New to the hobby and need some advice

[aero3113]

I just want to start off and say how great this site is, as it has helped me so much with my new project.I receintly purchased a 1950 plymouth special deluxe coupe with a 218.I installed new pistons, rings, bearings,pcv valve,replaceable element oil filter ,flushed the coolant system and anything I removed I painted.The guy that I bought the car from removed the generator and installed a 6 volt alternator.I did all work with the engine in the car.I am very happy with the results and the car runs great.I dont know much about auto restoration but I am learing fast(I am an aircraft technician by trade). I saw this car for sale on the side of the road and fell in love and took her home.I am 29 years old and started this project about 6 months ago.I was just wondering if you guys can give me some tips on how to keep this piece of history going strong and any ideas on helping me redo my interior.Last month I got engaged and plan on using the car in our wedding next year. I will attach some pictures.Let me know what you guys think.

[Don Coatney]

Welcome to the forum. Very nice looking car. Where are you located? Is your objective to keep this car all original?

[Normspeed]

Glad you found the forum. Your car sure looks good, wish mine were that clean.

One area where a lot of old Mopars need work is the brakes. There are different approaches, from rebuilding the stock brakes, to installing disks in front and modern rear end with updated brakes in the rear. If yours needs brake work you'll find a lot of folks here who've been through it. My motto is, if it ain't broke don't fix it!

[aero3113]

I am from Long island ,New York (Wantagh).I forgot to mention that the previous owner installed new brake cylinders and pads but in the future I would like to go with disc brakes.The car does not have to stay original, I just want it to be safe and look good.

[captden29]

nice clean car. i had a 51 windsor the same color, sold it three years ago. my first car was a 50 dodge so the woodgrain brings back memories. i now have 2 54 chryslers. i am not far from you. i live in mastic beach,ny, so if i can be of any help please ask. i grew up in wantagh, on strang dr., went to McArthur hs..i drove a 54 chrysler back then, hence my interest in that car.your engine area looks great and you should be proud of what you have accomplished. you are saving a great car and i, too, used mine in my wedding. the car will get most of the attention.always nice to see young people get into the hobby and save these great old mopars.call vern walker in deer park for parts.667 8255. he won't answer the phone till after 11:00am and you may have to try for a while, but he seems to have everything.always a little get together at his place on friday nites. you canh reach me at 399 2622 for more info. dennis

[Don Coatney]

I was on Long Island last year to visit a friend. Follow this link for pictures.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v65/DonCoatney/Road%20trips%202004/SF%201-2007/LongIsland/

I was surprised to find all the old cars and trucks there.

[aero3113]

Its nice to see that I am not alone.Thanks for the info Dennis I plan on attending the bellmore car shows at the train station alot this summer on friday nights, would be nice if we could meet up.Great pics Don, what part of long island is that,I am guessing the east end?

[Plymouthy Adams]

Nice looking original club coupe..few accessories...gravel guards, ring guards and the ole added peep mirror..looking slick and clean...full wheel dishes look good also..what was the original color..is that a dove gray on the cowl..

[1940Mopar]

check Pete's (Blueskies) website for some ideas. I think he's got the perfect balance of hotrod and restored classic on this site. Maybe Don Coatney's is up there but I'll have to say Don's car is more Rod then restored. (This will probably get some talk of the "great race" started.) Both Pete and Don definitely have the standard flathead six hop up parts installed motorwise.

Don has swapped the rear end and tranny for later model performance and reliability while Pete has done an overdrive for better performance, but he's used essentially technology contemporary to his car. I admire both approaches.

You should really set a clear goal as to what you want the car to be. Me personally I'm going for a traditional 1950s era hot rod using a combination of available speed equipment and my own or other custom work . Deviations from that plan will be for safety and reliability. Therefore I'll probably do the T5 and a rear end like Don, and I'll eventually do a disk conversion up front. Maybe even do an early desoto hemi swap if i can stack enough money to do it.

You've got a great start with the car as it sits now. I'd start looking for stuff that will make it an even better driver on a daily basis, and maybe address some of the stuff that you know will be a problem. Gearing/overdrive come to mind immediately due to the fact that these motors do not like to rev. That would be a good start and will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the car.

[aero3113]

Yes ,grey was the original color, you can see it on the firewall. I added the peep mirrors ,head light visors,door handle guards,gas tank filler guard ,Original 1950 New York license plate and cant forget about the fuzzy dice ,I think they all add to the look of the car.I have everything working on the car except the radio.I was told by the guy that I bought it from it needs a vibrator tube ,anyone know where I can find one at a good price?

[Normspeed]

Trouble with fixing the original radio is, not much on AM to listen to.

[aero3113]

I would love to do disc brakes up front and overdrive but right now I will be saving for the wedding next year.I would also like to pull the motor and paint the rest of the block and engine compartment but do not have access to a hoist.Is there a front and rear end with disc brakes that can bolt right up or is there alot of mods involved?

[Guest rockabillybassman]

Welcome. Your car is cool. I believe they were all grey in the engine compartment, regardless of exterior colour. Is that correct guys? Your brakes may be fine if they're in good nick, my '55 has the originals, and it stops on a dime. All I ever did to them was to re-kit all the cylinders and fit new flexible hoses.

[Olddaddy]

You have started out with a very nice looking car, miles ahead of some of us. My first Plymouth was a 49 coupe, always liked that body style. When you get ready for discs send me an email, I can help you out with them. You don't really need rear discs, but it can be done. A late model rear with drums intended to work with discs is a nice upgrade.

[Plymouthy Adams]

all the cars I have had the cowl and firewall body color..the inner fenders were black and back of the rad shell...sometimes just bits of the body color get on the front of the rad shell..it is the underside of the hoods and trunk lids, inner trunk area etc that got the darker gray enamel undercolor typical of the era..or at least close to what I just said..as some have been reported a tad different in factory undercolor

[Don Coatney]

Don, what part of long island is that,I am guessing the east end?

I do not know. Once I cleared the city I drove for a little over an hour and met my friend at a diner.

(This will probably get some talk of the "great race" started.)

Hands down My blue Plymouth won the "BIG RACE":D

Yes the fuzzy dice ,

Git rid of the fuzzy dice!

and it stops on a dime. .

Reminded me of the comic book Archie. Dont know if you had that comic book down under. Archie once told his pal Jughead that his car would stop on a dime. Jughead recanted " It did not stop on a dime. It stalled" Another example of useless trivia crap stored in my brain.

[Don Coatney]

darker gray enamel undercolor typical of the era

VanBuskirk once told me that a lot of the paint used in non visible areas was war surplus paint. Colors may be diffirent...

[greg g]

Hey Nice looking car. There are several forum members from Long Island, couple on the pilot house side also. Joel Torres is an Island guy and has just checked in after an absence. He has several older cars, and projects going on. There is also a Long Island region of the Plymouth Owners Club if you want to look into that group. I ran into a group of them a few years ago at the Rhinebeck Show a few years ago they traveled up in a group to attend Sunday's portion of the show. May head back down this year as its been a while since I have attended.

Welcome to the fourm. You will find a lot of information and collegiality on this forum.

My wife and I did the upholstery and door panels in our 46 Business coupe.

She has a bit of sewing experience so she suggested it. We bought some fabric from the clearence bin at the local fabric store and also grabbed some pattern paper. We pinned the paper to the seats after dissasembling them, and then used the paper and the required seam allowance measurments and cut and sewed up the new stuff. We essentially made a set of seat covers, we did not replace the original stuff that is still there. but was dirty and worn. We bought 9 yards, did the seat the door panels and the package tray, and had a bit left over.

[aero3113]

My engine compartment and trunk are both grey and when I bought the car it was blue but the registration said grey,so I am assuming that grey was the original color.Greg your interior looks great doesnt sound too hard to do.I have a friend that is an upholsterer, he puts interiors in aircraft and cars and keeps telling me that he wants to redo my car and has a ton of extra material from other jobs that he wants me to have.I hope that this comes together because he does great work.But if it doesnt its good to know it can be done ,my fianca is good with the sewing machine.How about the head liner??

[aero3113]

Hey Don,I was looking at your pics from long island again, do you think the town you were in was Freeport? I see signs for freeport speedway in some of the pics.If it is its only about a 10 minute drive from where I live.

[Plymouthy Adams]

VanBuskirk once told me that a lot of the paint used in non visible areas was war surplus paint. Colors may be diffirent...

that is why I finished my entry with a note that other colors have been reported...other contrasting reports has come from documents that each assembly plant used slighly different paints. Only an area hidden from sight and body/paint work down the ages could shed light on originality

[JerseyHarold]

Aero3113,

Does your car have welting between the rear fenders and body or was it filled in? If you don't have welting, I saw your car for sale on a used car lot on Middle Country Road a few miles east of Smithaven Mall many years ago. It popped up in Selden a few years after that then I lost track of it. (I live in NJ but my in-laws live in Selden, and I have a good memory for early-fifties Plymouths I looked at over the years).

[aero3113]

It does have welting but it was painted over. Must have been a different car. I was told it was on a military base and I'm the third owner after that. I believe that the first owner was out in the Hamptons.

[Don Coatney]

Hey Don,I was looking at your pics from long island again, do you think the town you were in was Freeport? I see signs for freeport speedway in some of the pics.If it is its only about a 10 minute drive from where I live.

The town is Bay Shore. Here is a link to the museum.

http://www.flyinbryan.com/himes/history.html