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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
 
Location: Wild Wonderful | I have bought myself a Christmas present. A 1958 Desoto Firedome Sportsman, 2-door hardtop, Spring Special.
This is the one that Dustin sold to Frank, and then was sold to me.
This is going to be a major project.
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Location: The Mile High City | Congratulations, Kurt! That's wonderful! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I am happy to see this car in the hands of someone interested in preserving it. It is a VERY
unusual 58 DeSoto and will stand out, even in a crowd of them.
In case this car was never re-united with the missing Spring Sprecial deck lick bars, I have
an incomplete set saved from my wrecking yard days. I am sure they are pretty much unobtainium.
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Elite Veteran,, James Passed away March 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1028
Location: Melbourne, Australia | Doc if I buy Nicks 58 Adventurer , will you sell me your spare set of Hubcaps ? I cant buy the car unless I know I can get a set of Hubcaps ! |
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Elite Veteran,, James Passed away March 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1028
Location: Melbourne, Australia | Great to see the car preserved Kurt , and if I was in the US I would come and give you a hand . It looks like a lot of work ,but not everyone gets to own a 58 Desoto Hardtop as there aren't many left due to many factors ! |
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Elite Veteran,, James Passed away March 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1028
Location: Melbourne, Australia | So its Factory Black Top , and the rest Smoke Grey Body and Sweep from Factory with Red Trim !
Edited by The Adventurer 2014-12-23 9:54 PM
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Regular
Posts: 89
Location: Hastings Mn | I'm glad to see the car made it to your house in lots of pieces.  It looks like nothing fell off along the way. As I said this was a major project not for the faint of heart and is going to need lots of parts and welding and time putting it back together right. I decided that I didn't want a 58 Desoto bad enough to spend the amount of time needed for this project. My other projects would have ended up further behind.
Good luck to you Kurt. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The Adventurer - 2014-12-24 6:48 PM
Doc if I buy Nicks 58 Adventurer , will you sell me your spare set of Hubcaps ? I cant buy the car unless I know I can get a set of Hubcaps !
=============================================
At this time, I plan to run them on my Fireflite, as the standard wheelcovers give me tunabutt, dog dishies
are totally inappropriate on a Fireflite, and the B-J sensation of putting wire wheels on every last Forward
Look convertible is also a source of indigestion.
However ! .....
I would be more than happy to work with you (being the creative reproduction guy that you are) to loan you
the critical centers and spinners for use in a repop project, should that sound of interest to you.
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Elite Veteran,, James Passed away March 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1028
Location: Melbourne, Australia | Thanks Doc , I appreciate the offer and if I can find some space soon I will maybe call Nick , as that car is always in the back of my mind .
By the way in the next week or so I should be able to show you a New Inner Beaver Panel made from one piece of steel for 57/57 Desoto /Chrysler . Bad news is I don't think the price is going to make any of us happy ! Will keep you posted .
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Location: Parts Unknown | What are you calling a "beaver panel" ??? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | A check of the engine number revealed this weird thing. Not a normal number. It must be a replacement engine. It still has the four bolt valve covers.
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Elite Veteran,, James Passed away March 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1028
Location: Melbourne, Australia | R Code is a 1961 Chrysler 383 Engine |
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Elite Veteran,, James Passed away March 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1028
Location: Melbourne, Australia | Here is the beaver panel doc . Sits at the rear of the trunk pan and rusts on most cars as it never gets painted from the factory
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | The Adventurer - 2014-12-24 2:26 AM
R Code is a 1961 Chrysler 383 Engine
Great.  Well, I'm glad I have a parts car with the correct engine. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | In between the front chrome pieces (bumper) of the S/S there is a grill. It is a different design than the parts car.
Was this normal for the S/S ?
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | The bottom one looks like the one that was on my '58. The top looks like a hardware store decorative aluminum replacement.
Congrats on saving this car... it will be amazing! |
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Location: The Mile High City | I agree with Roger. Hardware store radiator cover. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | This car is turning out to be one big disappointment. Not only is it cut up and really rusty, it is also missing a lot of parts.
Wrong Engine.
Missing ; gas tank, inner fenderwell passenger side, ALL mouldings on both sides including the Spring Special mouldings at rockers.
And if that is not enough, the electrical system is "Jerry Rigged".
Now to the good points.
It has a good front Windshield, Dashpad, and head liner (but I have to remove the head liner to repair the roof).
It has the sweep inserts for the Spring Special, but they have extra holes in them from someone riveting them on.
Wait. I thought these were good points.
Basically I have a good windshield and Dashpad.
AAAGGGHHH
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | These are a few of my favorite things. Not.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Door panel and kick panel. I will have to make new ones from scratch.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I found something original. The rear side panels.
Yes, the interior was red and gray, mixed with black.
Edited by 58DeSoDodge59 2014-12-25 6:21 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I think the putty was holding this car together. When you grind it away, there is hardly any metal there.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Merry Crismas to you
Looks like you got a teacher of sheet metal welding skills for Christmas
Are you still going to fix it, or is it beating you down?
It is hard to fix whats totally not there, so you dont even have a patern to work off
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Don't get me wrong, I am still going to take care of this car. It's just going to take me a lot longer than I thought.
I have two other 58 Desoto parts cars here. So this is the plan. 1st, I will restore the Spring Special using all original type parts from the other cars.
2nd, I will restore another 58 Firedome using parts from the 1959 parts cars here and the 1961 engine from this car.
' good Lord willin'. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Be like my 6 month resto on my dodge 
At least you have the luxury of a parts car or two
I am very keen to watch this car progress
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 5006
| It was 1500$ if it was solid It would have been much more I assume |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The Adventurer - 2014-12-24 11:29 PM
Here is the beaver panel doc . Sits at the rear of the trunk pan and rusts on most cars as it never gets painted from the factory
==============================================
Where did you get the name "beaver panel" ?
I refer to the entire assembly across the back as the "box rail assembly". That is just
the front part, flipped upside down, right ? I have a decent one for my Fireflite, if I choose
to replace it. I am kinda stalled on the project while I get my shop put together some
more. This S/S car looks a lot like mine did before I tore into it. I replaced the bottom six
inches of the cowl, the entire floor pan, entire rocker assemblies, and now will rebuild the
tail end to finish my rough metal work.
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Elite Veteran,, James Passed away March 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1028
Location: Melbourne, Australia | Doc Beaver panel is what we call them In Australia . This is the panel underneath as you say nut it spot welds to the upper trunk floor , so they rot out together . My cars only has a bit in the trunk and a few spots in the floor which I am happy about . I imagine they would be rusty on every car that has seen rain .
Wow My Spanish Gold 58 is a dream boat compared to this SS car , but I suppose it was cheap . Even my white 58 is and people are complaining it needs to much work , so they wont buy it !
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Expert
Posts: 1530
Location: ZH, Switzerland | Merry Christmas For the New Year and all following years I wish stamina and good luck to you to work on your S/S De Soto project. From the top it doesn't look that bad. Underneath somehow it reminds me to the 1957 Adventurer Convertible project (Raffaele). Happy New Year! Dieter |
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Expert
Posts: 2308
Location: The Bat Cave, Fairborn, OH | Wow! You've set yourself a task, no mistake about it. I don't think it's going to be a quick restoration, not with that kind of rot. Stll, it will be something to see when it's done. Good luck with that. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | My car is losing weight.
These are all the panels that were welded on over top of the original metal. Also, they must have put about 10 gallons of Bondo on this car.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | As you can see, they spot welded these panels on with pure gold.
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Location: Parts Unknown | Oh brother .... I can hear the "Golden Adventurer" stories now .... 
================================================
If it means anything to you, this car is no worse than mine was. It has been a long,
tedious process, with life getting in the way more than anything, but it is all very fixable.
There was a time (not THAT long ago) when even a Fireflite convertible would have been
parted out for being "too far gone" in this condition. I was told so more than once by
"helpful" 300 guys.
But all one has to do is watch Jan Fridberg's thread and see how it's done. Slow and
sure.
That car will be a real stunner when restored.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7807
Location: Williams California | Before MIG welders were common, it was common practice to braze repair sections onto a car, or use oxy/acetylene welding. Backyard 'Crafters' and inexpensive body shops used pop rivets to secure panels also.
Looks like you've got your work cut out for you, but kudos on saving this Desoto.
---John |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Okay, somebody's in trouble. The numbers don't match. Someone changed the plate that was on the door frame.
I found a Virginia Inspection receipt in the ashtray. It was dated 2002. It has the same VIN as the title.
So I have a title and inspection receipt that say 16295, but the car says 16949. What do I do now ?
Edited by 58DeSoDodge59 2015-01-06 11:58 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Well, I drilled the rivets out and took off the VIN plate. Those hole left in the plate, from prying it off, matched up perfectly
with the metal that was left on the pillar. So that means, the plate is correct for the car. I don't know where they got
this title, but it does not go with this car. (They must have had two 58 Desotos). |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Not sure what you mean by matched up, but they are all the same size (the plates)
It is possible that the original tag fell off and someone just put that on
I dont believe they ever riveted the tag on, it should be spot welded
You can get a new tag made by a company called AG Backeast (weird name) and if his prices havnt changed, its somewhere around $450
I have to get one for my plymouth (eventually) as its missing
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Location: Parts Unknown | This project needs some positive news, so let me toss this out ... those S/S deck strips
were shipped to you two days ago. Let me know when you get them.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I got the deck strips today. Thanks Doctor D.
It works out pretty good, because you had four good ones, and I had two missing, plus two were bent.
Party time. P A R T Y? 'cause I gotta.
Edited by 58DeSoDodge59 2015-01-09 10:05 AM
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Location: Parts Unknown | Perfect ! As I mentioned earlier, I never would have used these on one of my cars, but
had saved them all these years simply because they were unobtainium and knew someone
would need them and be in a terrible jam to find some. Glad we could make this work.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Starting point. I am starting with the inner rockers. Placing them with screws first. Later I will remove them and then paint them, and finally weld them in. They still need some trimming.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I moved the car outside so I could clean up.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Playing with colors. I am not keeping the white. I do want to keep the black top. I do not like the original gray ( it just reminds me of gray primer, and it looks like an unfinished car). So I think this car will be some kind of metallic gray, like silver. Something darker than the Aluminum inserts, but much lighter than the Black top.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | 
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | The ugliest picture of a 58 Desoto, ever.
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | 58DeSoDodge59 - 2015-01-19 12:09 AM
Playing with colors. I am not keeping the white. I do want to keep the black top. I do not like the original gray ( it just reminds me of gray primer, and it looks like an unfinished car). So I think this car will be some kind of metallic gray, like silver. Something darker than the Aluminum inserts, but much lighter than the Black top.
I think silver and black would be absolutely stunning!!!! Very good choice! keep up the excellent work! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I got some news today. I emailed the Chrysler Historical Services, and they confirmed that the VIN on the car is the correct one for the fender/ID tag that is on the car. |
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Expert
Posts: 1737
Location: Hay Lakes, Alberta, Canada | Oh oh! So, now what do you do for a title?  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | The paperwork has started for a new title. When I get it, I am going to send for the original records of the car. I am curious to see if this car really came from Norfolk, VA. I bet that all the info that was passed along with this car is all incorrect. I bet it came from the other side of the country, like the beaches of California. There was a lot of sand on top of the brackets of the floor. So, at least once, the car was driven on the beach somewhere. And that would also explain why it is so rusty on the bottom. (Salt Water). Yes, I know they have beaches in Virginia too, but I'm just saying that since the title was wrong, I bet everything else was also.
What Hubcap do you think would look best on a Black and silver car?
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Expert
Posts: 2312
Location: Arizona | I'm still partial to the gold accent. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Jim, I think you're right. I didn't think that I would like the extra gold, with a silver and black car, but then I found this picture.
I think that these are the colors that I would like to use for this 58 Desoto.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Well, I sat the car outside for a while. There is one thing I noticed about this car and my parts car.
This car has a good tinted windshield, but all the other glass is clear. My parts car has a clear windshield,
but all the rest are tinted. Weird, huh? So, of course, I will put all the tinted glass on the Spring Special.
In the mean time, the car is freezing. I am working on selling the 59 Dodge Custom Royal 4dr hardtop.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Sorry, No work done on the car, But I finally received my new Title (with the correct VIN).
Now it is time to get in touch with Chrysler Historical and get the true info on this car.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Well, as it turns out, the only thing wrong about this car was the title.
It did start it's life in Norfolk, VA.
F. A. Roethke Inc.
DeSoto - Plymouth
I wonder how long they had that title and thinking that it was correct for this car?
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Regular
Posts: 89
Location: Hastings Mn | Very interesting Kurt. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Wow, this dealership was started in 1911, selling Hupmobiles.
Here is another ad in the 1958 phone book.
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Can you do a quick search for Ben Medow, of South Bend, IN??
A PM is fine...
Medow had a big dealership, but owing to his/its location, in the rust belt, Custer probably
stood a better chance at long term survival.
BTW, your car is coded to have tinted and shaded windshield; I'll get its OEM tire sizes
and axle ratio, to you, later today.
Edited by d500neil 2015-05-31 1:45 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1906
Location: Ontario, Canada | My notes indicate:
Axle ratio as 3.31 to 1
5 Rayon tires 850X14
Greg |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Neil, I sent you an Email.
The Solex Glass 5: , does it just say the Windshield, or does it say something about the other glass?
Because all the other glass on the car is clear. My windshield is tinted.
I have seen other peoples info on their 58 Desoto, my question is Why does Chrysler Historical put N/A
on items that they already know the information, (because they put it on the other peoples info.) ?
They should have a master list for each of these cars.
The Steering Wheel: 1 = Special Plastic , Doctor Desoto noted at one point (when Dustin had the car)
that this steering wheel was the cheaper rubber wheel that is found on the Firesweep models. So somebody
has replaced the wheel at some point. Now, this Special Plastic, does that mean it was two tone plastic?
What color plastic was it? It would have to go with the red and gray interior. BTW that "gray" looks black
to me.
Has anyone figured out what the 9 is under ST , or the 4 under the B ?
This is how the info should read.
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Tinted and Shaded windshield ONLY is correct; if all the other glass in the car were tinted, (and with a shaded W/S) the code would
have been a "7" for your "Solex"glass.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Dealer ads on back of the magazine People and Places.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Back of July 1958, People and Places. The Desoto is showing off its Spring Special side trim.
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Veteran
Posts: 188
| I like the gold accent too.
Is there any progress on the car?
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Sorry. I have not been working on the car, but I have been collecting parts.
So far I have received the inside arm rest, the trunk bars and rocker mouldings for the Spring Special,
and a good trunk lid.
I still need the L-trim for the drivers side B-pillar. I would like to get better doors, and a better door handle
for the drivers side. I need both of the Firedome scripts for the quarter panels. And I need the Firedome trim
for the front fenders (same as a 4dr Firedome).
The rest, I will figure out as I go.
I am going to Carlisle Friday, so let me know if anyone has any parts, and I will pick them up there.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I talked with the son of the original owner. He confirmed everything we found out from Chrysler Historical.
He confirmed that the interior was red and black. The car was painted black and white. The engine was replaced
in the 1960s because of a bad winter that froze the block and it cracked. The interior was reupholstered to
black and white. And later, the car was repainted again with black and white. I can confirm that when the car
was painted one time, that it was taken apart and the interior,(except the dash), was removed. Below is a picture
of the ignition switch that I removed from the car. Notice how it has been over sprayed with the white paint. They
got that white paint everywhere. It's also on the wires and the vent system under the dash.
Bill (the son), also said that his Dad drove the car every day to work, which was only about 5 miles, from 1958 to 1990.
It was also used on the Honeymoon. It was only taken on one or two vacations, but not very far. That puts the mileage
at about 110,160 miles.
So if all of this information has been confirmed, why is the VIN on the title wrong and that same number is on the
inspection receipt? When they do an inspection, they don't look at the title, they look at the plate on the car. Is it
possible that the title was with the car that day, and so they didn't bother looking for the plate? It was dated 2002, so
the mechanics probably didn't know where to look for it.
So the update on the car is that I recently bought a new door handle for the drivers door. Since I did not have any keys
that worked any of the locks I took a couple of old locks from the other cars and rebuilt a good set of locks, so now the
ignition key is the same as the doors,(as it is suppose to be). And now I have two decent looking handles too.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1049
Location: PL / EU | a few pics of Roethke
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| hi where where did you get the production report |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Mbc40 - 2015-10-19 5:16 PM
hi where where did you get the production report
http://www.fcanorthamerica.com/company/Heritage/Pages/Historical-Se...
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Well, as you may know, I sold the 59 Custom Royal. So I put the 1958 Desoto Firedome Spring Special back in the garage.
I am continuing to tear it down. I need to bitch a little bit more first. I keep finding new things that the young guy in MN did
to it before he sold it. Now I know why he dropped the price down so low. He burnt the wires in the ignition system. Heaven
only knows what other parts got burnt up. Do you remember the gas tank that he was doing electrolysis on? He said it had
pin holes in it, so he threw it away. I asked him if he knew about the POR15 gas tank sealer? He said no, but I seen an earlier
post (on another site) of where he was going to use the POR15. I hate liars. Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest.
So, as you know, I am in the tear down phase. Here are some things that I have to fix along the way.
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Veteran
Posts: 188
| Wow, this car really needs a lot of attention.
But it is great that you are confident you have so save it.
Good luck on this Kurt and keep us informed about the progress! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Well everybody, it has been a year since I got this car. I am continuing to take the car apart. Being in the Virginia Beach area
all of its life was not good for this car. I am finding sand in all the nooks and crannies. Besides the sand, I also found a bottle
opener and a chewed up pencil inside the vents.
I cut the rubber seal from the front windshield and as I was pulling it away from the glass, I put a crack in it. It seems that no matter
how careful I am, that always happens. Why couldn't that have happened to the back glass instead, I was going to replace
that anyway? Whenever I get finished crying, I will start looking for a replacement.
The guys that repainted this car were good at rigging things. They put gobs of sealant on the seals to hold the trim on around
the windows.
I am getting a friend of mine to do the sand blasting of the car in January.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | After removing all the removable parts from the body,(except the doors) I pushed it outside and hosed it down.
Hopefully I got the salt and remaining sand washed off the car.
Of course, I had to clean up the floor again. It's funny when you work on one side of the car and parts fall off the other side.
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Location: The Mile High City | Nice work, Kurt!
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." - Winston Churchill |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I was curious if this Spring Special had all three of the Spring Special items. It, obviously, has the aluminum sweep inserts
and the trim bars on the trunk, but the rocker panel trim was missing. The rockers were so rusty that you just could not
tell if they were there or not. But when I removed the last front fender, I found a screw hole. It is in the perfect place for
the rocker trim to be installed. So that means that this Spring Special DID have all three items installed.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Hey Doc, you might be happy to hear that my replacement trunk lid came from a Chrysler 300.
As you can see, I have welded the 300 emblem holes closed and I have drilled the new holes for
the DESOTO and the Spring Special bars.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Lancer Mike - 2015-12-18 5:30 PM
Nice work, Kurt!
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." - Winston Churchill
Mike, Thanks. But I don't think that it is even the end of the beginning. I am still cutting off the bad sections. At this rate,
I'm not sure that there is going to be anything left. But I am having fun. Over the Christmas Holiday, I was able to work
on it without the heater running. It has been, unseasonably warm here. I have been in short sleeves the past few days.
That's crazy. I love it. What a Christmas present.
(Sorry Doctor DeSoto, I don't mean to rub it in).
Edited by 58DeSoDodge59 2015-12-28 1:02 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | My new passenger side floors are just laying in there for now.
I removed the glass from the doors. The drivers window was not even seated in a track. They just put sealant on the
bottom of it and tried to stick it to the window regulator frame.
I have been coming across a lot of screws that are so rusty that they break, or strip.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I bought some Nickel color spray paint. I like it the best so far.
The yellow paint in the trunk is where I will be cutting.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9672
Location: So. Cal | So did you get the right inner rockers finished? Can I see them if you did? I will be doing the same thing on the left side of mine, although I think my floor is actually still good. |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | No, I never got back to the rockers yet. I guess that was a little misleading, but I put those floor panels in there to
make sure that I had enough metal to cover the holes. I bought the inner rockers from Classic parts4U. It comes
in three pieces. I am working from back to front on them. I set the first two in there, but for the front, I got as far
as taking measurements to cut it properly. It comes to a point in the front. I also bought floor braces from Eriksson
in Finland. I do plan on taking pictures as I go and posting them here. I am very slow at getting things done, so
maybe you will beat me to it. I hope to get this body sand blasted first, so I can see some good metal to
weld to. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I did some work on the passenger rocker panel again. The front part needed to come to a point. So after some measuring
and cutting and clamping and recutting and reclamping, I finally have them set where they need to go.... I think.
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | That looks like a pretty good fit. Nice job.
You might want to replace that rusted horizontal section first though.
Edited by Powerflite 2016-01-03 11:04 PM
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Yes, I will be replacing some of the other pieces around there.
Here are the dimensions for the inner rockers. Also, the front panel starts an upward angle at about the drain plug that
is located under the front seat area.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Empty
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | The things that you find when restoring a car.
Some writing inside the speedometer housing. It looks like 10-13-59 , so somebody must have repaired it.
But what is the rest of the writing ?
Somebody broke off a drill bit in the floor. And they just left it there. Why were they drilling a hole there?
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Nathan, Remember to test fit your door sills before welding the inner rockers in place.
I welded my pieces together, then tried the door sills. I had to re-cut them to get the right angle on them.
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | That's good to know. Thanks for the warning. I wouldn't have thought of doing it until it was too late. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I thought that you guys might like to see these pictures. I installed some extra bracing in my ceiling and used some straps and
a come-along to hang the body from the rafters. I have to get it just a little higher so I can push the frame outside and then put
a rotisserie under it. The rotisserie belongs to the sandblaster guy, but I am thinking that I need one. The body still needs to go
to the sandblasters and I can work on the frame. The sandblaster guy said he is not going to do it until it gets warmer. (His booth
is outside).
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | Do you have a replacement panel for the right quarter? A 4dr panel would get you all the way to the front of the wheel well. That's how I did it on my '57 Windsor. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Powerflite - 2016-02-29 11:27 AM
Do you have a replacement panel for the right quarter? A 4dr panel would get you all the way to the front of the wheel well. That's how I did it on my '57 Windsor.
Not yet. I also need to replace the outside part of the wheel wells. (They have holes in the top of them, where the braces attach to them).
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | The exciting look and feel of the future.
You know, that after buying this 58 DeSoto, I just HAD to have the button.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9672
Location: So. Cal | That button is cool. I really like this full size standup. I wish I had a better resolution picture of it.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Powerflite - 2016-03-02 1:06 AM
That button is cool. I really like this full size standup. I wish I had a better resolution picture of it.
Do you have this in your possession, if so, where did you come across it?
I would like to find a showroom banner. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9672
Location: So. Cal | Apparently, someone at Carlisle had it. I just got the picture of it on the net. Here is another one from 1956 too. I would bet that guy did light Groucho's cigar at the start of '57.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Yes, I did see the 58 Groucho at Carlisle. I'm sure it belongs to the guy with the red and white 58 DeSoto.
I took my red and white 59 Dodge. It was pretty fun, but I wish more people would have shown up.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Well, I pushed the frame outside today and sprayed it down with the hose. I sprayed in each one of the holes until
the chocolate milk turned back to water.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7807
Location: Williams California | That was a nice '59 Dodge, Kurt, didn't realize it was yours. I drove the black '59 Plymouth convertible there.
---John |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | big m - 2016-03-07 12:01 PM
That was a nice '59 Dodge, Kurt, didn't realize it was yours. I drove the black '59 Plymouth convertible there.
---John
Yes. I remember the nice black 59 Plymouth convertible. I was honored to me the man that actually drove his car to PA from CA.
Some day I hope to drive my car all the way out there. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I made some fresh cuts. Some major work is going to happen next month. Stay tuned.
And wear your safety glasses.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | My deal fell through for the sheet metal that I was going to get. Now I have to find another rear clip.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Does anybody know the artist. This looks like what I will end up with when I am done, with the exception that mine
is a Firedome not a Fireflite.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Merry Christmas.
It has been another year, and all that I have gotten done is taking the car apart.
2016 has been proven as a very busy year for my business. But yet all the money that I made went to my wife.
So, we all know what needs to happen now. ....
Anyway, here is a picture of where I spent most of my time.... my work table/Dream corner.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 5006
| sounds likes a classic case of marriage :) have it looked at and hope you get well soon...
Edited by mikes2nd 2016-12-24 12:11 AM
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | Nice |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Well, I was working on the car again. I don't know if it's my age or what, but I am reevaluating this car. I was all
"Gung Ho" about fixing the rockers and floors, but this thing needs a lot more. The salt got into every joint of
this car. To the point where I think it would be unsafe. The easy thing to do is to re-body the car, but I don't do
things the easy way. Plus I hate the idea of using another two door hardtop just to fix this one. I will save that other
two door hardtop for someone else. So my idea is to use a four door sedan, since they made more of them than
anything else. I will use the firewall, floors, rockers, wheelwells, all the way back to the tail lights. My question is
where do the changes occur at the top of the firewall between the 2 dr and the 4 dr. ? Where do I need to cut?
Has anyone done this before?
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Here is a 4 door and a 2 door.
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | I am going to attempt to do the same thing with my '58 New Yorker. I don't think there are any major differences in the lower part of the firewall, but I am going to cut much lower than that. Once you cut away a significant portion of the car, it becomes more and more difficult to get it aligned back together. So you want to cut away only as much as you need. The main differences, of course, are behind the front door and the rear part of the rocker panel. So in that area, you will need to keep as much of your original metal that you have and patch the rest. |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Most people would throw this body away. I have no choice but to make significant cuts. I will just have to
take a lot of measurements, and use a lot of braces, and compare measurements with the other cars. If it
does not work the first time, I have a big hammer, I can unweld and try again.
I was thinking about cutting here.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | I ran across this panel again. Apparently I did not look at it close enough the first time. I thought the first
time I took a picture of the original upholstery, but I did not notice that it was not original. So, it turned out
that these panels were reupholstered twice. The last time was the black and white motif. Anyway, I stripped
off the red and black upholstery to reveal the REAL original upholstery. Red and Gray.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9672
Location: So. Cal | I see. I can't think of any differences in the front cowl, but you will need to go over both pieces very carefully and measure for any differences. If you can get a solid donor, and you can get it aligned & welded properly, that would make for a relatively easy replacement as an entire clip. Just make sure that you can put all of the different layers back together at that point. |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom. | 58DeSoDodge59 - 2017-01-09 5:32 PM
Most people would throw this body away. I have no choice but to make significant cuts. I will just have to
take a lot of measurements, and use a lot of braces, and compare measurements with the other cars. If it
does not work the first time, I have a big hammer, I can unweld and try again.
I was thinking about cutting here.
Yes this is the factory joint for the screen pillar, if you drill out the spot welds, you should be able to see where the pillar joins on the underside, but sometimes they are leaded over,
There is also a inner brace inside there which goes straight up inside the pillar this will need to be cut through . |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1141
Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom. | Cut through here on you're scrap bulkhead.
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | How was that inner brace assembled originally? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1141
Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom. | And through here on you're good bulkhead, that will give you enough to trim the excess pieces away so you can slot the two sections back together.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom. | Powerflite - 2017-01-10 9:28 PM
How was that inner brace assembled originally?
It goes inside when on assembly , but a bit tricky to get out in one piece, plus with modern welding you should be able to fully weld that area to make it a lot stronger than original, the seam on the outside is leaded over , this can be fully welded joint and sanded flat and finished with filler ( bondo) |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | I applied some heat to the area to remove the paint and any lead, but there is no lead.
I am going to start drilling out the welds and pealing back the layers. It looks like they used brass as the filler.
You can see that there is not much left of the inside area.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | I am using what I have here. I am taking apart a 59 Chrysler 4 door sedan. (If you need some parts, let me know).
After removing the doors and the center door support. I installed a door from a 2 door hardtop. This is the results.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I was thinking about filling that extra space with putty.
As you can see, not only is the sedan roof taller, but the post is at a different angle. So I will have to replace the
post also. But the body of the door fits nicely with the firewall framing.
Edited by 58DeSoDodge59 2017-04-09 10:45 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | Looking back on this thread, I noticed that I could have made more comments or better statements. I just wanted to
say thank you to everybody for your words of encouragement and well wishes, and your help. I know that I don't always
acknowledge people, nor do I say the right thing. So if you think that I am an idiot, your probably right. But please
know that I would not intentionally hurt anybody. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I am not always a good
conversationalist. This thread has been educational to me. Maybe I take after Sgt. Joe Friday.... just the facts.
Thank you.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 5006
| that bubble top door is way lower. I was warned the 2 door roof is lower.
I am looking at putting a bubble top in my 57 Plymouth |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | mikes2nd - 2017-04-09 11:36 AM
that bubble top door is way lower. I was warned the 2 door roof is lower.
I am looking at putting a bubble top in my 57 Plymouth
So what you are saying is that when I replace the roof (and post) with the one from the 2 door hardtop, then everything
will fit together nicely. ?
What is a bubble top, or bubble top door? I heard of bubble top windshields. Does that just mean it's from a hardtop?
Are you saying that you have a sedan and you are going to make it a hardtop?
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Expert 5K+
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| From what I understand the two door roofs are lower and you need to chop them down(rear windows are the same) but they must be fit so its not a cakewalk. (this affects the angle of the rear window).
that two inches is why the 2 doors appear much sleeker and lower.
there are two types of hardtops, bubble tops and straight windows (453 windshield and 451).
all 57's were straight windows. I am curious how a straight window two door fits. I think you can change out the pivot window and they are different shapes.
the 58's were mostly bubble tops windshields(453) so you can see how your pivot window is "straighter" except the Plymouth. The sedans all used a straight window and they are taller.
I wonder how weird a "tall" two door conversion would look? You might use your original pivot window from the the sedan and have longer side window glass cut( and taller) to make it fit.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Okay, now I understand about the windows.
Yes, the tall conversion would look weird (and too tall).
For me, I am just using the firewall, floors, and rear wheel wells from a 59 Chrysler 4 door sedan to repair
my 58 DeSoto 2 door hardtop. This is not going to be a cakewalk either. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 5006
| yeah wow that is a lot of cutting. In the end these bodies are fairly simple though. Welding and welding...
I know many people would be like find a two door hard top donor but that is an impossible task.
I know someone who looked for 7 years to find one and it wasn't cheap even then. |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | I guess that I am looking way into the future. Soon, you won't be able to find these cars at all because everyone
used up the good ones, then scrapped the ones like this, that could be saved with some extra effort. This is where
I come in. I am trying to save the bad ones first. Let the guys that are afraid of rust work on the better ones. Just
don't throw away the ones that you consider bad. People, like myself, would like to have them. I have three 58 DeSoto
2 door Hardtops and none of them have any floors to speak of. I want to bring all three back to driveable condition.
I am not afraid of a little work, and I have patience. My extra pennies go towards welding supplies.
Edited by 58DeSoDodge59 2017-04-10 5:15 PM
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | What are the odds that I would find a 1958 WV license plate with the
same exact number as the VIN, for my 1958 DeSoto.
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | One in a million!
No, really - 000-000 to 999-999 is one million different combinations. More if they were alphanumeric. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7401
Location: northern germany | 58DeSoDodge59 - 2017-10-19 5:32 PM
What are the odds that I would find a 1958 WV license plate with the
same exact number as the VIN, for my 1958 DeSoto.
that is crazy. i'm into that "stuff" for years as i experienced alot of much weirder things. live is strange.
Edited by 1960fury 2017-10-20 7:44 AM
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Expert 5K+
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| welderup... hah I just ran out of a tank of gas(85$!) now.. and welding wire... rebuilding rocker sucks... cant imagine what your doing
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | I have no idea what I'm doing. But I like playing around. |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Yes, this is the car that is for sale. I had plans for this car. I still might keep the car, if nobody wants to take it over.
I was going to cut off the trunk floor and wheel wells and replace it all, at one time, with better metal from a parts car.
But that deal fell through. So, I have continued my search. No luck yet. I was also trying to figure out what would be
the best way to handle the rust at the fire wall. I was thinking about cutting the whole thing off and getting another, but
I think, that is a little too much. I think it would be better to just fix/patch each individual area. Like I said, I had plans.
The reason I am selling this one is, not because it is in worse condition, but because it is not purplely blue. My daughter
likes purple, so it makes more sense to rebuild the other one, because, when I am too old to drive, I hope to pass it on to her.
My son has already claimed the 59 Dodge. Thank goodness I only have two kids.
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | What part of the firewall are you needing? I have a couple of firewalls that I am parting out now. Some of it is rusty, but a lot is good. I might have what it needs. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 6500
Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | Try these people for metal replacements:
https://www.facebook.com/RealSteelReplacments/
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Powerflite - 2018-04-21 2:02 AM
What part of the firewall are you needing? I have a couple of firewalls that I am parting out now. Some of it is rusty, but a lot is good. I might have what it needs.
This is the main part.
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | I have that whole section in really good shape, but unfortunately, I started cutting the drains out to save them. But I haven't cut the spot welds out yet so I could potentially tack them back together first. Let me know if you would like me to salvage it for you or not. |
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Location: Wild Wonderful | I appreciate the offer, but shipping that from CA to here would not be too cost effective. But show me what you are
talking about, and we will see what we can do. This area is rusty on all my parts cars too. Must be a WV thing.
Still putting pieces back on the car.
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | That's a hard part to replace because it consists of the entire cowl, so it is better to patch it. This is what I have. You are welcome to it if you like. I had started to cut the drains to keep them, but you could weld the cuts back up to make it work. Mine has no rust whatsoever. I think these areas become bad because of acidic tree debri that gets into there.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | That is a nice solid piece, but I am not a good enough welder to fix those cuts, and make it look good.
If I had this piece, here is where I would cut it for the repair.
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Expert 5K+
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| you should get that if you can anyway possible, that part saves that car big time. that's a good day of welding but it makes the heart of the car whole again
I guess it must be a wv thing, all of my cars have zero rust there.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Well, I am not going to be able to sell this awesome car until I do some more welding on it.
I would be more interested in that firewall piece if it was not cut. Maybe I could get Garrett to cut
up his 57 New Yorker. It looks like it has a great trunk area, and maybe it has a great firewall.
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | I also have a '57 NYer parts car that may have some of the metal you are needing. It is pretty rusty on the lowest 8" all around.
Hate to see that this car isn't moving. I've been suspecting that "rusty" and "project" tend to doom the value of these cars more than anything. This is a super desirable car!! |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Don't feel too bad, I knew that I would have to do some more welding before anyone would be interested.
I need to find a low/no rust car, so I can use the wheel wells, and trunk floor with good sides and tail area.
And, of course, I need to get a good piece for the firewall. I already have the rocker panels. I just need to
weld them in, I guess.
One more step... I put a windshield in.
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Expert 5K+
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| i just wonder if you could find a donor car. i don't know if you putting it together helps sell it. I wouldn't want it back together done unless its 100%, painted and ready for permanent reassembly. |
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Expert
Posts: 2633
Location: Minor Hill, TN | I like your little Texaco gas Station . I remember the clean system 3 additives in their fuel . When I worked for Texaco every Thursday it was .06 off the price of the premium but they do not that any more .
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | mikes2nd - 2018-05-03 1:33 PM
i just wonder if you could find a donor car. i don't know if you putting it together helps sell it. I wouldn't want it back together done unless its 100%, painted and ready for permanent reassembly.
I have been looking for a donor car. FINS has a 57 NYer that looks like it would work.
It does help if the car is together, when you try and sell it.
Nobody, (but me), will buy a car in pieces.
When I am putting this car back together, I am fixing things as I go. I am not just throwing it back together.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | 1961plymouthfury - 2018-05-03 2:51 PM
I like your little Texaco gas Station . I remember the clean system 3 additives in their fuel . When I worked for Texaco every Thursday it was .06 off the price of the premium but they do not that any more .
I bought that Texaco Station at an antique shop. There was only one thing wrong with it, it had a chevy sticker on the front.
But it came off with no problem.
I was an Amoco patron most of the time. Driving around in Mom and Dads 69 Buick Skylark.
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Expert
Posts: 2633
Location: Minor Hill, TN | I remember the Amoco stations also I also remember that clear premium unleaded fuel I ran that fuel in my '68 fury convertible that had a 383 under the hood. That motor ran good on that gas |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | 
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Location: Wild Wonderful |
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Location: Wild Wonderful | 
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Do I need to go through the tutorial again, or can I just send ya over to the other thread?
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | Welding it in.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | More pictures. Git-n-it-dun.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful |
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Veteran
Posts: 236
Location: Morgan Hill, CA | looking good. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I was getting ready to install the dash, when I saw these numbers on the side of it, so I
thought that I would take a picture of it. 149 is the Schedule, 017 is the Sequence.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1112
Location: Wild Wonderful | I found more numbers on the bottom side of the dash. The 5 might be for the Heater. 432 might be for the body style.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Wild Wonderful | 
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