To Don Smith & James Douglas

[Bingster]

Hello:

I am relatively new to this forum and cannot post at home due to an outdated computer. I have to post at the local library. At any rate, I wanted to contact you two fellas and anybody else who owns a 1947 DeSoto. I have a '47 DeSoto Custom Sedan that I recently bought and am in the process of getting it road worthy. The engine (flathead 6) runs fine but the brake system is shot, and I am completely rebuilding it. I have done considerable research on parts suppliers, and have already purchased the front wheel cylinders from Andy B. I've heard good and bad about his parts. I don't particularly care about his attitude except I don't like what I've heard about his return policy.

Anyway, I do need a right rear fender trim piece. Also front door arm rests. I assume that mine could be rebuilt from the metal core, egh?

Has anybody done business with Ed Speigal? He says he has a ton of NOS parts for DeSotos. He does list on e-bay. He says he has a repro of the clear plastic Flying Lady hood ornament on my hood. $150. He says it's 5% smaller than original. Anybody seen these or have one? Mine is intact but cracked like a cold marble dropped into boiling water.

And what is the factory color for the transmission/fluid drive housing on a '47 DeSoto Custom?

I have removed the floor pan over the hump and have comepletely degreased the tranny and fluid drive housing along with the clutch and brake stuff. I see some of the brake and clutch parts were yellow or maybe that's the primer?

I think everything is pretty straight forward so far with respect to getting parts. I guess I just want to be sure of some good reliable parts suppliers.

I won't know what's what with the operation of this car until I finish the brakes and get it rolling. It sat for about ten or twelve years outside but is in remarkably good condition with little rust for an Iowa car. I hear that it had sat inside for a number of years before that with a layer of dust on it. The odometer says 23,000 and that must be 123,000, right? But when I had the MC honed out, the fella said it looked very good for a '47. Even as I take the old grease and dirt off the parts, they seem in pretty good shape.

Well, you guys who have a '47 DeSoto would be great help to me with any info you might have. I am on a limited budget like a lot of you, but I do want to do it right as I am going through the car. It is going to be a driver my work car - and so it doesn't have to be show quality.

I can't respond to you within this post at home but we could e-mail for now. But I think if you answer the above questions on the forum that will satisfy me for awhile. Merry Christmas to all on the forum.

Thanks,

David Perata - Bingster