New build thread; 48 Plymouth

[falconvan]

I'm really enjoying the old truck I just finished; my wife and i took it to the car show last week and most people had a lot of good things to say. I've been driving it a lot on the weekends without any problems. The plan was to sell it in the fall and start on the Plymouth but I just cant stand not working out there. So I'm starting a build thread on it just to keep myself organized and to get some input from you guys. That keeps me motivated more than anything. The latest plan goes like this; the frame is pretty much done although after having the front end setup looked at by a reputable shop, it looks like I'm going to have to redo the rack & pinion. They said the type of rack I used and the way I've got it mounted is going to create bumpsteer problems. So I'm going to try a kit from Fatman's fabrications. Engine is going to be a 5.3 Gen III Chevy with a MSD/Edelbrock intake and ignition kit for a carb conversion. Probably a bigger cam and some headers. Trans is a 700r4. Were thinking a 05' Mustang Redfire exterior, tan interior, and A/C. The body is coming off of the frame tomorrow and onto the body cart, soon to head to the media blaster. I'm hanging onto the four door body to use for patch panels as the floor need attention. I sold a bunch of the four door stuff and have a car fund going. I'll still sell the truck this fall to add to the fund, but I'm having too much fun with it right now. So here we go, I'm going to shoot for about an 18 month completion date.

[Itoldyouso]

I love Plymouths of that era, really pretty cars. Your frame is looking good, and from the sounds of your plans the whole car is going to be sharp. Looking forward to following your build up.

Don

[stovens]

We need more builders to start threads, to motivate us slow types to work harder. Looking foward to your posts.

[falconvan]

Thanks for the encouraging words, guys. Always a big help. I got up early this morning and finished pulling the body. This is NOT an OSHA approved pulling method but I managed to get it pulled and mounted on the cart without killing myself or dropping the car. As you can see, the floors need help but at least the trunk is solid. Just the opposite on the four door body; the trunk is gone and the floors are great. I should be able to make one good one from both. I don't know how much i'll be able to do on this for the next month or so. Our Florida vacation is coming up and there's just a lot going on but I wanted to get it to this point so I can sell the old chassis and just generally make some more room. I still have to put interior in my son's Firebird over the summer and now I got talked into putting a new motor in my daughters boyfriends Grand Am so he can have it for college in the fall. But I'll get in what I can and hopefully hit it harder this fall.

[35fordcoupe]

i pulled my body off like that and wasn't quite so successful . funny how we can look back months later an laugh at the fact we cost ourselves hundreds or thousands because of a dumb mistake .

looks good so far. hopefully you find it goes together as well for you as the truck did

[falconvan]

i pulled my body off like that and wasn't quite so successful . funny how we can look back months later an laugh at the fact we cost ourselves hundreds or thousands because of a dumb mistake .

looks good so far. hopefully you find it goes together as well for you as the truck did

Hundreds I could probably laugh at; thousands would be tough. What happened to yours? I hope it comes out good, too. I have a bad habit of changing my mind about how to build it halfway through. It's completely different than the original idea I started with over a year ago. Must.....stay....focused......

[bluestang67]

I pulled mine like that and its alot lighter then both of those and I shut my eyes and pray .

Falcon that coupe looks great and a good thing you have some parts . A shame though you have to do surgery on the sedan for them .

35 hope it didnt get hurt bad .

[falconvan]

nfhegbnjmmd

[falconvan]

I pulled mine like that and its alot lighter then both of those and I shut my eyes and pray .

Falcon that coupe looks great and a good thing you have some parts . A shame though you have to do surgery on the sedan for them .

35 hope it didnt get hurt bad .

One must die so others may live............

[falconvan]

Thats a serious bummer, 35Ford. Kudos for not giving up right there. That's a great looking job, moparme. Where did you get that firewall panel? I really tried to stay away from it until fall but it just kept pulling at me. I saw a guy with a 40 Ford at the local Arby's and was checking out his LS1 carburator conversion kit. Very cool...I couldn't hold back after that.

[moparme]

Thats a serious bummer, 35Ford. Kudos for not giving up right there. That's a great looking job, moparme. Where did you get that firewall panel? I really tried to stay away from it until fall but it just kept pulling at me. I saw a guy with a 40 Ford at the local Arby's and was checking out his LS1 carburator conversion kit. Very cool...I couldn't hold back after that.

Thanx, I got the metal in 14-16 ga steel, 4'x8' sheets cut in 1/2 to transport home in the Subaru. I cut all the pieces w/cutoff wheels. I was takin my time. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do before I cut it out and came up with nothing. So I went and cut it out and damn if I didn't have a ton of Ideas after that. So there it is. Templates were made from cardboard. It Just got easier the further I went. You'll see. When you are in over your head, You'll know what to do. If you really want it, You'll make it happen. you wait and see. I am glad I did mine. no regrets at all.
Bryan

[falconvan]

Nice job; not sure I want to replace the whole firewall or not. I'll have to see what it looks like when it comes back from the media blaster.

[tinlizzy]

Nice article on how to do a plymouth. Will watch closely. I am negoiating for a 46 2 door. My concern is the bottom panels between the rear fender and trunk lid as they are rusted up pretty good and I am no body man. Not sure at this point how bad it is as all things have been done over the phone with email pics. May be into the trunk lip as well. I have seen new floor pans on ebay to redo the entire floor and I will probably need them as well. Good luck on your project. I have a 48 dodge pick up that is a current project. Other will be me my retirement present to me.
Lee

[falconvan]

Nice to meet you, Lee. Good luck on getting the 46; I've found good and bad about these cars. The good is that they're not as popular as Chevys and Fords of the 40's so you can buy the cars and used parts much cheaper than Chevys or Fords. The bad news is that they're not as popular as Chevys or Fords of the 40's so companies that make reproduction sheet metal are few and far between and they really get top dollar for them. But there are still a lot of donor cars out there; check Ebay and www.P15-D24.com for parts. Good luck, let me know if I can be of any help!

[falconvan]

Looks like it'd make a cool treehouse for the grandkids, Joe!