please keep us updated on your progress. We love pictures on this forum.

[desertdog71]

The story is that this car was having a frame off restoration. The rolling chassis is all done and the guy was actually driving the chassis around his farm field by itself. The body had been sandblasted and then the project stopped and sat for about a year outside.

It was sold to the guy I bought it from to be used as a parts cars for a different project. He ended up finding another suitable donor car for his project and did not need this one any longer. He thought it would be a shame to cut this one up for his project anyways. So he had it sitting around for the past 3 months. He was getting ready to list it on Ebay, but I just happened to be right place right time and was told about this car. I drove out to the guys house and bought it that day.

I'm not real experienced plus I drive truck over the road, so I don't expect progress will move along all too quickly. About all I have done so far is organize some of the boxes of parts I have, pound out a few dents, and sand off the filler that was on the car. The filler was all really thin but after sitting outside without primer, I wanted to get it all off and start with fresh bare metal. At this point right now I have to save a few more dollars for the sandblasting, and zinc chromate sprayed on. That will get the big portion of things handled and then I can take my time getting it all reassembled.

I have many duplicate parts, so when I am finished I may have some handy items left over for someone in need.

Its a 46 DeSoto S-11 Custom.

Edited May 10, 2013 by desertdog71

[RobertKB]

Sounds like you got a good deal with all the mechanicals done. Looks like most of the trim is there and that is the really hard stuff to find. Great project and it sounds like you have a sensible plan for it. Also nice to see it going back basically stock which is how I personally like them. A member of the car club I belong to has the same car and I have included a picture of it. It was made from two cars as the body is a coupe and the frame came from a donor sedan. Both cars were rough to begin with and it was a mammoth project. Yours should be much easier.

Edited September 1, 2012 by RobertKB
Add picture

[chopt50wgn]

When you get the body back to bare metal, use a good epoxy primer, not the zinc chromate. With epoxy you can put any type body filler over it and then the metal is already sealed.

[Niel Hoback]

Wow! You even got a clock in there! And lookit that grille!!

[55 Fargo]

When you get the body back to bare metal, use a good epoxy primer, not the zinc chromate. With epoxy you can put any type body filler over it and then the metal is already sealed.

Ditto, and welcome, those floors look good, that is a plus. Once you have the panels blasted, stripped, or sanded, either shoot on the 2 k epoxy primer, that will seal for a long time.

If you cant or aren't set up for spraying, you could roll on rusty metal primer with a foam roller. Ince cured anything can over this, body fillers, 2 k urethane primers, lacquer primers, you name it, and it seals extremely well, and good adhesion and corrosion resistance

[P-12 Tommy]

That'll keep you busy fo sho!

Tom

[claybill]

driving is good. it takes oyu places. places where salvage yards are hidden and other places where forum members live. keep a galaxy tablet in the front seat and keep in touch with your wherabouts..love to have you around.

bill

[desertdog71]

driving is good. it takes oyu places. places where salvage yards are hidden and other places where forum members live. keep a galaxy tablet in the front seat and keep in touch with your wherabouts..love to have you around.

bill

I have a RAZR, so no problem keeping on touch on the road.

As for the car, today I sanded all the filler off and no surprises just some pitting that was being covered up. Pounded a couple dents out of the roof, one fender, and hood.

Trunk lid, I started on it but it has some decay also, all along the bottom edge. I think I will be able to separate the inner and outer panel of the trunk while replacing the decayed area and get it straight again.

Floors are very solid, there is no decay on this car aside from the one trunk panel, I know it looks like you need a tetanus shot just to get near it but that is all just light surface rust. You can be back to bare metal with a couple strokes of 160 gr.

I am sure I will be on here more than a few times, wondering how to do something or get something together or identify a mystery part in the boxes I have. This looks like a great site and I am happy to see a good resource available to learn about these cars.

[desertdog71]

Wow! You even got a clock in there! And lookit that grille!!

I have the better part of two cars here aside from the big body panels etc. I have 4 tail lights, 4 headlight assemblies, 4 door handles, 2 trunk handles......you get the picture.

[Rodney Bullock]

Wow, that coupe looks great. I tried to tell my wife I need a hobby:mad: She said I already have one. The problem is it's taking up all my time. The glass just is'nt big enough;)

[plymouthtomas]

Keep up the good work don't give up when things don't work right, I made so many changes on mind had to work it out each time

1946 Plymouth coupe be ready to drive this winter or next spring time with a 440 engine in it may not rich enough to buy gas for it (I love the look of it and ready to burn rubber)

1967 Mustang fastback (almost ready to drive)

1968 Mustang fastback

[desertdog71]

Just going to be stock for now. Not sure what I will do after that. It will be cool to see your once you get it on the road again.

[desertdog71]

Not much new to report. I have been derusting all the bolts nuts and small parts, and trying to get things organized. I got the seats and some more trim picked up from the original owner. Bumpers and about 6 more boxes of parts is all I am needing to retrieve still and get to the house.

I did manage to acquire a small compressor and some other tools from a family member, so that should ease things along.

[thrashingcows]

Conrgats on a very cool Desoto. I have a 48 Desoto 2dr Sedan I'm bringing back from the dead. Nice that the chassis and drive train are all done...Huge chunk of time, and expense saving for you.

I will enjoy following along.

[desertdog71]

As far as I know, all I need to do is change the oil, clean out the air cleaner, clean out the fuel tank and get that all attached and filled, then a 6v battery and we are off and running. The brakes do not work according to the seller, so those will need to be sorted out, or upgraded.

[Tom Skinner]

Put a couple of 5 Gallon Pails in there to sit on and away you go.

L.O.L. Good Luck that's allot of fun your having!

[Don Jordan]

I don't mean to be rude but someone has got to tell you: old cars are not a hobby - they are an addiction.

You will tell yourself you can quit whenever you want. But then you find a part on e-bay - just one how can that hurt. One is too many 1,000 is not enough. You'll be sitting on a street corner with a sign "Will work for Plymouth parts."

You can join Plymouths Anonymous but that's no good. They'll just tell you what a great ride you have and talk you into dual carburetors. It's a downward spiral.

just trying to be helpful

[Niel Hoback]

Yeah, but its a fun downward spiral!

[thrashingcows]

Yeah, but its a fun downward spiral!

And lots of company as we all circle the drain....