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 '56 Firedome CoupeJump to page : 1 2 Now viewing page 2 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
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Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391    Location: So. Cal | |||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | One of the main things I don't like about the rear of a '56 Desoto is the drooping tail lights. They do help to straighten them out because of the sloping curve of the rear panel, but it still looks like it droops to me. Even with them obviously pointing up too high, it somehow looks better to me. But I am likely going to convert to using Chrysler tail lights instead, as their design is really beautiful. It'll be a bas***d combination, but might look good that way. I picked up a rear license plate for this car from BigM while I was up there the last weekend. I also got a transmission crossmember for my '60 Dodge, but failed to get one for this car. I don't know why I didn't think about it, but now I am on the lookout for a crossmember for this one. Edited by Powerflite 2025-10-10 11:49 AM (56Firedome Tail Light Droop.jpg) Attachments ----------------  56Firedome Tail Light Droop.jpg (143KB - 43 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10787  Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Nathan: I too prefer the 56 Chrysler taillights over the 56 Desoto tailights. I am not sure why your 56 Desoto taillights do NOT protrude from/sit on top of the trim plate as the designers intended. https://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/desoto/56dde/bilder/2.jpg (56DesotoTailightsFrom56DesotoBrochure.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56DesotoTailightsFrom56DesotoBrochure.jpg (96KB - 41 downloads) | ||
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| frwl |
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Expert Posts: 2227  | |||
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| frwl |
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Expert Posts: 2227 | |||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | Igor, well this car does have the windshield washer, but doesn't have foam seats. No foam seat in the front or back. Both are standard type of materials, which is a good thing because it means that they still work well. Other than the top of the rear seat which is blown out because of the sun exposure, all the interior materials are in surprisingly good shape. Unfortunately, I don't have the door panels though.  The rear bumper on this car has me really confused. I looked in the parts list and find that all the '56 DeSoto/Chrysler/Imperial bumpers use the same blade 1634075 (except for the Crown Imperial, which is based on the '55 body). But this blade seems to interfere with the triangular mount thingy that is welded to the body. It sort-of works with it there, but it needs to push right up against it to fit properly. I guess that's how it's supposed to work? Also, the cutouts for the inside of the taillight area are square and don't look to be large enough. It seems that you would scratch the crap out of your paint if you were to mount the bumper onto the car, and the edge pushes right into the body panel. Doesn't seem right. This particular blade is from a 4dr '56 Imperial. There are also numerous rear bumper brackets for these cars. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for them to be different from each other - especially given that they all use the same bumper blade, but apparently they are. The 4dr Imperial brackets that I have are around 1 1/4" too short to be able to reach to the frame properly. The 2dr brackets are different from the 4dr brackets - OK. But why are the 2dr DeSoto brackets different from the 2dr Chrysler brackets?? Makes no sense at all! Why would Chrysler do this to me? If I put a Chrysler bumper on my DeSoto, do I need 2dr Chrysler brackets or 2dr DeSoto brackets?? Why are they different?! Here is the breakdown of the different part numbers for rear bumper brackets: Right side only. Add 1 to get the left side number. 1956 DeSoto 2dr 1636122 1956 DeSoto 4dr 1636120 1956 Chrysler 2dr 1636126 1956 Chrysler/all Imp 4dr 1636124 Edited by Powerflite 2025-10-16 4:30 PM (56Firedome Rear Bumper Fitment.jpg) (56 Firedome Rear Bumper Questions.jpg) (56Firedome Rear Bumper Bracket Gap.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56Firedome Rear Bumper Fitment.jpg (166KB - 44 downloads) 56 Firedome Rear Bumper Questions.jpg (163KB - 34 downloads) 56Firedome Rear Bumper Bracket Gap.jpg (94KB - 34 downloads) | ||
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| RDP |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1091  Location: PL / EU | The only difference in the rear to be the light panel (which is why you can't fit Chrysler headlights to DeSoto without modifying this part). But that can't be the reason for the different brackets. Edited by RDP 2025-10-17 1:57 PM (56des.jpg) (56ch.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56des.jpg (112KB - 33 downloads) 56ch.jpg (113KB - 36 downloads) | ||
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| RDP |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1091 Location: PL / EU | Chrysler has an extra panel between the body and the bumper. Does DeSoto have one too? I can't see it in your photos. It's a poor photo, but there's not much space with the bumper installed. The bumper is far enough away from the paint. Edited by RDP 2025-10-17 1:58 PM (C1.jpg) (C2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- C1.jpg (117KB - 38 downloads) C2.jpg (112KB - 27 downloads) | ||
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| frwl |
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Expert Posts: 2227 | Powerflite - 2025-10-16 4:03 PM Igor, well this car does have the windshield washer, but doesn't have foam seats. No foam seat in the front or back. Both are standard type of materials, which is a good thing because it means that they still work well. Other than the top of the rear seat which is blown out because of the sun exposure, all the interior materials are in surprisingly good shape. Unfortunately, I don't have the door panels though. Thank you very much, Nathan By the way: Robert, your car does have M5 = 1 on the tag, and you told that you car equipped with the W/Washer included in the Accessory Group; Tell me please: Does your car equip with Variable Speed Windshield Wipers? Thanks. | ||
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| RDP |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1091 Location: PL / EU | |||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | Thanks for the pictures Robert. It looks like that triangular mount thing sits higher up on the Chrysler. That makes sense, since it is clear that the DeSoto mount prevents the Chrysler bumper ends from being installed. But I still don't know what that thing's purpose is. Nothing mounts to it and it seems to just get in the way. My only assumption about it's function is that maybe it provides a stop for the bumper to hit against to ensure that it is mounted in the proper location. Otherwise, I don't know what it's good for. Yes, DeSoto also has that extra filler panel between the body & bumper. Mine is missing like so many other parts. That filler panel is wider for 4dr cars, than it is on the 2dr's. I installed a dual reservoir brake master in the car yesterday and bent up new lines for it. I hope that long diagonal line doesn't interfere with anything once the inner panels are in place and the engine is installed. I am going to attempt to get the brakes working with the original front drums at first. The reason is because I only have 1 more wheel that will work with disc brakes. If that doesn't work for whatever reason, I'll convert it to discs and purchase a new tire. (56Firedome Dual Master Lines.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56Firedome Dual Master Lines.jpg (165KB - 37 downloads) | ||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | I didn't want to take the time to tear apart the rear axle to move the brake line mount, weld up the old hole and make new lines. So I purchased a long hose and made an extended frame mount for it. Much easier. If I ever have to tear the rear apart, I'll probably move it at that time. I was trying to get the front drum brakes to bleed out, but not having any luck. The bleeder screw was stuck on the right side so I heated it up with a torch only to have the left side hose burst, I guess due to the excess pressure created? But it sounds like it was weak because it shouldn't have blown like that. Anyway, my efforts to get them to work is failing miserably so I will bite the bullet and convert to discs now. (56Firedome Extended Line Mount.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56Firedome Extended Line Mount.jpg (137KB - 32 downloads) | ||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | Dave, the AAJ disc kit that I purchased from you had the wrong hardware in it. It had spacers that go between the bracket & spindle that were 0.69" long with qnty(8) 2" long bolts. Those belong to the 10.7" disc kit, not the 11.75" version like this one. I called up Roger at AAJ and he told me that it should have come with 0.14" spacers and qnty(4) 1.5" bolts. Fortunately, the original bolts are 1.5" and the lock washers are around 0.14", so I just put it together with those. I have the rotors and will assemble them today, but I don't have the calipers so I will have to order them. But I might need to reverse the bolt from where I currently have it. Put the nuts on the other side instead so it is less likely to hit the rotor. It's probably OK as it is, but I'm not certain. Edited by Powerflite 2025-10-23 12:16 PM (56Firedome Disc Bracket Mounted.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56Firedome Disc Bracket Mounted.jpg (150KB - 21 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10787 Location: Lower Mainland BC | Nathan: If you remember, I asked you to show me some photos of how the spacers were supposed to work because I couldn't figure them out. Now we know. I sent you all the hardware that came in the AAJ kit from Roger except I kept 4 huge bolts that made no sense to me for the 56 Chrysler application. Again now we (I) know. Now I understand. Whoever packed the hardware kit for the 56 Chrysler brackets grabbed the wrong hardware kit (the 10.9 Dodge/Plymouth kit would have the bolts for the bolt-on steering arms and, I guess, spacers). Sorry about that but it wasn't my mistake, it was Rogers. I am happy that you were able to reuse the OE hardware to make it work. What is still very important to this conversion is Roger's spindle adapters. Somehow I believe that they are correct for the Chrysler spindle. Good luck finishing the conversion. (I am still running a single pot MC and it works fine (enough))  Edited by 56D500boy 2025-10-23 1:26 PM | ||
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| 57burb |
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Expert Posts: 3976 Location: DFW, TX | If possible, I would definitely turn those bolts around the other way, for a couple of reasons. I absolutely love the '56 Chryslers and Desotos. And you know I'm a fan of mixing and matching parts to get the best looking combination possible.  I like the idea of Chrysler tail lights in your Desoto. I suspect the brackets are all a little different to space the bumper out as necessary to line up with each combination of quarter panels and tail lights. | ||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | Thanks Danny, I am planning to run the Chrysler front bumper on it too.  Dave, even those spindle adapters don't belong to this kit. They really messed up the order. This kit is supposed to use the original hubs, new studs (that used to be included, but now they say you have to buy them), '72-'78 Dodge 1/2 ton truck 4x4 rotors, and '71-'76 Caprice/Impala calipers. I separated the original drums from the hubs and installed the studs yesterday. I used 610.287.1 studs and I had to drill the hub out to 5/8" first. That was much harder than I expected because it's really hard to hold the hub while drilling, and the large drill bit wants to grab it and fling it around. I ended up having to hold it in my vice while drilling by hand, and it still wasn't fun to do. If I made up custom fixturing to hold it to my drill press table, that would have worked, and I probably should have done that. After drilling, the studs went in easy by using a handle extension on my 20 ton press. But the only thing I had to back it up from the bottom was a socket with a thin ring of contact area, so it left an indelible impression on it - mostly in the paint. I'll work on making up new lines for it next. (56Firedome Disc Hub.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56Firedome Disc Hub.jpg (148KB - 9 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10787 Location: Lower Mainland BC | , Nathan: I am surprised/shocked/confused that you have had to go to so much work to get those AAJ 56 Chrysler front disc brackets to work on your 56 Desoto. There is something wrong with this story (but I don't know what it is). Before I decided which kit I was going to use, I checked both the AAJ and Scarebird spindle adapters on my "spare" 56 Chrysler spindles. They were within a few thousand of each other. Moreover, from the information that I had received from Roger (or his wife), the rotors to be used with his bracket and spindle adapters were originally on a 77 Chrysler Cordoba (which turned out to be the same as the Scarebird kit needs). Complete bolt on, no messing about. Bought them from Rock Auto as Raybestos 7038R (but they don't seem to carry them any more)(??) These rotors (still available from other sources): https://partsavatar.ca/raybestos-front-hub-and-rotor-assembly-7038r Testing the sizes of the AAJ and Scarebird spindle adapters: AAJ: Scarebird: Raybestos 7038R rotor on a 56 Chrysler front spindle and upright with the AAJ spindler adapter: REFERENCE for the above: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=76959&... Some (incomplete) info that I received from Roger and then my comparison AAJ vs Scarebird table: (AAJInstructionsForKItNo313.jpg) (ComparisonOfAAJandScarebirdFrontDiscKitsFor56DodgeD500_Rev1.jpg) Attachments ---------------- AAJInstructionsForKItNo313.jpg (107KB - 10 downloads) ComparisonOfAAJandScarebirdFrontDiscKitsFor56DodgeD500_Rev1.jpg (69KB - 11 downloads) | ||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | Yes, there seems to have been a lot of confusion surrounding it because your instruction sheet & parts list are for the 11" kit, not the 12" kit. But he has labeled the instructions with the same #313 when it is completely different. No wonder he was confused. He even gave you the 11" hardware & spindle adapters, but gave you the 12" caliper bracket. The 11" bracket is completely different. I have a set of Cordoba rotors hanging about that I purchased for my '57-up cars, so I tried them out, thinking that's what it used. I put it together with the 0.14" spacers that Roger told me it needed, but these rotors required a much larger spacer to move it back further. It did seem like it *might* work with a 0.55" spacer or more, but it placed the calipers very far back and required the bracket to be heavily clearanced so it could sit back that far without hitting into the spindle. That's when I called him and he gave me the proper parts list for the 12" kit. Basically very similar to the 12" kit he sells for the '56 Dodge/Plymouth. Since he no longer supplies the studs, the kit wouldn't include anything except the bracket itself and the 0.14" spacers that could be replaced with the lock washers that come off of the car. But I think he sells it for the same price as the 11" version.  (56Firedome Cordoba Rotor.jpg) (AAJ 12in 55-56 DeS-Chry Disc Parts List.jpg) (AAJ 12in 55-56 DeS-Chry Disc Instructions.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56Firedome Cordoba Rotor.jpg (96KB - 10 downloads) AAJ 12in 55-56 DeS-Chry Disc Parts List.jpg (65KB - 10 downloads) AAJ 12in 55-56 DeS-Chry Disc Instructions.jpg (58KB - 8 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10787 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Wow. I am so happy that I bailed on the AAJ brackets for my project 56 D500 and went with the modified Scarebird 57-61 bracket. I too spent time on the phone with Roger but I was never able to fully figure out how the spacers were supposed to work with his "56 Chrysler" 12" brackets. Turns out the ones he sent were never going to work (for me)> Two sets of instructions both labeled "313" kit even though the are for two different kits. Not the best. On the upside for you, I think you like the separate hub and rotor set up (as opposed to the 77 Cordoba rotors that have the hub and rotor in one unit). Additionally, you get to run the larger 3" piston caliper (whereas I am only able to run the 2" V6 Chevy Celebrity calipers). (That said, the new owners of Scarebird seem to be still offering a larger 2.75" "Monster" caliper that fits where the 2" Celebrity caliper goes) https://www.scarebird.com/shop/mst-sb1027-monster-caliper-3150#attr= Hang in there. It looks like you are getting to the end of sorting this out. | ||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | Yes, I like this conversion because of the large truck calipers and thick truck rotors. It does push your wheels out by 1/4" on both sides, but that isn't hard to account for. One odd thing about this conversion is that the calipers route the hoses toward the front. I generally will move the lines to mount at the rear of the spindle when I do these conversions, but with these calipers, that would put the hoses through a contortion act. In theory, routing to the front saves time, but I had to make up new lines anyway, so it didn't save me much. One thing I don't like about this conversion is that the caliper will hit the upper grease zerk in the spindle as you turn the wheel. That's why he provides plugs for them, to plug it off. If you ever want to grease it, you'll have to keep a zerk handy to screw into it temporarily before putting the plug back in. But I guess that's an OK tradeoff. I made my new line and finished the conversion yesterday. So now I can concentrate on installing the engine & transmission into the car (temporarily for moving). (56Firedome Disc Conversion Complete.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56Firedome Disc Conversion Complete.jpg (143KB - 3 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10787 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Nathan: With your AAJ conversion (and whatever truck caliper you are running), does the caliper and pad end up concentric to the spindle center? With the Scarebird conversion, it ended up that the caliper/pad were slightly c*cked across the rotor. I don't think that is a problem per se because it actually increased the swept area on the rotor. Just curious: The Scarebird bracket with the Celebrity caliper(s) and pad(s) (one inner tip of the pad is closer to the center of the rotor than the other inner tip): Edited by 56D500boy 2025-11-07 7:06 PM | ||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | Dave, no, these calipers are well oriented to the hub center. I don't remember seeing that on my other Scarebird conversions, but I didn't look closely either. I have 2 new conversions from them that I haven't installed yet. I'll keep an eye out for it when I install them. I drilled the required holes in the Chrysler front bumper to mount the upper DeSoto turn signal pods and checked out how the bumper looks on the car. I originally thought I would hate having the overider in the center of the bumper, as it would clash with the "V" in the grille and look cluttered. But after checking it out, I kind of like it better. It's hard to compare them really though, without the license plate bracket for the bumper without it. I'm hoping that a license plate bracket from a '56 Windsor will work on it so I can see what it would look like. The inner DeSoto bumper bracket looks to be identical to the Chrysler version, but the outer bracket is different. I'll need to get a set for the Chrysler to make this really work. One nice thing is that the missing DeSoto corner trim is irrelevant with this bumper. It would be completely covered up by the bumper wings. (56Firedome Chrysler Front Bumper.jpg) (56Firedome Chrysler Front Bumper w-Overider.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56Firedome Chrysler Front Bumper.jpg (210KB - 2 downloads) 56Firedome Chrysler Front Bumper w-Overider.jpg (190KB - 2 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10787 Location: Lower Mainland BC | Powerflite - 2025-11-08 2:16 PM Dave, no, these calipers are well oriented to the hub center. I don't remember seeing that on my other Scarebird conversions, but I didn't look closely either. I have 2 new conversions from them that I haven't installed yet. I'll keep an eye out for it when I install them... Okay. Actually I think the non-concentric c*cking of the caliper and pad(s) is a good thing. It results in the pad covering more swept area than it would have other wise (so hopefully a bit more braking). If your 56 Desoto is still sitting like that on jack-stands, can you (please) snap a photo of the casting number on the king pin upright. Mine is 1617 986 (??) I have an over-rider for my 56 Dodge but I haven't drilled the required holes in the bumper guards to mount it. | ||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | |||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10787 Location: Lower Mainland BC | Powerflite - 2025-11-08 6:00 PM I looked all over the king pin spindle and I don't see any numbers cast into it anywhere. I guess I used the wrong words. Whatever I said, I meant the upright to which the steering knuckle and spindle (one unit) are attached. In my case, the bit with the 1617 986 number cast into it. | ||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10391 Location: So. Cal | |||
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| RDP |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1091 Location: PL / EU | |||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10787 Location: Lower Mainland BC | RDP - 2025-11-09 9:49 AM .Dave, I'll take a look in my car tomorrow. Robert: That would be great. Thanks. | ||
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