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2014 Merry Christmas to me Jump to page : 1 2 3 4 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> Members Rides | Message format |
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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. (2014merrychristmas 042.jpg) (2014merrychristmas 001.jpg) (2014merrychristmas 010.jpg) (2014merrychristmas 017.jpg) (2014merrychristmas 033.jpg) (2014merrychristmas 037.jpg) (2014merrychristmas 038.jpg) (2014merrychristmas 041.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 2014merrychristmas 042.jpg (238KB - 321 downloads) 2014merrychristmas 001.jpg (155KB - 325 downloads) 2014merrychristmas 010.jpg (148KB - 320 downloads) 2014merrychristmas 017.jpg (175KB - 366 downloads) 2014merrychristmas 033.jpg (150KB - 316 downloads) 2014merrychristmas 037.jpg (169KB - 320 downloads) 2014merrychristmas 038.jpg (167KB - 329 downloads) 2014merrychristmas 041.jpg (122KB - 307 downloads) | ||
Lancer Mike |
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Location: The Mile High City | Congratulations, Kurt! That's wonderful! | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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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. | ||
The Adventurer |
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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 ! | ||
The Adventurer |
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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 ! | ||
The Adventurer |
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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 | ||
moparfrank |
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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. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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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. | ||
The Adventurer |
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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 . | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | What are you calling a "beaver panel" ??? | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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. (desotoengfront 004.jpg) Attachments ---------------- desotoengfront 004.jpg (183KB - 304 downloads) | ||
The Adventurer |
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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 | ||
The Adventurer |
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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 (194.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 194.jpg (47KB - 319 downloads) | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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. | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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 ? (Spring Special grill.jpg) (Firedome grill.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Spring Special grill.jpg (229KB - 315 downloads) Firedome grill.jpg (245KB - 315 downloads) | ||
firedome |
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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! | ||
Lancer Mike |
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Location: The Mile High City | I agree with Roger. Hardware store radiator cover. | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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 | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1112 Location: Wild Wonderful | These are a few of my favorite things. Not. (wrong 009.jpg) (wrong 010.jpg) (wrong 016.jpg) (wrong 021.jpg) (wrong 022.jpg) (wrong 023.jpg) Attachments ---------------- wrong 009.jpg (155KB - 314 downloads) wrong 010.jpg (142KB - 301 downloads) wrong 016.jpg (155KB - 302 downloads) wrong 021.jpg (125KB - 306 downloads) wrong 022.jpg (157KB - 300 downloads) wrong 023.jpg (160KB - 312 downloads) | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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. (wrong 006.jpg) Attachments ---------------- wrong 006.jpg (192KB - 320 downloads) | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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 (wrong 004.jpg) Attachments ---------------- wrong 004.jpg (149KB - 351 downloads) | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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. (2014merrychristmas 029.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 2014merrychristmas 029.jpg (198KB - 297 downloads) | ||
ttotired |
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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 | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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'. | ||
ttotired |
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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 | ||
mikes2nd |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 5006 | It was 1500$ if it was solid It would have been much more I assume | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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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. | ||
The Adventurer |
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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 ! | ||
di_ch_NY56 |
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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 | ||
58 DESOTOS RULE |
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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. | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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. (Diff 003.jpg) (holes 004.jpg) (rust 001.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Diff 003.jpg (201KB - 304 downloads) holes 004.jpg (211KB - 294 downloads) rust 001.jpg (157KB - 285 downloads) | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1112 Location: Wild Wonderful | As you can see, they spot welded these panels on with pure gold. (holes 002.jpg) Attachments ---------------- holes 002.jpg (151KB - 316 downloads) | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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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. | ||
big m |
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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 | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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 (vin58desoto.jpg) (Title58desoto.jpg) Attachments ---------------- vin58desoto.jpg (23KB - 304 downloads) Title58desoto.jpg (65KB - 320 downloads) | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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). | ||
ttotired |
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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 | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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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. | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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 | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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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. | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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. (inner 006.jpg) (inner 013.jpg) Attachments ---------------- inner 006.jpg (157KB - 318 downloads) inner 013.jpg (140KB - 318 downloads) | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1112 Location: Wild Wonderful | I moved the car outside so I could clean up. (inner 008.jpg) Attachments ---------------- inner 008.jpg (144KB - 316 downloads) | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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. (inner 010.jpg) Attachments ---------------- inner 010.jpg (181KB - 307 downloads) | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1112 Location: Wild Wonderful | (inner 015.jpg) Attachments ---------------- inner 015.jpg (226KB - 301 downloads) | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1112 Location: Wild Wonderful | The ugliest picture of a 58 Desoto, ever. (inner 014.jpg) Attachments ---------------- inner 014.jpg (125KB - 293 downloads) | ||
soiouz |
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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! | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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. | ||
miquelonbrad |
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Expert Posts: 1737 Location: Hay Lakes, Alberta, Canada | Oh oh! So, now what do you do for a title? | ||
58DeSoDodge59 |
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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? (desotohubcaps7.jpg) (desotohubcaps9.jpg) Attachments ---------------- desotohubcaps7.jpg (112KB - 289 downloads) desotohubcaps9.jpg (231KB - 305 downloads) | ||
jimntempe |
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Expert Posts: 2312 Location: Arizona | I'm still partial to the gold accent. | ||
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