DeSoto
 

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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.

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.
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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.
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It fits. Sorta.
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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.

That brings back memories!

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

jb

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.

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

Better pics.

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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.:ohno:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 :tup: will have to take a closer look on wiki.

"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.

Success. :clap::clap:

Vanity plate ordered that will read SOTO DE.

Threw in new points, condenser, and rotor, which made a big difference. Didn't set set the timing yet cuz I can't find my 6volt timing light.:shrug: I might not even have it anymore. The shop manual shows how to static time the engine using a powered test light and I have the one I made for the Solxes, so I guess I'm still good.

Still need to do a vacuum test and plethora of other small things, just in time to park it for the winter. Found the cause of an annoying rumble on acceleration, the exhaust pipe was hitting the rear crossmember. Turns out it was a common problem and that there an was an aftermarket fix for it. Nine bucks on fleabay.

Looking at snow for Wednesday, and that means salt. Guess I will just wash and wax all the vehicles tomorrow and call it good.

Nice set of wheels you have there, Cheesy! I wish you guys many happy miles!

I think .016in points gap would get you very close to the proper dwell angle. Make sure the spring is still stiff. They can bounce in the upper rpm range and cause a miss.

Thanks for that little tidbit. Learn something new every day.

I will admit that doing the points and condenser was a tougher job than I anticipated. With the distributor at nearly a right angle to the block and down in a hole, along with itty bitty screws, it was a backache inducer. Crawling under the car several times to pick up said screws didn't help, either. I have a spare distributor so there is a very good chance that there is an electronic ignition in my future. Rock Auto has a 6volt positive ground system for under $200. Something to think about, anyway.

I accidently made the point gap too wide once on an Olds 455 4bbl. Flames shot out of the carb like a volcano when I tried to start it. Lesson learned.

I did a tune-up on my 74 Opel Manta and didn't tighten the hold down screw on the points enough. After it stalled, and I got smart enough to pull the cap, I found about an eighth inch gap in the points. Serrated lockwashers used after that.

Experienced something today that only us old pharts who grew up with only AM radio will remember. The radio signal dropped out when I drove under an overpass. Mrs. C and I busted out laughing.

BTW, I have listened to WGN more in the last couple of weeks than I have in the last 35 years.

That car is absolutely gorgeous! Does it have the vacuum operated wipers or are they electric already?

Electric. The only vacuum operated device is the distributor advance.

Title arrived.

Second best thing that happened today. First was that I finally got back home from the SS in SC.

Chuffed. Got the plates.
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I'd love to cruise Lake Avenue in that Dr Soto.

There is a lot more interest in DeSotos lately from traditional hot rod builders and customizers.
This guy plans to race this 1956 model at Bonneville. It is powered by a Duramax Diesel.
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That's some heavy duty wheels, on it.:tup:

Twenty plus years ago, I bought a brand new 1995 Chrysler Le Baron convertible for my wife. Beautiful car, black with a camel top and interior and goldish aluminum wheels. The 3.0 six would scream.
Anyway, while doing the paperwork, the salesman points to lavender Le Baron with a white top on the showroom floor and asks if we wouldn't rather have that one. Seems that car was ordered in that color combo for a Florida dealer and ended up in northern IL instead. They wanted it gone. My wife took one look and said, "Ick." Me, on the other hand, said, "Throw in that 56 De Soto on the used lot and you got a deal." I swear that they were considering it but Mrs. C let go with a roundhouse to my shoulder that I still feel to this day.

1956 De Soto four door in two tone puke green with a dual quad hemi and three on the tree. What wasn't to like.:shrug:

I saw a 50's Hudson Hornet two-door in Fletcher, NC today. It was a little brighter color than the Desoto but close enough that I thought of your car right away.

Hudsons were different, that's for sure. My Dad had a 46 Hudson pickup when I was a kid. Mom absolutely despised it.

We were passing by each other in traffic in the same spot where we were rear-ended three weeks ago. That old restored Hudson caught my eye and I almost rear-ended a stopped car at the same red light where we were rear-ended. :ohno:

Sounds like the intersection should be called "Rear End junction" :lmao:

The Hudson Hornet was almost unbeatable in NASCAR for a few years. And that was when a NASCAR "Stock Car" was very close to stock.

Twin H Power(factory dual carbs)and aerodynamics.:tup:

So, for the most part, working from home this week. No phone calls or emails, so I’m out in the garage chasing down an overcharging issue on the beast. Narrow it down to the voltage regulator. Installed the spiffy new solid state VR annnnd it’s NFG. Polarized it per spec and and nothing. Triple check the wiring, nothing. Take the old VR apart and clean everything. Install it, fire up the car and still pegging the amp gauge.

Okay, deep breathes. Go back into the box of parts Dad gave me and dig out the new mechanical VR that I couldn’t get to work the last time I tried it. Put it in, polarize it, and now it works. And works like it should. I dunno.

Now in a better mood, so I decide to check the timing. Spend a good forty five minutes cleaning off the damper and marking TDC. Fire things up up again. Using a 12v timing light on a 6v system so things aren’t as bright as they could be. But, bright enough to see that the timing is retarded a good 6 degrees. Explains a lot. Fight with the distributor because it has both major and minor adjustment clamps plus a steel vacuum line. Finally get it at TDC and no more lumpy idle. No more stalling or stumbling when starting out.

Guess we’ll go for a ride this evening.

I like when tuning comes together.

I've never heard of major and minor timing adjustments. Got a pic? What base timing did it call for?

I’ll see if I can get a scan of the manual later. As for the base timing, TDC. I think for future tuneups, that hard line to the vacuum advance is going to get shorter by several inches and have a bit of vacuum hose in its place.