Hey guys, long time lurker (when googling anything I always include "HAMB") but now I have a reason to post! The wife and I just bought our first cl***ic. A 1948 Chrysler Windsor on eBay. Now just waiting for the check to clear and then get it shipped. Its the straight 6 with the fluid drive. I've googled everything I can and watched everything I can on eBay the last few days and I'm just looking for a complete first hand knowledge dump. The transmission selection pattern, fluid capacities, what to start first with a complete fluid change and tune up. The guy says the engine runs great but not sure about the transmission. It looks to have three wires disconnected by the carburetor. I would like to get it running great then just lower it and drive it all day every day. I also want to convert it to 12 volts since I'd like to ad a stereo and ac eventually since this will be my daily. I found a conversion kit at vintage auto garage dot com.....would it be worth it to just get the kit or buy the parts individually? Im in Wellington Florida too so be on the look out for it in the future!
Hey this is where you want to go for a lot of specific info on these cars and drivetrain. www.p15-d24.com and Yahoos PWHM 46-48 Chryslers There is a lot to know about these cars, and you need to understand what you have. This car has a 4 spd semi-auto trans, hence the wires to the carb. It is a 6 volt positive grnd, so converting to 12 volt negative grnd is no problem, you need to know whats involved for this car, personally I would leave it 6 volt and add an auxiliary battery or power converter for the stereo. The good news it may have a factory 3.54 diff, so cruising 65-70 mph should be no problem if the engine is in good shape as well as the drivetrain,brakes and suspension.....good luck
You can also look on the AACA forums. I have been posting there for years and have repeated the information you want at least 100 times. Check out the Chrysler board and do a search for Fluid Drive. AACA Forums 2 things right off the bat you must know about: Left hand threads on the left side wheel bolts, and 6 volt POSITIVE GROUND electrical system. The engine is very reliable and long lived. They built millions of them between the late 30s and 1972 and used them in cars, trucks, boats, tractors and other farm machinery, and as industrial engines. They are simple to fix, and parts are readily available and cheap. The Fluid Drive is a simple trouble free unit with 1 moving part. Since it runs in an oil bath, wear is negligible. You should check the oil every 10,000 miles. The factory makes no recommendation to ever change it but I don't think they figured on a working life of 70+ years. The self shifting transmission is rugged and reliable. Basically a 4 speed manual trans, but with an added feature. It has a tiny hydraulic cylinder and oil pump to shift gears automatically. The shift is controlled by a solenoid valve and a governor. There are 2 switches on the carburetor and a little box on the air filter support. If it is kept full of oil and the wiring does not get frayed or broken there is very little to go wrong. There are people who drive these cars regularly and pile up thousands of miles. I know of one guy who has a slightly newer DeSoto with the same power train, that he has put 130,000 miles on including several coast to coast trips. As for a 12v conversion "kit" I would love to know what he supplies for the Fluid Drive controls. Also the electric wipers, heater and radio. None of the old hands have changed to 12V or want to. The stock electrical system is perfectly adequate. If you want a 12V radio you can put a 12V battery in the trunk and plug it into a battery charger. Don't know about air but I believe there are vintage air companies that can supply 6 volt systems. As for using it every day, that is asking too much of a car that old even a Chrysler. If you seriously want to do this, suggest you buy a more recent Chrysler from the sixties or newer that comes with 12V system, air, V8, Automatic etc.
An account of a 1951 DeSoto 8 p***enger sedan that covered 183,000 miles in the hands of the original owner. DeSoto and Chrysler are practically identical mechanically, this car has the same power train and other features as your car. http://www.allpar.com/cars/desoto/suburban-1951.html
There is nothing in the world sounds sweeter than a 6 cylinder Chrysler with a split manifold & 26" steelpacks .. ..
Congrats on your purchase! Can't wait to see pictures. These cars are pretty darn reliable and ahead of their time as far as suspension. Now as far as brakes....I think they are over complicated. I upgraded to 4 wheel discs..... It wasn't horribly painful...not necessarily super cheap but well worth it. This car really stops now. You won't win any races with your engine/****** combo but you can definitely keep up with traffic. I second the motion to look at the above website (p15-d24). They are super helpful and know a TON of information on these old girls!
Thank you for all the replies!!!!! As soon as it gets here I will upload pictures and keep them going through the progress. I am going to keep it at 6volts, wife and I worked out a solution for music that we're both happy with. Hearing how reliable the engine and ****** combo is, is what led me to being comfortable with this car. I absolutely am in love with the looks. As for a "daily driver" I should clarify, I'm a work from home guy/ stay at home dad. No weekly commute. So my daily driver gets driven as much as your weekend drivers. Usually weekends and some nights when we go out. I sold a 2013 challenger and was happy to get rid of the 500 a month payments because I just didn't love the car that much and didn't drive it enough to justify it.
I have had seventeen old American cars and my 48 is the only car that has never broken down in my ownership.Well engineered in a way most were not.
I would strongly suggest that you get a workshop manual if the car does not come with one, a paper one not CD version if possible......and read it from cover to cover.......I am also on the P15D24 Forum as has been suggested here and they are a great bunch of guys............welcome to early mopar............andyd
Andydodge has it right. & do yourself a big favor, & find a real, original one for the house &/or 'clean' reading/reference, & use the crummy re-pop for out in the garage & for the 'carry-along' in the car. The repops have horrible copies of the pics, which you're gonna need for reference. Original workshop manuals aren't much more than the repops, & quite often cheaper. DTDT, & continue on that path for every car/truck I own. FWIW. Marcus...
Brakes were state of the art for the time but do require precision work in rebuilding and adjusting. If working correctly they are very good, but most of them are not working correctly. You have to get the factory repair manual and follow it to the letter.
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