The Forward Look Network
The Forward Look Network
Search | Statistics | User Listing Forums | Chat | eBay | Calendars | Albums | Skins | Language
You are logged in as a guest. ( logon | register )

1956 Desoto
Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page]
View previous thread :: View next thread
   Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General DiscussionMessage format
 
Sportsman
Posted 2010-03-17 11:57 AM (#214336)
Subject: 1956 Desoto



Veteran

Posts: 163
1002525
Location: SW MO
This is the '56 DeS I pulled out of the woods along with the D-500 mentioned elsewhere. It's a Fireflite Sportsman 2-door hardtop, and still has the original 330 Hemi and 2-speed auto. It is mostly complete missing some trim, intake, carb, air cleaner, radiator and a few trim pieces. It ain't goona win Pebble Beach either, but definitely worth saving. Nicely optioned with power windows, power seats, power brakes, and (I think it's called Signal Seeker ?) radio. A true gentleman's hot rod of it's day. I'm undecided about the color combo, Frost White over Metallic Lavender. Maybe it'll grow on me a little. I can't even describe the interior color, it almost looks pink, and is in poor condition. The motor has a very peculiar twisted rod, but I think it's saveable. I'll autopsy it completely as time permits. The pix don't really do the car justice. Parked in 1962. Amazingly, there were 2 tires still on the car from when it was parked. One had the bead broken but the other actually held air (at least the tube did) long enough to get it on the trailer.

Edited by Sportsman 2010-03-17 12:05 PM




(MVC-001F.JPG)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments MVC-001F.JPG (72KB - 130 downloads)
Top of the page Bottom of the page
1956DeS
Posted 2010-03-17 6:13 PM (#214397 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto


Elite Veteran

Posts: 774
5001001002525
Location: Atlanta GA USA
Marty, It is a nice virtually complete car. I just acquired a similar one. I'll be happy to share any knowledge I can so keep in touch. Lots of parts on ebay right now, but some are over priced. Be patient, the parts are out there for reasonable prices.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
d500neil
Posted 2010-03-17 6:16 PM (#214398 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto



Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca
Does it appear that the Sport Tone insert-area received the 2-tone treatment?

NICE score.



Top of the page Bottom of the page
1956DeS
Posted 2010-03-17 6:16 PM (#214399 - in reply to #214397)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto


Elite Veteran

Posts: 774
5001001002525
Location: Atlanta GA USA
Picture taken the day it arrived. Looks awful but should clean up fairly well.



(37.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments 37.jpg (5KB - 120 downloads)
Top of the page Bottom of the page
1956DeS
Posted 2010-03-17 6:20 PM (#214400 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto


Elite Veteran

Posts: 774
5001001002525
Location: Atlanta GA USA
The roof appears to be white, so the sweep should also be that color. Can you read the cowl tag? I haven't found mine yet, heh.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Sportsman
Posted 2010-03-17 7:44 PM (#214415 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto



Veteran

Posts: 163
1002525
Location: SW MO
Hey, I really like the "negative" paint scheme on your car, dark sweep and roof, light body color. That's gonna be a looker. I might consider something like that if change the scheme.

I tried to research the car a little before I got it as I did receive one distant cell phone pic of the car before I went to look at the collection. I was pretty sure it was a solid body color then, but only managed to find one pic of a 4-door Seville that had a single body color, and that was in a factory advertisement I saw on line. I've not seen a Sportsman in a single body color, but I'm not clainimg to be an expert on these either. Anyway after looking at the car in person, I'm 99% sure that it's a solid lower body color, and the roof in definitely white. I had difficulty even determining the color the first time I looked at it because it looks almost like a light sand color. The cloud cover for some reason really brings out the lavender color. It was only until I loaded the picture off the camera and saw it on the monitor was I convinced it was lavender.

Somebody tip me on the location of the body tag. I thought it was bolted to the upper cowl near the LH hood hinge. I see a bolt there but no signs of a tag even being there. I checked the S/N against the title, which was signed over in '63. The car was last registered in '62 and has MO plates on it.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
1956DeS
Posted 2010-03-17 7:59 PM (#214421 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto


Elite Veteran

Posts: 774
5001001002525
Location: Atlanta GA USA
Body tag/cowl tag is somewhere on the firewall, may be between the brake booster and the engine.
Someone commented that the darker roofs made the cars look lower. My all time favorite would be black with white, or possibly solid black. Next would be white with black.
I'm wondering why this car was parked so early in its life. Can you read the odometer? Some of them had choke problems when the heat pickup tube inside the exhaust manifold went bad. Mine has been converted to a manual choke...on a modern Edelbrock 4bbl.
BTW, check the underside for a ball and trunion boot on the front of the drive shaft. There is a guy on ebay selling reproductions or you can use a cv boot from an '01 Neon, I'm told.
Good luck on your restoration and I hope to see the finished product in all its glory.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Sportsman
Posted 2010-03-17 10:19 PM (#214450 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto



Veteran

Posts: 163
1002525
Location: SW MO
The reason it was parked was because the #4 rod is bent. What's peculiar is that it's twisted perpendiduclar the to web of the beam, as if someone grabbed the piston and the big end of the rod and put a 90-degree twist on it just like a pretzel. It's not broken from what I can tell. I've been re-building engine of all kinds for a long time and have not seen a rod with this type of failure. Not sure yet how it happened. I'll get the mileage and a couple shots of the tags tomorrow.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2010-03-18 12:03 AM (#214469 - in reply to #214450)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
One of the 1st Gen FL's finest. I would be thrilled with that color combo. The OEM interior to match it was breathtaking.

Of all the FL cars I have owned or known well, the 330/341 DeSoto Hemi's were the most troublesome for overheating
and throwing rods. Not sure why, but I can think of more of those that were broken than all other FL era engines that
chronically acted up put together.

I once owned a black and gold Adventurer and a Fireflite like yours in white with magenta roof and sweep. The Fireflite
was totally loaded, ... even had leather and A/C.

These are really stunning cars.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
MOPAR-TO-YA
Posted 2010-03-18 1:58 AM (#214487 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: RE: 1956 Desoto


Expert 5K+

Posts: 5139
500010025
Location: cornpatch county, Southwest IOA
Look for that body tag on the splash-pan -in front of the radiator on the drivers side. That is where my 56 Chrysler's was , and they are nearly the same body....................MO
Top of the page Bottom of the page
DeSotohead
Posted 2010-03-18 7:03 PM (#214558 - in reply to #214469)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto



Board Moderator

Posts: 3186
20001000100252525
Location: The not-so-great, dirty-white North ( Michigan)
Doctor DeSoto - 2010-03-18 12:03 AM

One of the 1st Gen FL's finest. I would be thrilled with that color combo. The OEM interior to match it was breathtaking.

Of all the FL cars I have owned or known well, the 330/341 DeSoto Hemi's were the most troublesome for overheating
and throwing rods. Not sure why, but I can think of more of those that were broken than all other FL era engines that
chronically acted up put together.

I once owned a black and gold Adventurer and a Fireflite like yours in white with magenta roof and sweep. The Fireflite
was totally loaded, ... even had leather and A/C.

These are really stunning cars.


Doc...I think it had to do with that 3.8 inch stroke and a Powerflite that had a harsh downshift.
Nothing like that to stretch a rod, and if the rod bolts weren't torqued tight, then LOOK OUT!

BTW, I also heard the 315/325 Dodges had a similar issue due to stroke, but the rods were lighter, as well as lighter pistons, so not as pronounced!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Sportsman
Posted 2010-03-19 10:13 PM (#214784 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: RE: 1956 Desoto



Veteran

Posts: 163
1002525
Location: SW MO
I had some spare time today so I went over and checked out the DeS for a few minutes. I found the trim tag just south of the brake booster. I'll have to pull it to read all of it but her's what I got - Model (?)P, Paint 413, Trim 561, Body 1384. Any info anybody can add is appreciated. I'm hoping to at least confirm this was a solid lower body color

I'm not very knowledable about the options and trim levels on these cars. I couldn't get a shot of the sets today but, the preimeter of the seats in what appeats to be white of cream leather with a rose (possibly pink but I'm call it rose) fabric insert. Was this the standard seat pattern format in the Sportsman.

I forgot to look at the mileage. At first I had a little bit of buyer's remorse, but after getting to spend a little more time with the car I'm pretty pleased with it and the pix make it look a lot worse that it does in person. Opportunity knocked and I took a chance as the risk was pretty low. I pleased that I have the opportunity to save a couple of these great early FL cars, even though there are a lot of easier ways to own and enjoy one.

The very last pic is a cross-section of the RH door showint the upper body color, the accent color, and the lower body color. While it may not be apparent in the photo that are one and the same color.

A few random pics. Comment as you see fit.



Edited by Sportsman 2010-03-19 10:19 PM




(MVC-032F.JPG)



(MVC-009F.JPG)



(MVC-012F.JPG)



(MVC-013F.JPG)



(MVC-014F.JPG)



(MVC-015F.JPG)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments MVC-032F.JPG (75KB - 112 downloads)
Attachments MVC-009F.JPG (66KB - 107 downloads)
Attachments MVC-012F.JPG (54KB - 115 downloads)
Attachments MVC-013F.JPG (46KB - 103 downloads)
Attachments MVC-014F.JPG (52KB - 115 downloads)
Attachments MVC-015F.JPG (39KB - 123 downloads)
Top of the page Bottom of the page
1956DeS
Posted 2010-03-20 7:08 PM (#214946 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto


Elite Veteran

Posts: 774
5001001002525
Location: Atlanta GA USA
Looks like all you really need is a 4bbl intake and a good Edelbrock 1405. Distributors are no problem and there was recently a gen/ps unit on ebay. There'll be others. The fun part is driving it.

FWIW, as hard as I tried, I could not tear up mom's firedome. Maybe the 2bbl engine wasn't strong enough to hurt itself.

Edited by 1956DeS 2010-03-20 7:10 PM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
1956DeS
Posted 2010-03-20 7:13 PM (#214947 - in reply to #214946)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto


Elite Veteran

Posts: 774
5001001002525
Location: Atlanta GA USA
Here's a firedome body tag for reference. See the decoding section for some help in decoding these things.



(56BT.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments 56BT.jpg (23KB - 114 downloads)
Top of the page Bottom of the page
CustomRoyal
Posted 2010-03-20 10:18 PM (#214970 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: RE: 1956 Desoto


Extreme Veteran

Posts: 322
100100100
Hi
Paint code 413 is Iridescent Lavender with a gray sweep and roof. I have a 56 Desoto color and upholstery book. Your seats have white vinyl or leather with a pink/ mauve cloth with silver thread.
Jim
Top of the page Bottom of the page
floyd066
Posted 2010-03-20 11:58 PM (#214987 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: RE: 1956 Desoto



Extreme Veteran

Posts: 347
10010010025
Location: Ocean Park, Washington
That looks like a great project. How much did it cost? I have a 56 Chrysler Windsor with the 331 poly. I wish it did have the 354 hemi but I have upgraded the poly with porting and a new cam and new small internals. My car is the first one in the recent albums section. My floors in front are bad. Lower rear quarters are bondoed with a 1 by 2 piece of wood behind the right rear quarter. It looks good from the outside but needs to be replaced.
Let me know if you have questions about the tear down. I have alot of pics of mine.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Sportsman
Posted 2010-03-21 1:10 AM (#214990 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto



Veteran

Posts: 163
1002525
Location: SW MO
Thanks CustomRoyal. I just figured out how to interpret the paint code combination numbers. I had a '56 DeS color bulletin. Is it safe to make the assumption that the Upper Color (U) is always the same on the "Sweep" and the roof ? Looking at the roof, it is clearly white in color. I suppose the "Sweep" could be Iridescent Gray (it sure looks the same color as the body) but you can tell by looking that the roof and the "Sweep" are obviously not the same color. Maybe when I start pulling all of the trim off, it will yield some clues.

I'm pretty sure the seat material is leather. At first it just looked like crusty vinyl, but on further review I'm pretty sure it's leather. Vinyl probably would not have held up very well and these panels are not deteriorated at all. The fabric is probably pink, but I was hoping maybe just a faded darker rose or other more manly color.

Floors and rockers and sheetmetal repair has to be pretty much expected on these cars, expecially if they have been sitting for a while. It's fairly easy and cheap to do if you can do you own work. That part of it doesn't faze me in the least way. The hardest part of a project like this is writing the check for the chrome bill. As far as cost question goes - I paid $650 for the car.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
MOPAR-TO-YA
Posted 2010-03-21 2:02 AM (#214994 - in reply to #214970)
Subject: RE: 1956 Desoto


Expert 5K+

Posts: 5139
500010025
Location: cornpatch county, Southwest IOA
CustomRoyal - 2010-03-20 9:18 PM

Hi
Paint code 413 is Iridescent Lavender with a gray sweep and roof. I have a 56 Desoto color and upholstery book. Your seats have white vinyl or leather with a pink/ mauve cloth with silver thread.
Jim
A few years ago, I looked at a 56 Desoto - don't know what modle it was, but very distictive > think it was some kind of lavender two tone and the stand out was the interior cloth seats. Very ornate material that looked like the covering on a high price sofa. He said the car was restored stock. Is there anything like that in your uphostery book?.....................MO
Top of the page Bottom of the page
CustomRoyal
Posted 2010-03-21 7:29 AM (#215009 - in reply to #214994)
Subject: RE: 1956 Desoto


Extreme Veteran

Posts: 322
100100100
Yes. Nice looking material. I can take a picture if someone here can reduce the size for posting it here.
Jim
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2010-03-21 2:58 PM (#215064 - in reply to #215009)
Subject: RE: 1956 Desoto



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
Not too terribly long ago, a pink and white Fireflite coupe was listed/posted in the eBay/Craigslist forum
that showed this fantastic interior. I did a quick search, but could not find it to do a link.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
1956DeS
Posted 2010-03-21 7:09 PM (#215095 - in reply to #215064)
Subject: RE: 1956 Desoto


Elite Veteran

Posts: 774
5001001002525
Location: Atlanta GA USA
Doctor DeSoto - 2010-03-21 2:58 PM

Not too terribly long ago, a pink and white Fireflite coupe was listed/posted in the eBay/Craigslist forum
that showed this fantastic interior. I did a quick search, but could not find it to do a link.


It is here:

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=28716&...
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2010-03-21 8:17 PM (#215101 - in reply to #215095)
Subject: RE: 1956 Desoto



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
Yeah, .... that's it !

That interior is about as good as it ever got in Googieville !

So, how did you find that link ? I did a search and got "no matches" response.


Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2010-03-21 8:17 PM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
1956DeS
Posted 2010-03-21 9:08 PM (#215114 - in reply to #215101)
Subject: RE: 1956 Desoto


Elite Veteran

Posts: 774
5001001002525
Location: Atlanta GA USA
Doctor DeSoto - 2010-03-21 8:17 PM

Yeah, .... that's it !

So, how did you find that link ? I did a search and got "no matches" response.


I went to the ebay/craigslist section and started looking....finally, on page 5, there it was.

Top of the page Bottom of the page
Sportsman
Posted 2010-03-21 9:10 PM (#215115 - in reply to #214336)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto



Veteran

Posts: 163
1002525
Location: SW MO
That is the exact same interior that is in my Sportsman. The car in the links looks a lot better, but the fabric color still doesn't do it for me.

Anybody got any comments of the 413 color code and the white roof ? I'm certain the car has not been repainted.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
1956DeS
Posted 2010-03-21 9:26 PM (#215123 - in reply to #215115)
Subject: Re: 1956 Desoto


Elite Veteran

Posts: 774
5001001002525
Location: Atlanta GA USA
Sportsman - 2010-03-21 9:10 PM

Anybody got any comments of the 413 color code and the white roof ? I'm certain the car has not been repainted.


You may end up having to write to Chrysler to solve this.

Top of the page Bottom of the page
Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page]
Jump to forum :
Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread

* * * This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated * * *


(Delete all cookies set by this site)