Young Ed Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 Ok now here's my projected order for panel fixing. Inner and outer rockers welded in and connected to the channels that run left to right under the floor. Then weld in the new floor. Somewhere along the line will do the trunk area too. Either before or after the rest of that. Now here's the plot thickening part. This possible parts car is available locally here Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 Keep an eye on that line in the sand!! Quote
Young Ed Posted March 4, 2008 Author Report Posted March 4, 2008 what line? the scary part is this car might be better then mine! Quote
JerseyHarold Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 The plot thickens indeed! What's the story on the mechanicals in the '52? It also appears to have optional tinted glass. May be a better fix-up candidate? Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 If I had the space and the price was right I'd get it. Have you started fixing up the car you have? Quote
Normspeed Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 Looks almost too good to be a parts car. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 hard to see a line in the sand when you stranded in the desert....be sure to wash that car off before youstart any serious work..look at where the dog tracks seem to go..and there are only three paw prints next to the tires... Hey Norm..little yellow snow for the ole ice cream maker.... Quote
Young Ed Posted March 4, 2008 Author Report Posted March 4, 2008 No haven't started at all on my 51 except for buying and saving parts. 52 supposedly turns over but doesnt start. Quote
Rodney Bullock Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 I always believe in trading up when it comes to old cars, unless the car has a connection to your family or a person of great interest I keep it. If this car is the same as what you want and is in better shape it's your duty to take the easier road. You know that you will pay in the end if your decision is a bad one. the first Plymouth I got was at best a parts car, I knew that I wou;d find a better candidate and did, I used the first car as a book to learn by and some parts where saved to use later. as always good luck on what ever you do:D Quote
Normspeed Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 hard to see a line in the sand when you stranded in the desert....be sure to wash that car off before youstart any serious work..look at where the dog tracks seem to go..and there are only three paw prints next to the tires...Hey Norm..little yellow snow for the ole ice cream maker.... Yeah looks like ol' Blue had some fun writing his name in the snow. And on the tire. And the tree. Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 Ed, that looks like it might be better than the one you have. Hard to tell for sure with the pic. If the engine turns over and it has floors, it just might be a deal. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 If it has floors then it is definitely a deal. Quote
Young Ed Posted March 4, 2008 Author Report Posted March 4, 2008 I did email the seller with a few questions. Mine does run and drive so the other engine if it does run would only be a spare. Also mine has a title in my name and since the seller has that one listed as a 54 I'd say its safe to assume that one is titleless. It would have to be a combo of both cars for sure. Quote
55 Fargo Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 My car was a real piece of crap when I got her, the drive train was good, no brakes, no exhaust, no glass, except the front, no seats, not trim, all apart, with rusty rockers and outer floors, and rusted trunk floor, a real dang mess. I would never repeat this, I am not sure why I did except that Chrsyler Coupes are a bit rare, I have the only one on the road in Manitoba, another one is coming but so far is in the build stage, and it will be hotrodded. I did own this car since 1988, but did no work on it until the summer of 2005........Fred Quote
blueskies Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 I'm with Rockwood and Rodney... I think it will take considerably less time and money to start with the best possible car. I have the utmost respect for the fellas here on the forum who have taken on rusty floors and rockers. But if it were me, I would have moved on to a car that didn't need such effort. I suppose it also have something to do with where one lives, and the condition of cars that may be available. Here in Idaho, rust is more of a color than a cancer. '49 to '52 Plymouths seem to be plentiful in desert climates. The cost to retrieve one of these cars and have it delivered to your door must be less than dealing with the rot. Why not spend the money on the paint or engine instead of countless hours on repair that will never be seen? Pete Quote
Young Ed Posted March 4, 2008 Author Report Posted March 4, 2008 Most of the reason for fixing anything on this 51 is practice. I got it for free. It runs and has functional OD. Needs floors and rockers and 1/4 panel patches. Happen to have a "few" spare parts already built up for these and have access to dads collection of parts. He's owned at least one 51-52 since 1966. So there is plenty of material available to get this one back on the road. Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 Pete, Actually, it all depends on the person involved when you talk about the work it takes to replace sheet metal on a car. I've done it all on my coupe including pulling and tearing down and rebuilding the engine. Personally, I the most fun figuring out how to repair the floor, rockers and supports, fabricating the needed floor panels and installing them and putting in the new interior better that doing the mechanical parts on the car. It's more rewarding because I can see the results without raising the hood on the car. Now, on the other hand my son would rather work on the engine than the body of the car. So...........guess it's just what trips each persons trigger as to which is easier or more fun to do. Doing body work is like creating art as far as I'm concerned. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 My experience taught me that if you're going to take on floors and rockers you really should have a lift. Access--or lack of it--was what made some of the work on my project so difficult. That said, some people like the challenge. In my case, the car was three doors down from my house and the owner was offering it to me for free. I just kind of said to myself, "OK, this is my car." If I were shopping around I probably would have gotten something that wasn't so rotted out. But knowing how far it has come since I first saw it is a real joy, I'll tell you. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 Joe..I have done a bunch of welding and body work on my lift..does make it nice..however when I did the rockers on both the 51 and 52 cars I did them first so to remove the body..would never attempt removal from frame without solid inner and outer rockers and thus I did them on the floor on my back 90% of the time...as you say..it is a bit tough going but all in the fun of doing your own work...I had got my lift a short time after doing the initial install of inner and outer rockers on the suburban...would definitely been a big help..I am now back doing some work on the wagon finishing up the lower body below the quarter glass..and you guess it..back on the concrete on my back...lol..reason I am finishing the welding is so I can get the wagon body in primer so I can move it to the barn for temp storage so I have room to lay my panels down after painting the 54 which is ON THE LIFT...tonight I prefit the rear fenders back on the body.... Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted March 4, 2008 Report Posted March 4, 2008 Tim, I can see where you were stuck doing the rockers before you could lift the body off. But that on the back stuff gets old quickly. Sounds like you have a regular production shop going down there. Quote
Young Ed Posted March 5, 2008 Author Report Posted March 5, 2008 Tim when will you arrive here for my demonstation on the 51? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 5, 2008 Report Posted March 5, 2008 I'm not sure if I am going to survive mine yet....where has the evening gone..It is after 9..I get home on the average at 3PM..been out in the shop..I'm tired..I even more dirty than tired... Quote
Young Ed Posted March 5, 2008 Author Report Posted March 5, 2008 Interestingly enough the seller just emailed me back and says he has a title. So how come he has it listed as a 54?? Car can be had for 350 apparently Quote
Normspeed Posted March 5, 2008 Report Posted March 5, 2008 Sounds like a heckuva good price. Jeez, with a title too! Quote
Young Ed Posted March 5, 2008 Author Report Posted March 5, 2008 Sure is tempting. Wish there was an extra handle next to the column. Quote
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