Bbdakota Posted June 6, 2020 Report Share Posted June 6, 2020 Thought I'd post a little about the 56 since I sold my 48 D24. The biggest attraction to the 56 over the 48 was an automatic transmission. The second reason was the ability to add ac. At cruisin the coast, a standard transmission will work you out! And lack of ac will make it not as pleasant. Although we just altered our schedule a little so we wouldn't be in stop and go traffic, I still desired an automatic transmission and ac. So when I ran across the 56, and I liked the 56, I thought this was the answer. Little did I realize what I was getting into! Once I got the 56 home, I got her on the lift and realized this thing leaked from every seal, gasket and freeze plug in it. And the brakes were horrible! First order of business was the brakes. I messed around with the oem booster for a while but couldn't get them adjusted. I wanted duel master cylinder anyway so ordered modern duel master cylinder with booster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2020 Oh, the carb had tp be rebuild, really simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2020 The fender skirts would not fit with the width of the rear, a brake drum appeared to be warped andThe speedometer was off, I did the math and figured 3.07 gears would correct the speedometer. So I found a 8.8 with the right width and 3.08 gears. The paint on the wheels was flaking off so I painted them. Tried to see if the wife would go for the no hubcap look but she liked the hubcaps. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2020 So when this covid bs hit, I took the opportunity to pull the engine and transmission, replaced all gaskets, seals, new aluminum radiator, fresh paint, etc. That turned into a job! I think this thing must have leaked oil and transmission fluid from the factory to accumulate that much grime! The water jackets were full of what looked like mud. My best guess is stop leak and that along with the look of repairs done on the radiator is why I decided to replace the radiator. I had freeze plugs behind motor mounts leaking also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2020 I learned Parts are not so readily available for a 315 poly as they are for a 230 flathead. I had the heads worked, mainly to replace the valve seals but since the aftermarket gasket is thicker, had them surfaced by the difference. In the process of assembling, I broke the rocker oiling studs and had to make new ones. You ever tried drilling length ways through a 3/8" bolt? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2020 Found the transmission to have a crack, hopefully jb weld will hold 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2020 Painted the firewall, inter fenders and all the little bits and reinstalled the engine and transmission 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Buchanan Posted June 6, 2020 Report Share Posted June 6, 2020 That is a fine ride! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2020 Thanks Sam! Next is lake pipes! Then underdash ac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 7, 2020 Report Share Posted June 7, 2020 1 hour ago, Bbdakota said: I learned Parts are not so readily available for a 315 poly as they are for a 230 flathead. I had the heads worked, mainly to replace the valve seals but since the aftermarket gasket is thicker, had them surfaced by the difference. In the process of assembling, I broke the rocker oiling studs and had to make new ones. You ever tried drilling length ways through a 3/8" bolt? this is where the lathe reigns king....else, you in for a slow PITA job..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeed Posted June 7, 2020 Report Share Posted June 7, 2020 Wow, you work fast. The previous owner wouldn't even recognize the car now. Beautiful looking ride. Love the original look, the way it came from the factory. Well done!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MackTheFinger Posted June 7, 2020 Report Share Posted June 7, 2020 That's a very nice car.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veemoney Posted June 7, 2020 Report Share Posted June 7, 2020 Nice work on the oil studs and the engine bay is looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2020 Thanks guys! I've been working hard to get it back together by the time cruise-in and car shows start back up. Very happy with the way it came out so far and it don't leak no more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plymouthcranbrook Posted June 13, 2020 Report Share Posted June 13, 2020 (edited) Always liked the looks of the 56 Dodge. I just think they are so classy. Saw a La Femme one time in person with all the accessories. So cool. Then there was the one that appeared stock until the hood was opened and there sat a 426 Hemi. Very nice car you have. Edited June 13, 2020 by plymouthcranbrook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 17 hours ago, plymouthcranbrook said: Always liked the looks of the 56 Dodge. I just think they are so classy. Saw a La Femme one time in person with all the accessories. So cool. Then there was the one that appeared stock until the hood was opened and there sat a 426 Hemi. Very nice car you have. I think the Le Femme are rare! I saw an episode of my classic car and there were 2 at 1 car show! I bet a 426 would catch spectators by surprise! I took her to her first cruise in since getting her all back together. Most everyone said something to the effect of "you don't see many of these around ". One guy that looked over the car returned in about an hour and said "I've looked at every car here now and this is my favorite " I've got the ac ordered, I'm trying to figure out how I want to build the fan shroud and still have it look period correct. Here's some pictures from the cruise in. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeed Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 Very nice looking ride! ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 3 hours ago, Dodgeed said: Very nice looking ride! ? Thanks! It's getting there but they always look better in pictures....the wife and I bought some polish today to try taking swirl marks out of the paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linus6948 Posted June 14, 2020 Report Share Posted June 14, 2020 Beautiful car you got there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 Made some more progress. Got a fan shroud built and added lake pipes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 Lake pipes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyHarold Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 Maybe your car would like a playmate....... https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/751705672036350 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonaldSmith Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 Hardtops without B pillar between the glass: No problem for coupes. The door glass laps over the glass behind it, which pivots away from the door glass into the side wall behind the front door. Done for decades for convertibles. Four-door convertibles, including phaetons, had a gap between the front door glass and the rear door glass, which had to be filled with a removable piece of something. GM, in the early 50's, developed the four-door hardtop. They developed a special body, with the rear door extending behind the glass profile. The rear door glass retracted away from the front door glass, into the extended part of the rear door, to clear the shortened B pillar on its way down. Then the glass pivoted down to clear the opening. In 1955, some higher brands had the 4-door hardtop; in 1956, they all did. For 1956, Chrysler had to get on the bandwagon, but they couldn't justify a special body for just one model year; they were confined to the existing four-door roof profile and door configurations. The solution was two-piece overlapping glass for the rear doors. The large outer piece would pivot into the door away front the front door glass, and the rear portion would pivot forward into the door. This Dodge Dart has that feature. Pictured is a similar 56 DeSoto . Strangely, in the early '60's, GM has some strange roof profiles, which required overlapping glass, or a permanent "sail" on the rear door to accommodate the rearward retraction of the glass. Klunky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 1 hour ago, JerseyHarold said: Maybe your car would like a playmate....... https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/751705672036350 Interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbdakota Posted June 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 1 hour ago, DonaldSmith said: Hardtops without B pillar between the glass: No problem for coupes. The door glass laps over the glass behind it, which pivots away from the door glass into the side wall behind the front door. Done for decades for convertibles. Four-door convertibles, including phaetons, had a gap between the front door glass and the rear door glass, which had to be filled with a removable piece of something. GM, in the early 50's, developed the four-door hardtop. They developed a special body, with the rear door extending behind the glass profile. The rear door glass retracted away from the front door glass, into the extended part of the rear door, to clear the shortened B pillar on its way down. Then the glass pivoted down to clear the opening. In 1955, some higher brands had the 4-door hardtop; in 1956, they all did. For 1956, Chrysler had to get on the bandwagon, but they couldn't justify a special body for just one model year; they were confined to the existing four-door roof profile and door configurations. The solution was two-piece overlapping glass for the rear doors. The large outer piece would pivot into the door away front the front door glass, and the rear portion would pivot forward into the door. This Dodge Dart has that feature. Pictured is a similar 56 DeSoto . Strangely, in the early '60's, GM has some strange roof profiles, which required overlapping glass, or a permanent "sail" on the rear door to accommodate the rearward retraction of the glass. Klunky. I like the 4dr hardtop. The back window mechanism is neat. Thanks for the history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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