41 plymouth project

Anyone else building a mopar conv? Just picked this one up.Will be installing a 360 and auto. Exterminator

 

Fine choice! More pics!

Lots of advice on here. A few tidbits from those posts:

1. Steering clearance with the V8 is an issue, there are some 273-motor Dart manifolds that help a lot. And offset the motor to the pass. side a couple of inches

2. Ford 8.8 out of an Explorer is exactly the right width and bolt pattern, and later ones will give you disc brakes. This has a slightly offset yoke to match the slightly offset motor.

3. HAMBer 'olddaddy' sells a front disk kit that takes Volare rotors, get to keep the wheel pattern. (There are other kits too.)

4. Depending on the HP of the motor, you may want to add stiffening to the frame.

5. Find and visit the P-15/D-24 forum, where the Mopar guys hang out. It's a little milder place than the HAMB, no cussin' - they like stockers and hot rods both.

 

NICE car
I got one, just waiting till economy improves to start on it.
If you don't mind me asking. What did you have to give for it?

 

Thanks for the info Builtfercomfort.Plans call also for mustang front suspension and nine inch ford with disc brakes.Will send pics when i have a chance. Exterminator

 

This is going to be one cool ride. Let me know if you need any more info. Good luck. Eric

 

Thanks farmer12.I may take you up on that.Love how your doing your coupe-could not think of a better way to do it like your are.This conv is my wife's car so l have to make it wife friendly.Went to the GNRS Saturday to get ideas.Not one 40 or41 ply seen there.I guess they are a little on the rare side. Exterminator

 

With a few tweaks the stock independent front suspension can be made to work really well. My Dad (ramrod36 - send him a pm for more info, I know he would be happy to go over his set-up) built a sedan and put many miles on it - I logged many a mile as a passenger in it. I believe the major fix needed is a static mount for one end of the shock, as the original design sets it up as a "floating" shock. Other than that, it should be a standard lowered spring and the aforementioned disc brake upgrade. I am pretty sure that a MII swap is more involved on this frame than some others, possibly requiring a stub for the best results.

As the long time passenger and occasional driver when I got old enough of Dad's '41, I can say it rode and handled well with the modified front suspension.

I welcome any fact checking on this. That is a sweet looking Plymouth - good luck with the build!

chop50chevy

 

Unless you are building a funny car motor for it the frame shouldn't be an issue but like comfort says check it real good......who knows what happened to it before you got it

 

My son-in-law just ordered mustang two crossmember from tci a couple days ago.I was wanting to go with the original suspension to save money but decided to go all out since this is going to be my last project car i think.We will see. Exterminator

 

How are you going to attach a MII crossmember to the OE frame? Seems you will need to build new rails.

 

Were cutting the frame off a few inches from the firewall and adding tubing similer to farmer 12.If you haven't yet,check out his thread. Exterminator

 

Good looking ride exterminator. I am on the lookout for a 41 hood... so if you run across one. I did the ford 9" and kept stock front with a 429 cad. Steering had to be redone and lake headers.

 

IMHO, for a daily driver, there is little 'wrong' with the oem front suspension and the 9" is overkill.
If you are into some kind of race application then ...

.

 

Will look out for one and let you know if i run across one. Exterminator

 

Thanks bro!

 

Yes i agree.I have the 9 inch already and the cross member ordered and most of all my help thinks that is the best way,so.......... Exterminator

 

If your '41 convertible frame is like the one on my '38 Chrysler convert the center X-member limits how much rear end pinion offset you can use.

I initially tried an 8.8 from a Ranger and couldn't get the driveshaft through the X.

EDIT: Oops... your last post just popped up... nevermind...

Measure 3 times...

 

nice rag top mopar

 

Thanks 1950.I almost feel guilty for changing the drivetrain but it is so slow i know we wouldn't keep it.I will keep it looking stock on the outside as much as possible. Exterminator

 

heck its your car... do what ever ya want to it.... I'm cutting the roof off my 4 door cause pre-made convertibles are too damned expensive

 

NOw that sounds like a very cool ride. I can't wait to see it done.

 

Thank you.Me too. Exterminator

 

Today,after roadster breakfast i will be driving my car over too my son in laws garage where the tear down will begin.Will be installing a TCI independant front suspension,9 inch rear end with disc brakes, and of course the 360 mopar with auto( hey,getting old),want to cruise instead of racing.Farmer 12 has been a big inspiration.Mopar rules. Exterminator

 

Any updates on your project?
41plym

 

Yes,actually there is.My car is minus an engine,trans,rear end andfront end.The frame was cut around a foot from the firewall.And now the firewall has a hole in it since the 360 mopar engine is a little to long.My son in law keeps mentioning that it would be alot easier to install a small block chevy.What the heck.I have to do it right.Mopar or nothing.I will try to get pictures this week end Exterminator

 

I did the same on my coupe. Sure it would have been easier to use a sbc but I couldn't stand the thought of bastardising my plymouth. So I stuck with all MoPar and all the extra effort was worth it. Keep up the good work.
41plym

 

Any new pics?
41plym

 

The pics are coming thanks to my wife. Exterminator

 

Here's some pics.... more later.

 

Yes! Pictures! Now let the fun begin. From now on, measuring and measuring will take a fair bit of your time. For me, this stage was a very satisfying one. If you have any q's, let me know. Eric/farmer12