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Location: Parts Unknown | Been looking for this car now for close to 30 years. Exact year, make, model, and
color. Strangely equipped el Strippo is more than what I wanted. All the extreme
"poverty" looks with some nice driving options. Likely a very interesting story behind
this one. With the help of a few well placed friends, this one is mine and got saved
from those who might part it out or paint it red. 
http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=35685&...
Keeping things interesting in the PNW region, even from the other side of the planet ! 
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Account deactivated by owner's request
 
Location: On this barrel | Looks good, I like looking at strippers 
I’m wondering if the sound deadening material was cut out of the underside of the trunklid … and repainted? Or maybe it was never installed?
The cool thing is all the paperwork, you should be able to hopefully piece together some history of the car.
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Expert
Posts: 2996
Location: Sept. 1958 | Congrats on your "new" car. Yes, oddly optioned. But finish your Desoto first when you come back, that is the best looking production car ever built.
BTW, that trunk insulation should look like that. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | If this Plymouth is as solid as I hope it is, it will be prudent to get an interior in it, get it running,
and paint it as a matter of keeping that girl of mine from thinking all cars that come to me just pile
up as projects. The DeSoto project is deep enough it will require several years of work to finish.
I can pick away at it, but the Plymouth may get the rush if it is not needing too much work.
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Location: Parts Unknown | The seller contacted me last night with all the info needed to send payment, except for
one small detail ... his name ! I sent a reply asking for that, along with some other
questions about vehicle history, missing parts, and a request for more photos.
The DLI told me this AM that the seller contacted her and the financial end is taken care
of. Hopefully I will get some feedback regarding my questions soon.
He informed me that he has a son serving here in AFG as well.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Doc,
How's the bidding going on the carton of milk?
Gotta make sure the proper recipient receives it!
---John |
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | big m - 2011-04-08 11:48 AM
Doc,
How's the bidding going on the carton of milk?
Gotta make sure the proper recipient receives it!
---John
I'm sure you have found a lot worse in a car ... |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | 56royaldodge - 2011-04-08 12:36 PM
big m - 2011-04-08 11:48 AM
Doc,
How's the bidding going on the carton of milk?
Gotta make sure the proper recipient receives it!
---John
I'm sure you have found a lot worse in a car ... : )
Yep! I've definitely found worse surprises, even critters like Texas rattlers in a frame!
---John |
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | big m - 2011-04-08 3:46 PM
56royaldodge - 2011-04-08 12:36 PM
big m - 2011-04-08 11:48 AM
Doc,
How's the bidding going on the carton of milk?
Gotta make sure the proper recipient receives it!
---John
I'm sure you have found a lot worse in a car ... : )
Yep! I've definitely found worse surprises, even critters like Texas rattlers in a frame!
---John
I don't think those are legal "pets" in CA in case you decided to keep it!  |
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Location: Parts Unknown | There is no such thing as a non-poisonous snake in AFG. Some 12-16 species, if I
remember right. Little things that are highly venomous and all are night hunters, making
them especially dangerous, climbing into duffle bags, boots, and gear while you sleep, or
just run across them while walking to the latrine in the middle of the night. The most
common is a Saw Scale Viper. Little brown guy with rough scales that will make you dead
before medical attention can be found. 
For an eye-opener, Google "camel spider". These make the snakes seem pleasant.
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2011-04-09 12:48 AM
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Location: On this barrel | Doctor DeSoto - 2011-04-08 10:47 PM
There is no such thing as a non-poisonous snake in AFG. Some 12-16 species, if I
remember right. Little things that are highly venomous and all are night hunters, making
them especially dangerous, climbing into duffle bags, boots, and gear while you sleep, or
just run across them while walking to the latrine in the middle of the night. The most
common is a Saw Scale Viper. Little brown guy with rough scales that will make you dead
before medical attention can be found.
For an eye-opener, Google "camel spider". These make the snakes seem pleasant.
I’m not trying to make light of your situation but around these parts we have whats called a “trouser snake”.  |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Chances are, around your parts, the ratio of trouser snakes to fuzzy-wuzzy lovin' cups is
probably something like 50/50. Around here, the trouser snake dominates at about 99%.
Nothing like a Dudefest. 
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Location: Parts Unknown | Car is officially paid for as of today. Time to get it picked up and moved north !
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Expert
Posts: 3577
Location: Blythewood, SC | I think you should paint it red. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Before or after I move it ?
I thought they all came from the factory painted red, ... no ?
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Location: Parts Unknown | After 3 emails to the seller went unanswered, I got ahold of the DLI, who called the seller.
Seems he keeps non-working email addresses in his header. That's a new one on me !
Anyway, ... got what is supposed to be a working email address to arrange pickup with.
Gotta love these long distance deals ....
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 347
Location: Ocean Park, Washington | You've probably been asked this before, but, when are you heading back to the Northwest, Doc?
Edited by floyd066 2011-04-16 3:29 PM
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Location: Parts Unknown | 7 months down, 29 more to go. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I had a dickens of a time communicating with the seller. 4-5 emails sent, no replies.
If it weren't for the DLI picking up the phone and calling them, there would have been
no contact.
Again, a big thanks to John Fowlie and my Dear One for handling all the details to make
this happen. While all that was being problematic, I got redeployed even deeper into
theatre to a TINY combat outpost in Helmand Province with even less internet access.
So, John arranged pick up and shipment to his place, and surprisingly, this got done
really fast and the car now sits at John's. He will clean it up for storage - Arizona dust
in doors and quarters turns to mud and rust when the rains come - and will go over it
for parts needs and general assessment.
He sent me the following photos this AM:
 (Doc's Plymouth 001.jpg)
 (Doc's Plymouth 002.jpg)
 (Doc's Plymouth 003.jpg)
 (Doc's Plymouth 004.jpg)
 (Doc's Plymouth 005.jpg)
 (Doc's Plymouth 006.jpg)
Attachments
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 Doc's Plymouth 001.jpg (56KB - 742 downloads)
Doc's Plymouth 002.jpg (66KB - 750 downloads)
Doc's Plymouth 003.jpg (58KB - 742 downloads)
Doc's Plymouth 004.jpg (63KB - 736 downloads)
Doc's Plymouth 005.jpg (39KB - 746 downloads)
Doc's Plymouth 006.jpg (49KB - 758 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | Cut and pasted from the General Discussion board:
Johnny's Auto Wrecking used to sit along the old Woodinville-Duvall road. Over the hill behind
the shop a road ran east and west with three roads then branching north up the hill toward the
back of the yard. On the most easterly road, up near the crest of the hill sat two finned Plymouths.
I knew little about old cars back then, even less about Plymouths, but these two cars caught my
attention and many times I leaned up against a car across the aisle and studied the details of each.
I would later learn one was a 57 Plaza 4s, the other a 58 Belvedere 2HT, but back then all I saw was
one had quad headlights and a matching grille above and below the bumper, the other looked kinda
goofy to me, ... like someone had put a home made grille in the lower part and added a strange parking
light where the inside headlight was supposed to be. I find this memory funny, because it shows how
little I knew about these cars back then. I had just got my driver's license and my "new" 60 Buick had
me on the fast track to learning all about them.
That 60 Buick led me to all sorts of backwater wrecking yards that kept the oldies around. The next big
find was Ray's Auto Wrecking out near Silver Lake, south of Everett. Unlike Johnny, Ray stacked his cars,
in some places 5-6 high. Massive columns of cars, all tottered against each other, one could climb into the
pile and snake through the air space between the cars for hours. I don't think I was sure I had seen them
all even after years of climbing through them.
Up toward the front of the high pile, in the center of the yard sat a 60 Invicta that I took a flawless interior
out of. It sat near another one of those cool little Plymouths, this one a 58 Plaza 4s in a pretty light green.
As time went by, so did the interest in Buicks and soon it was all about Mopars. The little Plaza at Ray's
proved to be an interesting car, as it was a real stripper that no one had touched because it had none of
the desirable parts or options on it. It also was a scary car to mess with, as it sat under 3-4 cars, on the
bottom of the pile. But for whatever reason, Ray had left a small open space near that column and one
could actually step back and look at this car from the driver's side. I took a real shine to this car, even
though it was hopelessly buried under a mountain of cars. Back then, no one wanted a sedan. Certainly
not a seafoam green one, but there was something very charming about this car.
Back then my big chase was for the 58 DeSoto ragtop I have had for years now, but that little Plymouth
always stayed in the back of my head, thinking if I ever came across a Plaza like that, I'd buy it. I even
began to think about it seriously enough that I returned to Ray's to retrieve the body tags off that Plymouth
and build one from scratch, only to find a housing development where Ray's had been. I was bummed. I fell
victim to the bad attitude that sedans weren't worthy of making any special effort for, and that little car and
all those unique parts found on an el Strippo were gone forever.
Fast forward 30 years from when I first noticed that car and BINGO!
http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=35685&...
My interest in el Strippo cars has grown even more over the years, and something like a dumpy black-
walled four door sedan in puke green with dog dish hubcaps has sounded better and better with every
passing year. It pays to make your interests known, and I want to thank all my friends here on the forum
for a lot of laughs, pleasurable hours wasted, and in this case, a big thanks to David for posting the above
eBay listing, as I came out on top with the help of my dear wife on the bid key, and this toady little green
Plymouth will be coming home to my house and saved from becoming a parts car or painted red and white.
It will be preserved as a nice example of those cars so shunned and overlooked by the car hobby that favors
flash and glitter.
Big M has offered help in staging the car until I can get home from Afghanistan. Thanks John.
The timing could not have been worse. How to buy a car from a dusty outpost in the Afghan desert with only
occasional chopper traffic ? I guess this will all be part of a great history to go with the car.
Again, thanks all.
Doctor DeSoto / (Professor Plymouth?)
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Location: Parts Unknown | Another copy from the General Discussion thread:
Back when they were new, of all the finned cars, my most prominent memory of any of
them is of the 58 Plymouth tail lights. As a little kid, they looked just like upturned lollipops
to me !
Another car that contributed to my interest in this car was a 1960 Dart el cheapo ... can't
remember if that was the Seneca or the Pioneer ??? Which one was the bottom of the line ?
Anyway, my friend John and I used to take several day road trips, hitting every backwater
wrecking yard and looking for cars wherever we might find them. Parked out front of Belfair
Auto Wrecking was this el Cheapo Dart 4s in that same soft light green, ... body color wheels,
dog dishies, slant 6 with 3-onda-tree, a spotless grey interior, ... just the cutest little Grandma
grocery gitter you ever saw. It was a real low miles original that had just come in - Grandma
prolly croaked and the kids had that old, ugly car hauled off - but the yard had not decided what
they were gonna do with it, if I remember correctly. I got busy and never followed up on it.
Hope it got saved, but given the anti-sedan attitude back then, I'll bet it got parted or crushed.
I like 60 Dodge, but consider the 58 Plymouth to be one of the top FL cars ever built and THE
BEST looking Plymouth ever built. This one may not be the super slippery 2HT, but I can live
with that. It is one of those cases of "It's so ugly, it's cute!" kinda things. That is one reason
I have held out for one in this color.
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Expert
Posts: 2612
Location: Parts Unknown | Doctor DeSoto - 2011-04-20 10:56 AM
That is one reason I have held out for one in this color.
So you're gonna paint a '58 DeSoto convert purple, but you wanted a 4dr sedan in original colors ?
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Expert
Posts: 3575
Location: Netherlands | Hey! what's wrong with purple?! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I am going to paint the DeSoto an OEM Spring Special original color ... that lilac metallic with
original OEM charcoal sweep color. I am not dreaming up some hot rod candy purple for the car !
In 35 years of chasing finned cars and almost as long chasing finned Mopars, I have only seen
a number I could count on one hand painted in this striking color. The original blue color is fine,
but I want something with more period "pizzazz". Something unique to the fin era.
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Veteran
Posts: 279
Location: Norway | Hey Doc, the car looks even better in Johns pictures! Looks like a really solid car without the ususal rust. I have to congratulate one more time..
I'm a sucker for low down models myself and the green with bodycolor/dogdish wheels will be awesome. My goal with these old cars is like you described in another thread, to go for a ride down the postcard thread. A basic sedan has a tendency to look more "real" and taken from one of them postcards than a fancy ht or convertible.
I actually just bought a light blue '65 Valiant Wagon myself that will have bodycolor wheels and dogdishes. Not as striking as a '58, but definately also a "postcard car"
I see you are going for blackwall bias tires. Couldn't agree more. The fact that the correct Goodyears are not available without whitewalls shouldn't be a problem. They come with the (correct for these cars) 2 1/4"WW and with the narrow 1"WW. I'd go for the narrow one, color the white stripe with something black that doesn't hurt rubber and mount it inwards. It will never be visible looking at the car.
You mentioned that you considered 15" wheels. Not sure if I'd do that.. Upgrading to 15" is a very smart move when using radials on these cars to keep the original circumeference with the lower profile tires. But when using correct looking bias tires on a 15" wheel they will be awfully high for a '58 Plymouth. Rims may also be a problem as the older cars that used 15" originally had pretty narrow rims with a different offset. No problem if going for newer wheels but you want the 10" dogdishes to fit..
I'd go for keeping the car as factory correct as possible, using the original wheels and 7.50-14 Goodyears, but that's just my 2c. |
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Posts: 2612
Location: Parts Unknown |
Its all good doc, If you did want to paint the DeSoto candy purple or even spread chia seeds on it, who cares,
I just find it amusing you will change the as delivered color on a '58 convert, but hold out for a green sedan
so it will be original . . .
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Location: Parts Unknown | I've been over this before, but .... The DeSoto, for me, is the ultimate post-war car ever built.
Had the 57 been a wedge engine car and had the 58 bumpers, I would have preferred a 1957 ....
LOVE the 57 side sweep pattern, but years and years and years of searching and work scrounged
up this old rust bucket I found, and when beggars can't be choosers, I got stuck with a blue car
with a grey interior. Not that I mind the blue, .... but like I say about red Plymouths, it just is not
a very unique color ..... you could buy a blue or red car in 1934 or 1978, you know ? I do not like
the grey interior option, and want/ed colors unique to the 50's ... turquoise, charcoal, salmon,
pastel yellow, or green, or after seeing a 58 Spring Special Firesweep sedan in that lilac metallic,
that stunning color with the matching white and lilac interior ! Go with a charcoal sweep and black
top instead of the all-too-predictable white .... that is going to be one striking 58 Fireflite ragtop !
OEM correct, .... just not original to THAT car.
Had I picked a car more easily "shopped around for", I might have held out for a stock color car
more to my liking. But 58 DeSoto convertibles are not that car, let alone a Fireflite. The green
Plymouth Plaza was hard enough to locate, .... and they made 54,000 58 Plaza 4 door sedans !
So, on to the update .... I asked the seller four times to tell me what the dealership tag on the back
panel read. Never got a response. John tells me it says: Converse / Albuquerque
A little keyboarding on the world wide web thing and I came up with this:
Converse Motor Company
423 4th Street NW
Dial 7-1586
Anyone on this list from ABQ or know anything about Converse Motors ?
John reports that the car was last tagged for 1965. The seller claimed the last driver passed away in 1964.
The engine turns freely, and the motor oil looks like "maple syrup".
Moving right along .....
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Location: Parts Unknown | Hmmmm ...... Obit from the last week of 2010
CONVERSE -- Jane Boyd Converse, 82, died of pneumonia in the hospital in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico on Saturday the 26th of December. Jane had lived in San Miguel, a picturesque haven for artists and expatriates in the hills of central Mexico for the last 30 years following the death of her husband, George Knox Converse in 1978. Jane and Knox Converse were prominent members of Albuquerque society in the 1950's until the demise of Converse Motor Company, the town's Chrysler dealership in 1960, when the Converses, Jane, Knox, and sons, Tres, Timothy, and Michael moved to Southern California eventually settling in Newport Beach. Sadly, Jane's oldest sons, Tres and Timothy preceded her in death. She is survived by her youngest son, Michael Converse, a current resident of La Verne, California; and five grandchildren, Alyson, Melissa, Steven, Andrew, and Hillary. A scattering of Jane's ashes in the Pacific, as was done for Knox, Tres, and Timothy, is planned in the coming weeks.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Great bit of history, Doc! Interesting that the dealership closed several years after the debut of the Forward Look campaign.
---John |
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | I'm still waiting for the milk carton to show up on ebay! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The milk carton will be saved.
I did a little research and there are TWO Michael Converses listed in La Verne, California.
One is listed as being 112 years old. Given that "Mom" died last December at the age of
82, I suspect that this is NOT our guy.
Michael Converse No.2 is listed as being 57 years old. I got an address and a phone
number, but seein's as how we only have radio and inet on this outpost, I asked the DLI
to call the number and some female answered and said that the number given is NOT for
Michael Converse.
So, ... a little more digging is in order there.
The ABQ Museum is affiliated with the ABC library system and they have a photoarchivist
with whom I was put in contact with in hopes of finding a good photograph of the dealership.
Still waiting on feedback there.
It sure would be nice to find an heir who could tell me the story of the dealership and perhaps
have family photos relating to it !
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2011-04-23 7:28 AM
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Location: Parts Unknown | Looks like Knox Converse dabbled in car racing from this race result sheet for the
Carrera Panamericana 1953:
*********************************************************
Pos. No. Drivers Car Entrant Laps Time Km/h Pos. Gr.
1st 36 Fangio / Bronzoni Lancia D24 Pinin Farina Scuderia Lancia 8 18:11:00.000 169.221 1st S+1.6
2nd 22 Taruffi / Maggio Lancia D24 Pinin Farina Scuderia Lancia 8 18:18:51.000 168.010 2nd S+1.6
3rd 38 Castellotti / Luoni Lancia D23 Pinin Farina Scuderia Lancia 8 18:24:52.000 167.009 3rd S+1.6
4th 26 Mancini / Serena di Lapigio Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta Scuderia Guastalla 8 19:40:29.000 4th S+1.6
5th 6 Louis Rosier Talbot Lago T26GS Club Francia Amigos de la Panamericana 8 20:11:22.000 5th S+1.6
6th 23 Ricci / Maglioli / Salviati Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta Scuderia Guastalla 8 20:16:28.000 6th S+1.6
7th 52 Stevenson / Smith Lincoln Capri Bob Estes 8 20:31:32.000 149.911 1st T
8th 53 Faulkner / Daigh Lincoln Capri Bob Estes 8 20:32:55.000 2nd T
9th 95 McGrath / Ayulo Lincoln Capri Ronald Ferguson 8 20:33:07.000 3rd T
10th 51 Mantz / Stroppe Lincoln Capri Bob Estes 8 20:33:30.000 4th T
11th 5 Ruiz Echeverría / Villegas Becerril Ferrari 250 MM Pinin Farina Efrain Ruiz-Echeverria 8 20:48:29.000 7th S+1.6
12th 66 Drisdale / Gomez Chrysler New Yorker A. B. Poe 8 21:21:19.000 5th T
13th 67 Russell / Ashley Chrysler New Yorker Knox Converse 8 21:34:26.000 6th T
*******************************************************
There were 300 cars registered for this race, including 2 New Yorkers fielded by some guy named E. Carl Kiekhaefer.
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2011-04-23 7:55 AM
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Location: Parts Unknown | Had a weird "small world" thing happen while researching this. Looking for "Knox Converse"
and came up with "Knox Converse Stadium". Wow! .... maybe this guy was a bigger name than
I thought? Closer inspection showed it is a stadium at a school called Knox in the Dandenongs
.... a place in Australia I was just a few weeks ago !
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 594
Location: Melbourne, Australia | 'Bout 10 miles from my house! Colin
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Location: Parts Unknown | Colin,
How did Knox Converse Stadium come to have that name ? If the school is called "Knox",
what is the relevance of "Converse" in relation ?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 594
Location: Melbourne, Australia | Brent, Knox is a shire/district/ municipality/ suburb. It at one recent point in history boasted the largest shopping centre in the Southern hemisphere. So there is a Knox school, Knox sports ground, Knox shopping centre etc etc. Don't know the relevance of the "converse" tag.... Colin
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Location: Parts Unknown | The chance combination of Knox Converse is quite the coincidence. Care to put on your
detective hat and see what you can come up with ???
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 594
Location: Melbourne, Australia | I'll try during the week! |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | This might be a long shot on the Knox Converse stadium thing, but perhaps they got some sort of sponsorship from Nike.
If I remember correctly there is a model of Nike's sport shoes called Converse.
The City of Knox has been around for a long time.
I remembered that there was a politician from Victoria (crap that sticks in your head from school) that was around in the early 1900s
so I looked up Knox as a pollie and found this on Wickipedia
William Knox (25 April 1850 – 25 August 1913) was an Australian businessman and politician.
Knox was born in Melbourne and his family later moved to Horsham and Ballarat He was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne and joined the Bank of Victoria in 1866 and worked in various country branches. In January 1884 he married Catherine Mary McMurtrie. In 1885, he became secretary of the recently formed Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd and in 1888, his yearly salary was increased from £75 to £1500. He effectively ran the complex organisation of a company that became Australia's biggest company and the world's biggest silver miner. He resigned as secretary in 1893 to become managing director of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, but was immediately appointed to BHP's board, a position he retained until 1910.
Knox was a councillor on Malvern Shire from 1892 to 1910 and its president from 1892 to 1895. He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council to represent South-Eastern Province in 1898. He supported the federation of Australia and was elected as the first member for Kooyong at the inaugural 1901 election, initially as a member of the Free Trade Party, although he later supported some of the Protectionist policies of the Protectionist Party. Knox was responsible for moving a motion to begin each sitting day with prayers. He resigned from parliament in 1910 after suffering a stroke.[1]
The Knoxs had five sons and two daughters and he and his wife and their youngest children travelled to England, but he died at Folkestone, Kent. He had declined a knighthood. His sons included:
George Hodges (1885–1960), appointed CMG in 1917, speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (1942–1947)
Robert Wilson (1890 - 1973), businessman, knighted 1934
William Johnstone, awarded the Military Cross and died of wounds in 1917
MacGregor, awarded the Military Cross and permanently incapacitated
I hope this helps one way or another in your history search
Mick |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Hehehehe ! I think that pretty rules out any link there !
OK, .... more info to research:
A bank stub with the name Barbara L. Parrish, 1507(?) Alpha Ln. Anaheim, Ca.
An envelope addressed to: Joe Backus c/o Paradise Harbor, Rt. 1 Riverside Dr., Parker, Arizona
This one has no return address at all, but is postmarked Parker, Az.
An envelope addressed to: B.H. McLaughlin, Room #21
This has a printed return address letterhead from the El Rancho Parker Motel and a PO there in Parker, Az.
Some preliminary digging shows this motel is still in business, and has some WILDLY differing customer
reviews that are worthy of a laugh. I came up with a Barbara L. Parrish linked to Anaheim, but without
paying to join some social network I could not go any further.
Joe Backus and B.H. McLaughlin were both deadends.
Not sure who these people are or if they had anything to do with the car. We'll see ....
The good news is that I know a few genuine detectives back home, so I'll forward this info and see what
they can come up with.
 (Doc's Plymouth 009.JPG)
 (Doc's Plymouth 010.JPG)
Attachments
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Doc's Plymouth 009.JPG (156KB - 732 downloads)
Doc's Plymouth 010.JPG (154KB - 720 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | And for those who were so interested in the milk carton ....
.... it seems this tub was a rolling smorgasbord of gastrointestinal delights !
 (Doc's Plymouth 005.JPG)
 (Doc's Plymouth 006.JPG)
Attachments
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Doc's Plymouth 005.JPG (158KB - 736 downloads)
Doc's Plymouth 006.JPG (159KB - 735 downloads)
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | Doctor DeSoto - 2011-04-25 12:52 AM
And for those who were so interested in the milk carton ....
.... it seems this tub was a rolling smorgasbord of gastrointestinal delights !
Very Cool! Definitely adds character!! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | John sent some more photos and writes:
************************************************
Here are photos of the car, I have begun to sort through it, and clean it out.
The trunk was loaded with old trash, I took photos of the contents, and set aside anything that was somewhat intact. Inside the car, I found two letters beneath the rear seat cushion, one appears to still be sealed! Also, beneath the mound of seat stuffing, there was the body of an old acoustic guitar. What looks like a rock that I have pictured, is actually a hunk of lead, probably the device that caused the windshield breakage. All rubber mats disintegrated into small bits they were so brittle, but this may have helped, as so far, I have found no rust holes in the trunk or other floors. The spare tire in the trunk was last driven on the rim for many miles, and has ruined the wheel. I should have a chance to do some more cleaning later today. The last photo is of items found in the glovebox. All items I have found will be saved for you to go through later.
---John
*************************************************
Thanks John.
 (Doc's Plymouth 001.JPG)
 (Doc's Plymouth 002.JPG)
 (Doc's Plymouth 003.JPG)
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Location: Parts Unknown | More photos of the dumpster clean out and contents.
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Expert 5K+
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Location: Williams California | Brent,
I found an old registration showing Barbara Parrish to be the registered owner. This is good news, as it shows the same license plate number as well. This will allow you to keep the black plates on the car when you go to register it.
---John |
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Posts: 4589
Location: Northern New Jersey | Doc,
That quite a nice find. And all that history in the trunk. We all love a good mystery.
I noticed you mentioned a yard on Woodenville Road. You wouldn't happen to know a Forward Looker Named Larry Zappone from Woodenville?
Best Regards,
Steve |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 340
Location: Tacoma, WA | Fun stuff.
If it's 1504 E. Alpha Ln. Anaheim, then this is it:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%221507+alpha+lane%22,+%2...
Looks like Built 1960.
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1507-E-Alpha-Ln-Anaheim-CA-92805/...
http://www.homes.com/property/20982317/1507_E_Alpha_Ln-Anaheim-CA-9...
Edited by Dave L. 2011-04-26 8:34 PM
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Location: Parts Unknown | Outstanding news, John ! I am pleased with that development.
Sure, I know Larry Zappone. Hard not to if you live in the Seattle area. John Fay and I
invented the PNW Chapter of the NDC back around 1990. I gave up leadership when I
moved to Spokanistan. I believe Larry is the current head of that organization. He keeps
a pair of dumpy old 56's in his garage ... the kind that nobody likes.
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Location: Williams California | Now that I had the treasure hunt and trash removal behind me, it was time to clean the dirt and accumulated dust from the inside, and underbody. The engine bay was the first part. I just wanted to remove the corrosion causing alkali dust and dirt from the desert environment, the oil deposits can be cleaned later. Here is a photo of the engine after cleaning it off. Next, using a forklift to pick the car up by the frame, I picked the car up on an angle so when spraying the dirt out, it would run towards the rear. There was probably two pounds of dirt packed in the headlight brows, this is why these cars often rust there first. Oftentimes, you will find asphalt chunks from people driving over freshly paved roads, but not in this case.
In the interior floors of all '57-'59 Mopars, except for Imperial, you will find a plastic plug behind the seat track, , and one just a bit behind that one on each side of the car. I popped these out to allow water and dirt to flow out of the car. Next, everything was sprayed from front to back, with the car raised in the front, it makes the job much easier to accomplish.
---John
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Doc's '58 009.JPG (160KB - 697 downloads)
Doc's '58 010.JPG (156KB - 719 downloads)
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Location: Williams California | The front driver's floor suffered the worst rust, it is hard to see in the photo as the light was poor. There is heavy pitting, and a small hole visible at the edge of the inspection cover. The door panels also had water damaged boards, and the bottoms were loose on the doors. This made it easy to flush the dirt from inside, the left rear door had a large nest from mice built inside, and it caused the door to rust from the inside. The rust stain visible on the outside of the door is probably due to weak metal, although I did not test it. In the rear wheelhouse on each side, there is a small metal plug that will gain you access to the inside of the rocker panel, and with the car tilted, it's easy to clean the dust out. Just behind the rear wheel opening on the inside panel, there are also plugs to aid in cleaning the rear quarter panels out.
After hosing the trunk and drop areas out, I raised the car high, and proceeded to clean the underside of the car and the frame out. Surprisingly, there was little dirt in the frame channels, meaning the car was not driven on dirt roads much. With all four tires flat, the dust blowing beneath the car was kept minimal too. All this cleaning takes two to three hours to do properly, by the time I had finished, it was getting dark.
---John
Next will be to drain the fuel tank, crankcase, and transmission.
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Doc's '58 012.JPG (157KB - 734 downloads)
Doc's '58 013.JPG (160KB - 692 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
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Location: northern germany | Doctor DeSoto - 2011-04-20 11:12 PM
I am going to paint the DeSoto an OEM Spring Special original color ... that lilac metallic
i believe the sales brochures called it san francisco sundown... |
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Posts: 988
Location: Kansas City, Kansas | I might have missed it, but have you determined about when the car was last registered or driven? Did the old newspapers or paperwork give any clues?
I love how these cars can sit around for decades in the desert and still be salvagable. Leave a car sitting around in the Midwest for a decade or two and it is barely recognizable as a car. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The car was last tagged in 1964 and John informs me that paperwork in the car indicates
that the last registered owner was one Barbara L. Parrish of Anaheim, California. The seller
indicated "an old man" died in 1964 it was never driven again, ending up inside a fenced
lot behind a furniture store in Parker, Arizona where it sat for many years until an heir of
the furniture store owner liquidated the property and the seller got the car.
I suspect the discrepancy of "the old man" vs. Barbara Parrish is that the car left Ms. Parrish's
hands and came to be held by this "old man" who owned the furniture store. More digging
needed. In the meantime, it looks like John has been giving the car a thorough flush and we
will be able to see just what kind of work is going to be needed to make this stripper a go.
Thanks John, for all the work. This is getting exciting !
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Location: Williams California | Brent, here is the latest on your '58.
I drained about 3 gallons of varnished fuel from the tank, and sprayed lacquer thinner up into it to wash out the residue while the drain plug was out. Nice clean tank, will need no further attention from what I can see.
The transmission fluid was almost a yellow color, and ther were only a few quarts in the trans itself. When I removed the drain plug from the converter, nothing came out until I poked a scredriver in through the hole. There was some sediment blocking it. About five quarts were drained from here. The oil pan also had sludge on the bottom, and I let it drain for several hours until it was empty. I then added five quarts of ATF to the transmission, and one quart to the engine, along with four quarts of oil. The quart of ATF will help to dissolve deposits left in the engine.
I hooked an external fuel can to the inlet of the fuel pump, found a radiator, fan, pulley, and generator and installed these, as they were missing. There were several plug wires missing, and these were the original wires, as the number one wire has the red boot on it, very brittle from age. I sourced another set from another car to use. When I removed the cap, I found that the spring loaded center terminal had been loose, causing arcing, and burning the center of the distributor cap. There was no way it could have run well like this. I filled the radiator with water, which immediately ran out the weep hole in the water pump. When I cranked the engine over by jumpering the solenoid, the fuel pump also decided to spew, the diaphragm must have had a hole in it. I disconnected the fuel line from the can to prevent all my fuel leaking away, and hooked the line directly to the carburetor inlet.
A little bit more fiddling around, and I was able to get the engine up and running, after a few minutes, it cleared up and sounded pretty good, except for the exhaust leaks, of course. The transmission went right into forward gear, even with just five quarts of fluid. The capacity of the trans and converter is closer to ten quarts. I tried to get the car out of gear, but the shifter mechanism, and, or, the shifter cable is frozen solid. All the years with a broken windshield is bound to do this. My next job will be to remove this assembly, and repair or unstick what is bound.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Hot darn, John ! That is great !
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Expert 5K+
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Location: Williams California | After loading M'lisa's car on a trailer for transport to her body shop[ where she can finish buffing the paint easier] I moved your Plaza back into the barn, and disassembled the pushbutton keyboard, and lubed the cable as well. I got everything to work properly, but the cable would not move in its housing. I could rotate the cable by twisting it, so the problem was inside the transmission.
I removed the pan, and drained the five quarts of new fluid, and what I saw in the pan did not look good. I took a few photos of the pan’s contents, and valve body of the transmission. The valve body is gummed solid and was not allowing the cable to move it at all. Being that the car went immediately into forward gear once the engine was started, the cable was stuck in the low gear position.
The sediments are very strange, I have only seen this once before on a car that had been parked for over 40 years, you can take this stuff between your fingers and squeeze it, and it turns back to a fluid, it is not friction material. My thinking is that the fluid broke down after all these years, and the deposits clung to the pan and lower areas on the transmission. The stuff I originally drained was a yellowish clear color. I will remove the valve body, clean everything thoroughly, and see if this unit cannot be saved and made functional again.
---John
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Location: little rock, AR | Great Thread. |
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Expert 5K+
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Location: Williams California | I dropped the valve body, cleaned everything thoroughly, cleaned the pan and filter. I'll reassemble it tonight and see if the transmission works.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Thanks John.
Make sure you give me a number so I can get $$ for your time and materials.
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Location: Colorado | Just stumbled across this thread, good stuff! Nice find Doc and you sent it to the best place on earth until you return!
Cheers. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Hehehehe!
John might look a little scruffy, and has been known to paint a Fury red, but I like his jingle:
"Big M Auto-kind of like Disneyland, 'cept the rides don't work"
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Expert 5K+
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Location: Williams California | Good news, Brent!
I added five quarts of fluid, and poured some fuel into my external fuel tank, and fired the engine up. I do not have the shifter keyboard reinstalled, but by moving the cable in its housing, the transmission went directly into forward, and reverse. I added another quart or two, and cycled the gears until the engine warmed up. Hard to tell the shift points while being on stands, but everything seemed good.
I'll order a pan gasket, and drain the converter and pan again to remove any contaminants that may have loosened up during this process.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | That is good news! What did you use to soak the valve body in ?
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Location: Williams California | Doctor DeSoto - 2011-05-26 10:55 AM
That is good news! What did you use to soak the valve body in ?
I used lacquer thinner, followed by carburetor cleaner spray.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | With the ATF turning to alien spuzz, I was wondering what cut it. Ever messed with two
part epoxies and unless you use just the right thinner, it gums up like hell and is nothing
but a giant, sticky mess ? 
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Location: West Chester, PA | big m - 2011-05-25 1:36 PM
I dropped the valve body, cleaned everything thoroughly, cleaned the pan and filter. I'll reassemble it tonight and see if the transmission works.
---John
John, I hope you kept the material that you removed. That stuff is like gold, and goes great on toast too...
Cheers Doc, sweet Plaza! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Can you use "sweet" and "Plaza" in a proper English sentence ?
Watch me break the low performance barrier in my "Buzzard Puke Green" fleet machine.
Fastest grocery gitter this side of the Pecos.
Credits to Canman for "Buzzard Puke Green". Great name.
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2011-05-28 3:15 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1115
Location: CA | Any updates? I'm loving this thread and seeing the less popular cars get resurrected! |
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Location: Williams California | Finsinthemirror - 2011-06-10 1:49 PM
Any updates? I'm loving this thread and seeing the less popular cars get resurrected!
I've been out in Texas for the last week and a half, but will get back on Brent's '58 shortly. I'll be sure to post when I do!
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Loafing again ?
What a slacker !
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Account Inactive by Request
Posts: 1601
| Let's get this straight....Doc is off fighting the bad guys, but finds time to buy an old "vanilla" Plymouth. John (Big M) being the nice guy that he is goes and gets the car and agrees to store it for Doc until he comes home. In the meantime, John starts working on Doc's new toy, trying to get it to run, etc. Sheet, by the time Doc gets home, John will have the darn thing fully restored. Anybody else see a "sweet deal" emerging here? Hey, John, can you "store" my '57 Chrysler while I go do some necessary travel...I'd like the exhaust to be a little throaty, but no other real demands. (LOL) |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Actually, it is a behind-the-scenes deal .... M'Lisa told me John was driving her nuts. Just
wandering around the house with nothing to do. So a scheme was hatched to give John a
little project to work on to keep him out of trouble and out of the bingo hall. This IS in John's
best interest, you know! I'm only here to help.
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Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | I know a Congressman who is looking for work. His has a reputation of being good with his tools!!! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | My attention is taken. Go ahead and work with Mr. Skivvy. Thanks.
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Expert 5K+
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Location: Williams California | A bit more progress this weekend.
I removed and replaced the leaking water and fuel pumps, of course, the aftermarket compressor needed removal to gain access. No surprises here, but did find the parts store had given me the wrong lower radiator hose, so I was unable to pressurize the system to check for leaks. Going to replace all heater hoses as well as the bypass, as they are brittle.
I drained the converter and trans pan, and replaced the pan gasket, then refilled the system. there was not much crud this time, so this looks to be a success.
Next, I removed the old brittle windshield gasket, there was an enormous amount of sand, broken glass bits, and other debris in the window channel so I cleaned those areas carefully. One small abrasive bit can cause the replacement glass to crack. I found a supple gasket in a station wagon out in the yard, removed it, and cleaned it first with Westley's tire cleaner, and then warm, soapy water. I laid it on the deck of a '64 merc in the hot sun, it dried out quickly in the 100 degree heat here.
I had a good clear windshield in the glass rack that I removed from a '57 Plymouth that I cut up some time ago, so I set it over a plastic barrel, applied a bit of windshield sealant to the edge of the glass, and installed the gasket, which was now quite hot and pliable. Allan was her to help set it in place, and after a bit of work, it was now in place.
---John
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Location: Big M Automotive's Yard | This explains why when I asked John if he could help me on my olds he said he was busy. Your car will be put on hold now until the olds is finished and ready for the Nationals in Reno at the end of July. I might let him finish working on your car if he has time after he has finished the "honey, do this or face the consequences" list I will have for him for putting me off!
John's loving wife, M'Lisa |
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Location: Snohomish, WA. | M'Lisa,
That's just whining, and worrying.
Ol' John will get it done in time. A little space, now!
Mike |
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Location: CA | I sure wish I could have been there to watch that windshield install. I've got to do that eventually.. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | John, Thanks for "risking it all" like this to put my car back together. I owe you, Bud !
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Location: Williams California | ROTFLMAO!!
---John |
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Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | This is a great thread!
"Doctor DeSoto" congrats on finding and saving this stripper Plymouth.I'm sure you (and John) saved this cars life.
Its refreshing to see what some regard as a "parts car" getting respect.
I cant believe how much John has got done already,at this rate by the time you take possesion of it you'll be able to fly out and drive it home!!
Gotta love the old milk carton and assorted food cans! it looks like someone drove to the market 35+ years ago and forgot to bring in the groceries.
Hope you're able to find out more history on the car.
Edited by 1960DesotoAdventurer 2011-08-30 1:19 PM
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Location: Parts Unknown | I am going to "do" this car for the wifeperson. She has become a real fin fan and fell in love
with Colin's 57 while down under. She tends to like the toadier looking cars anyway, so this
dumpy old sedan in buzzard puke green is a natural !
Gonna send out to SMS for the interior and while that is "being processed", do some rust repair,
and toss some paint on it, fixing what little things need love along the way.
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Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | Finding a lady who is a fin fan and understands the forward look obsession is almost as hard as finding a rust free '58 Plymouth!
I'm sure she'll love this Plaza and have a blast driving it around...just be sure she takes the groceries out of the trunk after she goes to the market!
Who makes the aftermarket A/C unit?
Edited by 1960DesotoAdventurer 2011-08-30 1:31 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 481
Location: The Netherlands | I just saw your car as I was visiting John. It's looking good, even got some pics of it.
Nice full size hubcaps are on it, radio and clock are waiting in the front seat. You have some nice options there |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Matthew Keij - 2011-08-31 7:55 PM
Nice full size hubcaps are on it, radio and clock are waiting in the front seat. You have some nice options there :bleh:
*************************************
Blasphemy !!!! 
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Expert 5K+
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Location: Williams California | I'll probably have a bit of time for the Plaza this weekend, Brent. I am waiting on wheel cylinders for the '59 Dodge, they may not be in for a bit.
Basically, the main things I have left to do is to put fresh oil and filter in, pressure test the cooling system, as I've already changed hoses and waterpump. Also, I want the car to be able to start and run on its own without using jumper wires, so I'll have a minimum of installing a starter solenoid and ignition switch too.
I am not going to restore the car, but want to get it into a preserved state until you get back home and can pick it up.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Thanks John.
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Location: The Netherlands | I'll post my pics when I get home.
At the west palm beach airport now, heading for Philly first and them in going to Europe again |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Where's those pix ?
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Posts: 481
Location: The Netherlands | Oh yeah! darn. I'll try to do it tomorrow night. Been busy with the vert.
My apologies! Don't shoot me :p |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Hey Matthew, ... still busy with that "vert" ?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 481
Location: The Netherlands | Yeah! Including back problems. She is almost done. Dash pad needs to be installed and some other small things.
I might have some time tomorrow. Now hoping I can upload them as I've got a lot of upload problems
Edited by Matthew Keij 2011-09-19 6:33 PM
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Location: Parts Unknown | Roger that. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Well, ... been a long time since there was any news. But while home on leave, got to
visit the BIG M Ranch and check out the Plaza. Saw the most solid trunk floor I have ever
seen ! Got a few other issues, but overall, a pretty sweet starting point for another Christine ! 
Here's a few shots. It was getting late in the day by the time we got there, so the shadows
are running pretty long. Oh well, ... beats the view from AFG !
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Location: Parts Unknown | And one of my favorite "accessories" ...
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Location: Parts Unknown | One of the primary mission objectives for the visit was to procure fabric samples
to forward to SMS to have made with a good lead time before needed. I was
informed by Doug at SMS that the vinyl is correct, but the fabric is period seatcover
material. He offered either this or the original fabric in stock, so all was for naught !
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2012-02-28 6:27 AM
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | Looking good! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | With all the craziness you read in the news about Q'ran burnings and solidiers shooting up villagers,
we've been a little distracted and I have not followed up on the fabric issue until now.
SMS has samples and yardage specs en route. All material is in stock, including the patterned
door panel inserts. Will be home in May to have a look.
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Posts: 347
Location: Ocean Park, Washington | When you get back to the NW in May, look me up. I'm a retired Air Force Vet. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I will only have 21 days this time (including travel time) so I won't get too far from home.
Not sure if I will press on for a 3rd year. If not, I'll be home for good in Sept. I have a long
time date to scout something up river by Bingen. Maybe when I come down to pick up the
door panels we can coordinate a beer or three ? What did Uncle have you doing ?
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Location: Parts Unknown | Late to update.
Interior fabrics and door panels were ordered in June.
Stumbled into rod shop in BF Egypt backwater Oregon that was doing some dynamite
fabrication work turning a 56 Buick Super 4HT into a wildly chopped and channeled 2HT.
I was duly impressed with this guy's work. The wifeperson got all fired up with visions
of a driver Plaza, and this put the wheels in motion to have the body and paint done. I
wasn't too keen on having this work done a hard ten hour drive from home for any inspections
or parts movement that inevitably comes up, so I got to scratching my bean about shops I
I have seen that I'd trust to do the work. Looks like I have found the shop to do this and
will have the old girl pulled up north as soon as Big M and I square up for services rendered.
Will be asking lots of sourcing questions upstairs soon.
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Expert 5K+
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Location: Williams California | Brent-
I have been buried here since I arrived back, and will get you the list of needs Monday. We did get a '58 ignition switch re keyed and installed in the car, though.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Sounds great, John. The wifeperson has ants in her pants to get cooking on this and what
fool Forward Look guy would not want to support his girl-person's hot desire to get one of his
cars restored ?
I enjoy a unique female in my life who actually gets into this. I don't want to discourage it
in any way.
PM me with your phone number. I am 12 hours time difference off from west coast time and
can call you to discuss what parts we still need, etc. a lot easier than typing a lot of email.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1120
Location: Brisbane, Australia | WHAT A GREAT THREAD - THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE AS GOOD AS RAFFE'S ITALIAN JOB!!!!!!!!
Brent, congratulations on finding your dream car! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I really wanted to do this car myself, as I have a very fine line between being meticulous
and not over-restoring something. But that chick I shack up with has got a bee in her bonnet
to be seen around town in a buzzard puke Plaza and with the shop still some time from completion
(for a place to get the tools out and do the work), the car would be out further still in getting
completed. I asked Big M to give it his best, but he says he's swamped and could not get to it.
So, with a an excited FL driver-to-be pressing to make it all purty muy pronto, I have had to
press my brain for guys I would trust do get that "balance".
I think I have found the right guy to do the work who understands where I am coming from
on this. The good news is this will be an easy restoration, given the almost perfect body on it.
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Location: Parts Unknown | And, .... with this car done, that puts the Fireflite back on the front burner to do as soon
as the shop is functional !
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Location: Parts Unknown | The wifeperson reports an email from SMS saying the interior fabrics and door panels
were shipped 16 July. Got a quote of $4K +/- to restore the seat frames, paint, repad,
and sew all the pretty fabric up, skin them, and assemble the interior to perfection.
Anyone have a source for windlace ?
Have arranged the body work and paint as well.
Green Plaza, here we go ! The dog dish dream is about to come true.
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Location: Parts Unknown | After a few fits and starts, the Plaza was supposed to be picked up from Big M's place yesterday,
for the trip up to Spokanistan, where it will be stripped, and have the body work and paint done, and
the interior installed. Moving right along ... ! Pix as I get them.
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Location: Parts Unknown | Interesting to engineer a restoration from the other side of the globe. After some quiet, got an
email this AM saying the Plaza had arrived in Spokane and soon the tear down and assessment
process will begin. So will my questions about where guys like youzall recommend getting parts.
First up is lenses. Looking for excellent reproduction tail light and parking light lenses. Also, is
the sedan windlace a fabric type like the headliner, or is it the "meshy" looking stuff, or something
else ? Sources ?
Who is our best go-to source for front end kits ?
Still looking for a 4bbl intake, carb, and air cleaner for a 58 (AFB type).
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Location: Parts Unknown | When I originally bought this car, I knew I was deep in my deployment and would be gone a long time.
I asked John Fowlie if he'd like to throw his magic at the car, but John had other things like his own projects
and business to attend to (the nerve ! ), and that wasn't going to work out. While home on leave, I
stumbled on a guy in B.F. Egypt building a 56 Buick coupe out of a 4 door. His work was incredible and I got
to thinking about getting the Plaza project rolling. After some head scratching, I remembered talking with
Glenn Vaughn about doing some fab work on the DeSoto a few years ago and dropped him a line. Business
was discussed, and last week Glenn met up with John and moved the Plaza up to the Spokane area. The plan
is to do a frame-on resto to a factory quality finish, ... a subject of some discussion between us .... no trailer
queen finish, but a nice, tight level of detail, with improvements on fit and finish where needed.
Here is the car once unloaded, and being fitted for an awesome rear spoiler made of 1/2" IP. The parts car I
got was a 35 Packard Super 8. It will be interesting to see what interchanges. :
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2012-08-13 11:42 PM
 (Plaza PF 1.jpg)
 (Plaza PF 2 interior.jpg)
Attachments
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Plaza PF 1.jpg (37KB - 381 downloads)
Plaza PF 2 interior.jpg (33KB - 369 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | I love following this project! I feel like I'm a part of it in a way, having spotted that green beauty for sale!... |
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Location: Parts Unknown | You started this problem !!!!
I enjoy following others' long running posts of projects. It is inspiring.
I got an email yesterday saying the seat frames are terribly rusty and it will be cheaper to procure
better ones than to restore these. I expect photos of the disassembly soon. Will post as I get them.
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Location: Parts Unknown | Damm, ... I am getting all itchy to get moving on this, but it is a clusterstuppe, every step of the
way. Finally got the car up to the shop and am waiting word on what is missing or needing replacement.
The only response I got for lense sources was Gary Goers, so I went online and sent away for two
copies of his catalogue - one for home reference, the other for me here. In spite of the simplicity of
the APO mailing, both copies went to the house, so one is now being forwarded to AFG. More waiting.
I thought that our OEM tires being made again was really great, but immediately ran into complications.
Goodyear Custom Super Cushions are not made as a 14" blackwall. Normally, a blackwall is not even
on my radar, but the whole point in doing a Plaza was the bare bones fleet car look, complete with dog
dishies and blackwalls. So, just turn 'em whitewall in, right ? Not so much. The cut sidewall is obvious
even when turned in and stained black, and the proper mounting of the trunk spare is going to show the
whitewall. I'm picky about little details like that. I like that unmolested, Grandma Pittipoo look. So, I
kept pressing other vendors, but it appears they simply are not
made that way.
Plan B was going with a 15" wheel, as the Custom Super cushions ARE sold in a 15" configuration with
the plain black wall. But these must fit the dog dish, and THAT has been a no-go thus farly. Stalled again.
The resto shop says the seats are really crusty, and it would be cheaper to find a better set than clean
these up and repair them. Big M has a set, but the shipping is stout on piano-sized objects like this. I
found a set locally, but cannot get the seller to use key words like "really nice" and "still with black paint
on them". So, I am waiting .... If I were home, I'd just drive out there and have a look myself, but all
I can do is check up on this stuff between missions. I pitched countless seat sets in the cars I junked ...
... many still in shiny black paint. No one wanted seats back then. How many buyers are looking for
sedan seats today ? It's not like we're talking about power swivels here ! Yet you'd think I was looking
for 24k gold bumper wings for this dog.
Itchin' to git stitchin' |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 716
| Yeah....because you don't have enough to do at your current location!
(Cool though that the tech allows you to keep up on thing here while over there) |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Kelsey advises the 8.00 x 14 tires will work fine on either 5.5" or 6.0" wheels. I ordered a set of 5 today.
I guess this gets the ball rolling.
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Location: Parts Unknown | After a lot of rush to get the car out of California and up to Washington, the project stalled, awaiting an
open slot on the shop floor. First order of business was to tweak the engine and tranny to verify they are
as good as we hoped they were. All checked out and the beast runs great. No knocks or funny noises, good
compression ...
Next is the brakes and bearings. These were pretty good too, and after a little cleaning and some new linings,
are going back together shortly. We will drop the rear end and springs, clean them up and get them in paint
while we're at it. Still awaiting word on the gear ratio. I directed them to do a thorough rebuild of the ball and
trunnion, if it is good, or let me know it is not so I can get on the parts search.
What is the latest word on B&T joints ? Are they available ?
The fuel tank was pulled, boiled, and sealed. Once confirmed as a going and stopping machine, the body
breakdown will begin for the paint and interior. Should the drivetrain prove to have issues, these can be getting
done while the body and paint are being worked on.
Tires are on hand. A FL'er directed me to some NOS tail light lenses, and those are in hand as well. I'm a picky
bast#@ when it comes to exhaust, and with the engine confirmed as "solid", a system will be put together to spec.
Will get the front end parts soon, and have requested an inventory of needed rubber to order from Goers as the
breakdown begins.
I gave the resto guy a bunch of anal retentive grief about getting the P&A and Argent paint right, and judging by
the drums, he got the P&A right on the money. I look forward to see this get moving into the serious stage !
 (doing brakes oct 2012.JPG)
 (brakes rf as found.JPG)
 (brakes lf as found.JPG)
 (brakes rr as found.JPG)
 (brakes lr as found.JPG)
 (spindle right oct 2012.JPG)
 (spindle left oct 2012.JPG)
 (axle right oct 2012.JPG)
 (axle left oct 2012.JPG)
 (brakes front cleaned up.JPG)
 (brakes rear cleaned up oct 2012.JPG)
Attachments
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doing brakes oct 2012.JPG (41KB - 418 downloads)
brakes rf as found.JPG (48KB - 386 downloads)
brakes lf as found.JPG (54KB - 374 downloads)
brakes rr as found.JPG (43KB - 365 downloads)
brakes lr as found.JPG (48KB - 408 downloads)
spindle right oct 2012.JPG (37KB - 421 downloads)
spindle left oct 2012.JPG (45KB - 399 downloads)
axle right oct 2012.JPG (36KB - 399 downloads)
axle left oct 2012.JPG (43KB - 376 downloads)
brakes front cleaned up.JPG (42KB - 388 downloads)
brakes rear cleaned up oct 2012.JPG (40KB - 386 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Hey Doc
As much as I am probably going to get roasted
I dont supose you got any pics of the chevy next to your car?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 470
Location: the Great Northeast | No Chevy for you!!!!
You can find them on other sites, not here!!!!
;-) |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Being the nice guy that I am, I can ask Glenn to get a shot of it for you.
However, duly note that this request for Chevy photos will be recorded in your disciplinary file.
Whaddya gonna do ? You dress 'em up warm and send 'em to school, .... and they eat the books !
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | It reminds me of a car in a great Aussie petrol head movie called Running On Empty.
I have to say, it was the 57 chev that first lured me into fins and its because the Plymouth has bigger fins that I like the Plymouth.
The other thing is, if I could find a blower manifold to fit the poly, I would be going down that road also.
Now I have shown my true colours lol.
In my defence, I will say that if I got hold of a cross ram engine, I wouldnt take them off to fit a blower.
Wonder if you could put 2 small blowers on a cross ram 
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Location: Parts Unknown | Ah, .... I get it now !
You are the guy who would rear down the house in North by Northwest and put up a pole barn !
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Doc
It wouldnt surprise me if at some stage, I didnt actually build my own blower manifold just to see if I could make it work
How long till you get home to do some of your car yourself?
Or is it the plan to have it done before then
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Location: Parts Unknown | There will always be more to do on this or any other old car. But the plan is to have it "done" before I get home.
With de-scoping in full swing, no telling how long this game will last. There has been talk of deploying some of us
to Afrika. I'll believe it when I see it.
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | You going to drive that around Africa? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Yeah, ... that's the plan. I'm going to restore it, have it shipped to Afrika, and beat the sh!t out of it.
You must be clairvoyant !
We do most of our gittin' around in these:
 (huey.jpg)
Attachments
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huey.jpg (44KB - 373 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | Rear brakes, repainted, replated, rebuilt.
 (brakes rebuilt lr.JPG)
 (brakes rebuilt rr.JPG)
Attachments
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brakes rebuilt lr.JPG (44KB - 344 downloads)
brakes rebuilt rr.JPG (44KB - 350 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | Couple more of the flying Plaza.
 (brakes on lift rr oct 2012.JPG)
 (brakes on lift rf oct 2012.JPG)
Attachments
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brakes on lift rr oct 2012.JPG (39KB - 367 downloads)
brakes on lift rf oct 2012.JPG (36KB - 401 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 4589
Location: Northern New Jersey | Red Rims?
Aren't those for Chevys and Fords? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Looks like they're on a 59 Chev to me. Huatchoo talkin' about ?
You guys got any other questions about the concrete floors, the car lift, or anything else in the background ?
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | What was the official name given to that color of green? Buzzard Puke Green? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Plymouth called it "Misty Green", Ditzler called it " DQE-42176-DAL", Canman called it "Buzzard Puke Green".
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | Do I need to take that 56 Dodge wagon off your hands to make room for the Buzzard? |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Hey Doc
That trans lift thing looks pretty interesting
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | Where did they get those pink shop rags? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 716
| Darn I really dig those flourescent lights....do you know what make and model they are? |
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Expert
Posts: 3577
Location: Blythewood, SC | I like the fastener sorter. Where can I get one? |
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | Do you know how much they paid for that trash can? I need to replace one just like it. |
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Nice to see the project going forward. Pretty car!
Doc, you found the lenses, but do you need the steel Plaza-only tailight surrounds? Yours look pretty crusty, and I have at least one good pair here, that I don't need. PM me if interested. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I will take any Plaza-specific parts I can find. The resto shop has said they will gut the car as soon as the
basic mechanics are dialed in. They are currently doing the front end and making the rear end and springs
all purty, so I expect that soon I will be getting "the list" of bad stuff I need to scramble for.
Looking at the recent photos, it's hard to believe this is the same car from Parker, Az. Speaking of which,
my new XO grew up in Parker and told me all about the fenced-in "hoarder fortress" behind the closed-down
furniture store where this car sat from 1964 till 2011.
The steering wheel is about to be sent off for recasting. Not much else to report right now.
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | Nothing like having a "Stripper" in the Family. Lookin Good!!! |
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Doctor DeSoto - 2012-11-04 12:55 AM
I will take any Plaza-specific parts I can find.
Ok, I'll keep 'em tailight bezels for you. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Who are you getting to do you wheel Doc?
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Location: Parts Unknown | I am going with Quality Restorations, Inc. of Poway, Ca.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1120
Location: Brisbane, Australia | hey Doc will they take on a basket case like this??
Attachments
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the basket case.jpeg (162KB - 393 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | That is not bad at all. The kicker is DO they have a mold already made up to recast the wheel ?
It is our good fortune as 57-58 DeSoto owners, that the wheel is shared by Chrysler, and by extension,
300's, so demand is high and he already has the mold to do them.
He asks for color samples of your desired colors, and the rest is on him.
POC is Dennis @
Quality Restorations Inc.
13983 Humo Dr.
Poway, CA 92064
858-271-7374
You think yours is toasted ? Look at mine !
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2012-11-05 8:34 AM
 (steering wheel dash april 2011.jpg)
Attachments
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steering wheel dash april 2011.jpg (58KB - 385 downloads)
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | So is your car the ugly promiscuous step sister of Christine? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1120
Location: Brisbane, Australia | Thanks doc that's a great lead.
Also some time ago you offered a body tag for my '57 Flite. Mine has none other than the one on the base of the left A pillar. It looks like there may have been one the top of the firewall but it is long gone. Do you still have something that might do the job?
Cheers
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Location: Parts Unknown |
Happy to help. It was other guys here on the list that provided this, amongst many other leads. Just
passing it all along !
I parted two white with red 57 Fireflite 2HT's and saved the tags. Someone else wanted a set for a
58 Firedome 2HT back around Jan this year, and I could not find them when I was home on R&R. The
answer is I still have at least one set of tags for a white/red 57 Flite coupe. I just gotta get home with
enough time to go through my stuff in the shop to find them.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1120
Location: Brisbane, Australia | Doctor DeSoto - 2012-11-06 6:56 PM
Happy to help. It was other guys here on the list that provided this, amongst many other leads. Just
passing it all along !
I parted two white with red 57 Fireflite 2HT's and saved the tags. Someone else wanted a set for a
58 Firedome 2HT back around Jan this year, and I could not find them when I was home on R&R. The
answer is I still have at least one set of tags for a white/red 57 Flite coupe. I just gotta get home with
enough time to go through my stuff in the shop to find them.
that would be great to have a red and white tag set to top off my project please put my name on them!
cheers |
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | A "Stripper" in the family thats a "Trailer Queen". Whoda Thunk Dat!!! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | earleebob1 - 2012-11-07 2:55 AM
Doctor DeSoto - 2012-11-06 6:56 PM
Happy to help. It was other guys here on the list that provided this, amongst many other leads. Just
passing it all along !
I parted two white with red 57 Fireflite 2HT's and saved the tags. Someone else wanted a set for a
58 Firedome 2HT back around Jan this year, and I could not find them when I was home on R&R. The
answer is I still have at least one set of tags for a white/red 57 Flite coupe. I just gotta get home with
enough time to go through my stuff in the shop to find them.
that would be great to have a red and white tag set to top off my project please put my name on them!
cheers
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Remember, the tags I have are for WHITE cars with RED sweep and roof. The reverse of your paint scheme.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1120
Location: Brisbane, Australia | Doctor DeSoto - 2012-11-07 1:30 AM
earleebob1 - 2012-11-07 2:55 AM
Doctor DeSoto - 2012-11-06 6:56 PM
Happy to help. It was other guys here on the list that provided this, amongst many other leads. Just
passing it all along !
I parted two white with red 57 Fireflite 2HT's and saved the tags. Someone else wanted a set for a
58 Firedome 2HT back around Jan this year, and I could not find them when I was home on R&R. The
answer is I still have at least one set of tags for a white/red 57 Flite coupe. I just gotta get home with
enough time to go through my stuff in the shop to find them.
that would be great to have a red and white tag set to top off my project please put my name on them!
cheers
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Remember, the tags I have are for WHITE cars with RED sweep and roof. The reverse of your paint scheme.
Any red and white combo will be fine
Keep ya head down!
Bob |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I will contact you when I get home and get a chance to hunt for them.
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Location: Parts Unknown | When the resto guys sent the earlier photos of the brakes, I directed them to pull the read end and springs
and give them "the lovin'". Here are some shots of it all coming together. Much discussion was put into making
sure they got the P&A Black paint right. With the help of John Fowlie, it looks like they nailed it.
 (springs rebuilt nov 2012.JPG)
 (rear end repainted nov 2012.JPG)
 (brakes lf finished nov 2102.JPG)
Attachments
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springs rebuilt nov 2012.JPG (39KB - 372 downloads)
rear end repainted nov 2012.JPG (41KB - 400 downloads)
brakes lf finished nov 2102.JPG (47KB - 401 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | If you don'ty look out your going to have a car to drive when you get home. Stay safe!!! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | That's the plan !
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Expert
Posts: 2519
Location: central Illinois | Get the Mrs. car done so she's happy, then you can have fun on your own. Smart man.
Were leaf springs painted from the factory? I've seen them painted black, silver, clear coated, etc.
Are you planning on painting it too or driving as is for a while? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | It will be stripped to bare metal, body work done, and painted. The windshield was crashed out of it and likely
the precipitating reason for it being parked in 1964. As a result of the missing windshield, the dash and other
interior painted parts will all be redone, as well as a new interior. The steering wheel in in-process now, as are the
door panels. Seat fabric is in-hand, so it ought to fall together pretty easy from here. In spite of it looking rough
when purchased, it really is a nice, solid, low miles car.
I had wanted to do this car myself, to get warmed up for the attack on the DeSoto, but as you pointed out, having
this one finished and "fun" for the wifeperson will prove a real asset in the support dept. over the long haul with the
much more involved DeSoto restoration.
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Location: Parts Unknown | Suspension all done and the rear end and springs back under the car.
 (rear end back in on lift 20 Nov 2012.JPG)
 (rear end back in r 20 Nov 2012.JPG)
 (rear end back in l 20 nov 2012.JPG)
Attachments
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rear end back in on lift 20 Nov 2012.JPG (40KB - 399 downloads)
rear end back in r 20 Nov 2012.JPG (38KB - 408 downloads)
rear end back in l 20 nov 2012.JPG (30KB - 388 downloads)
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | Those are Idaho plates, Kootenai county. More information on the Kootenai Indians:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kutenai_people
(we'll see what Doc has to say about that )
Edited by 56royaldodge 2012-11-21 4:12 PM
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Location: Parts Unknown | You are a funny bastxrd !
Random is on par with good sarcasm for the ultimate humor. Bravo.
Alas, I see your doc has had no luck in finding a good A.D.D. medication yet !
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Location: Parts Unknown | Chassis rebuilt and back together, engine, trans, rear end, and driveshaft dialed in/rebuilt.
Out for a first test drive. Developed a radiator leak and the shifter was a little out of adjustment,
but otherwise, looks pretty good.
Next step, strip the body and get ready for paint.
 (running driving again 1 05 dec.JPG)
 (runnig driving again 2 05 dec.JPG)
 (running driving again 3 05 dec.JPG)
Attachments
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running driving again 1 05 dec.JPG (43KB - 379 downloads)
runnig driving again 2 05 dec.JPG (42KB - 372 downloads)
running driving again 3 05 dec.JPG (36KB - 387 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Thanks for the update, Brent.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Not much to show for pictures. The frame, chassis, and drivetrain are completed and the car is now a
runner. A new exhaust was put on it and I am awaiting confirmation on if they did it per my specs with
some pix. They cleaned and repaired all the door latches and window mechanisms, so they all work like
they're supposed to. Bumpers are out for chrome, and if the stripping of the body has not begun, it will
shortly. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The windshield was out of the car for many years, and what rain Arizona gets, fell on the front floor giving us what
rust problems the car has. First order of business was to clean up the floor enough to identify the problem areas,
then mark for cutting, patches made, welded in, and finished off.
 (rust rf floor2.JPG)
 (rust repair lf floor1.JPG)
 (rust repair lf floor7.JPG)
 (rust repair giblets1.JPG)
Attachments
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rust rf floor2.JPG (42KB - 384 downloads)
rust repair lf floor1.JPG (46KB - 394 downloads)
rust repair lf floor7.JPG (50KB - 376 downloads)
rust repair giblets1.JPG (36KB - 357 downloads)
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Veteran
Posts: 279
Location: Norway | Being a sucker for bare bones "time machines" like this i really enjoy seeing that it gets the love it deserves.
As for the Goodyear blackwalls. You said that turning the whitewall in was not an option because the crease in the tire for the whitewall was visible. Take a look at the enclosed picture (found elsewhere on the site). That's a brand new '58 Plaza with blackwalls and they do have a pretty visible line where the whitewall would have been..
Keep up (supervising) the good work!
 (Finnish58.jpg)
Attachments
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Finnish58.jpg (53KB - 370 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | I was referring to the in-turned whitewall having that sidewall rubber cut away. I think the outfacing
all-black side should look dead stock (?). Maybe I am being too picky, ..... but we crossed that bridge
a long time ago and the tires are purchased and in hand, ready to install when the paint is done.
Now, about your picture, ... is that an OEM 58 Plaza cold weather hat ?
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2013-01-26 5:25 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1172
Location: Georgia | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-01-26 5:23 AM
Now, about your picture, ... is that an OEM 58 Plaza cold weather hat ?
Good call, Doc. Plaza men are too cheap to even order a brim on their hat!
Pete |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I am sitting in the Dubai airport. 2 days with no sleep and an ass-whooping cold. Trying hard to stay awake
another 5 hours so as not to miss my flight.
The wifeperson Skypes and says the door panels just arrived from SMS. Doug & Co. promised them before
01 February, and it looks like they are right on time. Make a note of it, SMS doubters.
Once I shake off the flying lizards, I'm heading out to see the car, deliver some of the accumulated parts, and
perhaps turn a wrench or help where useful. Glenn invited me to join in any time I wanted. I'll get some good
pictures and get this thread on track.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Hope you get feeling better soon.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Thanks John. Still under the weather, but slept most of the 14 hour flight once I got seated.
I'll give you a call shortly after going over the beast with Glenn. Much easier to do this stuff
first person.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-01-30 2:31 PM
Thanks John. Still under the weather, but slept most of the 14 hour flight once I got seated.
I'll give you a call shortly after going over the beast with Glenn. Much easier to do this stuff
first person.
Sounds good, Brent. I do have a good inspection plate for the driver's floor set aside for you already.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Glenn is telling me the driver's door hinges are "sprung" and wants replacements. I will be out there shortly to
figure out what he's talking about, as I don't recall the hinges being an issue. Perhaps the front edge of the door
skin ride outboard of the trailing edge of the fender and I never noticed ? He also wants a door travel strap, but
I think I might have some of those saved. Need to dig through my giblets.
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | He might be talking about the "sprung bar" that sits into the little indentation on the door, allowing the door to remain partially or fully open?? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Made a trip out to the shop today to see the Plaza and deliver parts and interior materials.
When unboxed, the door panels were gorgeous. Trouble was, they're black and we need green !
An email w/ pix was sent to SMS with the pic below. We'll see what they say. But the upholsterer was
pleased with the fabrics and we'll be getting those seats together in the meantime.
Paint color samples were worked up and presented for the body paint, interior (dash, window garnishes, etc.)
and Argent. For whatever reason, they were trying hard to find me a powdercoat in a close silver, but
I informed them I was happy with good old paint and not to fuss over powdercoat. We will adjust a very close
exterior sample just a hair darker, but the interior color was spot on.
The floor work is done and it seems everyone was waiting on me to pull the trigger on a few things
before they tore into things further. With a few questions ironed out, we should really rip it apart next
week and get the bodywork going.
The trunk is amazing. Don't think I've ever seen one so perfect. Look at the way the underside of that
decklid cleaned up ! Even the latch hardware looks new. This is all original and just cleaned up !
Bumpers are at the chromer.
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2013-02-02 1:45 AM
 (new door panel black.jpg)
 (30 Jan 2013 front floors finished.jpg)
 (deck lid underside original.jpg)
 (trunk floor .jpg)
 (30 Jan 2013 engine bay.jpg)
 (30 Jan 2013 rr QTR shot.jpg)
 (30 Jan 2013 side view r .jpg)
Attachments
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new door panel black.jpg (37KB - 373 downloads)
30 Jan 2013 front floors finished.jpg (38KB - 378 downloads)
deck lid underside original.jpg (30KB - 373 downloads)
trunk floor .jpg (38KB - 379 downloads)
30 Jan 2013 engine bay.jpg (45KB - 348 downloads)
30 Jan 2013 rr QTR shot.jpg (38KB - 367 downloads)
30 Jan 2013 side view r .jpg (40KB - 358 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | How long are you going to be home? I really like yo "STRIPPER". Strippers need luvin too. I pd. for my material back in July from SMS and have not heard a word. Someone must be smokin that leafy green material over there to screw up that bad.
Edited by oldwood 2013-02-02 9:37 AM
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | oldwood - 2013-02-02 6:36 AM
How long are you going to be home? I really like yo "STRIPPER". Strippers need luvin too. I pd. for my material back in July from SMS and have not heard a word. Someone must be smokin that leafy green material over there to screw up that bad.
You mean 'Hippie Lettuce' Dorsey? |
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | me like strippers
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Location: Parts Unknown | I sent that email to SMS late last night. Got three volley emails this AM, saying send them back with
a swatch of the green for a sample and they'd correct it pronto.
Doug said he went with the black color based on my discussion about black carpet. One thing my time
in AFG has lurnt me is always push forward. He has offered to correct the color im-midget-ly. I'll not
lose focus and get too worked up on the how's and why's of how we got all confused. Just get 'em dialed
in and get this car on the road.
We don't get days off in AFG. I am finding this taking Saturday and Sunday off an annoying delay to
getting back over to Glenn's to tear the doors, fenders, and dash out of the car and to get pounding on
the metal. I guess these guys want weekends off, especially the Big Game weekend.
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | I'm glad you got it resolved that quickly. I just need to make my phone call to them since they have had my $$$ since July. Doc, are you in the ole USA for an extended visit??? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Not very extended. The usual R&R allowance.
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Location: Parts Unknown | Just got off the phone w/ Dennis the steering wheel guy. He wants a color sample, as my wheel is too
baked and he's dissatisfied with my (what I would think to be ample) photos showing the color and swirling.
He said it should not be swirled, so I went out to the shop and looked at my wheels and they are indeed
a very much swirled translucent color. Not sure where I am going to go next with this ... send him a 2nd
wheel to see for himself ?
But things are moving along ....
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Location: Parts Unknown | Spent most of the day working on the car. What a wonderful treat. I haven't done this kind
of thing in 20 years. It is so much fun. Will post a series of pix here. The first lot document
what a rust-free, unmolested trunk looks like. From overspray to general finish. What a relief
it is to not need to replace the trunk !
Neil: note the green paint on the trunk latch !
 (trunk left 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (trunk right 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (trunk lip strike 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (trunk latch 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (trunk latch overspray 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
Attachments
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trunk left 06 Feb 2013.jpg (37KB - 381 downloads)
trunk right 06 Feb 2013.jpg (36KB - 356 downloads)
trunk lip strike 06 Feb 2013.jpg (31KB - 356 downloads)
trunk latch 06 Feb 2013.jpg (23KB - 357 downloads)
trunk latch overspray 06 Feb 2013.jpg (31KB - 333 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | First order of business was to photograph details that will easily be forgotten as the car comes
apart and goes back together. Body panel fitment and other details. The right side was pretty
good. The left side was awful. Since the mouse nest left rear door will be replaced, this may be
fixed simply in the replacement. The factory body manuals show how to bend the sedan window
frames using blocks and leveraged pressure. This will all have to be done first, before we begin
the body work and paint or the work gets damaged in the process and has to be done again. The
deck lid sat pretty good, but could use some leading edge shimming when reassembled, but overall
no work needed. The one problematic dent in the left quarter appears to not have affected the
fin, as it aligns with the decklid. So, we may get away with some simple stud pulling, combined
with some heat shrinking in the stretched point of impact. Nothing too difficult.
 (l side panel shot 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (r side panel shot.jpg)
 (lf door bad fit 2 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (lr door bad fit r 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (decklid l seam.jpg)
 (decklid r seam 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (decklid bottom seam 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (decklid lf fit 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
Attachments
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l side panel shot 06 Feb 2013.jpg (31KB - 362 downloads)
r side panel shot.jpg (32KB - 361 downloads)
lf door bad fit 2 06 Feb 2013.jpg (35KB - 366 downloads)
lr door bad fit r 06 Feb 2013.jpg (32KB - 375 downloads)
decklid l seam.jpg (22KB - 338 downloads)
decklid r seam 06 Feb 2013.jpg (24KB - 351 downloads)
decklid bottom seam 06 Feb 2013.jpg (31KB - 335 downloads)
decklid lf fit 06 Feb 2013.jpg (21KB - 336 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | This is a question to Plymouth experts ....
As memory serves, the door / window handles are located properly in these shots.
Please confirm.
 (door handles front 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (door handles rear 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
Attachments
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door handles front 06 Feb 2013.jpg (34KB - 355 downloads)
door handles rear 06 Feb 2013.jpg (38KB - 369 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | When I pulled the fin top trim, I was pleased to see the crown of fine dust packing the trim easily
crunched up and swept away, leaving shiny paint underneath.
The rear deck / back glass moulding had some crusty rust onto the rear deck area beyond the trim.
This suggested the window channel would be the typical mess that needs lots of chopping, fabbing,
and welding. The lack of any signs of water in the trunk said it was still solid and keeping the rain
out. I was pleased as punch to spin the nuts off the special moulding clips, give them a soft tap with
my hammer, and the whole thing come up easily, revealing a channel full of dirt and organic bits. A
poker dragged down the channel a couple times and a sweep with the shop vac revealed the channel
to still be in great shape.
Note the white marks near the trim clip holes in the last photo, left from the long-gone sealer applied
at those clips to keep water from getting into the trunk.
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2013-02-07 12:36 AM
 (fin top dirt 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (back glass channel dirt 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (back glass channel clean 1 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (back glass channel clean 2.jpg)
Attachments
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fin top dirt 06 Feb 2013.jpg (25KB - 361 downloads)
back glass channel dirt 06 Feb 2013.jpg (41KB - 374 downloads)
back glass channel clean 1 06 Feb 2013.jpg (32KB - 335 downloads)
back glass channel clean 2.jpg (32KB - 329 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Doc
I hope your luck keeps going
On my dodge, the worst window rust was acually on the inside of the rubber where the pacel tray meets the widow lip.
Mine was rusted out along the whole leanth.
My car was a lot rustier than yours has been so far though
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Board Moderator
Posts: 3186
Location: The not-so-great, dirty-white North ( Michigan) | Doc....
Your rust locations remind me a lot of the ones I found on my 56 DeSoto!
Funny that cars in the West have them there.
Mine came from Idaho at the Wyoming line, so high plains, hot summers, cold winters with snow.
Maybe the ice gets under the trim and combined with the fine dust sets up the conditions to rust like that.
My rust, however, was more localized to the area where the top meets the body behind the back side windows (Sportsman body) and the area at the bottom of the backlight.
As an aside, is that Plaza parked in your new shop? If so, you managed to sort out the shop pretty good before getting deployed! |
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | Is that a new(er) back window? Are you going to repaint the buzzard puke? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The wifeperson talked me into having this car done while I was away. The photos are taken at
Glenn Vaughn Auto Restoration. Glenn is of the old Hill & Vaughn Resto works from L.A. years ago.
They do Pebble Beach level work if you want them to. Great outfit. Glenn happens to be local and
I got to talking with him about 10 years ago regarding some fab work for the DeSoto wheel tubs
and when that chick of mine pushed having the car done, I naturally thought of Glenn as someone
I'd trust to not over-restore the car.
The Plaza was intentionally sought out for the buzzard puke green monotone color and will be redone
as such. It is almost too nice still to do a repaint. A zillion little nicks and scratches are fine with me
on a survivor. But the couple dents and an old repair at the drivers door / fender pushed me over the
edge to repaint the whole car.
As mentioned before, it will lose the optional side trim, fender ornaments, and outside mirror (after
market addition anyway) and get body colored wheels to go with the dog dishies and blackwalls for
the proper School District fleet car look. The interior is kind of a trip, ... the original ordering person
checking boxes for cloth interior, matching green door panels, V-8 engine, Torqueflite tranny, power
steering, power brakes, and added A/C at the dealer. Go figger on that ! Some rather expensive
options added to a bare bones stripper, like they read my mind 50 years in advance. I want the look,
but am happy for the driver comfort goodies.
Stock, a base Plaza got an all vinyl interior, black and white interior panels, 6 cylinder engine, 3-onda-
tree manual trans, manual everything else, and certainly no A/C !
Back glass appears to be original, with the Herculite etching. Interestingly, after much detective work,
it appears this car died from one or more of three things ...
1. A big lead ball tossed through the windshield,
2. The driver door being ripped around backwards in a "soft" collision that did not damage the rear edge
of the door, like perhaps rolling backwards with the door open and snagging the door on a tree ?
3. Simply being 1964 and the buzzard puke green finned "ugly mobile" being so out of style that the owner
just got a new car and parked it because of the above mentioned "problems".
The registed owner lived in Anaheim, California. The car was left for dead in Parker, Arizona since 1964.
Parker is a popular water getaway for many Angelinos and the car was quite likely a tourist visitor when its
"career" came to an end there for whatever reason. I hope to someday figure than one out !
Amazing small world that it is, my XO in AFG grew up in Parker and remembers the old closed down furniture
store - turned into a junk collection of old cars, trucks, and heavy equipment where this car sat all those years.
He's not a car guy and does not remember the car itself, but told some funny stories about the junkpile collection
where it came from. He was floored that I had this car from his hometown and was telling HIM stuff about it.
I hope to utilize this connection to perhaps put together more history on the car when it is done. Drive it
down there and see what I can find ?
I can't speak to rust in other areas so much, but the rubbing of the window moulding creates a raw spot there
in the center of the deck. If the car is driven and cared for, it usually doesn't make for much of a rust problem,
but when dirt and organic matter area allowed to accumulate, it rusts up in short order. The entire back glass
channel was a less-than-ideal design anyway, and most FL cars rusted out there or leaked into the trunk, resulting
in catastrophic rust failure to the entire rear clip. For whatever combination of reasons, this homely green sedan
escaped the usual wrath and will survive as one of the best in existence, no radio and stripper that it is !
 (rr qtr shot 2 06 Feb 2013.jpg)
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rr qtr shot 2 06 Feb 2013.jpg (41KB - 361 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2519
Location: central Illinois | That last shot above is an awesome angle. When you get her all done and back together you should shoot a new one at this same angle for comparison. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | This nasty, ugly car will be well traveled and photographed when it is finished. You can count on it.
I can hardly wait to get the #@! wheels and tires on it. It looks SO BAD on those radials.
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Location: Parts Unknown | Short day today. Decided since the driver's side panel alignment sucks and the rear door has a rusted out
mouse nest in the front corner (new door to replace on hand) I would start there for doing some heavy metal
bending. The first thing to do is strip it out to a bare shell and document the factory details to get it right when
reassembly time arrives.
I was surprised to find the rust out from the mouse nest was limited to the high, outer skin area that gave it
away, and the lower inner frame was as clean as the rest of the door bottom. I would prefer to keep the original
door if it's within reason. Will likely strip both and make the decision then.
Spent some time on the phone trying to find a clear windshield and am having no luck. Shaded, tinted, or both
are pricing out anywhere from $400 to over $1000 !
.... doesn't anyone sell a clear windshield ?
 (door lr mech detail 1.jpg)
 (door lr mech detail 3.jpg)
 (door lr weatherstrip detail 1.jpg)
 (door lr weatherstrip detail 2.jpg)
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door lr mech detail 1.jpg (48KB - 313 downloads)
door lr mech detail 3.jpg (36KB - 327 downloads)
door lr weatherstrip detail 1.jpg (28KB - 337 downloads)
door lr weatherstrip detail 2.jpg (36KB - 319 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | You're not REALLY working on your car until you skin a knuckle.
Make a note of it.
 (knicked knuckle 07 Feb 2013.jpg)
Attachments
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knicked knuckle 07 Feb 2013.jpg (25KB - 345 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | I don't know any REAL mechanics with hand like those. Maybe the boss will kiss your little BOO BOO and make it feel better,your finger and just your finger.LOL Glad its coming together. Will you still be here when it finished? Keep an eye out for my '61 update as its being upgraded a little. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The driver's door proved to be a bit more complicated piece of work and disassembly was thusly so.
I am also suffering from being all too familiar with the convertible-hardtop construction and these
sedans offer a few unique twists to the process.
As it came apart, I fell back and wrote down what I thought would be a good instructional for anyone
pulling a sedan door apart, or perhaps putting one back together, as doing it out of order created added
problems that forced me to put things back together so I could get something else apart first.
Here it is. Please add comments if you have a better idea. Maybe future wrenchers can learn something
from this trial and error exercise ?
1. Remove bottom window stop to allow glass to be lowered too far. This makes Step 3 possible.
2. Remove screw at bottom of front window track. Use care, as this #3 phillips screw easily strips at the odd
angle you must access. Mine stripped out, and when I welded a piece of steel across it to turn, the dammed
thing sheared off anyway. So, I'll now be forced to do additional work to unfxck this when I go to reassemble.
3. Derail window from regulator arm and drop to bottom of door.
4. Unbolt and remove lift from inside of door.
5. with window in bottom of door, remove flexible window channel from window frame.
6. Remove screws at base of vent glass-to-door (not screw for vent pivot) and two screws at leading edge door
frame and twist entire vent assembly counter clockwise as you face the inside of the door to drop into door, to be
removed through large lower access hole on interior side of door.
7. Turn glass inside door perpendicular to normal position and remove through slot at top of door.
8. Remove rubber access plug and remove bolt attaching exterior door handle to latch.
9. Unbolt and remove door latch and interior handle mechanism from door. These two can be separated at the
smaller access hole by twisting the latch to align the "slot" and release the corresponding knob. The latch is now
easily pulled out the previously mentioned small hole and the handle mechanism and arm can come out the large
hole with a little twisting to align.
10. Two screws at the strike face above the latch screw holes will now release the interconnector for the lock
cylinder and the now gone latch.
11. Almost like a sliding window, the keeper for the lock cylinder slides toward the back edge of the door in its
housing inside the door to free the lock cylinder.
All this done, the door is gutted and one can now remove the travel limiter by drilling out or grinding off the rivet
at the front pivot. This leaves only the hinges which are a no brainer. I would suggest supporting the door before
removing the bolts to avoid bending or breaking something.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I am going to gut all the doors before falling back to do some heavy metal work in aligning them with the body.
The first step will be to work the hinges, but once that option is exhausted, bending the doors to match the pillars
will follow. If it comes to that, I'll post pix.
As a side note, these pix are as much to jog my fading memory of how the thing came apart as to show someone
else who might end up doing the work in my absence. The exploded view on the floor is laid out to best show the way
the critical parts like the regulator arm looked as it came out. Stuff like this can make a big difference in how easy it
is to put it back into the door later, especially if months or years intervene.
 (door lf mech detail 1 08 Feb 13.jpg)
 (door lf mech detail 2 08 Feb 13.jpg)
 (door lf mech detail 3.jpg)
 (door lf mech detail 4.jpg)
Attachments
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door lf mech detail 1 08 Feb 13.jpg (45KB - 338 downloads)
door lf mech detail 2 08 Feb 13.jpg (40KB - 314 downloads)
door lf mech detail 3.jpg (41KB - 326 downloads)
door lf mech detail 4.jpg (37KB - 305 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | I posted this on the general album up top, but will add it here for future reference.
After fiddling with the door panels and trying to remove the interior handles and window cranks on the Plaza,
I got fed up and made a duplicate of a tool I made years ago that hides somewhere in my shop. It gets behind
the handle without damage to the door panel and grips the spring clip to release the handles from the square
shaft they ride on.
I sacrificed a long-loved favorite screwdriver I've had for years and years. It came out pretty nice and works
like a charm.
After heating and bending the shaft to about 10 degrees (this allows direct pressure to the clip and gets behind
the handle base), I heated and bent the tip to a 90 from the new bent shaft angle.
I then welded up a block of metal to the end of the flat surface at the just-bent tip. Taking it to the grinder to
shape said block to a desired shape, I then cut the groove to the block that provides the gripping surface to engage
the spring clip and not slide off.
This puppy is slick. I know others have found getting these off to be tedious and thought I'd share the idea.
 (tool 1.jpg)
 (tool 2.jpg)
 (tool 3.jpg)
 (tool 4.jpg)
Attachments
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tool 1.jpg (44KB - 309 downloads)
tool 2.jpg (31KB - 342 downloads)
tool 3.jpg (41KB - 339 downloads)
tool 4.jpg (38KB - 319 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | That looks like it will work well.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The steering wheel resto guy requested a paint store type color sample to work with, as he says the
original wheel is too baked for him to cast a new one with confidence that the color is right. I picked a
few chip cards off the rack to bring home and compare against the photo I saved of a decent original.
The first chip I picked looks to be dead on.
 (color match.jpg)
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color match.jpg (53KB - 349 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Brent
Wouldnt it be better to compare it to the colour of what the car is now or what its going to be?
the colour of the paint on my car looks a lot bluer on the computer than it actually is.
Might be something with l.e.d screens.
Just a thought
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Location: Parts Unknown | The steering wheel color has no relation to the body or interior garnish paint colors, and my original
wheel was vastly altered in color by the sun, literally a crumbling mass of bleached white crystal-like
pith. Going this AM to look at a same colored Belvedere sedan that I forgot about near me. Unsure
if it got the black and white interior or the green, or if it even has the fancy steering wheel. All options
are being considered here to get it right. |
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Veteran
Posts: 279
Location: Norway | Regarding the steering wheel color, a lot of the "fancy" (power steering) wheels were black even if the interior was of another color.
But if yours was green, then green it is. The first picture is of an unrestored '58 with green interior but black steering wheel. Second one OEM green. I think the picture/computer image makes it look a little "too green".
 (Green 58 dash.jpg)
 (1513150011_05f699108f.jpg)
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Green 58 dash.jpg (98KB - 515 downloads)
1513150011_05f699108f.jpg (150KB - 499 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | No, ... your green pic is about spot on. A very "jade" green color.
Funny how things work. I spotted a 60 Starliner a couple days ago and went back later when the
light was better to photograph it to post in the Car Spotting thread. Upon doing so, I mistakenly
opened the first page, revealing a green Belvedere sedan I stumbled onto before I deployed. I had
TOTALLY forgotten that car ! ..... so today I went back up there and with a little hunting, found it
again. Sure enough, upon closer inspection, has a hashed, but very much green, deluxe steering
wheel. I returned again tonight and inquired about it. A man I spoke to is trying to get me a price
from the non-present owner.
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Location: Parts Unknown | I have to go visit a friend tomorrow, so it was my objective to get all the doors gutted and the parts
labeled and boxed away. I am getting REAL good at this after doing one side, so what took me two
afternoons on the other side took me two hours to complete for both right doors. I then proceeded
to begin the alignment work of the driver's side doors, first by adjusting the hinges, and then by bending
the window frames to match the pillars so that the body lines lined up and the reveals were consistent
and within "tolerance". They are now ready to be pulled, stripped and the body work begun.
I got another reminder that I am genuinely WORKING on my car by tearing up another knuckle when
the rf window channel suddenyl broke loose and I dove my clenched hand into the now-jagged (no garnish
moulding) window frame - Youch !
Spent a little time carefully noting the easiest way to disaasemble the rear door innards and include them
here for future reference.
1. Remove screws securing bottom of window tracks*.
2. Remove stop.
3. Lower glass and derail glass at rear clip first, sliding glass forward to align forward hole to derail.
4. Lower glass to bottom of door.
5. Remove regulator through large hole.
6. Twist glass so front is pointing up and remove through top of door.
7. Remove glass channel.
8. Remove screws securing latch, lock, and lever, pulling latch to small hole to align slot and disengage from lever.
9. Remove latch and lock as unit through large hole.
10. Remove two nuts to release exterior door handle.
* I stripped out and ultimately sheared off the screw holding the bottom of the vent on the left front door, so to avoid
this on the right side by drilling a 3/8" hole straight forward from the screw to run a screwdriver directly into it to avoid
stripping the screw head out. Like the left side, this one was also rusted solid, so I hit it with the gas wrench and brought
the screw to an orange glow. After allowing to cool, I lubed it with some WD-40 and the screw backed out with a little
coaxing. The other side will require some ugly extraction to get the sheared-off screw out of the cage nut.
 (door rf hole drilled.jpg)
 (knicked knuckle 2.jpg)
Attachments
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door rf hole drilled.jpg (36KB - 543 downloads)
knicked knuckle 2.jpg (34KB - 526 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-02-11 10:54 PM
No, ... your green pic is about spot on. A very "jade" green color.
Funny how things work. I spotted a 60 Starliner a couple days ago and went back later when the
light was better to photograph it to post in the Car Spotting thread. Upon doing so, I mistakenly
opened the first page, revealing a green Belvedere sedan I stumbled onto before I deployed. I had
TOTALLY forgotten that car ! ..... so today I went back up there and with a little hunting, found it
again. Sure enough, upon closer inspection, has a hashed, but very much green, deluxe steering
wheel. I returned again tonight and inquired about it. A man I spoke to is trying to get me a price
from the non-present owner.
I went back to that thread to see the pic of it and it does look pretty cool! A lot of parts I'd like to have on that Belvedere! Too bad you're so far away, Doc! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I will alert if I do get it. Most of the "desirable" parts on a fancy Belvedere are of no use to me.
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Location: Parts Unknown | With the doors gutted, adjusted/bent and ready for the blaster, I decided to attack the rear valance project.
First I removed the drop-down center section of the bumper and fit the bumper to the car to size up the
valance coverage area.
The right side piece was bent up a bit, so I had to beat it back into shape first, then cut way the center
"contoured" area. I fiddled around with this one a bit, trying to leave as much original material as possible,
but ultimately decided against the darting and cut it back to a point about 3/4" into the skirt below the center
hanger. I repeated this on the left side and put both back on the car to measure my center section.
Taking the ends back off, I sheared a piece of sheet stock to 6" and then cut it to length, adding about 3/8"
for fine trimming when the final fit time came. I then laid it up against the left side piece to mark my bend
points on the sheet stock with a Sharpie pen, and then began working it into form with the brake. This is a
slow process to get a nice, rounded curve, and one has to work "backwards", bending outward from the
center until it lays up nicely against the original.
I then tacked it to the left side piece and put this and the right side back on the car to scribe the new piece
to length for trimming. Once on the car, I was not happy with the side-to-side contour, as the car is not flat
across the back, so the left side and new piece came back off the car and run through the shrinker/stretcher,
shrinking the bottom flange and stretching the top flange. This took several runs through to get a good match
with the curve across the back of the car, and then it was time to scribe and trim to weld up with the right side
to create one solid piece from side-to-side.
Once all tacked together, the welds were beefed up a little, and then it was time to bend and beat it around
to fit the car "right". This took a bit of time, but once dialed in, I had to add little pieces to fill in the missing
bits at the center hangers, as the 6" width of the sheet stock, while working well as a strengthener when bent
as the upper flange and making it far easier to do the brake work, was about 1/2" short from where I had to
cut the original contour away to get it flat to match the new center.
Those little bits cut and fit, the welding was finished and ground - I discovered how out of practice I am on a
MIG ! - but it all came together and I got it on the car for the shop to finish and paint with the rest of the car
in my absence.
Next up, pull the remaining glass and get the dash broken down.
 (valance rear 1 13 Feb 13.jpg)
 (valance rear 2 13 Feb 13.jpg)
 (valance rear 3 13 Feb 13.jpg)
 (valance rear 4 13 Feb 13.jpg)
 (valance rear 5 13 Feb 13.jpg)
 (valance rear 6 13 Feb 13.jpg)
 (valance rear 7 13 Feb 13.jpg)
 (valance rear 8 13 Feb 13.jpg)
 (valance rear 9 13 Feb 13.jpg)
 (valance rear 11 13 Feb 13.jpg)
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valance rear 1 13 Feb 13.jpg (34KB - 544 downloads)
valance rear 2 13 Feb 13.jpg (37KB - 491 downloads)
valance rear 3 13 Feb 13.jpg (45KB - 477 downloads)
valance rear 4 13 Feb 13.jpg (41KB - 520 downloads)
valance rear 5 13 Feb 13.jpg (53KB - 507 downloads)
valance rear 6 13 Feb 13.jpg (39KB - 532 downloads)
valance rear 7 13 Feb 13.jpg (34KB - 542 downloads)
valance rear 8 13 Feb 13.jpg (32KB - 507 downloads)
valance rear 9 13 Feb 13.jpg (24KB - 501 downloads)
valance rear 11 13 Feb 13.jpg (40KB - 511 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | Pulled the windshield today in anticipation of getting the dash out of the car, but slogged hard for lack of
tools - namely the tiny allen wrenches to remove the dash knobs and a flashlight to see what I was doing
up under the dash.
I discovered that the exterior window surrounds are held on VERY differently on sedans than they are on
hardtops and convertibles. The sides and header had me scratching my head for quite a while. I know I've
pulled them off sedans before, but likely went all neanderthal on them because I was after something else.
This time saving the pieces is important, so it was done slowly and with much care. Apparently the sides are
not supposed to slide off the ends of the header piece, and when I finally did get it free, it twisted up and over
the windshield as a 3 piece unit.
Cleaned up a half ton of fine dirt and leafy stuff from the cowl vent and put everything neatly away, the garnish
mouldings tied together for blasting and painting.
I got a call later on from the owner of the Belvedere I found saying it was for sale and that we could meet on
Saturday morning to look it over and discuss. Being St. Valentine's Day, I will spend the rest of the day with
the chick.
 (windshield mldg clips 14 Feb 2013.jpg)
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windshield mldg clips 14 Feb 2013.jpg (28KB - 514 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Brent,
I must have missed something-
What is the purpose of the panel in between the rear valances?
---John |
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-02-09 2:04 AM
I posted this on the general album up top, but will add it here for future reference.
After fiddling with the door panels and trying to remove the interior handles and window cranks on the Plaza,
I got fed up and made a duplicate of a tool I made years ago that hides somewhere in my shop. It gets behind
the handle without damage to the door panel and grips the spring clip to release the handles from the square
shaft they ride on.
I sacrificed a long-loved favorite screwdriver I've had for years and years. It came out pretty nice and works
like a charm.
After heating and bending the shaft to about 10 degrees (this allows direct pressure to the clip and gets behind
the handle base), I heated and bent the tip to a 90 from the new bent shaft angle.
I then welded up a block of metal to the end of the flat surface at the just-bent tip. Taking it to the grinder to
shape said block to a desired shape, I then cut the groove to the block that provides the gripping surface to engage
the spring clip and not slide off.
This puppy is slick. I know others have found getting these off to be tedious and thought I'd share the idea.
Well I bought a KD 435 off of ebay today. NOS in the original box for $102.00. I know its a lot of $$$, I took the easy way out. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | John - the valance extension across the back is to accommodate the ditching of that hideous flat
"billboard" thing that hangs down from the center of the bumper. Exner almost pulled off a PERFECT
design with the 58 Plymouth. This corrects his one mistake. See below.
Dorsey - I would have made you one for a 20.
 (bumper corrected.jpg)
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bumper corrected.jpg (85KB - 525 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | You would have just spent it on that '58 Ply-Mouth. Ya know the gov'ment is just gonna take that thing from ya!!! Keep up the good work. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | In the end SOMEONE is going to get it all.
The other day, before the State of the Union address, a local radio station asked callers to input what
they wanted to hear the President say. I told them I wanted hear him say that he'd just killed his wife
and children and was going on the run.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-02-15 11:16 PM
John - the valance extension across the back is to accommodate the ditching of that hideous flat
"billboard" thing that hangs down from the center of the bumper. Exner almost pulled off a PERFECT
design with the 58 Plymouth. This corrects his one mistake. See below.
Dorsey - I would have made you one for a 20.
Thanks for the explanation. I never cared for the looks of the backup light in the rear bumper drop myself.
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Such a well thought out and integrated design, the 58 Plymouth is. Just look at how the parking light is worked in to
the front end design ! ..... Everything synchs so perfectly with every other detail around it.
.... and then they tack on that afterthought "thing" that so terribly clashes with the rather fine and sculpted bumpers ....
.... what were they thinking ?
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Location: Parts Unknown | I find the rear bumper drop down particularly laughable when the car has the backup light delete plate !
... a double-extra pointlessly gobbed-on hunk of metal !!!
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Veteran
Posts: 279
Location: Norway | Just a thought I'd post a little inspiration.. You've probably seen the picture before, can't remember if I found it on this site or somewhere else. But I know it's cool! It's not often you see a bare bones-no moldings-dogdish-single color Plaza (silver wheels).
The kid was even nice enough to hide the center section of the rear bumper with his head just for you viewing pleasure!
 (1958.jpg)
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1958.jpg (90KB - 527 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | Long overdue update. This work was done 15 February, but I have been too busy to download
the photos.
The goal was to pull the dash and hand the carcass over to the paint guys. I got part of it done,
but the shop staff all had to leave early that day and they ushered me out the door before I could
complete everything.
The shop guys had complained that they could not get the pushbuttons to work right and I was
baffled from the other side of the globe as to what the trouble might be. I had never had much
trouble getting them dialed in on old cars being brought back to life before. Well, as could be expected,
it was something I had NOT expected ! Seems someone kicked all the buttons at once with great force.
The whole shifter unit is just whacked ! Time for a new one.
First thing to do was drop the parking brake. Then remove the knobs and switches from the lower
dash and pull them out of the way to access the back of the instrument cluster. Four hard-to-reach
screws undone with a short philips screwdriver and the instrument cluster was able to be pulled forward
enough to tag and disconnect the wires.
I was moving toward pulling the vents and heater controls when I was told they had to lock up, so I told
the guy where I was on the project and I guess they will finish the work.
Note the pencilled note on the back of the instrument cluster. Does this rings bells for anyone ?
 (dash general 17 Feb 2013.jpg)
 (dash knobs left.jpg)
 (dash knobs right.jpg)
 (dash inst cluster loose.jpg)
 (dash inst cluster writing.jpg)
 (dash inst cluster removed.jpg)
Attachments
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dash general 17 Feb 2013.jpg (43KB - 537 downloads)
dash knobs left.jpg (33KB - 500 downloads)
dash knobs right.jpg (36KB - 517 downloads)
dash inst cluster loose.jpg (47KB - 532 downloads)
dash inst cluster writing.jpg (38KB - 544 downloads)
dash inst cluster removed.jpg (47KB - 538 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | You mean my autographed dash in my dodge?
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Location: Parts Unknown | Looks to read:
Boaman
430 4967
B4 1030
Off 430
================================
Obviously notes about SOMETHING, .... but what ?
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Location: Parts Unknown | Wife reports that the door panels were returned a few days ago from SMS in green, corrected from
the black they were originally sent as. Glenn told her that the guys are doing the bodywork now and
getting it ready for paint. No pix yet.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 347
Location: Ocean Park, Washington | If you need someone to go to SMS for something for you, let me know. I am just up I-5 in Vancouver. That is what I can do for you for what you do for us. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Thanks for the offer. I am all square with SMS right now, so no need.
Hold that thought and when I get down to Portland next time, let's link up and have a beer or some chow ?
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Location: Parts Unknown | The Codicus was tasked with the Plaza again and he tore into figuring out the extent of
damage hiding under the bondo in the front fender. We know the door was bent around
backwards, and the de-bondo'd fender shows that exact damage. He reported that the
reason the fender rode high at the rear was because of a bolt left sticking up underneath ...
.. an easy fix.
 (fender repair lf 1 03 Mar 2013.JPG)
 (fender repair lf 2.JPG)
 (fender repair lf 3.JPG)
 (fender repair lf 4.JPG)
Attachments
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fender repair lf 1 03 Mar 2013.JPG (40KB - 546 downloads)
fender repair lf 2.JPG (37KB - 507 downloads)
fender repair lf 3.JPG (39KB - 529 downloads)
fender repair lf 4.JPG (49KB - 529 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Looks like Dr. drill and fill did the bodywork there! Is Glenn going to repair the fender?
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | As far as I know, yes. It is rock solid. Cody is pretty good with heat shrinking and metal work.
He did all the floor rust work.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | I think the drill and fill method was popular in the 70s or 80s
I have seen it a few times before, normally asociated with bog falling out and a lot of rust underneath.
Mother inlaw had a rambler hornet that someone did that to the hood.
When I ground the filler out, there was hardly anything left under it to work with.
Ended up putting a scoop on it
That little car went good, had a 360 in it
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Location: Parts Unknown | This just in ... the original door with the rust-out to the outer skin thought by Fowlie and
myself to be the result of a rats nest turned out to be caused by moisture being held behind
the peeling-away sound deadener. I bought a replacement door thinking the bottom of the
framing would be wasted. As it turned out, it was easier to use the original, so a seven inch
square of skin was replaced and we are off to the rodeo ! They are currently working on the
left quarter (the worst dent in the car), pulling the dent with studs and shrinking. Pix to follow.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 347
Location: Ocean Park, Washington | I had a similar problem when I removed the headliner at the begining of the disassembly. Someone had installed insulation between the roof skin and the headliner which allowed moisture to condense there. That caused the rust that I have wire brushed off as much as I care to have a power tool above my head.
 (08-04-13-3.JPG)
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08-04-13-3.JPG (178KB - 607 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | Need some help here ... wife sent photos like usual. I put them into my files and then load them
here, but they do not show ... only what you see below. Have tried loading then direct, retitling them,
putting them on the desktop .... no show on any attempts. ideas ?
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2013-03-22 12:20 PM
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DSCF0110.jpeg (19KB - 540 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | It downloads ok Doc, lets see if I can put it on here
Nup
Maybe if it was bigger?
Nup didnt work either, tried in the test area and one of my pics worked?
Edited by ttotired 2013-03-22 7:12 PM
Attachments
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DSCF0110.jpeg (19KB - 512 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | Sure, .. if I click on the link, it opens up. But the usual and far more convenient open display
just isn't working. I thought that perhaps the "jpeg" coding was wrong or something, but it pops
right up when I open in on my computer. I tried it about 4 different ways with no better results.
Something is amiss, but I can't figure out what it is.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | The censors have got you Doc
Something ver in apropriate about that door trim
Maybe the stitching is not tight enough
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Location: Parts Unknown | Been out on some rugged living missions where things like toilets and internet are not
available. Glenn sent a few pix today. Cody made short work of the rear quarter dent
and the nose, doors, and decklid have been removed and sent to the blaster. Got a bill
for paint supplies. Looks like we are on the home stretch ! More pix to follow, I am told.
 (lr qtr dent repair 1.JPG)
 (lr qtr dent repair 2.JPG)
 (lr qtr dent repair 3.JPG)
 (stripped body 10 april 2013.JPG)
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lr qtr dent repair 1.JPG (36KB - 537 downloads)
lr qtr dent repair 2.JPG (43KB - 497 downloads)
lr qtr dent repair 3.JPG (43KB - 489 downloads)
stripped body 10 april 2013.JPG (55KB - 513 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | More pix. After the rear quarter dent was dialed in, the rear glass trough was blasted
out and the scale was bad enough up on the top flat area that they felt it should be cut
out and replaced. Surprisingly, the trough itself was good ! Shocking !
Glenn tells me his guys are really digging working on this car, as it is so different from
the usual 30's Packards and 60's Ferraris they see so much of. When I was home, a couple
of them came over while I was working on it and asked why I would fix up such a sh!tty
car - the implication being it is an ugly green, a #@! sedan, and an ugly stripper sedan at
that. I explained the whole stripper / anti-bling concept, and they really came around to
"see the light". Glenn says it is their favorite car in the shop to work on.
What can I say ? Duh !
 (lr qtr dent repair 4.JPG)
 (rear glass channel blasting 1.JPG)
 (rear glass channel blasting 2.JPG)
 (rear glass channel blasting 3.JPG)
Attachments
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lr qtr dent repair 4.JPG (40KB - 480 downloads)
rear glass channel blasting 1.JPG (42KB - 483 downloads)
rear glass channel blasting 2.JPG (42KB - 458 downloads)
rear glass channel blasting 3.JPG (39KB - 493 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 4589
Location: Northern New Jersey | Nice Project Doc. When do you think she'll be rolling? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The project goes in fits and starts. Largely dependent on what other priorities are "hot"
in the shop. By the way Glenn talked last July, I thought it would be done last January.
I suspect at this point, we won't make that date !
From my own experience and what I see ...
The seat frames are restored, in paint, and padded, ... ready for the skins to be sewn up
and fitted.
You can see the body is largely straight and rust-free at this point - ready for finish work
and paint.
The chassis and drivetrain are 100%
We could have this done in a hurry in 30 days, or we could make this last a year. I'd like to
be home before the weather goes to sh!t again and take the old girl on a long road trip. One
thing I've learned with the military is that the moment you make plans, plans change !
I am just happy to see progress. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | More photos.
A repaired dent in the rr lower corner was discovered when I noticed a rust hole there. I was unable
to deal with it while home, so Cody get it some lovin'. A light crease in the rr door also got some attention.
Back on the lr quarter, the guys used a new goodie I've never seen before. Looks like a zig-zagged piece
of wire, welded to the car at one side of the zig. Glenn said it allows one to pull out a crease-type dent evenly
by pulling all along the crease at the same time. Wish he'd sent a photo of the puller in place to show how it
worked.
This was by far the worst dent in the car. A vertical crease, as if the car had been slid sideways into a
light pole. Nothing too bad, but bad enough to require some fancy pulling and heat shrinking to get right.
 (rr qtr dent rust.JPG)
 (rr door crease repair.JPG)
 (lr qtr dent repair 6.JPG)
 (lr qtr dent repair 7.JPG)
 (lr qtr dent repair 8.JPG)
 (lr qtr dent repair 9.JPG)
 (lr qtr dent repair 10.JPG)
Attachments
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rr qtr dent rust.JPG (34KB - 481 downloads)
rr door crease repair.JPG (25KB - 509 downloads)
lr qtr dent repair 6.JPG (31KB - 526 downloads)
lr qtr dent repair 7.JPG (36KB - 500 downloads)
lr qtr dent repair 8.JPG (29KB - 435 downloads)
lr qtr dent repair 9.JPG (43KB - 502 downloads)
lr qtr dent repair 10.JPG (43KB - 485 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | Looks like some great progress! Are you looking for a set of dog dishes for this car? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Yes I am. The originals are pretty dinged up.
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | Are the '58s different? I have a full set of '57 dog dish caps and they appear to be a similar design to the ones shown in this pic.
The ones in this picture don't look too bad to me... probably close to the condition of the ones I have. Let me know if you're interested in them and I'll get you a few pics.
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Location: Parts Unknown | As far as I know, they are the same for both 57-58. A parts book check might be in order to
confirm ? At least a couple of mine have what look like hammer head dents around the rim.
Send pix. Thanks.
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | Sounds good, Brent. I'll get some pictures. Only one of my four has significant "installation dents" so maybe you could make a decent set out of the eight. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Time for another update. Doors, hood, fenders, decklid, etc. back from media blaster and
in the paint booth. Body to follow. Then it's interior time and reassembly !
 (paint booth parts 1.JPG)
 (paint booth part 2.JPG)
 (paint booth parts 3.JPG)
 (paint booth parts 4.JPG)
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paint booth parts 1.JPG (32KB - 514 downloads)
paint booth part 2.JPG (29KB - 495 downloads)
paint booth parts 3.JPG (26KB - 497 downloads)
paint booth parts 4.JPG (29KB - 476 downloads)
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Location: NE Ohio | Looking good............ |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Out of the spray booth and getting finish work.
 (door finish work 1.JPG)
 (door finish work 2.JPG)
 (door finish work 3.JPG)
Attachments
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door finish work 1.JPG (44KB - 469 downloads)
door finish work 2.JPG (36KB - 507 downloads)
door finish work 3.JPG (35KB - 506 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Cool
Now you can paint it a different colour than buzzard puke green
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Location: Parts Unknown |
My friend, rejoice in the spirit of buzzard puke, blackwalls, and dog dishies !
I wouldn't have it any other way.
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Expert
Posts: 2996
Location: Sept. 1958 | Nice parts car. |
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Location: Parts Unknown |
You wouldn't happen to be a 300 Club member, would you ?
A few of them told me the same thing about the DeSoto and my old NY'er coupe.
That's some funny sh!t !!! |
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | So what color is it going to be? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Canman said it best: Buzzard Puke Green
(Finding an original monotone Mist Green Plaza 4s was always the criteria for this build)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Looking good, She'll be on he road in no time at all!!
---John |
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | I knew you were building a trailer queen. LOL |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I am gonna drive the wheels off it !
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Location: Parts Unknown | Couple shots of the finish work / paint prep. Panels are being aligned and worked on the car
to ensure they go together nice after being shot.
 (paint prep 1.JPG)
 (paint prep 2.JPG)
Attachments
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paint prep 1.JPG (44KB - 532 downloads)
paint prep 2.JPG (45KB - 578 downloads)
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Location: North Australia | Doc, seen this 58 Plaza parts car?
Steve.
http://www.ctcautoranch.com/Parts%20Cars/Parts%20Cars.html |
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Location: Parts Unknown | That's a new one to me. Would have been real pretty in that turquoise color. I wonder if it's a repaint ?
Mine looks SO different as a Plaza ..... I have no color sweep and monotone paint, so someone stepped up
for this and a radio, yet it has manual steering (and I assume manual brakes too), the basic steering wheel,
and Powerflite. No telling if it is a 6 or V-8 car.
My rather "stripper" LOOKING car got power steering AND brakes, the deluxe steering wheel, 318, Torqueflite,
and dealer A/C.
If the body color wheels are any indication, this car was outfitted with dog dishies.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Any updates on your Plaza, Doc? |
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Expert
Posts: 2996
Location: Sept. 1958 | I heard he came to his senses, bought a rusty vert, and will be using this for that. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Last I heard it was in the final stages before paint. A death in the family (shop owner's family,
not mine) and getting hurt myself, has caused the car to fall off the priority list of discussion. I
will be home soon and can push it forward myself. More updates as they happen.
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | Nothing serious hopefully? We need all the wisea$$es we can get around here.
Edited by firedome 2013-06-19 8:31 AM
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Location: Parts Unknown | Nothing too serious. Docs released me to fly a couple days ago and I will push back soon. Got one
more mission to lead and it's game over. Three years is enough.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-06-19 8:53 AM
Nothing too serious. Docs released me to fly a couple days ago and I will push back soon. Got one
more mission to lead and it's game over. Three years is enough.
I know I'll be glad when your done there.
---John |
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-06-19 9:53 AM
Got one more mission to lead and it's game over. Three years is enough.
Be sure to announce your next profession so the harassment can continue |
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | What's up with this project? Any progress? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Was out to the shop yesterday to get my head around what I need to do to get this back on the
rails. I told them to stop all work when I demobed until I get a job ...... you know, that whole
"income thing" !
What I found was the floor mats never showed (cheque cashed 6 months ago), the steering wheel
is still a no-show, the mirror never made it, as did the mirror bracket, ..... but the good news is the
Rawa-built dash instrument cluster is there on the bench and looking beautiful !
Time for a flurry of email, I guess.
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | What mats?? Are you "upgrading" to carpet or have you found correct rubber mats? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I found OEM mats.
At this point, the only mods to this car will be the rear valance.
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-07-16 8:06 PM
I found OEM mats.
At this point, the only mods to this car will be the rear valance.
Since I sold my car with rubber mats, I don't need this anymore, but I was looking for OEM mats for a LOOOOONG time... Where'd you find it?
Edited by soiouz 2013-07-16 8:43 PM
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9654
Location: So. Cal | Hey Doc,
Can you explain the purpose of this corrugated wire welded to the body? Is that some form of heat shrinking? If so, how does it work? I am not familiar with that method.
Also, the second picture looks like some modern art imprinted on the quarter panel. Maybe you should leave it there.
 (lr.jpg)
 (rr.jpg)
Attachments
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lr.jpg (31KB - 541 downloads)
rr.jpg (34KB - 511 downloads)
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | I see a man with a big nose and a woman in a grey dress, washing dishes |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | I thought the woman in the dress was patting a dog that had its front paws on her legs
The squiggle things are for dent pulling, they sort of weld on with a machine, kinda like staples in a row
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | How about a man, a woman, and a pet dinosaur? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I saw a woman strangling her errant child.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9654
Location: So. Cal | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-07-17 3:43 PM
I saw a woman strangling her errant child.
I don't recommend that you play this game with a psychologist.
Pulling on those wires makes more sense. I just use a stud welder for that, but I can see how pulling over a larger surface can be of benefit. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | It's alright. I could always say I have PTSD. Children can do that to you.
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Location: Parts Unknown | Today the long awaited steering wheel arrived after being restored/recast. I spent quite a
bit of time getting Dennis on the same page about color and translucence of the green, but the
finished product is stunning and absolutely perfect in color, detail, and finish. Here is a before
and after shot.
 (steering wheel before.jpg)
 (steering wheel after.jpg)
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steering wheel before.jpg (58KB - 542 downloads)
steering wheel after.jpg (57KB - 525 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | Wow, beautiful wheel work! So was the original exterior color that close to turquoise, if so those buzzards must have feasted on some blueberries. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | No, the exterior color is Misty Green ... basically seafoam, or "buzzard puke" ......
The interior - dash, garnish mouldings, etc. are a different green, and the door panels,
seat vinyl is another. The steering wheel was not a "matched" color, but it is correct OEM
color for the green interior.
Here is an example in another car:
 (steering wheel 58 DeSoto green.jpg)
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steering wheel 58 DeSoto green.jpg (67KB - 561 downloads)
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Location: Parts Unknown | That DeSoto is very faded, but you get the idea.
Here's an original 58 Plymouth showing the color a lot better.
 (steering wheel 58 Ply green.jpg)
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steering wheel 58 Ply green.jpg (50KB - 517 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | Well how about an up-date or tell us a good LIE. lol |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Well, they are inching towards shooting paint on it. Just got a bill for 5.5 hours. I am too
busy trying to rejoin the ranks of the gainfully employed to follow the project too closely.
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Location: Parts Unknown | I took all the bright work home with me on my last visit to the shop to see what could be done
about getting a good shine on it. I dropped the horn ring, Plaza tags, and dealer emblem off at
the chrome shop, and then picked up some double-ot steel wool to work on the aluminum and
stainless. I still see a little cloudiness in the headlight surround, but given what I started with
(see the little uncleaned patch), it looks pretty darned good ! The hubcap also shows before and
after sides.
 (polishing brightwork 1.jpg)
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polishing brightwork 1.jpg (81KB - 540 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Any recent progress on this buzzard puke green beauty queen? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I had the chrome redone and have looked into re-anodizing the headlight surrounds, grille, etc.
I was pleasantly surprised by how inexpensive this is to have done. Nothing like the cost of
rechrome.
The re-anodizing is all dialed in, ... I just need to pull the trigger. Too #@! busy right now.
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Cool, looking forward to some pics.
Also, please update on the anodizing, I might have some parts I'd like to have done and I'm interested to see how it comes out. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I have two shops here in Spokane. Both seem to be highly capable. They explained the
thickness issues and darkening, as well as the ability/inability to match colors. It appears
this should not present much problem, as the "silver" and gold colors are pretty standard.
I went to take a photo of the restored steering wheel and center, but the lighting was bad.
Will try again tomorrow.
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Location: Parts Unknown | Here is a before and after of the steering wheel.
 (steering wheel before.jpg)
 (steering wheel restored.jpg)
Attachments
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steering wheel before.jpg (58KB - 562 downloads)
steering wheel restored.jpg (81KB - 508 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 1384
Location: Ocala, Florida | Nice! Seafoam green is my favorite color I wish more people saved the sedans. |
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Expert
Posts: 2905
Location: little rock, AR | Lets hear of your latest progess |
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Doc, a clone of your car is third in this wedding parade:
http://jailamemoirequitourne.historiatv.com/videos/1290/mariage-et-...
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Location: Parts Unknown | I can't quite make it out, .... the film is so grainy, ... but it almost looks like this car has the
no sweep Savoy straight-bar side trim and full face wheelcovers. Am I seeing things ?
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Location: .Norfolk..Mafia.. ,England UK | Hey Doc,,
Is she been painted now, How close is she till you are burning up the highways..?? |
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Expert
Posts: 1740
Location: Alaska | Doc, I would be interested in the cost and the name of the shop that will do your anodizing as I need my headlight bezels done also. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | No paint. It is in primer and close. I had to call off the dogs until I get a meaning and
steady employment.
I will update the anodizing intel when it happens.
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-11-20 4:27 PM
I can't quite make it out, .... the film is so grainy, ... but it almost looks like this car has the
no sweep Savoy straight-bar side trim and full face wheelcovers. Am I seeing things ?
100% sure it has dog dishes, because full covers in Canada on a 1958 meant a hubcap that ressembled the 57 unit, and that's not what we see here. As for the side trim, I see what makes you doubt, but I think it's a reflection. Pretty sure it's a bare sided Plaza, let's say 75% on this one! ;-) |
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | Looks pretty close to me!
 (57_plymouth_wedding.jpg)
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57_plymouth_wedding.jpg (32KB - 525 downloads)
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Veteran
Posts: 121
Location: bossier city, louisiana | Wow your plaza sure has come a long way.lookin' good!!! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Well, "good looking" is a matter of interpretation ! laugh:
... but yes, it has come a long way. It is a few K away from finish paint, then we can do the interior
and hang the trim and it will be the embarrassment of the civilized world again !
I am reminded of a snooty little b!tch friend of my sister, who pitched a royal fit over her mother
picking her up from school is a very decently preserved 67 Firebird convertible because her friends
might see her in or near it. She repeatedly pitched the same fit over the moss on the roof of their
home, lest her friends see that and associate her with the kind of scum that allows moss to grow on
their roof (?)
What would that sweet little princess think of my Plaza ?
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Veteran
Posts: 121
Location: bossier city, louisiana | Lol!! Have you come to a final decision on the interior? |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9654
Location: So. Cal | There was a '70 Barracuda for sale not too long ago that was going for $2000. It looked TERRIBLE. The roof was smashed in, the front end had been in multiple fender benders, the doors were bent, and the whole car leaned to one side a little with parts barely hanging on etc. Looked like it had been to hell and back, and someone was obviously still driving while it was in bad shape because that kind of damage doesn't occur all at once. I was seriously considering purchasing it to get it running, make the windshield work and drive it to car shows - as is. I would call it "Shaker". Park next to all the $200k hemicudas and hang out with the E-body crowd. They would have loved me. It would have been worth it just for the reactions. I wonder if they would end up sueing me for loss of property value.
Edited by Powerflite 2013-11-30 12:12 AM
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Location: Parts Unknown |
We call those "Mad Max" cars in my circles.
The interior is all purchased and ready to assemble ... fabrics, door panels, floor mats,
instrument cluster, steering wheel. Look back in this thread and you'll see all the goodies.
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Location: Sweden | Nice work, Brent. Are you going to run blackwall custom super cushions and doggies on her? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Yes, Sir !
4 doors, Buzzard Puke Green paint, no side trim, no mirrors, body colored wheels, blackwall Super
Cushions, and dog dishies !
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Location: Sweden | Thats very cool! Your car reminds me of the first 58 i hunted, same specs as yours only in belvedere form, i passed on the deal. I do regret it though, as it would have been a nice complement to my convertible, i can only imagine the sight of them two parked next to each other at my driveway keep up the good work! see link: http://hasselsvensson.se/Plymouth%20bilar/58/pl58_36.htm |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I look forward to having the DeSoto and Plymouth parked side-by-side in the shop for that same
reason, ... bookending the top shelf and bottom-of-the-barrel offerings one might have found at
their friendly DeSoto-Plymouth dealer in 1958. One probably occupied a turntable in the center of
the showroom floor, the other held a cramped spot in the back corner of the lot, waiting for Felix
Frugal to come in.
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Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | Just came back to look at this thread again. I love your Plaza Doc! can't wait to see the pictures of the finished product in all it's sickly puke green glory. I'm sure you're dying to be able to tool around town in her. Hope you'll have her done soon. |
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Account deactivated by owner's request
Location: On this barrel | I just farted AGIAN |
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Location: Parts Unknown | While I keep applying for jobs and interviewing, hoping to land something so I can unleash funds
to finish the car, our boy Robt. just seems to suffer with an endless bout of intestinal issues.
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Expert
Posts: 3588
Location: Plymouth Spaceport | Too bad there isn't money in that type of "gas",he'd be a rich man...er,Vulcan. :laugh:
Hope you land something good soon Doc. |
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | What's happening with this green beauty, doc? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Not much. Took a trip out to see the car and retrieve a part for a member here, and saw it
is in primer and fairly close to paint. But with the job search in stall mode, it is just waiting.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 692
Location: Los Angeles, California | Another 5 months have passed? Good news I hope Reminds me of the highly anticipated build of John's "Rusty" now "Toothless" |
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Location: Parts Unknown | While the car is still just kinda "sitting" we ordered weatherstripping for the doors and trunk and are
gearing up to finish the paint and begin reassembly. The big push right now is to finish my shop and
the current goal is to take the project to the 2nd floor decking and lay down a membrane roof layer to
keep the wet out before the snow flies. With the place weathered-in, I can focus on other stuff.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Thanks for the update, Doc!
---John |
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Location: Parts Unknown | With my head buried in the construction of the new building, I gave up on posting much to my favorite
forums. I am currently framing in the complicated stuff around the staircase and tower support before I
can deck it and call it "game over" for the season.
The 2nd floor and roof are going to be complicated stick-builds too, and I will dedicate next spring/summer
to finishing it all the way up.
What I am really looking forward to right now is a sealed up building that can be heated, even if in one
section, so I can farkle about with my projects during the cold months.
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | I miss following this car's restoration. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I brought the car home last fall and just a few weeks ago jockeyed it into a longer term
storage area where it can be worked on if I wish. I need to get the parts pile organized for
long term storage so I don't lose anything, but it is home and good to see every day.
I have made a priority list of major projects and currently restoring the gutted upstairs
bathroom holds the top spot, followed by framing the 2nd floor of the front half of the shop
and weathering it in as a finished structure. Those two things done, I will be free to detail
finish the shop, work on the cars at will, or whatever I want. With the shop heated and nice
inside, I get all winter to play out there with the wrenches and welder, putting my cars back
in order. I began the final demolition of the old bathroom today. I hope to have it done by
the end of June so I can begin the work on the shop. I want that done by the time the snow
flies this November.
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Doctor DeSoto - 2016-04-10 11:17 PM
I brought the car home last fall and just a few weeks ago jockeyed it into a longer term
storage area where it can be worked on if I wish. I need to get the parts pile organized for
long term storage so I don't lose anything, but it is home and good to see every day.
I have made a priority list of major projects and currently restoring the gutted upstairs
bathroom holds the top spot, followed by framing the 2nd floor of the front half of the shop
and weathering it in as a finished structure. Those two things done, I will be free to detail
finish the shop, work on the cars at will, or whatever I want. With the shop heated and nice
inside, I get all winter to play out there with the wrenches and welder, putting my cars back
in order. I began the final demolition of the old bathroom today. I hope to have it done by
the end of June so I can begin the work on the shop. I want that done by the time the snow
flies this November.
Great!
It sounds like you got a lot of irons in the fire!
Keep us posted! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | It's called "being SERIOUSLY over-extended" !!!
But a plan and a little discipline and we'll pull this through to a good place.
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | I have no doubt you'll get her done, and done well. Then the fun begins!
I wish I had a heated shop, we do have nat gas, I need one 'o them Hot Dawg things. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The wifeperson sees all this as hopelessly beyond reach. I see it as having a vault
full of all the right stuff to fuss with when I retire (or sooner). The alternative would
be what ? NOT having all the right stuff and still working on getting my shop and life
together ?
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | That 'Flite oughta keep you busy for awhile! But if ANY car was ever worth the time & effort it's that one. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The weather has turned, and I could not hold myself back any longer. I gutted out
the bathroom and attic space beyond, built a new support system under the west side
rafters, and cut off all the collar ties to leave the roof ready to remove. I then jumped
up top and cut the roof section loose from the rest, before pulling a giant construction
tarp over the whole thing.
I will remove the shingles, vents, and skylight and dispense to the dump, then cut the
wood structure away to make way for the full height walls and clerestory roof/windows.
Windows are ordered, so once framed they should arrive to ready sided walls and the
whole thing will look good from the exterior.
We'll leave that project at that for the summer and move to finish the shop before the
snow flies. I can finish the bath interior in the indoor comfort when the weather sours.
With the shop all buttoned up, I can then look to really working on the cars again.
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Expert
Posts: 3887
Location: Northen Virginia | Having cars it is everyone goal, but a building a shop to work on car is the real holy grail... |
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Location: Parts Unknown | So true. Having the right tools for the job (whatever that is) makes doing the
job so much easier. Working on our cars out in the dirt can be a PITA, nevermind
how much extra effort it takes. I acknowledge this gratitude every time I work
in the front half with the concrete floor and heat. What a blessing. I am also
grateful for Arne telling me why Swedes restore old fin cars ... something about
a good shop and having something to do all winter to enjoy in the summer. I had
not quite connected the dots on that "good shop" part until he said that. It makes
the "work" part of messing with old cars fun instead of a chore.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9654
Location: So. Cal | Unfortunately, it looks like I will be doing the same thing this year. I can't take another summer of working in the sun so I will need to postpone car activity to pour cement and put up a car port. As Marvin the martian says, "Delays delays....." |
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Location: Parts Unknown | LOL .... most guys are building shops to stay out of the rain or snowdrifts !
You will be much happier when you can work in a pleasant work place. Why a carport ?
Won't you have every crackhead trying to help themselves to your goodies and every
kitty/dog in the county trying to piss on your projects ?
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9654
Location: So. Cal | It is all that is allowed because of it's proximity to the road, and it is actually better for this climate. You want the air flow to keep it cool, you just need shade from the sun. Shade temperatures are actually pretty nice, but direct rays from the Southern sun are brutal. But I won't be storing anything there, just the cars themselves. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Roger that.
I came home last night and put in a couple hours carefully pulling the roofing off
and loading it in neat stacks on my Model T truck. We'll make a dump run when it
is all down. Got about half of it peeled before it got too dark to work, but not before
smashing a finger with the nail bar, feeling around to get the bar on the nail head.
As this relates to the Forward Look, I have two primary historical interests ... "Atomic"
50's era stuff (not just cars) and the 1860-1920-ish "steam era" Americana. As it has
worked out, the house is slowly becoming 1958, while the shop will the centerpiece of
the older stuff. Afterall, a 1958 car looks perfectly fine in a 1920's shop, but a Victorian
table looks all wrong in a George Jetson house, right ?
I am holding off with changing the counter and shower tile in the downstairs bath until
I have the upstairs one done, but otherwise, it is something that would make Neil proud.
The upstairs bath is a bare canvas that is being built especially for that final look. 2/12
canted roof, clerestory windows up high. The whole design centered on a photo the wife-
person found several years ago of a free-floating vanity counter, and we have slowly been
accumulating "parts" to put it all together.
The toilet and sink/s are 1958 Briggs in "aqua". I will do much of the trim in light finished
wood. The flooring is a wonderful speckled vinyl that looks like barf. Shower will be done
in an as-yet undetermined tile to match the aqua fixtures. And in the process of moving
these into the house, that means I get them OUT of the shop ... yippee !!!
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Expert
Posts: 1740
Location: Alaska | Boy Doc, what does your wife think about all your "changes" to the house? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | She's the one pushing for it !
After I finished this lamp, she's gone off the deep end again !
 (atomiclamp1.jpg)
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atomiclamp1.jpg (89KB - 704 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2519
Location: central Illinois | I got to thinking about your Buzzard and looked up this thread, then noticed the date of the last entry. 5 years ago.
Since then I got my 60 done and have been reminiscing about the restoration. My tiny 2 car garage was about as small an area as I'd choose to restore a car. The garage has got a good roof, concrete floor and basic electrics with finished walls and average lighting. But there's enough room to move around with the door open. I still don't have room for a proper work bench. People ask how long it took to restore the Adventurer and I say 6 total with 1.5 waiting on the body/painter to pull his head out. There's no heat and it's not deep enough to do much so I pretty much just work on it from mid April to Oct. My R/T deserves a proper restoration but it's a good driver fun car till then. I just have to wrap my mind around tearing into another lengthy resto, and if I'm not focused on the end product I know it could go off the rails.
I'm not on here as much as I used to but enjoyed reading about and seeing the pictures of your car. Hoping the house and workshop are coming along. |
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Location: North Australia | This thread started over a decade ago, that old green Plymouth would be plugging a ditch somewhere by now?
Steve. |
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