‘48 dodge deluxe. What documents should I get , need?

[BayArea48Deluxe]

Hello to all, I am new here and I truly want to bring together my car. I would want some insight on what I will need, from documents , drawings , tips to get an old car from going to the graveyard. Any help is appreciated, as well as clarification questions I am new to bringing a car from the dead. 
Please ask any questions I am transparent because I am an amateur here. Thank you to all in advance. 
Fredo.

[Los_Control]

A place to work and time to do it .... What you do not know now, you can learn if you have patience and time. .... For example I did not know how to weld .... so I bought a welder and taught myself to weld.

You are in the right place to ask questions to get this done .... Just know it takes time for many of us ..... while others can do the same thing in 1 years time.

 

I bought my project in 2018 ..... Keep in mind I'm physically disabled and been medically retired for almost 14 years .... I physically work for 25 minute then I sit down to rest my back and legs and drink a beer for 20 minute .... then get back up and work for 30 minute ..... I'm just saying even a disabled drunk can do this work.

Main thing for me is knowing I have my workspace as long as it is needed, and willing to take the time to learn what I do not know.

 

Another challenge is life gets in the way ..... This needs to be done as a project and actually enjoy what you are doing.

An example is my project I tore it apart and painted it then am putting it back together, I can start it and move it around .... I need to do final body panel fitment and I have a new wiring harness to install ... I'm getting really close to driving it and want to finish it up.

 

Oh shucks it is spring time .... I need to work on the garden and expand it as planned .... I spend several weeks working on that and garden is doing fine.

Then my wife car needs a engine swap and I have put it off as long as I can .... So I have a used engine from a wrecking yard with a 90 day warranty on it and that expired 6 days ago. ...... I think I will fire it up in 1 or 2 more days, find out if it is a good one.

 

Sometimes we just have to be adults and do adult things, then get back to our projects when we have time.

In my experience a place to work and time to do it is most important. ..... Everything else you can overcome.

[Sam Buchanan]

To address your question...the first thing you need is a Service Manual, and a Parts Manual is also helpful. You can search for them on eBay or get them from Rock Auto in either CD or hard copy.

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/dodge,1948,deluxe,3.8l+230cid+l6,1331873,literature,repair+manual,10335

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/dodge,1948,deluxe,3.8l+230cid+l6,1331873,literature,part+guide,910

 

There are also tech articles in this forum, look at the header on the top of the main page for Tech, Downloads, and Resources.

 

https://p15-d24.com/forum/4-p15-d24-forum/

 

You will also need to get familiar with often-used parts vendors, but determine what you need and then we can point you in a good direction.

 

Enjoy your project!!

 

 

 

 

[BayArea48Deluxe]

So for Los control thank you sir for that perspective. Yes I am a young man I live working with mechanics and all that always have. So being willing to learn is something I do very well, I will take any and all advice and criticism that will make me a better man. ( YES , I concur sir, that life I always busy, but I know there is more time than life so patience I also have)Helps that I’m a elevator mechanic but I meant in terms of manuals, you know, drawings, when I pop that hood what should I be looking for in terms of broken things or clogged carbs, filters… stuck camshafts those kinds of things.. How do I know if my engine is even worthy of kicking over ? Again I am a novice at cars but not mechanics.. so thank you los control. For kick starting this convo 

[BayArea48Deluxe]

Thank you for those links Sam. You the man Sam.. pleasure to meet you both 

[Sniper]

Ah, resurrecting an engine from a long slumber. 

 

I would pull the plugs, number your plug wires first, and inspect them.  Plenty of spark plug reading charts out there to help you decipher what's going on.  Depending on how long it has slept you may even see lead deposits on them, lol.  Example Chart

 

This will give you an idea what is going on.  If it passes muster here put some oil down the cylinders and see if you can turn the engine over by hand, using the fan as your lever.  This will tell you how tight it is and yes you should be able to do that if nothing serious is going on.  You may have to tighten up the belt though.

 

If that all passes muster, put the plugs and wires back in.  Take the distributor cap off and inspect the inside of the distributor.  Here's a decent thread talking about what it looks like in there, or should look like.  Here's a link to an article on this from our download section

 

If that passes muster then it's time to look at the fuel delivery system.  If it has old gas in there, drain it out.  There is a drain plug in the bottom of the tank.  Take the sending unit out and inspect the tank for rust.  New tanks can be had for most.  Odds are the carb needs taken apart, cleaned and rebuilt not too tough a job.  Here's a thread about that,  In the downloads section here there is a Carter factory book, if you have a B&B carb as well as one for the Stromberg.  Inspect the rubber fuel lines for failure.

 

Give hte wiring a real good look, not uncommon for the insulation to be falling off, we fon;t want any electrical fires.

 

Once you sort thru all this then, maybe, you will be ready to start it up

[Los_Control]

@BayArea48Deluxe very first thing is what I posted earlier ..... now tell us what condition your car is in. Does it even have a engine ..... how much rust are we looking at ..... What are your goals for it .....

What good does a manual or a wiring diagram do you if you plan to swap in a modern drive train .....

 

You are in the right place, I feel we have no idea how to really help you if you do not share photos and ideas of what your end goals are.

 

Some say it came from a graveyard, what they really mean is it sat for 3 years in a barn and needs work ....... some actually get pulled out of a farmers field and need more work ..... What do you have and what are your goals?

[BayArea48Deluxe]

Well Los control, thank you for that again.. I will make sure I get pictures in soon as possible. But I am a man who wants OE so no I don’t really plan on swapping anything I want stock from what it was when it was on the road long ago. I do have an engine it’s a pretty complete car got a good find the interior is immaculate honestly and only a little rust on the body like like whole panels rusting off. I want to get it safe to drive, I know this isn’t gonna be an overnight thing I accept that. I do not know how long it sat where it sat. But it wasn’t covered by a barn or nothing. So I will send pictures soon. But I wish to rotisserie it at some point but that would be after I get the motor and tranny, gearbox all that running then i wanna get to the shocks and tie rods, so bring it to running and operational.. 

[Los_Control]

I could be wrong .... just suggesting all cars were parked for a reason .... being a detective and finding out why the car was parked can be fun.

Very possible the engine was good and ran fine but had other issues. ...... Almost probable you will run into stuck valves  and zero compression in some or all cylinders.

First thing you want to check is if the engine will turn over by hand, or is it locked up?

 

If it turns over you want to start soaking the cylinders with oil ..... when you are ready to turn the engine over with a battery, probably best to disconnect all original wiring.

Then run a compression check on it ...... The older engines have cast iron piston rings, very common for the iron rings to corrode to the aluminum pistons and not seal .... then the valves are known to be sticky .... Simply the oil gets gummed up in the valve guides and the valve springs are not strong enough to pull the valves back down through the gunky oil. ..... All common issues and usually easy to fix ..... just do not get discouraged if you have a engine with low or no compression.

 

The manuals or diagrams are not going to tell you how to revive a engine that has been sitting for 20+ years in a field.

[BayArea48Deluxe]

This is all I’m asking to hear about … perfect. Will send pics soon

[Dan Hiebert]

Welcome to the Forum, and welcome to old cars (especially '48 Dodges!).  One thing that may also help, but takes a little time, is to peruse this Forum's threads.  There are many that sort out exactly what you're looking to do, and also create more questions - but that is what a forum is for.  This site and the folks who haunt it are a wealth of information, ideas, and support.