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 )

1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom
Jump to page : 1 2
Now viewing page 2 [50 messages per page]
View previous thread :: View next thread
   Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> Members RidesMessage format
 
The Chemist
Posted 2021-06-17 11:30 AM (#612867 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Member

Posts: 39
25
Location: Italy
hell how much time passed since I wrote something here...
well, the DeSoto Firedome is still alive, this is 1st good point.
I had a problem with gasoline pump in december 2020 and the car so remained stopped in the mancave until...yesterday.
the mechanic who's following the car moved from his old place, 45 minutes from my house, to a new place and working now for a bigger U.S. car specialist.
but it is more than 2 hours driving from home, not easy.
gas pump had to be replaced, I stopped the car in winter, then he ordered new pump, plus we had other full lockdown, then family issues, job issues for both, he could come to my place only yesterday to fix it.
I immediately used the Firedome to go to work in the afternoon, to taste again the driving with it.
I have some plans of joining 1-2 car meetings in july and then I'll see.
after summer holiday I'll go to see new mechanic garage and (probably) we will build the base for a project on the Firedome in 2022.
maximum respect to his history, to previous owners and their works but it should be time to pass from "Bop-a-Lena" Johnny Best UK car, into Guido's Desoto Firedome.
no restomod, no racing/tuning parts, just a good fixing of the body and maybe a couple of "bling bling" finish for the engine. money will be the main thing to control.
it is just a project in my head up today, but it is quite clear.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3eW9NZXOe9-CJOYqXAkEv5A1FI...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3czteUFPEnP0OydkYNPnTw7wx1...



Edited by The Chemist 2021-06-17 11:32 AM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
57burb
Posted 2021-06-21 4:48 PM (#612960 - in reply to #612867)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom



Expert

Posts: 3966
200010005001001001001002525
Location: DFW, TX
Fantastic to see your beautiful Firedome on the road again, Guido! I can't wait to see what you have in mind to make it "your" Desoto!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
The Chemist
Posted 2021-06-22 1:07 PM (#612984 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Member

Posts: 39
25
Location: Italy
thanks.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Mopar1
Posted 2021-06-23 5:28 PM (#613030 - in reply to #612984)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom



Expert

Posts: 3027
2000100025
Location: N.W. Fla.
nice!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
The Chemist
Posted 2021-11-10 9:44 AM (#616690 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Member

Posts: 39
25
Location: Italy
Hi everybody. so other months ran quickly.
the Firedome is still on the road but as I was always thinking, it is almost the time to send it to a body shop and fix it.
small rust appeared and the paint job made in UK 20 years ago, it is now showing all its problems.
it will be a long challenge, the car could stay away until June 2022. the body shop is not close to home but roughly 200 kilometres far.
the trust person who will keep me informed and check everything is the same mechanic that worked on the car since I bought it and for some years before too.
he was much closer to me but last year he moved in a new area.

the final result on the car is well impressed in my mind and on some papers I draw with coloured pencils, like a child.
I have already (99%) found the colour I want on the car. it will be quite much blue, plus some white. the colours positions will be much different from the design given by english gentleman who made the firedome.
white interiors (panels and seats) will stay unchanged. the engine bay and the engine too will be re-painted as well.
it is the time for the firedome to go from "bop-a-lena" famous history into a more simple "my personal" Firedome.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXzkVf-Dn82R1Jm0G2mRse465q...

here below a couple of pictures taken to a car show 3 weeks ago.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLW1OBUSWsk-LCogU9dJ5320OU4...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUlanUrosdFoDyt4nnXi7J-2nm...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLW322A5Mnn9m4VS8J_ltR0WKoe...
Top of the page Bottom of the page
57burb
Posted 2021-11-12 10:18 AM (#616737 - in reply to #616690)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom



Expert

Posts: 3966
200010005001001001001002525
Location: DFW, TX
Your Desoto still looks good as ever, Guido! Can't wait to see what your future plans are for it.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
The Chemist
Posted 2021-11-15 9:13 AM (#616854 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Member

Posts: 39
25
Location: Italy
thanks.
just last saturday I went to the body shop and to the garage, the project really started.
I even began to take out some pieces from the car, just to see how much I can do to prepare it (saving some money from the garage too....) but some parts are really delicate, like the metal profiles around the roof.
I would avoid to break them, because finding in U.S. as replacements it will be a pain and almost impossible.

any suggestions about where to find pieces eventually?
ebay? moparpro? rockauto?

just to say, I will need for sure the whole kit for the internal screws. not easy to find them.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
mikes2nd
Posted 2021-11-15 10:22 PM (#616879 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Expert 5K+

Posts: 5006
5000
which ones are you looking for?
Top of the page Bottom of the page
The Chemist
Posted 2021-11-18 3:48 AM (#616956 - in reply to #616879)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Member

Posts: 39
25
Location: Italy
current status of the internal screws is that many of them are different from each others.
in some parts they are painted, in some other corner not.
I really would like having them at least all of them in the same shape, maybe even chromed.
but all of them new and similar.

sure for the interior parts indicated here in this picture
https://i.ibb.co/n1GHKpY/180994-Interior.jpg
Top of the page Bottom of the page
wizard
Posted 2021-11-18 5:56 AM (#616957 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom



Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+

Posts: 13042
500050002000100025
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
Those screws might be a problem since rust and various demonting over the years made the holes slightly larger. Someone solved this with larger screws.
I bought stainless Philips screws with a suitable diameter, adapted the heads to the right diameter in my lathe and polished the screw heads. The X in the screw heads is a little to large in comparison to the head diameter, but no one will notice....
Top of the page Bottom of the page
57burb
Posted 2021-11-22 9:38 AM (#617050 - in reply to #616956)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom



Expert

Posts: 3966
200010005001001001001002525
Location: DFW, TX
Years ago I purchased a stainless steel screw set packaged specifically for my Chrysler. The manufacturer had them broken out by year/make/model/bodystyle. It had specific lengths, threads, and head designs for the car. They looked really nice, and in places where my original hardware was missing or unusable, they were a lifesaver. I have looked all over eBay, including my purchase history, and cannot find them. I will keep looking and let you know if I find where I purchased them.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
56D500boy
Posted 2021-11-23 4:15 PM (#617103 - in reply to #616957)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom



Expert 5K+

Posts: 9854
5000200020005001001001002525
Location: Lower Mainland BC
.
Auveco in the US (Geno Industries in Canada) offer No. 8 screws with No. 6 heads. No need to trim the heads in a lathe.

https://onlinecatalog.auveco.com/Auveco-Catalog/69/#

Hope the link works

Top of the page Bottom of the page
The Chemist
Posted 2021-11-24 6:21 AM (#617121 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Member

Posts: 39
25
Location: Italy
thanks everybody!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
The Chemist
Posted 2022-02-15 5:56 AM (#619409 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Member

Posts: 39
25
Location: Italy
so, the works on the car are going on.
due to the distance from home to the body shop, I'm going there only every 3 weeks on saturday.
even if it's a 65 years old car, we found out only 3 rust holes, already repaired.
we have to say that mr Johnny Best (english man who made the car as custom, years ago) made good job on several parts of the car.
some other minor parts are not so well instead, but he confirmed me that when he got it, the car was suffering, with some really rotten parts.

I decided to add several other works:
- interiors big cleaning (by professional centre and not just by me in the mancave) and some (necessary) rebuilding of a couple of panels
- new chrome on both bumpers; more difficult for the front, it is not in a good status after the steps of metal cleaning. the rear bumper is instead much better.
- new chrome for some parts, even for the interior.
- full polishing on all outer body metal parts, profiles etc.
- already ordered new air filter and the covers for the sparks wires, finned, like the valve covers.

all the modifications are now decided. the colour scheme is the first thing I decided, but there were some other points to see.
the engine bay will become much more "clean" and without some pieces that J. Best added for shiny effect but actually we discovered they were fake parts.
of course the "to-do-list" is getting longer. and more expensive. but this car was deserving more attentions.
my feeling was that this was the last year that I could do this, and spend for this.
no pain, no gain, somebody said.
-----------------------------------------------
question:
the vented front glass (driver side) is quite damaged, not the glass itself, but the pivot/lower frame etc.
I would really like to find and replace it, last month there was an ebay sale with the correct pieces I was looking for (full set, frames included), but I got no answers from the seller and then the item disappeared. pity. i was ready to spend eventually crazy money on that.
any idea where I could find it?
glass-handle-pivots- frame

some pictures.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUaPe1bo6imLs__KxP-IqLTG7B...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXrAWH2F_YTpWr0KPnUmtSQF6Z...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUFFoBTaECtmTvgPAWZHL-UDx7...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXE_3LCNb0xe1Nt5sucl-rZiso...
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Powerflite
Posted 2022-02-15 11:15 AM (#619418 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom



Expert 5K+

Posts: 9604
500020002000500100
Location: So. Cal
Looks like you're digging into it quite a bit. If you are looking for improvements, I would suggest putting the exhaust through the original bumper pods. That's the stock location, but it was a very custom touch from the factory and looks better than having those overhangs at the bottom of your rear quarters.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
ToMopar
Posted 2022-02-16 3:07 AM (#619444 - in reply to #619418)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom



Elite Veteran

Posts: 1153
10001002525
Location: D-70199 Heslach
Powerflite - 2022-02-15 4:15 PM

Looks like you're digging into it quite a bit. If you are looking for improvements, I would suggest putting the exhaust through the original bumper pods. That's the stock location, but it was a very custom touch from the factory and looks better than having those overhangs at the bottom of your rear quarters.


I agree!

@Guido,- if you need some assistance, let me know.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
57burb
Posted 2022-02-16 10:34 AM (#619451 - in reply to #619418)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom



Expert

Posts: 3966
200010005001001001001002525
Location: DFW, TX
That photo of the dash reminds me, building cars is a pain in the butt!!

That car has been awesome for a long time, and I know that with your updates it will be even better. Great to see the progress!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
The Chemist
Posted 2022-02-16 11:13 AM (#619455 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Member

Posts: 39
25
Location: Italy
thanks. yes, my hope is to make it even better than in the past.

I agree with all of you about the fake exhaust pipes.
but I still like that "touch" on the car and I decided to keep them. actually J. Best used them activated for a short period.
and also, to be honest, keeping them it is making easier the job on that part of the car, I mean in terms of body shop work and money saved.

inside the rear bumper pods, there is now a system with the reverse gear lights. not working since several years before I got the car.
I'm quite curious to check it they will work again after fixing and after mounting all parts at the end of the paint job.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
The Chemist
Posted 2022-02-18 12:15 PM (#619525 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Member

Posts: 39
25
Location: Italy
in the meantime, I am waiting for the covers on spark plug wires, finned style, like the valve covers.
and the new air filter, again finned, arrived.
https://i.ibb.co/Fn2THtS/IMG-20220217-164823-resized-20220218-114702...
https://i.ibb.co/KwFMt87/IMG-20220217-164829-resized-20220218-114703...
Top of the page Bottom of the page
The Chemist
Posted 2022-03-29 4:23 AM (#620564 - in reply to #582745)
Subject: Re: 1957 DeSoto Firedome - mild custom


Member

Posts: 39
25
Location: Italy
I'm in the third week of quarantine for covid positivity, same as all my family. life sucks.
but the work on the Firedome is going on at the body shop.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXNSmmydeogMu35FVJofMPwlBW...

the "chrome factory" also finished his job, as soon as I will be again free, I will go to pick up the pieces.
even the interior shop is working to clean the upholstery and to build the damaged interior panels.
let's go!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Jump to page : 1 2
Now viewing page 2 [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)