Project 48 Desoto...aka Fernando.

[thrashingcows]

Well I've been looking or a "Hot Rod" candidate for some time now. I originally wanted to go with a late 20's early 30's mopar but after many shows and talking to owners and checking out cars I decided that my 6'8" and 275lb body just wouldn't be happy in one of those cars.

I had come across the 46-48 Desoto's before and was instantly drawn to grill and body styling. So I decided after looking at a couple similar cars, the Dodge and Plymouth styling was nice but didn't work for me. So I decided I would set my sites on a 46-48 Desoto.

Now the cars came in several different body styles, 2 and 4 dr, sedan and coupe and then you could get a 7 pass limo and a convertible. After much looking and searching I decided that the 2dr coupes didn't work for me.

Here's a 2dr coupe...



I liked the styling of the 4dr sedan but the 4dr wasn't working for me either.



I finally came across a pic of a 2dr sedan, and I instantly feel in love. I now knew what I had to have.

Here's the pic I came across....

[thrashingcows]

So I put out feelers on-line, and combed through the craigslists along the west coast and eventually I was contacted by a few guys with 2dr sedans.

Now the 2dr sedan was a very small production compared to the 4dr sedan and 2dr coupes. From what I have found there were only about 12, 750 units made for 4 years of production. So they are a bit rare.

Now eventually I decided on one particular car from Southern California. Lots of info and pics later I decied to go with this car. And as of right now I have sent a deposit to hold the car and I'm waiting on the title and other papers work.

So here he is...Fernando.

[thrashingcows]

Now the story of Fernando goes like this, so far always...

The fellow I'm getting the car from was looking for the super rare 46-48 Desoto convertible. He eventually found one up in Montana, BUT, he had to buy a "lot" of cars, five to be exact, to get the one convertible he wanted. The lot consisted of the convertible, the 2dr sedan and three 4dr sedans.

He then had to transport them all to southern California. He put the 2 dr sedan in the garage because it was the most complete of the "parts" cars and was virtually rust free. He said it was just too nice a car to part out so when he came across my want ad on craigslist he decided to contact me.

Now I don't have the whole story from him yet onthe history of this car but from what he has said it was an original San Fransisco car and when the original owner passed away it went through a couple of the brothers before it ended up on a farm in Montana. It sat outside for almost 20 years.

The car is rough inside, bu tit only needs a few small patches, mainly the bottom of the spare tire well and a couple spots on the floor boards.

The only major problem is the motor. These cars ran a flathead 6 in them. And when he go the car the head was loose. He never really checked anything since the cars was not his main interest. It wan't unitl he started taking detailed pics for me thathe discovered the problem with the motor.

Here's the motor as it looked when he got it.



Now he decided to pop off the head...and...



Seems to be missing one or two things.

[thrashingcows]

Now Chrysler used the long 25" Flathead six in the Chrysler's and Desoto's. But the US Plymouth's and Dodges got the 23" Flathead. The Canadian Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler and Desoto's all got the 25" Flathead. The only difference was the Cu. in on the dodge and Plymouth.

Right now I'm talking with a couple guys locally who have running motors. One guy has a complete, all accessories and manual 3 speed trans for sale, about $1000.

Here are a couple pics...







I'm leaning towards this one since it's all rebuilt with only a hand full of miles. They redid the motor and tranny, new clutch and everything, then decided to street rod it with a V8 and stuff. This motor also has an added exhaust flange to run dual exhaust.

Another fellow is asking $500 for just a motor, was rebuilt 30K miles ago and has a cracked manifold.

I'm waiting on one other fellow who pulled a complete driveline from a car to do the street rod thing again.

We'll see what happens.

[Fishy]

Shit yeah!!! I would love to have an old 40's-50's car to rod out. Got any design plans for the car yet? Gonna rebuild it or do a custom job on it?

[thrashingcows]

Now my vision for Fernando was/is this.

I want to get it running and driving and safetied so I can get it registered and insured in my province. Once that's done I will probably drive it and enjoy it until I can gather the parts for the work I want to do.

I plan on dropping it several inches, 4-6 to be exact. Fatman has drop spindles and then some shorter springs will bring the front down, then in the back I'll get 2" dropped springs and then lowering blocks?

I want to run wide whites with full wheel covers for now and eventually I'd like to have artillery style rims.

I had originally thought to rebuild and drop my 331 Hemi into the car but after much thinking and research I think, for now, I'm going to stay with the Flathead six. I will probably just get some go quick goodies for it. Multi carb intake, split exhaust manifolds or headers, a high compression head and maybe and HEI dizzy.

Tranny I plan on going with ma' Mopars A833 OD and then a 8 3/4 rear. With lowering the front end I'll also have to run a disc brake conversion since the drop spindles will cause the drums to interfere with things in the front end.

Have the interior redone and then just clean up and redo things as I enjoy the car.

[Fishy]

Sounds good!

[69.5CUDA]

sounds spot on..of and cow..me and fishy know where a pair of the limos are sitting....god there just sexy

your list looks a bit like mine..i too would prolly drop my hemi into it..since finding the desoto valve covers isnt all that hard to find....alltho that 1k for a complete setup is a smoking deal..i think rebuilding the hemi would run about the same$$$ and be a much cooler sound and look..but you cant deny the originality factor of keeping stockish stuff...its how i ended up with the 312 for my 58 ford

[thrashingcows]

Thanks for the thoughts and comments guys.

I want to do something different with the car. That was why I was thinking 331 Hemi. But I have really started to like the thought of running the Flathead six.

I know I won't get super performance out of it but that's not what I'm after. I just want a nice cruiser that is kind of period correct as such. The faltty will be something different in a sea of V8's and such. And if I have a multi carb intake and split exhaust and an aluminum head, it will just add to the "well that's different" factor.

I'm not in a hurry to get where I'm going and even thought I'll be lucky to see 150HP out of any flatty I build I don't really care. The 833OD will help on the highway and as long as I can flow with traffic that's all I care about.

Should be a fun project.

[69.5CUDA]

im totaly with ya there cow..its the exact reason the 354 hemi didn end up in my ford..i stumbled onto a deal for a period make corect engine..and the 3spd od is to die for..no its non syncro but period correct cars are about being fun..there never practical there about the fun...id actualy sugjest saying to hell with the 8 3/4 and 4spd and run the stock stuff..youll find its ALOT more fun..and the old stuff has a sound of its own that NOTHING comes close to

only thing id add to that car would be a nice FUNCTIONAL set of thin lake pipes..if your skirting it its going to be BEGGING for them....and as cool as it is id probably drop the 3rd brake light cause it kinda uglys the line of the car ...aside from that theres not a whole lot id do to the car..nothing like a classic cruiser..i dont think the wheels your thinking of will look quite right on it..but i could be wrong

[BootHead]

Seems you are getting your ducks in a row. At this rate, Fern will be done before you even get it home

Yeah this'll be fun.

[thrashingcows]

I'm totally with ya there cow..its the exact reason the 354 hemi didn't end up in my ford..i stumbled onto a deal for a period make correct engine..and the 3spd od is to die for..no its non syncro but period correct cars are about being fun..there never practical there about the fun...id actualy sugjest saying to hell with the 8 3/4 and 4spd and run the stock stuff..you'll find its ALOT more fun..and the old stuff has a sound of its own that NOTHING comes close to

Only thing I'd add to that car would be a nice FUNCTIONAL set of thin lake pipes..if your skirting it its going to be BEGGING for them....and as cool as it is id probably drop the 3rd brake light cause it kinda uglys the line of the car ...aside from that there's not a whole lot id do to the car..nothing like a classic cruiser..i don't think the wheels your thinking of will look quite right on it..but i could be wrong

I will be running the 3 speed tranny for now. We'll see how it goes. As you say I may end up leaving the original stuff alone and just keeping it stock-ish. Lake pipes...even the thin chrome ones, I've never been a fan of them. I won't be skirting the car, again never liked that look...but I can never say never since my tastes change and evolve so who knows.

As for the artillery rims...I'll be doing some serious photo chopping before I commit to those. I kind of like the look of the steelies and "desoto" dog dish caps that are on the car right now. Maybe just paint the rims fresh black and polish the caps.

Or maybe add a trim ring to the dog dish cap and a pin stripe side wall on the tire? So many options.

[69.5CUDA]

black bodys deserve wide whites so those i would stick with..the wheels well the artilery imo dont flow well on that round of a car..id proly run the stockers and caps
so how are you going to trasnport this thing..you going after it personaly?....if so id love to see it as you roll thru town cause well you have to roll past me you dont have a choice lol

[Fishy]

so how are you going to trasnport this thing..you going after it personaly?....if so id love to see it as you roll thru town cause well you have to roll past me you dont have a choice lol

You take 101 and I'll block off I-5.... I'm sure I can get Josh to block off 26....

[thrashingcows]

so how are you going to trasnport this thing..you going after it personaly?....if so id love to see it as you roll thru town cause well you have to roll past me you dont have a choice lol

I haven't decided yet. Would love to go get it myself but I don't think it would be any less to pay someone else to bring it up for me. I will probably meet them in Seattle or just off the I-5, maybe up by Bellingham?