Dreamweaver Posted July 3, 2016 Report Posted July 3, 2016 Just posted this over in AAC: Have a 1940 Chrysler Royal that I just acquired and will take possession of sometime next week. The dash has about a half dozen pieces that I believe are plastic... the owner said they are bakelite, but in my search I was told that they are plastic. Whatever they are, they are shot - it looks like they are warped from excessive heat. I spent a few hours Googling and came up empty. I have no clue what they are, where to find them, if they are being reproduced, what the specs are, etc. etc. etc. Aby help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Quote
casper50 Posted July 3, 2016 Report Posted July 3, 2016 I read somewhere about those parts from someone looking for them also. He made new ones from something else as he could find no one making new parts. Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 3, 2016 Author Report Posted July 3, 2016 I read somewhere about those parts from someone looking for them also. He made new ones from something else as he could find no one making new parts. do you think you can find a link, or a contact? Quote
casper50 Posted July 3, 2016 Report Posted July 3, 2016 Tried searching, haven't found anything yet. Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 3, 2016 Author Report Posted July 3, 2016 Tried searching, haven't found anything yet. Well, even if you don't find anything, I thank you for the effort. Cheers! Quote
casper50 Posted July 3, 2016 Report Posted July 3, 2016 http://forums.aaca.org/topic/34372-39-chrysler-dash-plastics/ about a 39 but all that I've found so far. Quote
normanpitkin Posted July 3, 2016 Report Posted July 3, 2016 try Harmsdistinctiverestorations! But I am not sure if they do the 39 .I own two Chryslers ,a 41 convertible and a 48 coupe ,on the 41 the plastics were all replaced about 3 years go by the previous owner at a cost of $1800.They are a mottled multi coloured catalin and are now irreplaceable at reasonable cost. Good luck ,I sense you may need it! Quote
Andydodge Posted July 4, 2016 Report Posted July 4, 2016 As Norman said those dash parts are an early form of plastic and I understand are not easy to find nor cheap..........I have seen pics of some of these pieces replaced by similar shaped pieces made from timber and stained tho' to be honest they didn't look particularly great........have you thought whether replacements could be made from fibreglass and painted?.........would not be an easy job but maybe possible using body filler to get the shape right to make the mold then glassing over or even using the shaped filler piece and painting that.........luckily my 40 Dodge only had the dash and window winder knobs made of this plastic stuff and I ended up replacing them with non stock pieces anyway..........regards, andyd Quote
Ricky Luke Posted July 4, 2016 Report Posted July 4, 2016 Good afternoon (evening?) Dreamweaver I feel your pain. I've got a 40 Chrysler that had the plastic on the dash. The Australian models also had the same plastic covering the internal door handles and window winders, and on the blanket rope attached to the back of the front seat. My research from a few years ago highlighted someone who rebuilt the dash using thin strips of plywood and spraying them with a 2 pack epoxy. You could also carefully use modelling balsa wood. I'm now thinking that a decent 3D printer would be a better option, but I don't have the time (or the need for a couple of years) to create the drawings needed. They wouldn't be difficult to draw up. I doubt there'd be much of a market for reproductions. PM me if you would like to talk further. Cheers Rick Quote
John Reddie Posted July 4, 2016 Report Posted July 4, 2016 Hello and welcome. Can you post some photos of your Chrysler Royal? Thanks. John R Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted July 4, 2016 Report Posted July 4, 2016 All 1940's Chrysler car dashes use beautiful molded plastic all of which to find good replacement pieces are next to impossible. Be glad you do not need 1941 or 1942 plastic marbleized pieces which were offered in several different colors too... There was a guy up in the NE.. Canada? who made up some plastic pieces for the 1946-8 chryslers back in the 90's. I'm sure he's not doing it anymore though. You might contact Harold Mermel (NJ) or Dennis Bickford (New Mexico) and ask for Ideas/help from them...just a thought. Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 4, 2016 Author Report Posted July 4, 2016 (edited) HI all - Wow. You all are pretty active here I see. Thanks so much for all the input. I looked at that post on the '39 and along with other research I have done I think I would be looking for a needle in a haystack to find anything original, and because of the rarity of the car I highly doubt anyone is making repops. I thought about the 3-D printer angle... if I could find some drawings or specs of the dash pieces I have a local place that is VERY proficient at rendering CAD drawings and making 3-D objects. I don't have many pics yet. I still haven't taken possession of the car yet, but I did snap a few the day I bought it. I uploaded them to photoshop ... having a hard time copying and pasting a link on this site. will keep trying. When I paste nothing appears in the body content ... it just remains blank?? And I can't figure out how to upload pics to "My Media" - can't find the "upload" button??? Edited July 4, 2016 by Dreamweaver Quote
casper50 Posted July 4, 2016 Report Posted July 4, 2016 I just upload them from my computer. in the reply box bottom right is an option more reply options. click it. then look at the bottom left. says select upload file. easy Quote
Reg Evans Posted July 4, 2016 Report Posted July 4, 2016 Here are those pieces I'm working on for my 39 Chrysler Royal. I just painted them with some almond colored spray paint and am spraying multiple coats of clear to simulate the plastic look. Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 4, 2016 Author Report Posted July 4, 2016 (edited) Thanks Casper Sorry if you have to hold your laptop sideways... I didn't know they needed to be rotated before uploading... I just snapped them and dumped them on the laptop for later use. I will post better, eg; "straight" pics when I get it. Edited July 4, 2016 by Dreamweaver 1 Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 4, 2016 Author Report Posted July 4, 2016 Here are those pieces I'm working on for my 39 Chrysler Royal. I just painted them with some almond colored spray paint and am spraying multiple coats of clear to simulate the plastic look. MVC-003F.JPG Reg- Are you restoring original pieces or did you make them? Mine are pretty far gone... doubt they are restorable. I will need to either find replacements or somehow figure out a way to have them built. Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 4, 2016 Author Report Posted July 4, 2016 All 1940's Chrysler car dashes use beautiful molded plastic all of which to find good replacement pieces are next to impossible. Be glad you do not need 1941 or 1942 plastic marbleized pieces which were offered in several different colors too... There was a guy up in the NE.. Canada? who made up some plastic pieces for the 1946-8 chryslers back in the 90's. I'm sure he's not doing it anymore though. You might contact Harold Mermel (NJ) or Dennis Bickford (New Mexico) and ask for Ideas/help from them...just a thought. ok-I officially have Interior Envy. Just a lovely specimen you have there! How do I find Harold Mermel or Dennis Bickford? Are they members in this site, or do I just Google them? I tried finding them in the members area by applying the filter with the name but came up empty. Quote
Reg Evans Posted July 4, 2016 Report Posted July 4, 2016 (edited) I collected up a spare set and sandblasted all the crud off. When they are done I will remove my existing ones (someone covered them in vinyl) and install these. In '39 they were made of pressed steel and covered in that plastic that warped and flaked off. Edited July 4, 2016 by Reg Evans Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 4, 2016 Author Report Posted July 4, 2016 Mine are pretty badly warped. I only spent a few minutes looking at it so I can't give any detailed info, but what I do remember is that they were so badly warped that they are peeled away from the dash several inches in multiple places. I will get some pics when it arrives at my house and post them here. I might try to heat them up and reshape them, but I doubt that will work... they may just be too far gone. Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 9, 2016 Author Report Posted July 9, 2016 Just got it landed today: Here's some body shots Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 9, 2016 Author Report Posted July 9, 2016 (edited) Here's some interior shots Edited July 9, 2016 by Dreamweaver Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 9, 2016 Author Report Posted July 9, 2016 (edited) Can't figure out how to get the dang pictures to be straight... ARRGH! All the plastic trim pieces need to be replaced Edited July 9, 2016 by Dreamweaver Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 9, 2016 Report Posted July 9, 2016 you have to be an acrobat to view them pics... Quote
Don Coatney Posted July 9, 2016 Report Posted July 9, 2016 Try turning your phone 90 degrees when taking photos. Quote
Dreamweaver Posted July 9, 2016 Author Report Posted July 9, 2016 you have to be an acrobat to view them pics... I shall go press my leotards and get right on that Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.