Mike's 1929 DeSoto Modified

This is a 1929 DeSoto modified I am working on for my friend Mike(MikeRose). He has a more detailed write up on the car here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=527668&showall=1

I thought I would start this thread to show all the fab work I will be doing to the car. A brief history on the car. It was originally built by Kirk Jones (known to some as Kirk!). The car was never completed and when Kirk decided to build the Legion Special he took all the pieces off of this to run on the Special. He then sold what was left to my friend Mike. Mike brought it to me a few weeks ago to get it rolling.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_2843.jpg
Here is how it looked when we first brought it over to my place

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_2847.jpg
Kirk built the perimeter of the frame consisting of front and rear crossmembers. The front runs a suicide perch. None of the suspension, motor, trans, etc has been mounted yet.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_2851.jpg
The car was originally set up for an inline six. Mike found this nice 250 Chevy from Phoenix to run and it will be mated to a 350 transmission.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_2912.jpg
After figuring out what kind of stance he wanted and getting the motor tacked in its proper place I commenced on making the motor mounts. Mike wanted something simple and this is what I came up with. Here is one side in progress.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3008.jpg
And here they are all done. The left side mount took a little more time to make due to the offset mounts on the motor.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3009.jpg
All bolted up

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3012.jpg

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3013.jpg
They remind me of a nice pair of high heel stilettos.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3016.jpg

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Next up is the tranny crossmember

 

Nice!!!!

 

Thanks Kirk! And a nice job to you on the frame!

 

Mounts look great! Been following your XLCH build on Jockey Journal too, and I'm about to copy your little frame jig idea for my BSA's hardtail.

 

nice , and the sporster looks pretty cool to

 

Thanks guys!

Need Louvers ? - That jig worked out pretty well. It is a good poor mans motorcycle jig. I would love to see some pictures of the BSA if you have any.

 

Thanks captain! I have a thread going on over at the Jockey Journal for the XLCH and it is also on my blog. bryantspeedcycle.blogspot.com

 

Errrrr, not quite yet! It's still in it's "akward" stage! I have been trying to convince myself that I really wanted to do a strutted swing arm custom with both the Hornet and the '61 6T, but it just aint my style. I have a hard tail that is real short (about 2" over) for the Hornet, but then the somewhat rarity of the bike has tugged at my concious... Pretty sure I'm past it now! Should be able to scrape enough time to get going after the holidays on this deal.

 

Sometimes they just need to be cut up. I have never been a big fan of strutted bikes either. I see it as the cowards way out. If your going to do something go all the way. Plus the lines will flow soo much better with the hardtail. I am looking forward to seeing it!

 

Not a huge update but I have been making some progress on the DeSorta Modified after taking a break to visit family in Oregon for Christmas. I have been working on the tranny crossmember and tying in the rear suspension. Mike and I opted to use a crossmember from Speedway with a 6" drop. Once that was cut, positioned, and welded in I bent up some 1.75" tubing that I tied into it. We will then mount the rear ladder bars to these tubes plus it sure strengthens up the frame. It is always fun working with tubing. A lot of different angles going on here. I didn't take any "in progress" photos but here is how it came out.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3356.jpg

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3353.jpg

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http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3365.jpg

 

Well it has been a busy last few months here on the ranch. We have been busy buying our first house and then I have been tied up working on a few off topic cars. Just recently I got back on Mike's modified. The next step in the build was bringing up the rear suspension. The plan was to mount a Model A style spring in front of the rear end. So I started by making the mounts for the rear spring. I started with some 3/8" steel flat bar.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3644.jpg
And who says you need fancy tools to build a hot rod? Gotta love that trusty angle grinder!

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3650.jpg

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3752.jpg
All welded up plus I added a gusset out 1/4" to strengthen it up

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3651.jpg
Then I started building the mounts for the rear ladder bars. Still to be smoothed out at this point.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3700.jpg
The rear ladder bars tacked together. We used 7/8" .156" wall DOM steel tubing. I had a local machine shop tap one end of each of the tubes for the clevises we would use to mount them to the ladder bar mounts. You can see I am using the ol' drill bit trick to make sure I have the gussets centered.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/0320121126a.jpg

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3703.jpg
Welding up the front mounts for the ladder bars. Sorry about the mess everything is getting packed up for the move.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3750.jpg
Rear mounts all smoothed up and welded in.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3739.jpg

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3746.jpg
The front mounts along with my fancy homemade slip joint yoke.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3747.jpg

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3744.jpg

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3749.jpg

More to come...

 

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3757.jpg
The body is on!

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3767.jpg
He is using these tires as rollers for now. The plan is to run some nice and tall bias plys later on down the road.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3768.jpg

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http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3769.jpg
I had to notch the channeled body to clear the new cross member I made

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3754.jpg

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http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/IMG_3766.jpg
We are going to trailer it back to his house so he can sort out a few things and so I can move into our new place. Next up will be the front end and steering.

 

Cool little rig, I have a soft spot for Modified's.

Nice work.

Pete-

 

Thanks Pete!! It means a lot coming from somebody like you. I love your Caddy powered roadster.

 

Lookin' good! I have to do basically the same on a customers Model "A" in the next couple of weeks. Good to see you guys back on it, I know Mike is gettin' antsie!

 

man thats awesome!! I love modifieds!

 

Never met a DeSoto I didn't like. What great lines on that cowl and the belt line. Grill shell rocks! Awesome build dude. ~sololobo~

 

Nice work. I am currently working on a 33 Plymouth for a friend.

 

Nice chassis design. That seems like it will handle really well with the "front/mid engine" layout.

 

That is a great little tub, i don't think i've ever seen a desoto tub before. Was it a touring car?
I like your bracketry, great proportion and symetry.

 

I really like this thing! Looking good! And that DeSoto cowl has some nice lines to it, also. Looks like fun!

 

It started out life as a 4 door sedan.

 

nice job man

 

looks like it will be a fun little ride!! Nice job

 

Thanks for all the comments everyone!! The last few weeks have been busy to say the least moving into our "new" home. I just have few crappy cell phone shots when we moved the modified back to Mike's house till I get set up.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/0324121603a.jpg

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee520/bryantcustomcycle/DeSorta Modified/0324121603.jpg
The new house!

The new shop! It is small but period correct - plus there is plenty of room to expand things a bit.


Mike I don't know if you have already but you should post some photos of the body in progress when Dondanno had it.

 

Congrats Man! That looks like my little shop about twenty years ago... Before the "patina"!!

 

Solid dudes! I've been having fun watching this "thread" hash out in person. Can't wait to see that modified rip outta that little garage!

 

Cool shots Wes! Thanks for those.

Here are photos I found on the HAMB of the body in a previous life and mock up. This thing gets around.

 

Hey Mike! Been meaning to answer your P.M. all weekend, but between finishing out a model "A", wiring a '34 p/u and louvering a pile of stuff before roundup didn't find the time. My springs for Judy's wagon came out good, still not happy weith the price though. We do have another possibility in town so if you come up we'll hit both.

 

Thanks Chip. I might have a buyer for my spring here locally and in that case I will just put that money towards the correct posies spring. If that doesn't work out I will definitely make a trip up there and get a new main leaf made for this one, that would be cool to finally meet you in person and check out that other spring shop!

I wish I could go to the roundup! Have fun.