Projects My new 41 Plymouth Coupe

Sure looks like a great and solid car! Congrats!

 

Here was the start of my '41 back in 1973...found a donor '64 Chevy for the drive train and bucket
seats, 283" to start. Used a saber saw to cut the fenders to make the tilt front end. All done in the
carport. Didn't have a lot of money, but lots of vision of what I wanted. Love your Plymouth.

 

Sounds like a plan, I’ll add some to the fuel too.

 

Lead. If you can work it out with your DMV or a satellite office you may consider having the vin changed to the body #. In 1940 it was either in California. Our 1940 Chevrolet, which I bought in 1974, had many engine changes but still used the engine number for the vin. When I transferred it to my son I filled some extra paper work to use the body number and assembly sequence tag still attached to the factory place on the floor board. If he ever sells the car it’s an easy check.
Nice Plymouth. I had a 53 Dodge pick up with a similar engine that never let me down.

 

That’s a good idea, if I ever change the engine I’ll look into doing that. I was surprised this car still had the original engine, I plan to check the frame to see if there is a vin on there that could be used after an engine swap.

 

MAN ,what a nice old “mayflower “ your gonna have some fun with dat !!!

 

Our 40 had nothing on the frame and according to the Chevrolet sits never did. It was a body identification to the model And series of the car and attached to the floorboard infront of the passenger seat with special rivet/screws. I found out what each letter meant and it fit our car. The lady actually came to our home and had the identical info I had. It was easy. I had the pink from 1974 when I put it in my name but didn’t non-op it a few years later. I was a race car we brought back to the street.

 

I’ve seen a few 41 Plymouth’s with frame numbers on the driver’s side near the rear wheel, I haven’t checked mine yet. I have a couple other projects so I’m hoping to keep this one lower buck and use the stock engine.

 

The old flathead Mopars can be very reliable engines and are something different in the sea of small block Chevys especially with an overdrive transmission or rear end swap with appropriate gearing. There were Borg Warner R10 ODs put behind these engines in the 50s that work well and with the right setup (non fluid drive) are a direct bolt in replacement for your stock transmission. There are also adapters available to put an S10 T5 five speed in place.

A later model 230 flathead would be a direct bolt in as well and increase your HP by as much as 40% depending on year. There are "speed" parts readily available for the flatheads as well which while not making it a race engine will help boost performance and sex appeal. This was the 59 model 230 I built for my 48 Plymouth with a 53 model OD transmission. It would cruise at 70-80mph all day long and I made multiple 800+ mile round trips with the car before selling it. Often wish I had it back instead of my current 37 Plymouth coupe.

 

Thanks for the info, I’ll be saving it for future reference. That is a very good looking engine, I’ll be keeping mine stock for at least the short term. I’d be happy to get it running smooth and fix the leaks. The engine is leaking in two places, the trans and differential are also leaking.

 

After I bought this car, I only worked on it part time for a couple months, then spent about a year building a 1,200 sq ft shop. During that time I got the engine running well and repaired the passenger side cowl damage and door fitment.

I’m back to work on it now and have completely rewired it and added turn signals, replaced all necessary brake parts, put 2” lowering blocks in the rear, painted the floor and trunk pan, new fuel tank, and cleaned up the dash with new knobs and patina sauce, repaired the fuel gage, and made a blanket seat cover.

 

Clean as a bean!! I love it man. Just scored my dream car, '41 Chevy. Congrats!

please address that wiring. I had a '49 buick light off due to cloth wrap...and my '41 had an issue with the firewall due to the ign/coil wire being wrapped in the dbl wire insulator

 

Somehow missed this one before. Looking good and glad you've got a nice place to work on it and it's getting fixed up.
I didn't see it mentioned in this thread, so I'll point out that the P15-D24 site has a lot of great info on these.

 

The car in this photo is my inspiration for the build on my car. Although I’m going to paint mine with satin black rather than gloss black, because I’m painting it in pieces and the satin will be more forgiving. I also have a set of 16” artillery wheels that are a little bit different than the car pictured.

 

Thanks, I’ve already replaced every wire on the car, including pigtails on the light sockets.

 

I read a lot of posts on here and the P15-D24 site, especially regarding lowering the car, relocating the front shock upper mount, and installing a beefier front stabilizer bar. I don’t post often, I’ll try to now that I’m making regular progress.

 

Wow this is a nice car! Should be an easy clean up and preserve in its state. You dont find em like this any more

 

Thanks, it’s a very solid car and the repairs are moving along at a decent pace now.

 

Great find, congratulations! That thing is NICE!
A 41 business coupe is the first car that I can remember my folks having. My dad bought it new in 41. It was green but the roof got dented being unloaded, he got the roof fixed and had it painted black. No back seat, so we little guys road on a quilt on the back floor. We took many trips that way! He finally installed a rear junk yard seat and we were first class!
Sure would like to find one that nice!

 

Nice car , does it have the Fold up back seat? Sales/Business coupe
My self ,I prefer the 40 with swan hood
& just SS grill bars ,
I Would not mind the 41

 

Hey thanks, no rear seats, business coupe with the spare tire mounted behind the passenger seat. I like the 40’s too, but prefer the 41 fenders and grill.

 

Hey any updates on the ply-mouth?

 

If you are going to keep it 6 volt. Get the optima and get new 00 battery cables. Good luck with the project. Nice start.