Technically I guess I have started this project so I figured I would go ahead and start a thread on it. This one is a 40 Desoto coupe that a found a few years ago. Mostly complete with a little tornado damage on the roof. Wish I would have found it before that happened. A tree blew over and made a glancing blow on the side of the car and wrinkled the roof and wiped out a hard to find piece of quarter trim. The motor is still in it and it appears it was running until the clutch went out. Someone pulled the transmission and it’s in the trunk along with the new clutch parts. I guess it didn’t get done quick enough and the motor locked up from sitting. Shortly after buying the car I spotted a 56 Desoto 330 hemi at a swap meet. Couldn’t pass that up so I bought it and have been collecting some missing parts for it. Just recently found a flywheel for it. I didn’t realize how hard those are to find. Up until putting the flywheel on I couldn’t get the motor to spin. So this weekend I put that on and started trying to get some movement. Still wouldn’t budge. It’s had MMO soaking in the cylinders for quite awhile. So my backup plan went into action. I did a thanksgiving hemi roast. As soon as the block started warming up it broke loose and spins fairly easily. MMO does amazing things on warm motors. Next step is to find a starter and a carb and get this thing to run. Stay tuned!
I found the carb that goes to this motor. Didn’t even remember it coming with one. So now I just need a starter.
Hilarious...and genius. I'm gonna remember that one. "MMO does amazing things for a WARM engine." Couldn't figure out what the f you were doing...lol. Oh...the coupe's gonna be be cool...
Anyone know how common the dual point distributors were? This motor has one and I need tune up parts. One set of points is broken and so is the rotor. The cap seems pretty easy to find.
I looked there but they didn’t list the dual points. Are Chrysler’s the same? Seems like everything else is different between Desoto and Chrysler.
Brilliant! Rod nuts roasting on an open fire. Crankshaft dripping at the throws.. Bet that smelled tasty.
10 minutes Later... Joking aside @txturbo I really like the early 40s Chrysler Coupes look forward to your project...
Back to Rock Auto parts, looks like 56-57 Chrysler and DeSoto use the same distributor cap & rotor. I don't know about the points. I have a lot of 55-56 Chrysler distributors, . . . is there anything I can check on them for you ?
You have dual point distributors? Mine is an autolite and I found a set of points for dual point on Napa’s site but it said for IBS distributor. If you have a dual and single point rotor can you compare and see if they are the same?
It’s got a big ass.....I think it’s the same though. You could hide a 500 Cadillac and transaxle in that trunk.....if you were into that kind of thing
I really like the style of the old Mopar's so I couldn't help but play around with the photo you posted. Here's a couple of renderings that might offer you some inspiration . One is basically stock bodied and the other has a mild chop.
Nice....but I doubt I will be going the shiny route. I’ll probably just leave the body as is. If I do ever put any paint on it I think I’ll go black primer