Thought I Would Share A Major Disappointment With My DeSoto Flat-6

[BloodyKnuckles]

I really dislike people!

Why do people screw over older folks? We purchased our '54 DeSoto from an 86 year old gentleman who was getting re-married to a 68 year old lady. We are the second owner. He wasn't a gearhead but liked his cars. He had all of his work done by "professionals".

Well they were more like amateurs. I have found numerous amateur repairs or re-dos. These will not be discussed just yet.

I do have to share with you my disgust. While tracking down a significant oil leak I came across this;

After a bit of scraping I found this;

The hole is about the size of a nickel. The cracks are about 3"s long and go from a hairline crack to an 1/8" gap. The side of the block is bubbled out.

After about 4 hours of work from locating the leak source to fooling with the infamous JB Weld this is the final product;

Not as pretty as cast but so far no leaks after about 300 miles. I chose the repair because the engine runs entirely too well to remove. Also we were told it is the "original" engine and the car only has 48,000 miles.

During the repairs I chose to take care of a bit of cracked wiring casing and terminal cleaning on the starter, relay, regulator and battery. Much better now.

In good conscience I could never, ever do someone wrong like these shysters (sp??). I will never get over it.

Thanks for taking the time to share in my disappointment.

BloodyKnuckles

[steveplym]

Yeah, that is sad there are people out there like that looking to make a quick buck. That's why you have to make sure you check around when you pick a mechanic or any other type of so called "professional". Never know what you are going to get into.

At least you found your problem and was able to fix it for the time being. I've JB weld on lots of stuff and it has held up really well over the years. Always keep a tube in my toolbox.

Hope your problems are resolved and you can keep driving your car. It's a really neat low mileage car.

[greg g]

What is that copper plumbing the run along the repair site??? It doesn't look like it belongs. Never seen anything like it on any of the MOPAR flatties I ever seen.

I know he big blocks have some things that the short blocks don't but that looks strange.

[BloodyKnuckles]

What is that copper plumbing the run along the repair site??? It doesn't look like it belongs. Never seen anything like it on any of the MOPAR flatties I ever seen.

I know he big blocks have some things that the short blocks don't but that looks strange.

Who knows?

Probably some "professional" remedy. It looks like it's not factory.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I bet it's a bypass for the damaged section.

Now you got me thinking. Thanks.

BloodyKnuckles

[BeBop138]

Greg, it looks like someone took off the full flow filter and jury riged it?? I thought the 251 and 265 had the full flow system---should be a canister there??

[BloodyKnuckles]

Greg, it looks like someone took off the full flow filter and jury riged it?? I thought the 251 and 265 had the full flow system---should be a canister there??

There is a canister.

BloodyKnuckles

[Normspeed]

Gotta wonder how in the world it got busted in that spot.

[BobT-47P15]

Have we seen a picture of the car, and I just missed it????

[Normspeed]

I think it's the blue car in the profile pic. Really a nice looking rig.

[mackster]

I think it's the blue car in the profile pic. Really a nice looking rig.

It is a nice rig, and sorry to hear about the profesional repair.....Jeez some people are just wrong!!!!

[Don Coatney]

Ron;

I suspect your engine was subjected to a cold winter with no anti freeze

at some time. The water froze and pushed the block out and cracked the

oil galley. The water jacket runs all along this side of the block and the oil

galley runs outside of the water jacket. I am not sure how long blue RTV

has been on the market but that might help in figuring out how long ago

this happened. I suspect the butt hole repairman filled the oil galley with

this blue RTV. Then he had to figure out a way to return oil to the oil pan

and hence the extra line. The attached picture shows how the oil should

flow with a by-pass oil filter installed on your engine.

Your engine has the capabilities to go with a full flow oil filtering system

but I think you should leave well enough alone.

[Guest rockabillybassman]

I agree with Don.

[dvanecek]

I really dislike people!

Why do people screw over older folks? We purchased our '54 DeSoto from an 86 year old gentleman who was getting re-married to a 68 year old lady. We are the second owner. He wasn't a gearhead but liked his cars. He had all of his work done by "professionals".

Well they were more like amateurs. I have found numerous amateur repairs or re-dos. These will not be discussed just yet.

I do have to share with you my disgust. While tracking down a significant oil leak I came across this;

After a bit of scraping I found this;

The hole is about the size of a nickel. The cracks are about 3"s long and go from a hairline crack to an 1/8" gap. The side of the block is bubbled out.

After about 4 hours of work from locating the leak source to fooling with the infamous JB Weld this is the final product;

Not as pretty as cast but so far no leaks after about 300 miles. I chose the repair because the engine runs entirely too well to remove. Also we were told it is the "original" engine and the car only has 48,000 miles.

During the repairs I chose to take care of a bit of cracked wiring casing and terminal cleaning on the starter, relay, regulator and battery. Much better now.

In good conscience I could never, ever do someone wrong like these shysters (sp??). I will never get over it.

Thanks for taking the time to share in my disappointment.

BloodyKnuckles

Damn bro, that sucks. glad you found it and got it patched.

[Don Coatney]

I did not notice earlier but it appears the "repair man" also drilled and

tapped a new hole where the copper line attaches to the oil galley.

Also here is what the full flow filter looks like.

[BloodyKnuckles]

Thanks for all the responses guys.

Don, I don't think it has been drilled and tapped but I do believe the right side may have been enlarged if that's what you are talking about. Both locations are there from the factory.

Thanks again guys.

BloodyKnuckles

[Don Coatney]

Ron;

You may be right. Closer inspection showa a "boss" where the fitting attaches to your block.

Is the line copper or rusted steel?

[BloodyKnuckles]

Copper.

BloodyKnuckles

[Don Coatney]

Copper.

BloodyKnuckles

Looks like it has furrel fittings not flared fittings.

[builtfercomfort]

Considering that it was either this repair or a new engine block, I'm kind of glad to see it. Maybe the repair man saved the owner a bunch of $ or saved the car from scrapping.

Gotta agree with you on the (low) quality of the original repair though. Also gotta wonder how that oil passage got broken in the first place.

[billwillard]

Man, What a good shot Don posted of the oil filter out of his shop manual. Sure shows where the lines go. As I said before top to top and bottom to bottom.

[blueskies]

Dang... what a find...

Wonder what it looks like from the inside- might be a big gob of rtv on the inside face too... But then again, if it ain't broke, I'd leave it.

Pete

[Normspeed]

Just goes to show how rugged and versatile these old motors are.

[62rebelP23]

my memory is of an ad in Life ww2 era showing a Dodge staff car that a Jap MG bullet had penetrated the block, and the engine still ran fine.

[BloodyKnuckles]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have been driving her car alot and have put on over 400 miles since the repairs. So far no leaks. With everything electrical I have done, it stars better, runs much better and the lights a significantly brighter.

I had a friend give me 2 sets of 6v NOS Atlas headlights that are just beautiful. I installed them late last night and they are very bright. Anyone who thinks 6V sucks needs to drive my Plymouth or the DeSoto. I have been very satisfied with the 6v systems in both. With good maintainance and preventitive maintainance they can be very reliable.

Thanks again guys,

BloodyKnuckles

[Dodgeb4ya]

6 Volt systems work excellent when everything is correct! Glad MoPars don`t use "Lucas" electrical!

Bob