Projects 40 plymouth convert (How would you do it?)

Just picked this up



Been doing alot of searching and reading old posts. This will be repowered with something else, the original stuff is long gone. Planning on running it with no bumpers and make a rear apron to go between the fenders.

Front suspension is stock and plan on keeping it. Anyone have some dropped spindles/ knees to sell?

What drivetrain would be the best to put in. Looking for a good cruiser that can keep up with todays cars. Easy on gas, not a monster to drive.

Also want to keep the engine simple with the least amount of electronics.

Anyone have good pics of 40-41 plymouth convertible cars, need mor eof the top and interior. Thanks Tom

 

Power & suspension: Mopars are pretty much the same through 48, just use search, lots of info.

 

I took these pics of a '41 Plymouth because I had some questions about stuff for my '38 Chrysler convert and figured it would be similar. Does your '40 have the jump seats behind, or just the one bench?

Oops- the Kampmaster didn't belong on there...

 

Well if you want to keep it all Mopar a 360/727 would be cool...

Small block Ford (302/C6 or a 351) would be a good choice..

Small Olds (350/TH350, 403/TH350) would be really cool..

Or a small Buick, or Poncho...

And then of course there's the tried and true SBC and what ever you want to stick behind it...

Or you could probably stick a slant 6 in it, they've got some cool parts for 'em...

Or.... The inline 6 they used in Jeeps was a hell of an engine...

And if you want old school, Nail Heads, Rockets, Flatties, and Hemis are all bad ass.. An old Poly would be really cool..

As for a rear end it doesn't get much better or easier than a 9inch ford...

 

Plydo sells all kinds of stuff for it. including spindles. Looks like it will be cool. I would put in an overdrive trans. if you have to put one in anyways you might as well. Save you a little mpg

 

Those are some great convert pic's! Do you have more?

Had not thought about the late model jeep engine. They are a good powertrain. Tom

 

Mine came with a dead SBC. I took the easy route and replaced it with another, but now wish I'd just bit the bullet and done a Mopar at that time. The 340/360/318 is the same length as a SBC with long water pump, so they'll fit but will probably require either repositioning the radiator farther forward, or using a pusher fan.

I run front discs- purchased brackets from "Olddaddy" here on the HAMB, and a Ford 8" from a Granada refitted with discs (see my tech post on this) on the rear. I run the Fatman Rack & Pinion setup.

 

I would keep it all Mopar. 318-340-360, Torqueflight 727, 8 3/4 Dodge rear. Oh yeah, I would also run bumpers. Color of your choice.

 

I have a 40 Convertible that I've had for a bout 13 years. It sits in a corner doing nothing. Waiting to be reserected .To many projects , things on the Go I suppose. Will likely be my Retirement project (I'm 28).........
I'll be watching your build, post more pics as you go along.

 

The Jeep 6's are sweet, lots of cool hop up goodies for 'em blowers, turbo set ups, stroker kits, the list goes on and on... I know they had an auto OD, not sure if they had a stick with OD or not though.... I'd do some research on 'em, figure out how long they are, and do some measuring.. Then go look for a wrecked Jeep... You can get your hands on 'em around here pretty cheap..

 

Why should I run bumpers? I understand , there is more chance to hurt it. Just think it looks nicer. Tom

 

Check the HAMB classifieds now, there is an ad for a lowered front susp, Fatman I believe, may be a later year, but maybe it will work?

 

A Chyrsler Cordoba rearend will BOLT in and is the same width for the original. A company called PlyDo has lots of neat things. Check out the D48-P15 website. Mine has a 318 and a five speed- - - - very easy swap.

 

Not d48-p15

p15-d24 is your site

 

Early Hemi with a 727 and 8.75...or a 360 if you want cheaper.

 

Here's a couple picts of a rather tasty convert.

A 318/340/360 will fit with a small amount of massaging to the firewall for the right side cylinder head.....probably the same for any small block. Big block would take a lot of work at the firewall.

Also, an 8 3/4 rear axle from an e-body (cuda/challenger) is nearly a drop-on the stock leaf springs. Ease the locater pin holes on the axle pads about an 1/8 inch and make some lower plates with shock mount and your good to go.
Rear wheel wells are kinda tight for fat tires though.



Picts courtesy of SoCalCarCulture.com

 

Smash up the front end and then wish you'd kept the bumpers.....Ever try to find a 40 Ply grille?

 

When I put the 318 in my '48, I didn't cut or bang on the firewall. I did however,move the engine forward changing the radiator postion. I've room to take out the distributor without pulling the engine. Thanks, Frankie, for the correction.

 

Hey Tom
Nice car I recently picked up a 41 plym convert been in a garage since 1968 Same car except nose and fenders. If I can figure out how to post pictures I will take some this weekend and post. My car is complete and together so if you want something specific let me know. Keep us posted on build.
Mark

 

Hey Man, what ever you do the 1940 Plymouth coupe or covert is a great looking ride. I have one in traditonal gangsta style and love it. No matter what you put in it. Roll it out and show it off.

 

Keep the pic's and ideas coming. The pic's will help sell this to the wife! Tom

 

My '40 Plymouth Coupe was the first car I ever owned. I bought it in 1978 already as a rod with a 283/Powerslide combo, stock suspension and was a nice cruiser, though I quickly bought a 340/6-pak engine and 727 (traded a guy two cases of Coors for it!) and tore it apart; it never got back together. The rearend was out of a '68 Satelite and fit on the stock springs; I had 15x7 slot mags on it. I wish I still had the photos of it.

I don't think a slant six would fit in that narrow engine compartment!

 

Very nice project car you got there,
I think a 318,340 or 360 with a 904 or 727 and a mopar 8 3//4 rearend would be perfect for that car. Please go mopar with it ron...

here are some pics of 40 plymouths
http://carnut.com/photo/list/ply/ply40.html


here's a 39 convert



and a 40


and a 41

 

Moparron426,
That pic of the 40 is what I like! Do you know who's car that is? Like to see mor eof it. Tom

 

I say yes to bumpers. I like my car to fundamentally look like what it is.
Apologies to those who have seen these same pics too many times already...:

 

4woody is true on this one. I've been driving my '48 with a small block mopar (various from 318/904 - 360/tremac 5 speed), for the last 15 years and I'm safe to say over 200,000 mi. I quoted his post because I wanted to expand on remounting the radiator in these cars. Simple, really, just flip the "horseshoe" that mounts the radiator around and drop the radiator in from the front. Bingo, three extra inches. A guy by the name of Eric Pierce wrote a series of articles for Rod Action back in the late eighties and early nineties that concerned this swap, and I highly recommend digging those up. Eric is on this board as Missy'sdaddy, and still drives his as well. He spelled out a complete formula for building any '40 - '48 mopar with a small mopar, and many suspension recomendations. My car has morphed to include a mustang 11 front end, industrial chassis tube X-member, four wheel disc brakes, lots horsepower,etc. etc.,but that is beyond the scope of what it sounds like you want. Simple is good too!

 

Go old retro hemi, not muscle car era if you can find one and have the expertise. Another cool option I saw on tv for a simple modern setup with a retro look is a modern straight six and tranny but with retro dress up pieces and a vintage looking simple induction system. The look of the straight six is awesome.

 

Do not put a 318 in that car! That engine is an abomination.

 

These Plymouths are just funky IMHO...

 

The late model Jeep overdrive autos are computer shifted. You'd have to keep the EFI. Not sayin' that's bad, but it is up to you.

The 5-speeds from 1984 up are overdrive. The later model ones are better, and they made 2wd Cherokees with them, in addition to the 4x4 stuff. Look up the AX-15.

PM me if you have questions on the OT Jeep stuff.