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Customs Wagon hunt may be OVER!!! 1952 DeSoto wagon is HOME!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by flynbrian48, Jan 11, 2020.

  1. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    Thanks, I'm putting off wire-brushing or sandblasting the floor pans until I can pull it out side and do it outdoors. I have POR15 black to paint it with, I just don't want all that dirt and dust in the shop. I'm waiting on the radiator to arrive to be able to fire it up, as I want to let it run for a few minutes. I can get the exhaust done to where I need the mufflers, still waiting for those too.
     
  2. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    IMG_0751.JPG IMG_0753.JPG IMG_0752.JPG

    I have the left side figured out. Getting around the shock, gas tank, tire and spring was a challenge, but the hardest part I think is figuring out where and how to mount the hangers. (Note the plastic banding is to mock up and hold the very end)


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  3. rockable
    Joined: Dec 21, 2009
    Posts: 4,430

    rockable
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    On my 49 Chevy wagon, I had to go under the rear axle after lowering it. The odd OE fuel tank just makes it impossible to do otherwise. Since i only have about 2 or 3 inches of suspension droop, it works ok.

    Good luck!
     
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  4. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    I ranthe straight pipes on the '34 under the axle and tank, and my '36 was done that way as well, but this car I want them out the back, over the axle and around the tank. I like to make things as complicated and expensive as possible...:p
     
  5. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    IMG_0758.JPG IMG_0757.JPG

    Making the pipes turns out to be the easy part. Hanging them is the hard part.


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    Attached Files:

  6. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    That's a gorgeous wagon! Excellent work; thanks for responding to mine Desoto so I could find yours.
     
  7. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    IMG_0832.JPG IMG_0830.JPG IMG_0844.JPG IMG_0845.JPG

    Latest on the wagon: evidently, I’m incapable of accuracy while measuring. Somehow I got the spindle centerline wrong in the suspension, and the front wheels are a skosh further forward than the should be. The core support IS correct, but I have an extra inch of wheelbase.

    So I moved the wheel opening. Front lip an inch, the fear I brought forward 2 1/2”, to tighten the opening up around the wheel. I’m also filling extra holes in the fender where the trim mounted, not using the original teeth and fender spears.

    I got a wiring harness and fuse panel from Speedway and have that started. The car came with a new, correct linen wrapped harness in a box, but half a dozen in line fuses under the dash is not up to par...

    IMG_0821.JPG

    The original gauges I sent to be restored, after you guys talked me out of modern ones that don’t fit just right. Cost is about the same.


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  8. Peanut 1959
    Joined: Oct 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,179

    Peanut 1959
    Member

    Who are you using for the gauge rebuild, and what will it entail?
     
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  9. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    Instrument Service Inc, in IL. Electronic speedo, ammeter to voltmeter, water temp to electric, new fuel gauge. About the same as new gauges. I think these are ‘54’s, I like them better than the ‘52’s.


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  10. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    Hideous bumper problem solved. 49 Chevy bumpers, front, at both ends. Available cheap from "Chev's of the 40's". Buh-Bye big ugly bumpers. 98425419_10223429749834566_4664915648365723648_n.jpg 99011040_10223429748714538_3429210435834871808_n.jpg 98159460_10223429747754514_7989770327506812928_n.jpg
     
  11. Nice choice!
     
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  12. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    Now, the pink wire with the black strip goes to the yellow, or the dark blue with tan stripe? 98330214_10223441951499600_5856893588402601984_n.jpg
     
  13. Ohhh I don’t envy you....
     
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  14. Thor1
    Joined: Jun 6, 2005
    Posts: 1,664

    Thor1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Don't let Bob @The37Kid see that! He LOVES automotive electrical and wiring!:confused::eek:o_O:rolleyes::)
     
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  15. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,629

    The37Kid
    Member

    I can smell the burning plastic from here.
     
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  16. Ford blue blood
    Joined: Jan 4, 2009
    Posts: 757

    Ford blue blood
    Member

    Yup, if you let all the smoke out of the wire things no longer work......
     
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  17. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,713

    BamaMav
    Member
    from Berry, AL

    What is the width of those bumpers, fender to fender? I like the looks of them, might consider them for my car if they are wide enough.
     
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  18. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    I'll measure for you later today, but I can tell you the front fits "As-Is", although I'll have to trim the apron, and the rear tucks around the rear fenders without a recess like the Chevy and Pontiac wagons. I'm using two front bumpers because the rear of this DeSoto is rounded, and the GM "Tin Woody" wagons are flat, so the front bumper fits better. It also has a shorter "tail" that wraps around, which is what I HATE about the DeSoto's. Plus the chrome is wasted on 'em...
     
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  19. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    I got a little more done on the wiring today. Happily the car came with a new original style wiring harness that has a schematic, color coded and number on every wire and a key do I could sort out and identify the wiring to the turn signal switch in the column, it'll be easy to splice into the Speedway harness for the GM style column. 101575076_10223583300913247_1468516796733587456_n.jpg 101680855_10223583411556013_5405050543393472512_o.jpg
     
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  20. Don't worry about it Brian, I have a Jar of smoke to replace what you loose. :D HRP

    mail.jpeg
     
  21. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member


    You notice that the replacement smoke was made in England home of lucas electrics. :)
     
  22. Wait, that’s positive ground smoke. If you use that, all of your electrical equipment will work backwards. You will be better off to find the correct smoke. That being a DeSoto, I believe you would need Autolite brand smoke.


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  23. Ford blue blood
    Joined: Jan 4, 2009
    Posts: 757

    Ford blue blood
    Member

    Ah yes... Mr. Lucas, the prince of darkness!
     
  24. Speedwrench
    Joined: Nov 21, 2009
    Posts: 1,032

    Speedwrench
    Member

    Lucas refrigerators - the reason Brits drink warm beer.
     
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  25. 51504bat
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 4,757

    51504bat
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    To use positive ground replacement smoke you just have to reverse it by pouring it out of the bottom of the bottle.
     
  26. j hansen
    Joined: Dec 22, 2012
    Posts: 5,217

    j hansen
    Member

    A Swedish saying,,,,Lucas, the man who invented the darkness.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2020
  27. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,214

    sunbeam
    Member

    Thor1 and loudbang like this.
  28. Hey! I never thought of that! Better not shake up that bottle of smoke than. Lucas=Loose Unsoldered Connections And Splices. The three positions on a Lucas headlight switch= Smoke, Smolder, and Burn.


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  29. Guys, it taxed my ability enough just to wipe the Lucas of the bottle and add the AC trying to make it reverent, you can use the Lucas smoke even though it's bottled in the UK, you just have to stand on the passenger side of the car to add it. HRP
     

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