My friend just purchased this 1953 Dodge Coronet today. It has a 241 Red Ram hemi, 3 speed with overdrive and overall looks very original and complete. It does have some rust in the rockers and rear quarters but that can all be patched. The plan is to get it running and driving and cleaned up and then go from there. Should be a fun project, however im having a little trouble finding parts for it. Anyone know of some places to look?
That's a nice looking survivor there. Get it safe and throw a mexican blanket on the seat and have a ball. I am not a Mopar guy but that one is pretty special.
ditto on the just fixing it up and getting it safe then driving the wheels off it. maybe add a little more hop to the hemi to make it a semi sleeper?
That's pretty much the plan. Make sure the brakes and suspension is up to par and clean up the interior and rewire it from the pos ground 6 volt to 12 and then maybe a 3x2 carb set up and a little bigger cam on the motor. Nothing to crazy.
You need to be more specific with "parts". Put "Hemi Tech Index" in search & start reading. There's a 241 build at www.webrodder.com. Upgrade the brakes. A lot of Threads on late 40s-54 Mopars on here.
Coronet 53 is my favorit car. I have mine for 25+ years now and its mechaniks is moore and less stock. Its not a rocket but i easily cruise in 55-60 all day long without complaining. I think its fantastic that a 60 year old car still is funktionel in todays traffic. A overdrive is however something i would like to have. Its a nightmare to adjust the brakes but if you know how to do it they are amazingly good. And i have keep the 6V becouse i know its twise as good as 12V. They do de same job.
my father had one of these he pulled the hemi and installed a dual quad 318 poly engine I would have loved cruising woodward in it with him
2 door 53 Dodge, with hemi and overdrive, that's a great combination. One of the hotter performing cars of 53 and gets great mileage on regular gas. Andy Bernbaum auto parts is the Mopar specialist. Lots of things like brake parts, spark plugs, fan belts etc available at your local NAPA store if they can find the part number to order them. Then there's Roberts Motor Parts, they have some old Dodge stuff.
I've had my best luck finding original parts on ebay. Some mechanical items are available at local auto parts stores. If looking for side trim or sheet metal parts, keep in mind that Dodge had two different wheelbases in 53. Four & two-door sedans & wagons were built on the longer chassis; two door hardtops, wagons & convertibles on the short chassis, so not everything is interchangeable. My first car was a 53, so they rank high with me.
As mentioned, the brakes are a PITA, both to rebuild and to adjust. If they need much of anything then think real hard about a front disc swap (www.rustyhope.com) and a newer rear axle like a Cherokee or Exploder. .
good catch there....from the many I've seen - a three speed standard is a little rarer as I've seen many an auto....one with an ODrive....that's a rarer beast....good luck with it !!!
Yeah, there is a running driving one at the end of my street for sale, guy can't seem to give it away.
What do you mean? If you want to know if the springs are the same the answer is no. If you want to know if you could somehow hodge podge them together, maybe. If you need new springs just buy them from a spring shop. Last set I bought, 3 or 4 years ago was around $230 installed. If that seems a lot, remember you only have to replace them every 50 to 100 years.
Springs must be a weak point with these cars. My RR spring sags about 1" lower than the right. May have a broken leaf, but the cover is still on so I haven't gotten around to tearing into it. According to notes in the shop manual I got from the original owner's family, the LR was replaced in the late fifties with one from a junk yard, and it's fine. Again, because it's a short wheelbase car, it takes a different spring assembly than the sedans.
If you store the car in the winter jack it up so the weight is off the springs and they will last 100 years. Today's money saving tip.
Interesting,, I recently got a '53 DeSoto 2 door, 276, 3sp./OD, one owner, exellent shape except for brakes. Figure a 100% redo. From my recent experience,(yesterday) I would suggest drilling out the rivets on the rear drums, don't fight the hub puller thing. The rivet hole is perfect size for 3/8-24. Be careful to keep the drum holes clearanced real close as they locate the drum......I'll bet it needs king pins too,, ..Looks like a bit of work ahead there, stay with it,,,
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