Hey Guys, I joined up a couple of days ago and have really enjoyed my time here so far. As I said in my intro post, I've got a field full of old Mopar iron (and rust) that's heavy on the late 50's but with a fair share of 60's and 70's cars as well. I've restored a bunch of "stock" Mopars, but have yet to do a rod. I have just started on a '33 Plymouth PD 2 door sedan (trad. rod style) and need some advice. My dad bought this car in '59 (he paid $75 for it and then drove it 350 miles to get it home). The car has been shuffled around from shed to shed for the past 45 years and now that Dad has retired we've decided to fix it up. We are planning on installing a small block Mopar with a 904 trans and a narrowed 8 3/4 rear - trying to keep it all Mopar I need some help on the front end. I want to keep the original dropped axle as well as the entire stock frame. What combo of stock and non-stock parts do I need to make this thing handle, steer and brake safely, while retaining the traditional rod look? Brake set ups, steering boxes, springs, shocks, etc... The car was 100% stock when we started on it and we still have all the original pieces. We aren't shooting for a "drives like a new car" feel. We just want something to mess around in locally that will hold up well over time without resorting to the Mustang II approach. I have been told of a local leaf spring company that will replace your king-pin and bushing sets with modern components that will not wear out as quickly. I've enclosed a few pictures of the car. Any and all comments and advice are welcomed! Thanks. jp
Looks like a great start on the project. I'm sure someone more experienced will chime in with some good tips. I'm just a new guy too. On another note... looking for a 70 Charger front Valence that isn't twistid in a pretzel.
Sorry. I don't have any '68-'70 Chargers to part out. I've got a buddy with a '68 parts car, but the valence would be different than the '70. If I run across a good '70 front valence, I'll let you know. jp
Have you decided yet, whether you'll be going with or without fenders? If you plan to go fenderless, it might be a bit more desirable to have a clean looking front suspension. Here's a picture of a full-fendered Ford sedan that I saw at a meet. People were all over this thing. It maintained the "barn fresh body", but the mechanicals had been improved for reliable highway use. All the owner kept saying was "No...it's not for sale":
We are definitely keeping the fenders on. I still want to leave the stock front axle just in case we decide to "de-fender" it sometime in the future. It's funny, we are doing this car the way Dad always wanted to do it back in '59. Then , he says, this was the fresh new look for rods. Now it's "traditional". (I'm so glad he didn't fix this thing up back in the 70's with a ****ty brown crushed-velour interior and a CB with a 10ft whip antenna on the back like my buddy's dad's A-model.) jp
Sorry. Although I've got a bunch of Forwardlook Mopars, they are all either Dodge or Plymouth. I've yet to drag in a '55-'61 Chrysler or Desoto! jp
I'm sure you guys are getting sick of this car but it was a 33 Plymouth PD as well. "Slightly modified" back in the 1940's as a dirt track racer.
If you decide on disc brakes I make a kit that should fit your original spindles. You can sandblast the original springs and run nylon liners to get a softer ride. Tie rod ends might still be available at NAPA. The king pins only need new bronze bushings, the pins never wear out. Will you be running the original wire wheels? If not what would you take for them? If you have any late 50s flathead sixes in that field with a 2bbl intake I really need one.
Cool car, welcome to the board. I am building a Chrysler CA, no fenders, channeled, sectioned vertically 12 inches to make it a 2 door sedan. I will be using a 413 for power.
The 33's are nice. I sold mine last year. You might consider an axle with bones.It cleans up the look a bit. But stay away from the IFS ****. The existing is kinda clunky. Although a lot of people like the leafs with the crooked front axle
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