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 My DeSoto's progress in photos:Jump to page : 1 2 3 4 5 Now viewing page 4 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
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61sene |
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Member Posts: 43  Location: temperance, MI | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788    Location: USA - KY |  Thanks, guys! BTW the glass polishing went very well (whew!), and my car still has a front windshield. Yay! BRACE YERSELVES, all ye fellow Forward Look-ittes!...the day has FINALLY arrived - my car will be ready for pick up today! It is done-like-dinner! I'm going to fuss over a few little details and then post some photos (IF it ever stops raining, that is!). All y'all have been SO helpful during my car's resto! JT Vincent, your car sounds awesome! Lean and street-mean! Love it! My car is more of a drag queen...hahahahaha.   | ||
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| baker53 |
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Veteran Posts: 279 Location: Klein, TX | |||
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| ronbo97 |
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Expert Posts: 4042 Location: Connecticut | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY |  Thank you, folks! Here's a review!: I drove the car for a solid 120 miles yesterday, a lot of it on winding roads, and the car drove great; especially with the new, "old" rebuilt power steering and brakes systems. You really could steer that car using a pencil, just like they used to demonstrate in those old timey, Mopar car ads. The car had manual steering and brakes when I got it, so I appreciate these new improvements a lot. Even the new "deluxe" steering wheel feels nicer that the standard one that the car used to have. The radial tires are nifty too and give me at least the impression that the car is easier to handle...no more sliding in and out of grooves on the road. They are "Diamond Back" tires...a little more "rumbly" than I thought they would be, but still a great improvement over my car's former poly tires, IMHO. And the car still "floats" along, like a big boat, as it always has. You could hang meat in that car now, with the new Vintage Air AC. Wowza, that little under-dash unit works super well. I had it set on the lowest settings, and that was enough to cool the entire car, front and back. The new seats and arm rests are nice and firm; they used to be a bit too puffy and too soft for comfortable support during a long trip. I'll have to come up with something to deal with catching the occasional drips from the condensation that collects on one of the AC lines that runs under the dash, but otherwise the AC system is great! It is quiet too with the fan set at the lower speeds, which is all I think that I will ever need. I was a tad worried that the car might run hot with the new AC running - I found a 6-blade rad fan for the car, but decided to not install a rad shroud because it would've taken way too much jiggery-pokery to get one installed. My car also does not have a heavy duty rad, as did the cars that had factory installed AC. But, as per usual, that temp gauge needle did not move more than it's usual 1/8th of an inch away from the "COLD" side of the gauge, even after 120 miles of constant AC use, on a hot day, driving in a "spritely manner" (aka speeding). When I first bought the car, I thought that the temp gauge was not working, because that needle didn't seem to budge, but it was working just fine. I've heard that the '57 Mopars are difficult to overheat; I tend to believe it. The concerns: The car needs some electrical bugs worked out; the shop's electrical guy is working on it as we speak. I think the new alternator (disguised as an original generator) is giving us a little bit of grief. The windshield wiper motor is also a work in progress...isn't it always? We also need to get the emergency brake warning light hooked up, as well as getting the dash clock set and ticking again. I never could find a gas door spring, so I had to go the "decorative magnet" route for now. The doors don't have a perfect fit, like they used to, but methinks (mehopes) that the new, repro weather stripping will loose some of its puff in time, and will shrink back in a tad. At least that's my theory. I found the power steering system a tad noisy, a little like heavy breathing...and this time it WASN'T me. The new MP3/Ipod sound system works great - rear speakers, controls hidden in the ashtray. I was rockin' the tunes as I drove along, which was a treat as the car's original radio didn't work very well at all. It's kind of ironic that I spent so much time (and money) finding and installing that set of rear antennae, yet I have no plans to use the radio. The sidelights are quieter than they used to be, but wind noise is still a bit of a factor...but not really that bad now that the weather stripping has been reconditioned. The Dynamat in the doors, floor, and truck did make a noticeable difference reducing the road noise. The whole car feels more solid, and less rattle-prone. But it still drives like an old car, and smells like an old car (in a good way). It still has little pings and mini-rattles that come and go, mostly behind the dash somewhere. I caledl those noises "the rattle du jour" because they change every time I drove the car. I think that's all just part of the car's charm...just like the "bouncing speedometer once ya drive over 80mph. I stopped a couple of times during my trip, and folks stopped what they were doing and came over to see the car and to ask questions. Everyone liked the paint job, which was cool. Before I picked the car up, a fellow came over to the shop to polish/buff the car, using some kind of aerospace products on the paint, and on the tires and chrome too, that made the car extremely shiny and slick. I ran my hand over the black roof, and no handprint smudge was left behind. That was weird...that product is spooky, but it worked. After 120 miles, some of it in a light rain, the car was still clean and bug/dirt free...even the whitewalls...spooky. The rear view mirror and the side mirrors all stay in place now, and don't start to droop after a mile or two, like they use to. Bonus! The lights are much brighter than they used to be with the old generator, especially the rear lights, which makes me feel way better, and safer. I'll keep y'all posted...more reports as events warrant, and I'll post some photos...if the DARN rain ever stops...there's a tornado warning as I'm typing this...groan... Edited by FIN ME 2015-07-10 11:09 AM | ||
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| ronbo97 |
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Expert Posts: 4042 Location: Connecticut | |||
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| d500neil |
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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 | |||
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| imopar380 |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7207 Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | ' | ||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | TA DA! All done! (well...almost ) I finally got the time (and some dry weather), so I grabbed a few photos of my DeSoto wearing his new duds. The "Mist Green" paint on the car looks less "blue", and more pastel (lighter) in real life. . . . Edited by FIN ME 2015-08-03 7:17 PM (DESJULY201524.jpg) (DESJULY201522.jpg) (DESJULY201523.jpg) (DESJULY20158.jpg) (DESJULY201510.jpg) (DESJULY20159.jpg) (DESJULY20157.jpg) (DESJULY201512.jpg) (DESJULY20152.jpg) (DESJULY2015.jpg) (DESJULY20153.jpg) (DESJULY20154.jpg) (DESJULY201511.jpg) (DESJULY201520.jpg) (DESJULY201518.jpg) (DESJULY201519.jpg) (DESJULY201516.jpg) (DESJULY201517.jpg) (DESJULY201515.jpg) (DESJULY201514.jpg) (DESJULY201513.jpg) (DESJULY20156.jpg) (DESJULY20155.jpg) (DESJULY201521.jpg) Attachments ----------------  DESJULY201524.jpg (147KB - 309 downloads) DESJULY201522.jpg (170KB - 272 downloads) DESJULY201523.jpg (160KB - 260 downloads) DESJULY20158.jpg (217KB - 272 downloads) DESJULY201510.jpg (163KB - 278 downloads) DESJULY20159.jpg (204KB - 271 downloads) DESJULY20157.jpg (141KB - 293 downloads) DESJULY201512.jpg (210KB - 249 downloads) DESJULY20152.jpg (145KB - 260 downloads) DESJULY2015.jpg (133KB - 267 downloads) DESJULY20153.jpg (74KB - 268 downloads) DESJULY20154.jpg (80KB - 256 downloads) DESJULY201511.jpg (173KB - 257 downloads) DESJULY201520.jpg (257KB - 263 downloads) DESJULY201518.jpg (228KB - 255 downloads) DESJULY201519.jpg (224KB - 262 downloads) DESJULY201516.jpg (217KB - 239 downloads) DESJULY201517.jpg (222KB - 286 downloads) DESJULY201515.jpg (235KB - 265 downloads) DESJULY201514.jpg (170KB - 271 downloads) DESJULY201513.jpg (189KB - 268 downloads) DESJULY20156.jpg (170KB - 299 downloads) DESJULY20155.jpg (159KB - 275 downloads) DESJULY201521.jpg (226KB - 265 downloads) | ||
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| ttotired |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 8443  Location: Perth Australia | Brilliant | ||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Good morning, Mick! And thank you! | ||
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| ttotired |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 8443 Location: Perth Australia | Just send it over now Rosy With all the other cars in there, I am sure you wouldnt miss it | ||
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| 1960fury |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7402 Location: northern germany | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Thank you, Sid! It sure has been a journey, to say the least. After playing around with a few choices, I stuck with installing an original interior (Code 516), but the same pattern did come in an all-green version back in '57 (blue too). I thought about installing the all-green version, but the black and gray were more "me"...black...like my soul. Just kidding! Don't mind me; I just have a bad case of post-resto giddiness! | ||
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| The Chrysler Kid |
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Expert Posts: 1384 Location: Ocala, Florida | |||
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| tnlowrider |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 500 Location: Upper East Tennessee | |||
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| d500neil |
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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 | |||
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| imopar380 |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7207 Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | |||
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| wizard |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 13050 Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | |||
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| SavoyPlaza |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1172 Location: Georgia | |||
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| 60 Imp |
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Location: North Australia | Phenomenal car! Must feel good driving it down the road? A dream realised, well done! Steve. | ||
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| 58 DESOTOS RULE |
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Expert Posts: 2308 Location: The Bat Cave, Fairborn, OH | Wow! A perfectly restored Firesweep with cool colors! I'm jealous! I guess it wasn't too hard to adapt the swing out front seat to your application? Is that a power seat too that moves fore and aft? What's up with the odometer in your speedometer cluster? Why does it look orange? Or is that a trick of the light when you took the picture? I hope I'll see this car at a De Soto show in the near future. Edited by 58 DESOTOS RULE 2015-08-04 8:52 AM (Firesweep Dashboard.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Firesweep Dashboard.jpg (170KB - 263 downloads) | ||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Thank you, all, for the super nice comments! And thank you, everyone, for the great advice and help that I received during my car's resto. Finding this site was a real PLUS. You guys and gals rock! Randy - I hope to make it to Carlisle next year; almost made it this year, but alas, the car was not quite ready for a long trip. I know that I missed out on seeing a really nice batch of FL cars.  For now, I'm just going to stick to the shows around town. The HUGE "Street Rod Nationals" show is being held here in Louisville this weekend (approx. 11,000 cars), and I might enter my car in the Mopar "show within a show" which is open to any Mopar, street rod or not. We shall see. It's always 100 degrees during this show, so it remains to be seen if I will survive the weekend. Neil and Stephen - the swivel seats were in the car when I bought it. The previous owner said that they were in the car when he bought it as well, and he bought the car about 20 years ago. So we don't really know where they came from, or when they were installed. It's a mystery, I guess. But I liked them, and they are a hit with folks who see the car, so I decided to have them reinstalled during the restoration. I had to come up with an upholstery design that fit with the original Code 516 interior that I was using on the back seat and the door panels. I think it looks convincing at first glance, especially to the non FL folks who see the car. The upholsterer worked really hard on getting everything ship-shape that was necessary for the front seats to function correctly. They worked fairly well when I got the car, but with some parts from Gary Goers, and a few odds and ends from the upholsterer's own stash of goodies, the seats now swivel really well, and the arm rest and seat adjustment function well too. (They are not power seats.) The numbers of the odometer are a tad orange-ish in real life, but not nearly as neon orange as they appear in the photos. I was wearing a bright orange top when I took the pic's, so maybe it's just a reflection of sorts? They do look a bit "glowy", now that you mention it. | ||
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| ronbo97 |
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Expert Posts: 4042 Location: Connecticut | |||
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| GaryS |
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Expert Posts: 1207 Location: Ponder, TX | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Thanks, for the nice comments! Here are two photos comparing the original pattern of the front seat upholstery for the "Code 516" interior that was available for the '57 Sweeps, with the design that I came up with for the swivel seats that were already in my car. Close enough... (code516compare.jpg) Attachments ---------------- code516compare.jpg (118KB - 263 downloads) | ||
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| 57desoto |
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Expert Posts: 1488 Location: New Castle PA | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | That's interesting, Ed. Yet another example of Mopar using what was on hand on any given day as the cars rolled down the assembly line. So I guess in reality, my car's odometer numbers are a tad faded, if anything? BTW, folks, I know I've written this before, but 57desoto (Ed) was my main source of info during my car's resto, and I sure could NOT have done it without him. I think I about drove him around the bend with all of my frequently asked questions (sometimes on a daily basis), but thankfully, he is one patient dude as well as being super knowledgeable! Thank you again, Ed! | ||
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| 60 Finatic |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 481 Location: near St Augustine, FL | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Thanks, Dan! | ||
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| hemidave |
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Expert Posts: 4654 | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Thanks, Dave. The car was a real hit among the crowds at the show...over 11,000 cars to see. Whew! We go every year, so it was really great to finally be able to enter a car into the Street Rod National's Mopar "show within a show". Most folks around here (Ford and Chevy country) have not seen many finned '57 Mopars before, so it was fun watching them look the car over. It seemed to be equally popular with people of all ages, men and women alike. Everyone liked the colour, which was a relief. It was a surprise to see a pic of it in the magazine dedicated to street rods and customs. . (streetrodmag.jpg) (streetrodmag2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- streetrodmag.jpg (269KB - 240 downloads) streetrodmag2.jpg (221KB - 246 downloads) | ||
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| FIN_NV |
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Expert Posts: 4589 Location: Northern New Jersey | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Thanks, Steve! | ||
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| barrie5747 |
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Member Posts: 34 Location: nova scotia | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Shor ting, Skipper! Was it that "moss" green Mini? | ||
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| 57desoto |
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Expert Posts: 1488 Location: New Castle PA | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Thanks, Ed! Couldn't have done it without you! | ||
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| Gidman |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 452 Location: Southern California | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Thank you, Gidman. As you know, some folks are fans of skirts on FL cars, others not so much. IMHO, I think that it depends on the over all look of a car whether or not it will look good in skirts. In the case of my car, I like the way that the skirts seem to work to "extend" the low, black trim paint on my car, anchoring that slap-happy green colour to the earth, and adding a strong impression of horizontality. I think that they also add to the entire mass of the back end, making the rear quarters and fins appear more monolithic in appearance. But that might just be me. | ||
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| tnlowrider |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 500 Location: Upper East Tennessee | |||
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| ToMopar |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1159 Location: D-70199 Heslach | Rosy, what have you done with the heater control valve ? (HCV Rosy.jpg) Attachments ---------------- HCV Rosy.jpg (47KB - 245 downloads) | ||
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| horace |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 471 Location: MN | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | I never did get around to posting final trunk and engine photos...for anyone interested... . (1957 DESOTO ENGINE.jpg) (1957 DESOTO TRUNK.jpg) (2016kc.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 1957 DESOTO ENGINE.jpg (134KB - 207 downloads) 1957 DESOTO TRUNK.jpg (146KB - 199 downloads) 2016kc.jpg (150KB - 196 downloads) | ||
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| mikes2nd |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 5006 | |||
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| bbrasse1 |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 537 Location: Upstate NY | |||
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| 58 DESOTOS RULE |
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Expert Posts: 2308 Location: The Bat Cave, Fairborn, OH | |||
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| FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Thanks, guys! Our pal "Big M" and Gary Goers were great sources for parts, along with others here at the FL site. | ||
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| hemidave |
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Expert Posts: 4654 | |||
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