New build thread; 48 Plymouth

[bluestang67]

Falcon as always some great work nice to have some good ole hands getting involved huh!!

Your wife is going to love this car for sure , But I bet you have some play time behind the wheel of it also .

[falconvan]

Thanks, Bobby; we're planning on doing some traveling in this baby. We've been looking at magazine pictures of the Hot Rod Power Tour long enough; we're ready to go on one of those long multi state cruises.

I figure if you build a car for your wife, you have to turn around and build yourself something afterwards, right?

[Dave Severson]

Looks a lot better, should work out fine for you Falcon!

[falconvan]

I think it will, Dave. Hopefully we'll see some primer on this thing before too long. Once we have the main body primered it's time to get the chassis lined out. I'd really love to hear the motor start by the end of summer.

[falconvan]

After a week off we're back on it; we've got the A pillar welded in and i gathered up the doors, fenders, trunk lid, and inner fender wells to take to the blaster tomorrow. Should have all that back in a week. I also found a company called Champion that makes an aluminum radiator specifically for the 46-48 Plymouths. This is really a slick piece.

[Dave Severson]

A bolt in radiator for a Plymouth???? Be right back, gotta check the rule book, I think that's cheating!!!!

[falconvan]

I was pretty shocked myself, Dave. Not much new stuff out there for the old Mopars.

[TooMany2count]

I was pretty shocked myself, Dave. Not much new stuff out there for the old Mopars.

And Champion Radiators are inexpensive, I think it's like $220 for the one for my Panel/Bus. Hell thats cheaper then what I can buy one for my old daily driver for. AND they are made here right in the good o'USA...joe

[moparjack44]

A bolt in radiator for a Plymouth???? Be right back, gotta check the rule book, I think that's cheating!!!!

Ain't that the truth? I don't even like to think about what it cost me to have one made for my 48 DeSoto about 10 years ago

[stovens]

There is a great place in Superior Michigan, that will custom make radiators to fit old car, but to your modern specs and need out of aluminium. I had one made for my 460 in my 48 ford truck, with a built in trans coolers, for about 250.00 It is rated for up to 600 hp motor for cooling. There are places out there you just have to do the leg work! It's great when you can find one for an old rare application that bolts right in!

[falconvan]

yeah, totally unexpected to find one but a nice bonus. Only $210!

[falconvan]

I actually got to spend a whole day on this myself for a change! My body guy is still going strong; he's got a skim coat of filler on the quarter and the A-pillar fix is done. Still haven't got my parts back from the blaster. This guy is good, cheap, but he takes forever. Hopefully he'll get them done this week. I got my brackets for the rack n pinion tacked in and did a test fit on the drive train. At first it looked like the oil pan wasn't going to clear so I re read the directions and ended up moving the rack mounts down 2". Now were getting close. Looks like I'm going to need a different trans cross member. I've got a 3" drop but I'm going to need a 2" to get the drive line angles right. But at least I'm making progress; that feels pretty good.

[Dave Severson]

Going to fit in there just fine Falcon! Who makes the rack kit for the car?

[falconvan]

Fatman's sells a kit where you use a Cavalier rack and tie rods, 2wd Explorer tie rod ends, and they send you adapters for the tie rods and the mounting plates for the rack plus a steering ujoint.

[Dave Severson]

Looks like it fits good, and what I can see of the tie rods they appear to be fairly flat...should work good! A rack makes these old cars steer so nice!