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1958 Fireflite Convertible Moderators: big m Jump to page : 1 2 3 4 Now viewing page 2 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
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big m |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7807 Location: Williams California | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-10-25 1:19 PM I am surprised to see the level of still-in-paint metal here, right alongside totally wasted areas. I am accustomed to seeing a more uniform rust throughout. Cars from Seattle typically need the entire trunk pan and side drops replaced, as the rear window trough leaked and allowed water to just sit on the flat surface, the drops going gunnysack with the outer quarter skin from the wet debris that always accumulates in that "sump"-like pocket. I will need to hone my own rusty welding skills, but with this much metal still present, it will be more of a patch job than a build-it-out-of-nothing adventure. Those are always fun because you are building out into thin air with no straight lines for reference points. This should not be TOO bad. It's always so much more difficult dissecting and then repairing someone's former botch job. I've found metal so stretched that it took hours of shrinking to get back in place, all because someone didn't know what they were doing. Looks like you are digging right into it. ---John | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9670 Location: So. Cal | Looks like fun times are in store but its always great to be moving forward. | ||
ttotired |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 8443 Location: Perth Australia | So Doc With all this going on on your desosto, whats going on with the buzzard? | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Buzzard is on a skeleton budget, but still being worked on at the resto shop. They are doing paint prep. I had the chrome done for the car, and am being a slacker in getting the aluminum in for re-anodizing ... ... but that is just me being busy. Tonight I finished the cleanup of the DeSoto's trunk of all the patches and goo to reveal exactly what I need to cut out of the parts clip. The right side forward body mount was rusty, so our intrepid repair guys of yore pounded some very thin tin over the contours and tacked it in place as shown below. I jumped back over to the clip and got to chipping away at the undercoating inside the wheel tub. I will get it clean and remove it next. I think my best strategy is to rebuild the wheel tub first, using the flimsy, but still there, surrounding metal as a reference point. Once in place, I can move backward with the vertical piece that brings the trunk pan down to meet the quarter skin. Basically by moving my reference point back a piece at a time, then I can remove the rear box rail to fab that in, THEN go forward on the driver's side. Too easy, right ? (trunk patch body mount r 1.jpg) (trunk patch body mount r 2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- trunk patch body mount r 1.jpg (58KB - 653 downloads) trunk patch body mount r 2.jpg (55KB - 587 downloads) | ||
henricthornsund |
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Location: Sweden | This thread is highly enjoyable, glad you started it Doc. Body repair pics are always interesting and educational. | ||
firedome |
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Expert Posts: 3155 Location: NY & VT | Nice to see the '58 moving forward again! Looks to be almost on a par with John's '59 Plym in magnitude of work required - ie: more than I'd ever attempt. Living these days only an hour S of Syracuse, this this kind of "metal art" kludge was routinely performed on poorly rustproofed late '50s cars after only a couple years of NY winters.. Our '63 Ford wagon was beginning to rust around the lower edges even before Dad gave it to me in '68, and that was in moderate weather Baltimore... upstate NY has salt on the road 5-6 months of the year! Edited by firedome 2013-10-26 11:51 AM | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I write this like I would like to read it. That is, if I did not know squat about body work, I might be able to get a handle on some of the nuances or develop the courage to try it. So, it is about sharing knowledge in an easy-to-understand way to help out others who might face similar challenges. And yes, Firedome, this one is going to be a challenge. And if this looks interesting, keep in mind that before it went into mothballs, it was chopped into separate parts, with the entire center section of the car between the rear clip and cowl missing .... That work is already done. It is my plan to button the body back together, then take it off the frame, make the frame and chassis all purty, do the transmission and engine mods, and then drop the body back on and finish the paint and interior. Since the car was mechanically restored in 1995, much of this work is simple cleanup and transfer. But like I said to Fenix backchannel a couple days ago, I enjoy the journey WAY more than the destination in life, and while most people probably stress out over a car so shredded, I love this part of the restoration and ownership. It is my perpetual "barn find" and I enjoy it, whether is it sitting there collecting dust or getting worked on, or being driven. It is a mess, but it is MY mess !!! | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Got back on the project for a couple hours tonight. I am dismantling the parts clip to create/separate out the various pieces I will need to patch in. The most complicated part to avoid fabricating is the rear box rail. I am unsure at this point if the 59 piece is the same as the 58, but given the many long, compound curves, even if not identical, I may be able to chop it up to make it right ??? So, the objective is to take the rear clip apart in the various pieces it was originally built from. First up was the right side trunk floor "drop". I'll let the photos explain which piece I am talking about. It probably would have been easier to remove if I had pulled the wheel tub first, but I discovered this late into the process. Since I want to be welding this in from the top, I was forced to drill the welds on the flipped over clip from below - a real PITA. For such a small piece, these are REALLY welded in place, and have some welds that are impossible to get at with the wedge (to break), and as it forms part of the box rail end, has welds in some unexpected places (not the usual in-a-line lap type welds). I use a bright light, shown across the weld surface area, to help spot them (dimples or bumps) for drilling. Shots 2 and 3 show the weld dimples and the same drilled out. Shot 4 shows the end of the box rail where those same welds tied the two together. With that side drop piece removed, it was time to remove the wheel tub. The last shot shows the welds drilled out and the tub separated from the pan. There are some welds in the rear seat area that I will need to prop the clip up in order to safely access, so I called it a night and I'll do that next. Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2013-10-28 9:16 AM (trunk at a distance.jpg) (trunk side drop r 1.jpg) (trunk side drop r 2.jpg) (trunk side drop r 3.jpg) (trunk side drop 4.jpg) (wheel tub r 1.jpg) Attachments ---------------- trunk at a distance.jpg (46KB - 634 downloads) trunk side drop r 1.jpg (63KB - 594 downloads) trunk side drop r 2.jpg (58KB - 600 downloads) trunk side drop r 3.jpg (51KB - 627 downloads) trunk side drop 4.jpg (37KB - 602 downloads) wheel tub r 1.jpg (48KB - 656 downloads) | ||
earleebob |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1120 Location: Brisbane, Australia | That is a classic photo Doc! (trunk at a distance[1].jpg) Attachments ---------------- trunk at a distance[1].jpg (46KB - 616 downloads) | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | For years, that has been my DAILY "barn find". I am not joking when I say I like them in "as found" condition as much or more than all finished and pretty. Something about "barn fresh" that is really thrilling. | ||
Chrys 68 |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 673 Location: Malung, SWEDEN | I think you need to see a doctor......:) | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I AM the doctor ! .... and I have a dealership award to prove it ! (dealer award.jpg) Attachments ---------------- dealer award.jpg (52KB - 632 downloads) | ||
hemidenis |
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Expert Posts: 3887 Location: Northen Virginia | Doc, if you keep taking spot welds out of that rear clip, you are going to need this machine. (doc.jpg) Attachments ---------------- doc.jpg (90KB - 629 downloads) | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | WOW !!!!! THAT is something I have never seen before ! Kinda scary looking, isn't it ? If you could send one right over, maybe I can get through this body rebuild faster. Please include that nicely open and well lit shop while you're at it ! A big pile of shiny new sheetmetal for the project would be nice too. | ||
hemidenis |
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Expert Posts: 3887 Location: Northen Virginia | Sorry doc i have this machine only for 61, I think your machine model was gone by 61 even maybe for 59.... | ||
firedome |
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Expert Posts: 3155 Location: NY & VT | Saw a later version of this machine in operation circa 1978 when I took my son with a Boy Scout group to the GM/Broening Highway Baltimore Assy'y plant (since closed) when they were building Grand Prix Pontiacs/Malibus there.. this contraption puts out quite a spectacular show of sparks!! Another thing that impressed me was that they were still using hot lead, applied by hand from a bucket, to fill body seams such as the roof/body C-pillar joint... bet they don''t do that anymore!! | ||
The Chrysler Kid |
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Expert Posts: 1384 Location: Ocala, Florida | Really cool to see a car that rare sitting in a barn that isnt in Sweden. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think that myself. I have taken a lot of sh!t over letting that car sit, but you know, it is there, it is mine, and I love it. ..... and it isn't gone overseas or to the crusher. It is still in a barn in America, in my favorite setting (barn fresh). What could possibly be better ? Life is about the journey, not the destination. Would I like it done ? Sure. Is it great just puttering on it too ? You bet ! | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Had a few more hours free to fiddle with the project. I propped the rear clip up on its end and accessed the rear seat area to get the wheel tub free from the interior quarter metal. As this piece is also needed for rust repair, I had to painstakingly cut way the rear window channel metal to access the welds for drilling. Outside of a few small kinks created while popping the welds, I got the tub free without too much destruction. (wheel tub r 2.jpg) (wheel tub r 3.jpg) (wheel tub r 4.jpg) (wheel tub r 5.jpg) Attachments ---------------- wheel tub r 2.jpg (54KB - 630 downloads) wheel tub r 3.jpg (52KB - 622 downloads) wheel tub r 4.jpg (53KB - 617 downloads) wheel tub r 5.jpg (56KB - 614 downloads) | ||
The Chrysler Kid |
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Expert Posts: 1384 Location: Ocala, Florida | It's a really cool car to see in any condition! They made about 470 right? | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | 474, to be exact. | ||
The Chrysler Kid |
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Expert Posts: 1384 Location: Ocala, Florida | Thanks! | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Tonight I cut the outer skin off the left side of the parts clip and removed the wheel tub to get this thing broken down for the parts I need. Next I will drill out the seam where the floor pan mates up with the trunk pan/hump and get this into two pieces. The priority is getting the rear box rail separated out from the surrounding metal, as this is an essential piece for the body rebuild. Getting close. (wheel tub l 1.jpg) (wheel tub l 2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- wheel tub l 1.jpg (63KB - 617 downloads) wheel tub l 2.jpg (56KB - 628 downloads) | ||
firedome |
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Expert Posts: 3155 Location: NY & VT | What has kept me from doing this extent of body repair is alignment precision... so much like door gaps and panel fits and water-tightness and rattles and glass fit and, and, on & on depends on getting everything just right - easy in the original factory with precision jigs, but certainly an intimidating level of difficulty facing the home-brew repairer, at least to me. Even though it's all just metal, it's how it's put together that's ultimately so critical to so many things. Edited by firedome 2013-11-04 10:11 AM | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Drilling out these welds, one gets a real hands-on idea of how much slop they allowed for in panel alignment. It is terrible ! However, to be fair, I don't know if it made much difference at the "performance" level you describe and wasn't engineered into it. But the overlaps and reveals are grossly inconsistent side-to-side, and even along same seams. Basically, using the mounted body on the frame as a reference point, I will cut the lower part of the wheel tub out of the car at a level determined by rust and not wanting to take more out than I need to. Since the wheel tubs are different on convertibles from about 5" up from the bottom, that line will be somewhere in the 4-5 inch range. I will do this in sections, the rear curve being the starting point. This allows me to use the trunk floor just aft as another reference point in locating the new metal. Once this piece is in place, IT becomes the reference point from which the repaired trunk floor drops are now located between the wheel tub and the rear box rail (still mounted to the frame). I will jump across to verify this work is done correctly on the other side, and THEN go about removing the rear box rail and replacing/grafting the new one in, to tie those side drops back in place and make the rear clip assembly whole again. Only when the assembly is welded back together will it be cut loose from the frame mounts to allow flex (which won't happen because it is already welded). Panel alignment such as door reveals can be dealt with as you go. My NY'er/Adventurer project had a terrible drivers door that was OK at the top, but overlapped the quarter at the bottom, chipping the paint. It also had issues of being even with the quarter up high, but hung way out (gap) at the bottom. To remedy, I took the quarter skin loose from the rocker and cut a wedge slice northbound just behind the door jam. Mr. Sluggo persuaded the door jam forward to open that bottom gap and the slice allowed the top to be pushed back just enough for an even reveal top-to-bottom. I used a screw to set the in- and-out profile of the quarter skin, and welded it all back into place as it should have been. It is rough work, but once one gets their head around the idea of sledgehammers and doing "rough work", it isn't so bad. Working on a closed car is 100x easier than a ragtop, because the roof holds the body in place. But even this isn't impossible. You just gotta look at it as "it's just metal" and beat it to where you want it. Ugly as it may be, it is about my favorite part of doing a restoration. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I set aside the whole evening to separate the trunk pan from the floor pan and forward area ... finally ! But the #@! shop has become so congested with "stuff" during this project that I got distracted putting stuff away and cleaning up and next thing I know, it's 2130 ! Tomorrow night is spoken for, so maybe Sunday ? | ||
60 Imp |
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Location: North Australia | Hey Doc, thought you might get a kicout of this, Been looking again at the postcard thread and saw this. Note the date. Steve. Doctor DeSoto Posted 2008-12-17 12:40 AM (#155789 - in reply to #155501) Subject: Re: Forwardlooks in old pictures/postcards Quote Reply Alert Offline 5000500050001000500100100252525 Location: Parts Unknown suburban61 - 2008-12-16 3:06 AM Doctor DeSoto - 2008-12-06 2:26 PM Is it just me, of does the mismatched body panel just scream "white trash" and any and all measures should be taken immediately to get that hood painted to match ? I do not feel this way so strongly about non-finned cars, but it really bugs me to see a finned car with missing wheel covers, dirty, dented up, or with the off-color door, etc. I see the period and the style as being such a pinnacle, or purity of style, that it just needs to be in good representative form of it looks bad. 1920's or 1940's styling, not such a big deal. Googie stuff ? Just doesn't adapt well. I sure do enjoy this thread. gees Doc DeS, you'd simply tear your hair out at the sight of my wagon at the moment then... lol.... ********************************* I trust you are making "every effort" to make that old tub look spiffy, right ? Remember, I am the guy with his car in bare metal, sans nose clip, the interior piled with parts .... It is supposed to hit 17 below zero tonight. We wrapped up the dirt work for the shop about 2 hours before the snow started falling. I really wanted to be working in the new shop this winter, but it just wasn't to be. When spring comes it will be full speed ahead ! Next winter will be spent warm and indoors, welding and fabbing the last of the metal. I want to paint the DeSoto the following summer (if not sooner) .... no more mismatched body panels ! ----- " Duty above all else except Honor " | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Uh, yeah .... I guess this is a case of where the best laid plans go straight to hell, eh ? Life got in the way ? Well, at least it is moving forward now ! | ||
60 Imp |
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Location: North Australia | It's a marathon, not a sprint! One rusty hole and spot weld at a time. Steve. | ||
57Kelii |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 692 Location: Los Angeles, California | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-10-23 12:53 AM If this were a Firedome, I would not hesitate running the dog dishies. It truly would be unique. I don't know of a single example of a 57-61 DeSoto running doggies today, let alone a big body, or a convertible ! But a Fireflite just would be wrong with dog dishies as an original appearing upline car. It will boil down to wires or custom wheels and those spinners. You forget Nick Nichols collection? I've been eyeing that Desoto of his for about two years now. It has doggies... http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s579/57Kelii/1959%20Desoto/100_... Edited by 57Kelii 2013-11-09 6:25 AM | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | 57Kelii - 2013-11-10 3:23 AM You forget Nick Nichols collection? I've been eyeing that Desoto of his for about two years now. It has doggies... http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s579/57Kelii/1959%20Desoto/100_... ==================================================== It's not that I "forgot" Nick's stuff (he has a rough original 58 Adventurer coupe), but this is a 59 And it is a mystery 59 with no model emblems, but Fireflite "warts" glued on the rear quarters and a sexy brown paint job. I don't track 59's. Hate 'em, don't want to see them, just don't like 'em. Hate the blunted nose, hate the fins and rear end even more. Hate the idiot light dash. The only thing I like about 59's is the cool hood latch door. Unfortunately it was used on the ugliest DeSoto from the Forward Look era. Did I mention I don't like them ? | ||
57Kelii |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 692 Location: Los Angeles, California | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-11-09 12:18 PM 57Kelii - 2013-11-10 3:23 AM You forget Nick Nichols collection? I've been eyeing that Desoto of his for about two years now. It has doggies... http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s579/57Kelii/1959%20Desoto/100_... ==================================================== It's not that I "forgot" Nick's stuff (he has a rough original 58 Adventurer coupe), but this is a 59 And it is a mystery 59 with no model emblems, but Fireflite "warts" glued on the rear quarters and a sexy brown paint job. I don't track 59's. Hate 'em, don't want to see them, just don't like 'em. Hate the blunted nose, hate the fins and rear end even more. Hate the idiot light dash. The only thing I like about 59's is the cool hood latch door. Unfortunately it was used on the ugliest DeSoto from the Forward Look era. Did I mention I don't like them ? I know they aren't very pretty. It's a Firesweep (no front emblem) and someone decided to add some fireflite circles to the rear of the fin. I like it a bit because it's a ugly ducking, least amount of chrome so you can see the shape of the body. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | If I did not think the 57-58 DeSoto was THE best looking post war car ever built, I prolly would not be so prejudiced against the 59. But as it worked out, they just botched the F#K out of the something great. My pea brain just can't accept what they did. Those dog dishies would sure look great on a 57 Firedome like this: (CAKernvilleCozyCorner.jpg) Attachments ---------------- CAKernvilleCozyCorner.jpg (80KB - 618 downloads) | ||
57Kelii |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 692 Location: Los Angeles, California | I can't be as lucky as you Doc, find any 57-60 Desoto (or finding any under 10 k) is a bit of work, finding a coupe is really hard. That article that I showed you in the past was the perfect car...right around where I live, a coupe, perfect, just the owner wouldn't sell. Guess I'll just have to keep on the hunt! (and sell my Studebaker soon I hope) | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Or get your goose built up to just pay 10K for the car you want ! These DO come up for sale, and with every passing year they get a little harder to find and a little more expensive. The time to take action is now. Make the commitment, kick some ass, take some names, and sock that money away to where you are large and in charge when that car you really want comes available ! You CAN do this. If a schmuck like me can do it, anyone can ! Just make up your mind this is going to happen and do what it takes to make it so. Make the Gunny proud. | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9670 Location: So. Cal | I agree completely. Figure out what you want and can reasonably afford & at what level you can fix things on it, then go for it. But Doc, you missed a nice feature from 1959 - swivel seats. Although at the time, that feature was quirky at best; they are definitely cool now. But what is this hood latch door you are referring to? I haven't heard of that. Edited by Powerflite 2013-11-11 1:39 PM | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I would stress to anyone that to be successful in getting the car you want (versus settling for what you can find/afford) is to turn away from the cars and focus on the self improvement needed to make the kind of money that will put your ass in the seat of the car you want, rather than pissing away a lifetime wishing for something that is out of reach. Where's the fun in that ? Yeah, 59 got a few goodies like cruise control and swivels that I dig. I have a set of 59 power swivels hanging in my rafters that *might* go in the DeSoto, but since it has power seat already, I an undecided on that. I prefer the slimmer look of the swivels, for sure. The 59 DeSoto and Chrysler got this groovy little spring-hinged door that pushes out of the way to access the hood release. Swivels and cruise are nifty add-ons, but this door is an integral part of the body of every car, and IMO, the best thing about them. | ||
jimntempe |
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Expert Posts: 2312 Location: Arizona | Everyone should max out at least one car along the way - by that I mean add every extra doodad possible, like converting manual windows to power, converting to power seats, adding the automatic day/night mirror, putting on the remote mirrors, adding the cruise control (to a car that won't see 1500 miles in a year), etc, etc, and get it out of their system. Then they can have the added pleasure of fixing all that extra stuff when something goes haywire. Did that the first time thru. Now I'm perfectly content to have plain roll up windows and manual locks and non-tilt wheel, etc. All I ask for now is PS, PB, AT, and AC as long as the car itself is the one I WANT. I wouldn't turn down all those nifty extras if they came with the car, no siree, but I'm over needing to have or add them... been there, done that. | ||
57Kelii |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 692 Location: Los Angeles, California | Doctor DeSoto - 2013-11-12 1:29 PM I would stress to anyone that to be successful in getting the car you want (versus settling for what you can find/afford) is to turn away from the cars and focus on the self improvement needed to make the kind of money that will put your ass in the seat of the car you want, rather than pissing away a lifetime wishing for something that is out of reach. Where's the fun in that ? Yeah, 59 got a few goodies like cruise control and swivels that I dig. I have a set of 59 power swivels hanging in my rafters that *might* go in the DeSoto, but since it has power seat already, I an undecided on that. I prefer the slimmer look of the swivels, for sure. The 59 DeSoto and Chrysler got this groovy little spring-hinged door that pushes out of the way to access the hood release. Swivels and cruise are nifty add-ons, but this door is an integral part of the body of every car, and IMO, the best thing about them. Cruise was offered on '58 Chryslers and Imperials, as it was on 59, I'm not so sure about Desoto? You don't hear much talk about all those goodie options on cars, but then again, most cars didn't have them. Cruise control is honestly only good for low traffic freeways and long trips across the country | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Most of these goodies aren't worth a sh!t beyond the "OMG!" factor of having them. I mean, really .... a Highway Hi-Fi ? Steering wheel clock ? Traffic light viewer ? Certified speedo ? Power windows are my personal "favorite" option. Highly functional and well used. I had swivels in my 60 DeSoto and used them, but it wasn't any big advantage over a standard seat. Rear antennas are mandatory, as are twin mirrors, and proper Super Cushion whitewalls for appearance. None of which are that functional. The car would go down the road quite well without them. I just want "that look". Same for the first mentioned stuff. Most people have never seen a car like mine, and likely will never see another. They peer inside and see that traffic light viewer (the most commonly asked about widget on the car) and scratch their heads. Isn't that half the point of driving an old car like ours ? | ||
christine-lover |
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Expert Posts: 2996 Location: Sept. 1958 | I had a traffic light viewer in my Edsel Conv. It was good to have because of the windshield design. These FLs have that beautiful bubble (most) windshield and its higher. Does a traffic light viewer help anymore on these cars? | ||
The Chrysler Kid |
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Expert Posts: 1384 Location: Ocala, Florida | Does a highway hifi really work? Does it skip when you hit a bump? Or are they just supposed to be used while parked? Sorry for all the questions. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | One must remember that until the 70's, there were lots of street lights on the CLOSE side of the intersection, whereas today it is mandated they be located at the far side of the intersection. But with them on the close side, the driver of a car in the "pole position" could not see the light. This was especially true of early 50's cars with visors. In fact, most traffic light viewers were sold on those cars. I find the TLV works great for creating puzzled looks and questions from clueless types. The Hi-Fi worked reasonably well when going down the road. The primary downfall of the idea was RCA's failure to follow through with providing new release/contemporary music for them. The library of records is very limited. The later units played 45 rpm singles. I've never had any interest in these, but presume they worked as well for tracking as the 16 rpm units. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I had the chance to toss a few more hours at the project a couple nights back, but have been too busy to post the pix. I began by drilling out the spot welds in the seam that connects the floor pan with the trunk pan and separating the two. I hung the front part from the rafters to get it out of my way and continued on getting the trunk pan cleaned of all its excess metal. The rear box rail needed to be drilled out and separated from the bumper backing panel. With this backing panel removed, all I have left is the side drop and it is ready to be chopped, repaired and used in the 58. (trunk pan rplmt 1.jpg) (trunk pan rplmt 2.jpg) (trunk pan rplmt 3.jpg) (trunk pan rplmt 4.jpg) (trunk pan rplmt 5.jpg) (trunk pan rplmt 6.jpg) (trunk pan rplmt 7.jpg) (trunk pan rplmt 8.jpg) Attachments ---------------- trunk pan rplmt 1.jpg (51KB - 634 downloads) trunk pan rplmt 2.jpg (53KB - 587 downloads) trunk pan rplmt 3.jpg (61KB - 611 downloads) trunk pan rplmt 4.jpg (57KB - 632 downloads) trunk pan rplmt 5.jpg (57KB - 584 downloads) trunk pan rplmt 6.jpg (53KB - 648 downloads) trunk pan rplmt 7.jpg (56KB - 627 downloads) trunk pan rplmt 8.jpg (58KB - 629 downloads) | ||
57Kelii |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 692 Location: Los Angeles, California | That much closer keep up the good work | ||
hemidenis |
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Expert Posts: 3887 Location: Northen Virginia | oh my god Doc I was not kidding: I don't have the Frankenstein machine to positioning all this back for re-weld it", I repeat I was kidding I don't have the 1961 either | ||
firedome |
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Expert Posts: 3155 Location: NY & VT | I agree with Doc that if you want a specific car you better to go for it, or you will forever regret it, but just don't do as I did circa 1985, and hold out for a '58 Adventurer convert... unless you are Warren Buffet, or a facsimile thereof, it's just not gonna happen! | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Roger, Did you ever catch wind of the Adventurer convertible in the wrecking yard in Virginia ? | ||
firedome |
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Expert Posts: 3155 Location: NY & VT | Holy moly, when was that?? Cripes I lived in MD from 1950 to 1998, and would have turned over heaven and earth for one in VA, got a 58 Royal in S VA around then... but my contacts and networks weren't good back then, mostly WPC, OCW, Hemmings, some word of mouth, huge Mopar guys like Don Rook in PA (got 62 Polara 500 convert from him, and he had loads of 300 letter cars) and Ron Wenger also in PA, who sourced my 300 convert and bought my 58 NYer (it may have gone from him straight to Sweden)... Ohhh... can't believe I was maybe that close to my ultimate car.. please tell me it was an unrestorable, rusted out, missing 50% parts, junk heap that needed to be and was scrapped! (after useable parts removed of course). Edited by firedome 2013-11-15 10:57 AM | ||
57burb |
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Expert Posts: 3967 Location: DFW, TX | Hey Doc, posted this screen grab in the random pics thread. Thought you would see it (and enjoy it) here as well. A '58 Desoto convertible - a Firesweep, with dog dishes, and in your favorite colors! What an odd duck. (58_sweep_convertible_nbc_los_angeles.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 58_sweep_convertible_nbc_los_angeles.jpg (40KB - 614 downloads) | ||
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