‘54 Dodge Coronet Suburban updates

[Ron175]

Hi everyone. I’m the usual long time lurker, first time poster. After enjoying the forum for a while I thought you might be interested in seeing my ‘54 Dodge Coronet Suburban wagon. I imported it a couple of years ago and have slowly (I mean slowly....) been going through it. It hasn’t been properly on the road since the early 80’s. If you like it, I may start a build thread as I have plenty of pictures and the input would be helpful. 

Pics below were the day it was delivered -

Edited March 2, 2024 by Ron175

[Young Ed]

Awesome. You can just keep this thread going as your build thread! Is it a flat head or hemi?

[casper50]

Nice.  Start the thread.  Most will enjoy it.

[Flatie46]

Welcome to the forum. Cool ride, glad you came out of the shadows and joined us. 

[Reg Evans]

She is a Beauty !!!!  Welcome !!!

[pflaming]

I'm a long roof owner, '53 Plymouth, so like those above, please keep us informed. It nice to get an old car with such beautiful paint! Love the patina! 

[Worden18]

Very cool!  Love the patina.  And yes, post your progress right here.  We love this kind of stuff! 

[knuckleharley]

That sure does have some clean lines.

[Ron175]

Thanks for the welcome. It’s a flathead, three on the tree. I purchased it sight unseen from California but I think it’s originally a Wyoming car as I found the name of a carb tube up shop in Casper engraved in the air cleaner.

I was expecting it to be a lot worse than it actually turned out to be. The drivers side front and rear pans were shot and there were some holes in the sills and lower rear quarters, but nothing too drastic. 

[Ron175]

[Ron175]

[Ron175]

Floorpans were toast

 

[Ron175]

All good now though.

 

 

Edited February 14, 2018 by Ron175

[pflaming]

A suburban same as yours was for sale a year ago in Fresno, California.  Just curious.

[Ron175]

Some before and after to get us up to date:

Headliner - was in a bit of a state, but all there. I fitted it myself and really enjoyed doing it. Apart from reupholstering the front seat, I have done everything myself so far. I have both visors but was in the process of covering the other one when the pic was taken. 

 

Edited February 14, 2018 by Ron175

[Ron175]

2 minutes ago, pflaming said:

A suburban same as yours was for sale a year ago in Fresno, California.  Just curious.

That was this one.  I saw it and bought it almost on impulse as it was too good to pass up. Seller was a really nice guy. 

[Ron175]

Brakes and chassis were cleaned and overhauled. 

[Ron175]

New interior panels made. Super easy - 3mm board, with colour matched paint. Looks very different in the photos, but I found an area that was like new and took a sample from there. If anyone has a wagon and is missing these, I can get measurements etc (or even make a set)...

[pflaming]

I wondered if it was it. I nearly bought it and not rebuild the one I'm rebuilding. Great headliner work.

[pflaming]

I did the same in mine.

[pflaming]

Some more done. 

[Ron175]

Looking good pflaming. What seats are those?

Us wagon guys must have the same eye as we’ve taken the same pics. 

 

[Ron175]

Front seat was a mess but the rear seat was like new so the challenge was to find matching fabric. Not sure what the Plymouth wagons had, but this stuff is strange - like a cross between fabric and vinyl. Was tough to find. 

[Ron175]

I managed to get extra of the green fabric and used the original vinyl inserts of the door cards. 

[casper50]

I remember that material.  It was almost always used in trucks and commercial vehicles.  Hard wearing stuff.