1948-49 build thread

[smleod]

Well, I have been lurking in the shadows long enough. I have decided to start this thread as a history of my early 1948 Plymouth Special Deluxe build.

 

A few months ago my dad was over for the holidays. I was a couple of beers into the evening and talking about classic cars. In my youthful exuberance, I decided to take a look at the dreaded Craig's List. At the top of the page was this early 1949 Plymouth. (I had no idea of the split year model) The beer made me send the guy an email. I went and looked at it a couple days later and decided I couldn't say no. Why might you ask? Well, $1,600 for a running rust free car with many upgrades and improvements is a no brainer. I drove it up onto the car trailer and took it home.

 

It appears to be mostly complete. Missing a bumper and some little items here and there, no big deal. The engine is not the original. The block is stamped with "p20-55..." with a head that I believe is from the 50's.  It has been updated with a 12 volt system and appropriate alternator. Electronic dizzy, rebuilt carb, and a refurbished gas tank. New brake lines, new fuel lines.  

 

Every time I get deeper into this I find more stuff that has been started on it. The floors have been replaced. I am not overly impressed with the work on the floors, but an ugly weld is easily hidden with interior. Believe it or not, but the frame has been completely repainted. That means the body has been off. It makes sense as there is no rust on the body and the underside and engine bay are in nice clean paint.

 

 

I am married with 3 kids. I plan on making this a weekend driver for the family. I love the idea that in 30 years my kids will remember the drive to the movies in dad's old Plymouth better then the movie they watched. Road trips and fun in a car with character.

 

More to follow...

[smleod]

So after I got the rig home I took a quick inventory and what not. There is a lot of yellow. I know these were used as cabs, but this seems to be in too good of shape.  I checked the fluids and decided to take it around the block a few times. As I did not have any glass in it the ride was a little windy but it calmed the gremlins in my toolbox that were tell me to make mods.

 

I plan on keeping the L6 and “3 on the tree” but an overdrive is probably in its future.

 

I dropped the oil pan a few days later. I had not run it at all. It was surprisingly clean. There was about ¾ of an inch of sludge. Not heavy tar. It was the consistency of gear lube. I also removed the oil pump siphon and clean it out. I decided not to use any liquid gasket when I reinstalled the pan as I will be doing this again shortly. I did use untrimmed cork gasket. I want to work on the brakes and then take it out at speed with some good detergent in it to really clean it out one last time.

 

I did a compression test on the cylinders.  (110-95-110-110-95-105) Looks good to me. . . and the owner’s manual.

 

After I completed the oil, I started it up with a quick 40 lbs. of oil pressure, but the brake pedal was odd. I would press it and it would act normal, press harder like you would in an emergency stop, and it would creep down. I had a leak somewhere.

I had an extra MC so I installed it. No luck. I tried to pull the rear drums but had to order the correct puller to get a good look. It turns out that not only my right rear cylinder was bad, but there was no return spring. Napa replacement cylinder.  Still waiting on the spring.

I took a look at the front, but don’t like the way they look. Out of adjustment by the wear pattern on the pads. I am aware that when these are in working order, they are adequate. However, I will be driving with my kids in the car. So I will upgrade to disc eventually.

 

Question: I am leaning towards the Scarebird, but don’t like the idea of a single piston caliper. Anyone running these. Thoughts?

 

I also just received 4 gallons of Lizard skin sound control and 2 gallons of the Temp Control. I hope to get some seam sealer down this week and spray this coming weekend. I will post pics and results of that.

[knuckleharley]

"I am married with 3 kids. I plan on making this a weekend driver for the family. I love the idea that in 30 years my kids will remember the drive to the movies in dad's old Plymouth better then the movie they watched."

 

You got THAT right. Every trip they take in that old Plymouth will be an adventure,not a ride.

[mrwrstory]

You scored and what a great adventure for you and your kids together.  A nice relief form the "social media" they are surely exposed to.

Edited February 7, 2016 by mrwrstory

[Andydodge]

Welcome to the best mopar forum around, these guys know their stuff..........re the single piston caliper thing.........I adapted Oz vented single piston discs to 41-56 style stub axles 40 yrs ago and they are still going strong, tho' I also used the same cars dual circuit master cylinder and booster mounted on the firewall, with rear discs via the late Oz Ford diff it stops on a dime, but it also has a few extra mods engine etc  wise........lol.........your car looks like a great way to get into the old car scene........regards and best wishes from downunder....Andy Douglas   

[smleod]

Thanks everyone. I must admit though, I have a history with cars. Some call it an addiction. In regards to classics I have had a couple old ford trucks, I helped my dad restore a 1938 dodge sedan and a 1938 dodge truck, and I also have a classic mini.

 

AndyDodge, Thanks for the info. I can't image someone would field an inadequate system. It is the 'dad' in my I guess.

[falconvan]

Nice car! That was a steal for $1600.

[ptwothree]

Nice car, nice deal and a great project.  If your kids are old enough, get them involved...

[_shel_ny]

...

Edited February 8, 2016 by shel_ny

[mm289]

That looks really tidy and a great price, have fun 

 

Paul.

[smleod]

I know it has been a bit, but here is a sad little update.

I bought 4 gallons of the sound deadening "Lizard Skin" for the interior and 2 gallons of the thermal stuff from "Lizard Skin". I did not do the doors or the trunk lid, but I did do the ceiling and up the firewall. I took out the dash to make this easier.

I ran a little short on the sound deadening and will have to do the door and trunk lid later. Depending on how far down the resto rabbit hole I go, I may do the exterior underside to really give it the "luxury treatment" but time will tell.

I did this late in the summer. The material went down really easy. I prepped everything the first day and cleaned it with a good cleaner. I used seam sealers and some rust stop "Por 15" where I felt it would help. I did this because if there are any problems later, it would create a nightmare to remove some of the material later to do panel repairs. It was hot out the next day so I kept the buckets of materials in the sun. I believe this really aided in the process as it was not too thick to work with. I used my large leaf blower to really get all the dust out. I had also used my compressor to get all the cracks and crevices clean. Coverage was easy to determine, and adjustments were minimal. I used Lizard Skins gun.

I think we all are aware that the big roof on these cars really reverberate. The rest of the sheet metal is not much different. I did the curiosity testing before and after. The roof would echo before, and now it is DEAD. I have not been able to take it out and tell the difference on the road, as it is not to that stage yet. I am sure that this will really help with the noises that these old car create.

This stuff was easy to install. So easy, I will be using it on everything from here on out, as long as I can afford it. But the way I figure it, "a penny today or a pound tomorrow"

I have since put the car into storage as I will be changing professions this year. I need something that promotes family life.

The car will get a little attention here and there as pennies emerge

[Ranger]

Nice project. Life gets in the way from time to time. I've experienced that myself. Just continue as you can. Have fun.