Thread: Brand Spankin' New!

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Originally Posted by stovens

These are in your neck of the woods and probably in your price range,
https://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/5162081149.html

You're joking, right? $3K to spend on a finished, running, driving project?

You and I know once you start your budget changes, but these are no different than what he wanted to begin with.

Originally Posted by stovens

You and I know once you start your budget changes, but these are no different than what he wanted to begin with.

Yeah, OK, and we were also telling him that $3K was a ridiculous number to consider as a total. Sometimes you need to look at the reality before you waste money buying a project, only to have to sell for dimes on a dollar when it stalls out. Obviously I'm looking at it wrong, so I'll back away and say, "Best of luck, in whatever project you choose."

Ok, it would seem things have changed again and I am now the proud owner of a 1954 Desoto Firedome 4.5L 276cid V8 Hemi. Not what I was looking for but happened to fall into my lap, so i went with it. From what I understand this engine is one of the first hemi's. Originally I was looking for something to throw and engine and transmission on but in this case I would like to keep everything as original as I can, Which is already proving difficult. I've already had to have the starter rebuilt and I'm working on redoing all the cars original wiring since its all over 60 years old. I would like to keep it a 6 volt system instead of a 12 v conversion though I would like to hear your thoughts on that. I'm also currently looking for parts such as the spark plug wire covers that say Firedome on them, A driver side door, The hood badge, the oil bath carb filter, spark plug wires (can I use any kind or should I look for something specific) I already bought the reapir manual and I'm hoping it will contain some part numbers to make my search a little easier. here are some pics, let me know what you think

Cool car and one of my favorite engines, my thoughts are forget a frame swap, your frame fits on this one and fits one of the best motors ever made in my opinion, keep in mind the words HEMI do not have much in common with the word cheap, anyway sort or how but they are amazing motors. If suspension is a worry consider a front ifs kit that fits otherwise just rebuild the factory (add disc brakes). Chrysler introduced the Hemi in 1951 so not the first years just a early hemi.
My other thoughts are if you did not spend your whole 3k budget go snag a cheap cavalier or grand am or something to get you around for a grand and take your time on this dandy instead of tinkering with a daily driver with no backup ride. Your parts can be found easily by advertising on the Hot Heads swap meet web site. Yes I would convert to 12 volts, heck anything generally that old needs rewired usually, insulation on the old wiring is generally degraded before now and most problems are electrical gremlins anyway and if new you know the wiring and you know its right, buy a nice kit and its money well spent. Check out Speedway motors for RUNTZ to convert the gauges Check out hotheads for your plug wires and engine needs as well, I am not an all original fan and thats just my choice, to me hot rodded is the way to go always, and with the Firedome in it your already there! The only other thing I would do is not call that beauty a 4.5 liter, that possibly could confuse one with a newer metric hemi, kinda like confusing Harry Truman with our current administration (not that the newer hemi is all bad either) Congrats nice find...

I don't plan on swapping the frame on the Desoto since its in good shape, a bit of surface rust but nothing terrible. I would like to add disc brakes but have never done a job like that so I wouldn't know where to start. Staying true to my budget means I have about a grand left to play with. realistically I expect to spend a bit more. I'm a dreamer but not a dunce. My original 3k budget was to build a minimalist rat rod but since this project fell in my lap I'm now going in another direction. I'm not worried about having a daily driver right now because the shop is close to me and I don't really have an urgent need for a vehicle. I would love to turn this car into a daily/highway ready car, Not just for me but for anyone I happen to sell the car to. I want them/me to be able to enjoy this car on the road. Things that keep me up at night? I've never wired a car, I took a wiring course at a tech school for mechanics but that was a long time ago and I never used the information in practice. I've also never dealt with drum brakes or having to convert them, pointing me in the right direction for my make and model would be greatly appreciated. I'd also like to hear any ideas you guys might have on how you would complete this project even if it doesnt fit in my vision i still like hearing about what other people would do, its a kind of inspiration. Looking forward to reading more from everyone, I will keep everyone posted with more pics.

On learning to wire a car, (As a good friend says too me a lot) you won't learn any younger! Get a couple of automotive wiring books and read and understand them, then a reputable kit (with tech support) its really nothing to sweat! The thousands they sell everyyear are not to electricians I promise.

I used American Autowire. Great tech support, and supper easy to follow instructions with wiring set up in packets per electric system of car. Also you don't have extra wires hanging out of the harness, as in this kit you connect and wire what you need. If later you decide to add, no problem just pull out the wiring package for that system! It really does take the guess work out of it!
American Autowire: Wiring Harnesses, Accessories, & Parts for GM Restoration, Modified Restoration & Custom Street Rod

Ok, so I've stripped the car down to the bare bones and now I have a wiring harness here and a wiring diagram and it shows the colors of each wire but not the guage, how can I tell what guage wires I need to replace the old cracked ones. I have a digital caliper, no micrometer

When you say that you "...now have a wiring harness here..." do you mean the harness that came out of the car? Do yourself a favor and buy a new harness kit, like those from American AutoWire, Painless, Haywire, Ron Francis and others which come with a pre-wired fuse block and bundles of wires based on "standard" locations - front of car, rear of car, engine, and interior generally. Each conductor will be labeled with the device it feeds, and the gauge of the wires is already taken care of based on the load on each circuit, or the number of circuits being fed and their respective sizes. Trying to re-wire by duplicating the old harness and bulk wire is asking for failure, and maybe even a future fire.

I think yer preachin to deaf ears Roger

Originally Posted by DA34GUY

I think yer preachin to deaf ears Roger

Yeah, I guess I forgot. I should have gone back through the posts and I would have seen #18 where I backed away earlier. Sorry to have bothered you, PoorInMiami.

To judge wire gauge, a pair of wire strippers are the tool to use. Just cut the old wire, and strip off some insulation from the end. Then see which hole in the stripper matches up to the copper wire. (Wire gauge refers to the copper, not the insulation).

Good secure connections are easily made with solder and shrink wrap. Crimp connectors are quick and easy, but you need a quality ratcheting crimper. Anywhere moisture will get, you'll need the connectors with shrink wrap on their ends, but it is cheaper to solder and shrink, as those waterproof crimp connectors are expensive.

They have some cool crippers with solder in there for a soldered joint once the wire is crimped, you hit it with the iron, and then flame the housing to get the shrink wrap tight around the wire, saw some at Napa auto parts a few years ago!

https://www.calcentron.com/Pages/ele...connectors.php