bluefoxamazone Posted October 5, 2014 Report Posted October 5, 2014 hello everyone! I am new to this forum and to the mopar world.. Hopefully I can find here on this forum, some answers on the questions that I will encounter during the further restoration of my 1953 plymouth cranbrook convertible. I live in Belgium and as far as I know my car has almost no brothers and sisters... I have no idea how about in other countries. Anyway, I have started my project and already ran into one big question... did mechanics in the fifties had longer arms than now?... I am not a small guy but everything I try to do on the car looks so (too) far away, or I get pinched between the fender and the hood...how did they do that..? I will definitely need some parts and while these cars were not realy that popular in Belgium in those days, I will have a hard time finding these here in the local stores. But as I saw on the web, most parts are available in the US. So, I am glad to be here, looking forward to a fruitfull stay. Sorry If my english looks a bit odd, but as you will understand it is not my native language.. take care Franky 1 Quote
Mark D Posted October 5, 2014 Report Posted October 5, 2014 Welcome Franky! Im looking forward to following your progress. You'll find lots of help here and good suggestions for parts suppliers. Your English is fine by the way! Best of luck with the restoration! -Mark D 1 Quote
DJ194950 Posted October 5, 2014 Report Posted October 5, 2014 In the 50's I remember an adjustable hood prop made from metal to hold the hoods up high enough for the average size person to manage to reach the part needing to be worked on. The home worker could measure and make a wood hood prop to fit their car/truck, keep it in the trunk/bed. If you expect to do a lot of under hood work, just make some marks where the hood meets the hinge mount plates and remove the hood for the time being. Get 2 helpers if possible. Cars are quite drivable with the hood off for first shakedown drives until satisfied with operation. Re-install hood matching the marks. Keep the work at a comfortable pace and enjoy your Mopar! DJ 1 Quote
RobertKB Posted October 5, 2014 Report Posted October 5, 2014 (edited) Welcome and it's nice to see another '53 Plymouth on the forum. I own a '53 Belvedere 4-door which is all original, including paint. It is a Canadian car and the 4-door Belvedere was only produced in Canada. Note the extra trim on the front doors. Is yours a US or Canadian built car? All Canadian Plymouths had the longer 25" motor whereas the US cars had the shorter 23" motor. Also, on the build plate on the cowl in the engine compartment it should state where it was built. Any questions about a '53, please PM or email me. Good luck with the project. Edited October 6, 2014 by RobertKB 1 Quote
P15-D24 Posted October 5, 2014 Report Posted October 5, 2014 Welcome to the community. Jump over to the Member Map and post your location and see who else is in your neck of the woods. 1 Quote
pflaming Posted October 6, 2014 Report Posted October 6, 2014 Welcome: We have one language here, Mopar! 2 Quote
Don Coatney Posted October 6, 2014 Report Posted October 6, 2014 Welcome: We have one language here, Mopar! OK PP here is your big chance, say something in Mopar 1 Quote
pflaming Posted October 6, 2014 Report Posted October 6, 2014 Plymouth, Dodge, Desoto, Chrysler, Pilot-house, Fargo 1 Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 6, 2014 Report Posted October 6, 2014 pflaming, on 05 Oct 2014 - 10:02 PM, said:Plymouth, Dodge, Desoto, Chrysler, Pilot-house, Fargo PP you said absolutely nothing in Mopar language, you merely pointed out the various dialects...please hang up and try again... 1 Quote
Dan Hiebert Posted October 6, 2014 Report Posted October 6, 2014 Franky - your English is as good or better than a lot of folks here in the U.S.! Welcome to the forum, you will find lots of assistance and advice here. I know Belgium is not very big compared to the U.S., so this question may be silly, but how close are you to Heusden-Zolder? I have a friend there. Quote
bluefoxamazone Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Posted October 6, 2014 Franky - your English is as good or better than a lot of folks here in the U.S.! Welcome to the forum, you will find lots of assistance and advice here. I know Belgium is not very big compared to the U.S., so this question may be silly, but how close are you to Heusden-Zolder? I have a friend there. Hello Hiebert, Heusden zolder is a two hour drive from my place. So compared to the US distances we are virtualy neighbours... ;-) Last week I was in your neighborhood. We made a trip to Rhode Island, Boston, the Berkshires and finished in New york. I came back with a suitcase loaded with spareparts for the cranbrook. Thanks to Mr Bernbaum for letting me in his shop while I passed by on the I93. grz, Franky 1 Quote
soth122003 Posted October 6, 2014 Report Posted October 6, 2014 Hey Franky, Welcome to the forum. I am 6'7" tall, almost 2 meters, and I have trouble at some parts of the engine under the hood. The nearest I can figure is the mechanic of the forties and fifties was part orangutan. Any who, you find lots of sage advice here. Joe Quote
mrwrstory Posted October 6, 2014 Report Posted October 6, 2014 I see by your profile that you are 53 years old. In The States it is common for many over 50 to experience that their arms are getting shorter. Cold this be your problem with accessing components under the hood? Usually an optometrist can prescribe a "correction". Welcome and, your English is excellent. Wish I had your command of a second language. 1 Quote
james curl Posted October 6, 2014 Report Posted October 6, 2014 with some of us it isn't that our arms are getting shorter it just that we start further away due to the extra girth around the middle. 3 Quote
bluefoxamazone Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Posted October 6, 2014 with some of us it isn't that our arms are getting shorter it just that we start further away due to the extra girth around the middle. hah, why didn't I think of that... the "duvel and Stella" girth might be the reason... good hint... Quote
Mark D Posted October 6, 2014 Report Posted October 6, 2014 Hello Hiebert, Heusden zolder is a two hour drive from my place. So compared to the US distances we are virtualy neighbours... ;-) Last week I was in your neighborhood. We made a trip to Rhode Island, Boston, the Berkshires and finished in New york. I came back with a suitcase loaded with spareparts for the cranbrook. Thanks to Mr Bernbaum for letting me in his shop while I passed by on the I93. grz, Franky You were in my back yard! 1 Quote
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