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

Ooooohhhh, really? I'd be interested, at least in the front, I don't know if the wagon would accept a sedan rear, but it's worth a shot. PM me about those too...

 

This project is all up in the air. Borrowed a second old Blackhawk bumper lift jack from my buddy and got 'er up off the ground to start deconstructing. It's super solid underneath, body has been off, all new body insulators, frame painted, new brake lines, fuel lines, wagon only tank looks great, brake booster looks like brand new. Somebody out there wants and needs all this restored MOPAR stuff, where should I look to try to make sure it gets a good home? Any ideas?

 

Hey Brian you sure don't waste any time! If this thing turns out 1/2 as nice as your Pontiac it'll be a show stopper. H.a.m.b. Classifieds or Hemmings the unwanted Moparts will find the right home. I think in 2005? Ford 8.8 went from 28 spline to 31 spline...might keep that in mind when getting a TX axle. Can't wait to see the progress!

 

Explorer axles are 31 spline from at least the mid '90s and possibly a few years earlier.

 

@FlynBrian ......looking at the photo the front wheel bolt pattern looks like the 5.5" bolt pattern vs the more common 4.5" pattern. That 5.5" pattern was used on Imperials, New Yorkers, Suburbans and the wagons. Those wheels could/would be useful for early Ford applications.

Love your repowering plan.....

Ray

 

Thanks Ray! I'm really excited about it, and my wife is 100% with everything, which makes it easy to justify big packages arriving every day, and piles of receipts! Hmmm, I'd better check that bolt pattern out. I didn't even really look , did not know wagons used a larger bolt pattern! I'm doing the front end too (Morrison), so I can make both ends match no matter what, but I was going to use the original wheels, but that shoots that plan. I'm definitely using the DeSoto wheel covers, so a little wider wheel wouldn't be a problem at all. I have 3 15" Ford rims, just need a 4th, extras from our son's Galaxie wagon. I assumed 4 on 4.5, but you know what happens when we assume...

 

LOL!!

 

There's no accounting for taste...

 

You da man!!

 

That one is mine.....it’s now completed with a 440 and GM 4L70 e trans. If I can be of any help, just give me a call


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This guy is selling a lifetime collection of Chryslers and Desotos
https://www.nelsonvintagecarsandantiqueparts.com/

 

Exactly my thoughts.

 

a bit late but congrats to your new ride, Brian, i'm sure this one heals the loss.
Nice car, man.

 

If you're looking to offload some of that Mopar stuff, the https://p15-d24.com/ site might have more people into those cars than we have here.

 

Not to beat it to death, but I would ask to get behind the wheel of one of your friends wagons. It's going to feel quick and nimble but a 500 mile trip will feel like 1K. If you still insist on a after market cradle/crossmember consider a FatMan, the metal thickness is at least a 1/4" (or used to be anyway). I follow & enjoy your builds and trust that you investigate "things" fully, so not trying to be a dick!

 

Looks like a moderator has stepped in and wiped out a post or 2, I was only trying to help with a subject that I thought was a safety issue and needed more thought. Obviously I should have kept my opinion's to myself! smilyface!

 

Nice choice, Brian! That is going to make one cool ride !

 

I got some shiney stuff in the mail today! Gravel guards here and are decent. I can hardly wait for the Imperial grill bar!

 

I could do this...


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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ YES!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

I like that!

 

Altitude adjustment. Never mind the Salt Flats wheel, I swiped that from the T'Bird to get rid of the GIANT H7815 trailer tires that were on the front end.

 

Safety First! I used the car's original "Safety Clutch" pedal pad on the new hanging pedal. 47 years ago, when I was in high school, I had a '41 Chrysler sedan with that same pedal, connected to the clutch ahead of the awful "Fluid Drive" and "Vacu-Matic" transmission. I hated it at the time, because my buddies all had cars that were capable of getting out of their own way, but I remember it now as being kind of fun. At least it wasn't my parents hand-me-down 4 door sedan. I fixed it up, rebuilt the 241 with 250 truck pistons, had the head milled and painted the car. The transmission was the weakest link, it didn't shift right. The back seat in the car was huge...

Notice the wiring, my specialty. In my defense, this is how the car arrived, with a spanking new replacement harness partially installed and bits hanging under the dash. I'll finish it up and use it, the guy paid almost a grand for the (really nice) linen wrapped wire harness, so, I figure I owe him that much.

 

Brian,

While I've never been a big fan of the early 50's Dodge/Chrysler/DeSoto wagon's body style,
the Woody treatment changes ALL of that... don't know exactly why, but it REALLY makes those lines flow!!!

GO FOR IT!,

Bill (aka, Mac the Yankee)

 

Bill, I showed that picture to my wife, all excited about it, she was not just cool to the idea, but frozen. "Nope. I don't like that, and, it's my car." LOL, so, no woodgrain for us on this one. I have to admit that studying it, I kinda agree that it makes it sort of chopped up looking. I tried though...

 

No matter what, the wife is always right!

With that said, secretly, I also really like the woodie treatment on that car!

 

Conversation with wife. What do you want to eat are burgers Ok no, tacos no, subway no. What do you want? Wife what ever you want dear.

 

I think the right color combo and the skirts will give you that look anyway, still cool!

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