DeSoto

[cheesy]

Picking up the 1948 DeSoto this weekend. Finally. Heading up to Dads tomorrow, picking up the trailer at my sisters on Sunday and back either late Sunday or sometime Monday. Even Mrs. C is stoked. Kinda.

[wheelbender6]

Cool. Does it have the Fire Dome aka Hemi engine?

[cheesy]

Originally Posted by wheelbender6

Cool. Does it have the Fire Dome aka Hemi engine?

Nope. Flat head six with Fluid Drive, AKA Slush Box.

Here it is loaded on the trailer.


My Dad said it looked like I knew what I was doing when I drove it up on the trailer. As it was less than 10% of the weight of what I normally load, it was a piece of cake.

Tailgated me all the way home. It was a tad unnerving to look in the rear view mirror and see it right there.


It fits. Sorta.


Specs: Engine-237 ci/109hp/192ft lbs torque
WB-121.5"
Length-207.3"
Width-75.7"
Height-66.4"
Weight-3600 lbs

I can't find 0-60 times for the slush box but the 3 speed manual does a snooze inducing 21.4 seconds. I would imagine the slushbox is slower. The Ural would spank it in a quarter mile.

About all I really need to do to it right now, besides title and tags, is a tune up. Good thing I've held on to my timing light and meters.

[jbfla]

That brings back memories!

My first car was a '54 Desoto, a hand-me-down from my mother.

jb

[ben2go]

Great looking car. I'd like to have a flathead six for my woodie T project. I keep my eyes out for a Kaiser Frazer supercharged continental flathead six.

Storytime! I hauled a '95 Tracer Trio wagon (same as Escort wagon) through the high mountains of KY at night. Never took my eyes off it, except in curves. So I rarely glanced up. LOL We hit the interstate and let it roll. I was in my '00 Ranger with a 2.5 four banger. The car couldn't be felt except goping up hills. My oldest son was with me. He was about 10 or 11 years old. We hit a fairly flat area through TN. It was getting late, around midnight. The worn out sleepy glazed over stare had hit hard. I heard something pop behind me. I looked up and never thought about the car still being behind me on the tow dolly. I saw the park lights on and screamed like a little girl. I pulled off at the next exit. Shook off the adrenaline rush and checked the car and tow dolly. We headed back out but never found the source of the pop.

[wheelbender6]

That's a good lookin' coupe. Very cruise-worthy.

[cheesy]

Had a few hiccups today.

State of Illanoys onerous registration process reared it's ugly head and PO'd me royally. I won't go into the gory details but some strongly voiced phone calls went out to some people that just said, "Yes sir. Yes sir".

Dad said that he hadn't tuned up the engine in years. There are boxes full of parts in the back of the Chevy that include tune up stuff but no plugs. For grins, I just threw in new plugs. I found the old plugs, that I probably could have cleaned and regapped, weren't in all that tight. I mean just a slight twist of the wrist loose.

Replaced the plugs and it starts and idles better. Took it for a spin and suddenly it's popping out of gear and if I hold the lever in place, it won't up shift. Talked to Dad and he said that the popping out of gear started when he replaced the motor mounts so I think something may be out of line. May need to just loosen the mounts and rev the engine a few times, then retighten the mounts.

It looks like the lack of an upshift may be caused by the new plugs. Idle needs to be between 450-500 for the slush box to shift up properly and I bet I'm closer to 600. Time to dig out my old tach and dwell meters.

[cheesy]

Better pics.






Things I learned today.
Do not trust the gas gauge.
Do not trust my ears when setting the idle.
Lastly, when checking for an uncommon lubricant at TSC, ask that they check inventory even if it isn't on the shelf. Saves a second trip if you end up ordering it online and it shows up in stock at the local store. The same store you just left.

[ben2go]

If the trans is rod shift, it could need some adjusting. My old CJ4 had a rod actuated clutch. I replaced all the mounts for the engine, trans, and body. I couldn't get the damn clutch to release. After a little adjusting, it never stuck or slipped again.

[cheesy]

Actually, the trans is shifted by a solenoid, relay, and governor. The column shifter is for low range, high range, and reverse. I've downloaded a boatload of troubleshooting info that has me hopeful that I have just have a sticking shuttle that does not require dropping the trans.

Still, the jumping out of gear didn't start until Dad swapped out the motor mounts, so I'm pretty sure something is out of line there.

[cheesy]

Solved the transmission issue. I honestly don't know what I did but I think it's working correctly for the first time in forty years. Mrs. C and I took it out for about fifty miles yesterday and it never missed a beat. Or a shift.

Dad sent the rest of the paperwork the state of Illannoy has requested for the title and tags. Can't do anything about that until next Saturday, though.

[cheesy]

Originally Posted by ben2go

Great looking car. I'd like to have a flathead six for my woodie T project. I keep my eyes out for a Kaiser Frazer supercharged continental flathead six.

A blown Continental 6 would be cool. As it's pretty hard to find, look at the Ford 215/223. A lot of aftermarket speed parts available for that series, though more for the 223. My old 52 Ford F2 had a built 215. Except for the head shave and valve work, the extra horsepower was all bolt on. I had the engine putting out 180 hp and since my son in law has had it, I think he has managed to tweek almost 20 more out of it.

Today, even though I have a lot of experience with this engine, I think it would only be my third choice. Second choice would be the Ford 4.9/300 More stuff available to make a potent beast. Much of it from Cliffords. My first choice, though, would be the 60s Pontiac OHC 6. Not many out there and, IIRC, not much for aftermarket parts, either. But, it was plenty of power in a small package. And it looks so good.

[BlackBike]

Not to offend, it reminds me of those cars as seen in driving Mrs daisy and Rainman. The cars were the stars. Now its your responsibility to keep it going for the next generations to come. 48 Desoto will have to take a closer look on wiki.

[wheelbender6]

"As it's pretty hard to find, look at the Ford 215/223. A lot of aftermarket speed parts available for that series, though more for the 223"

I hopped up a Dodge slant six one time with a small 4 bbl, intake and headers. It ran really well with a 3 speed manual. I later added a 4 speed manual, but it never worked very well. Good ole days.

[cheesy]

Originally Posted by wheelbender6

"As it's pretty hard to find, look at the Ford 215/223. A lot of aftermarket speed parts available for that series, though more for the 223"

I hopped up a Dodge slant six one time with a small 4 bbl, intake and headers. It ran really well with a 3 speed manual. I later added a 4 speed manual, but it never worked very well. Good ole days.

Another good choice with lots of stuff available.


Second trip to the DMV tomorrow. Fingers crossed.