'38 Special Sedan-How Much "dont Touch It"?

[Squally70]

Not easy to join, that's a good thing.

The hook to join your forum wasn't "if you have a flathead, you're in the right place", it was don't put zerks in the wheel bearing grease holes.

 

Short&sweet, the 38 is all good original shape & a driver, NO rust but the holy front floorboard & some around the boltholes. Consenses is, don't clean or do anything including replacing the bolt in-front floor panel (put carpet) or, what I'd like to do, at least wipe the dash w/ oil. What about the running boards, a guy told me to glue the loose pieces & paint flat? I was receptive, more original, the better. Front bench new, that's it. Keep original crappy? She's not new to me. What say you? I-473093.pdf NFS

 

 

 

 

[Squally70]

Need input on pressure plate & clutch prefferences besides Bernbaum.

[greg g]

Welcome.  Nice looking ride.  Standard response is it's yours, whadya wanna do with it?  Its not like its a Duesenberg or Pierce Arrow, its a late 30's low priced production car with genes shared by hundreds of thousands of assembly line brethren.  The AACA has a certification program for recognizing survivors, if that's your thing.  If you want to fix the floor panel, just for safety's sake I would, never liked Flintstone flyers.  The dash looks like it would gain some from a little elbow grease, ad the running boards might respond to some localized repair.  but then you drawn a movable line in the sand, that you might be forever chasing.  Then you will get those questions from folks, when you gonna fix it, paint it, restore it, sell it?  I guess it is what makes the hobby so much fun or so damned frustrating.  Nothing wrong with enjoying a driver, better I say than an over restored thing that gets trailered to its 3 or 4 outing a year.  Just beware of all enterprises that start with "All ya gotta do is............."

 

 

Search Tennesee Clutch on this forum.

Edited September 2, 2013 by greg g

[Squally70]

[squirebill]

Welcome to the forum.  I'm relatively new here too but have gotten a lot of help and good suggestions here concerning my '49 Dodge Pick-up.  Folks here steered me to Randall at Tennessee Clutch.  Sent him my clutch disc and pressure plate assy....he returned a new disc assy. and a completely rebuilt pressure plate unit for $75...plus shipping came to about $100.  Your car looks good in the parade picture and the guys in the back seat look like they're enjoying the ride.  Have fun.

[GlennCraven]

I like the car a lot just as she is. Fix the running boards a bit, sure. And a few other things, like any rust in the floors, out of necessity. But she's a nice survivor as-is and there's a lot to be said for that!

[Frank Elder]

Wonderful old car! Red/white wall tires?....never seen that before........

[TodFitch]

The car is yours to do what you want with it.

 

Were it me, I'd do a full safety check on the brakes, steering and suspension first. Once that was done, I'd probably stabilize it (keep the running board rubber from further damage, seat cover(s) to protect original upholstery, etc.) and fix the rust (floor board, etc.).

 

Then I'd drive it and enjoy it for a while before deciding if it was okay as is, needed a partial or full restoration (if you like original) or if there were suitable mods to "update" it to your desires.

[greg g]

Anybody overspray thier running boards with thinned PU bed liner??

[John Reddie]

Nice looking '38. I agree that you should repair what needs to be attended to and drive it and enjoy it. I see in the photo that it is a later '38 model by the placement of the headlights. The earlier ones in '38 had the headlights a little higher and they protruded out more. If you are not already a member of the Plymouth Ownwer's Club, you might consider joining. There are a few members with '38 Plymouths like yours. Have fun.

John R

[Don Coatney]

Are the pictures of the dash and interior the same car as the one in the parade? I am thinking 2 different cars.

[Dan Hiebert]

I like your plan - fix the rust holes - that'll only get worse, and even if you carpet you'll still get unwelcome fumes inside. Touch up the running boards (which don't look all that bad in the picture). The car looks well seasoned, as long as things aren't falling off, its good. Personally, I'd start with minimum work so I could drive it, but then I'd get the itch to start fixing and refurbishing stuff just because I could, but that's me. I'll chime in with a ditto on - its your car. You'll enjoy this forum, welcome.

[Squally70]

Thanks for your input, I'd like to hear all thoughts. Now on to the flathead. Beadblast w/walnuts?

[JIPJOBXX]

On my dash I just took a little steel wool and cleaned up the rust and then varnished it.  Like you I have tried to keep my Dodge as original as possible except for the running gear and engine.  I did repaint it but that was 10 years ago and sometimes into day world you might just keep what you have and maybe clear coat it.  I love old stock cars weather there fixed up or just a thing to play around with.  Most people just like to look and see the past and that is what nice about not doing to much with the insides.  I bought a set of seat covers oft of E-Bay for $5.00 and they worked perfect.  Anyway enjoy your old car and welcome to the world of love /hate relationships with your new friend.

[JIPJOBXX]

On the engine issue I would just get some cans of dunk and wash the engine oft or have it steamed cleaned.  And while your at it then steam clean the underneath of the car as there is nothing worst that have road grim get into your eyes while trying to check something out under your rig. 

[Dan Hiebert]

Two additional things - one another ditto - on cleaning.  That's always the first thing I do for any new "old" acquisition, and usually the hardest job.  Sure makes it easier to work on whatever comes up afterwards.  Two - I liked the "Snidely Whiplash" thing you had going with that first avatar...  I get a kick out of the "A-cards"; every time I see one I get a flashback to a wartime Bugs Bunny cartoon where he's in an airplane beset by gremlins at the end of the cartoon, hurtling towards the ground.  The plane sputters and stops just short of impact, and Bugs says to the audience, "Eh, ran out of gas.  You know how it is with these A-cards!"   Sorry, mind wandered a bit.....

[greg g]

Myay!!!  What's Up Doc????

[Young Ed]

Two additional things - one another ditto - on cleaning.  That's always the first thing I do for any new "old" acquisition, and usually the hardest job.  Sure makes it easier to work on whatever comes up afterwards.  Two - I liked the "Snidely Whiplash" thing you had going with that first avatar...  I get a kick out of the "A-cards"; every time I see one I get a flashback to a wartime Bugs Bunny cartoon where he's in an airplane beset by gremlins at the end of the cartoon, hurtling towards the ground.  The plane sputters and stops just short of impact, and Bugs says to the audience, "Eh, ran out of gas.  You know how it is with these A-cards!"   Sorry, mind wandered a bit.....

 

Ah the gremlins from the kremlin. Love that cartoon!