Projects Plymouth Business Coupe '47 Build

I like it!

 

Wow! I'm sure glad my '47 Ply didn't come as a basket case. This thread has me stoked about looking for a donor car for mine though. It's cool to drive it as a flathead, but I did that for 60,000 miles. been there--done that.

I want to rod this car, and no doubt & I'm intrigued about your choice of power plant.

I might go for something equally odd though.

Your talk of propane reminds me how glad I am that I moved to the desert. I lived in the great frozen north for enough years as a kid to get the desire for snow all out of my system.

 

Looking great! Where did you get the wiper motor from?

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The wiper motor came from Newport Engineering. It fit perfect with all the correct brackets. Simple wiring, new bushings for arms. It runs smooth.

 

This is why I joined this site. I got my '48 for $700 and its mostly complete. Missing the grille and a few dash pieces but other than that its all there. Only rust is front floorboards and rear quarter panels at the very bottom. I'm subscribed and once I start building mine I will be referring to your build a lot. I just got a complete 1966 383 for it and fitting that will be fun. Hopefully I wont need a frame stub. Any tips or advice would be really helpful as well. I'm doing everything myself unless I don't feel comfortable doing it.

 

Thank-you for your service vcustoms86. Steering box on stock frame will be a major headache for you...383 oil filter position as well I believe. Glad you're trying to keep it all MoPar. Lots of threads in the forums re: Plymouth. Best of luck, we'll be looking for your build.

 

Thank you for your support honeyman. I was reading up on the steering box. I know keeping it all Mopar will be a bit harder but I like a challenge. I understand people like the SBC but every other rod I see is powered by a 350. I want to be different. Now to find an a-833 or a 727. Plus I'm not sure on what rear I can use. Also don't know how well the stock front will like the 383. This thread will be a lot of help once the weather stays warm. I can't wait to start.

 

Great just what I need another guy trying to buy the same front end trim I need...LOL! Enjoy. I'm running a sbc in mine but I think there's someone on here who ran a remote oil filter on the 383 with the stock box.

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LOL no I have a few ideas to make my own grille. Dont worry. You get first dibs.

 

I have all the chrome trim off the nose of a 48 Plymouth laying around, except the headlight rings. I'm not going to use any of it. Some pieces may need straightening, the pot metal is pitted, and the clips will not be good. Send me a PM if your interested. I also have nearly all the side trim for a business coupe as well. Gene

 

Since I made the seats thought I would finish up the doors and rear side panels.
Like most vintage cars look a bit worn out.

First I stripped off the old material and cotton batting. Took some new water-board and made copies of the old panels. Make sure to test fit them on the car, they always need a bit of trimm





ing.

 

To give it a little padding I used 1/2" sew foam. Easy to glue to the board and or sew to the cloth. Always use a punch to cut the holes in the panel board, not a drill. I use these old Chrysler clips versus the plastic christmas trees. You can slip them in after the fabric is glued on and also they don't show through the foam.

 

The door is made up of three panels, each made separately.

Pretty much step by step here.
Center Panel: Glued the foam to the center panel, marked and sewed the pleats through the foam. Now have the center door panel.

Bottom Panel. Glued the foam to the board. Sewed the burgandy material to the center panel.

For the top panel and made another panel out of waterboard and glued 1/4" foam to the board. I them wrapped it with the light gray material.
Glued this panel to the main door component.

Top and bottom done, jsut need to lay in the center panel.

 

Here is the finished product. I use Vicars Landau parts for the chrome trim. They are aluminum so scratch easy (blue tape). They have small plastic clips and bolt on from the back. Can also order end caps to trim them off. I covered the door pulls and using aluminum cranks.

 

Your interior work made me start thinking about my Dodge. I've got an industrial sewing machine I've never tried out. Good job.

 

The door went pretty fast, so I slowed down and took a few more pictures of the side panels. This may help understand how it went together.

Again original panel, copied in water board.
Laid out components, board, top and bottom fabric, and foam.

 

Very nice work!

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Side Panel:
Lightly glue the fabric to the foam. One way to do this is to double it back on itself so you don't get glue on the fabric.

Mark your pattern and then sew on the lines.

Sew the bottom panel to the center section, fold it over and then top stitch it.

 

Almost done. I Lay out the panel to see how it fits. You then need to trim the foam off the back of the fabric. This is the only way it will fold over and trim our properly.

Spray on the glue and fit the top.

Completed Panel, ready to install.

 

How heavy-duty of a sewing machine would you need to tackle something like this? Would an old Singer off Craigslist do the job or would it choke?

 

Now having industrial sewing machine envy. Also for the panel making & sewing skills shown here. This is gonna look sweet inside.

 

I have been sewing boat and car seats for 20 years. I had an old singer treadle machine converted to a electric motor that I used up to a few years ago. For auto work you really need a "walking foot" machine. It holds well with bulky fabric and foam. Make it much easier to keep the stitches straight. For part time work like I do you can buy a machine for about $600 new on ebay. I picked up an new econosew that has worked very well. If you think about it one project pays for the machine.

 

Well I like the way the upholstery is coming out so far. Very tasteful.

 

Duke460,

Hello. I just read your thread from the beginning, and your project is impressive! We continue to learn from each other as we solve the problems of these builds.

Keep up the great work with your son, I'm sure the memories of the build will not fade as time passes.

I will follow your build for sure. I Subscribed to your thread!

 

I keep the interior close to original. Gray pinstripe seat fabric with gray trim and burgandy lower trim was the way the car was built. Headliner is beige, Art Deco style. Thought it was strange until I laid out the colors together. Looks pretty good.

Warming up here, putting the snow plow away. Started wood forms to reshape the rear fender openings. Will post updates soon.

 

I love this build! Nice work.

 

Interior work is very nice...good on ya!!!

 

Back working on the Plymouth after a 3 year park. Lost my H.A.M.B. access and would let me sign into my old address. Will be posting soon to this new account

 

Nice to see you back!

 

Looking forward to see how this goes. Hope to be inspired to get back to mine.