Hi all So here is the rub. I have inherited a 49 Coronet that has been modified with a 360/Richmond 5 speed/Dana rear end/4wheel disc and air bags. Also I have a 50 De Soto convert that I inherited. Its stock - rare and all that but I am not making a museum so drop the 'keep it stock' talk. After all, we all want to build what WE want right? So I think I'd like to swap the brakes and eng/trans over. Junk the body, sell the bag and controller, maybe bring over the Mustang 2 rack and pinion. Most of the brakes look like a bolt on conversion - the eng/trans will require swapping the mounts and etc. The wonder is - is there a way to determine Dodge vs De Soto component compatibility? Also will the 360/Richmond work on the OE diff? Should I swap the rear axle too?
That '49 looks awfully clean to just "junk" the body. If you want the engine and transmission then pull them, but I think you'd get more money if you left the rest of the stuff on the '49 and sold it complete.
What's the chances of putting the driveline from the DeSoto into the Coronet without too much grief? I'd think it might be easier to sell the Dodge as a driver rather than a roller.
Well, if its a running, driving car, I'd leave it alone and price it as is, unless that 360 is some kind of built engine. Otherwise, you'll get far more for the car as is, and 360's aren't that hard to find. But even without the engine and trans, it should be worth enough to buy another mustang II set up and brakes for the DeSoto. Although the stock suspension on the DeSoto is actually pretty decent, a shock relocation and a brake kit from Rusty Hope or Scarebird would solve your problems much cheaper. Some guys have even had success modifying the stock suspension for use with airbags. What engine is in the DeSoto now? Flathead 6? If it runs, I might be interested in it. In fact, if its running, I have a LA 360 (not the magnum you have now) that's complete but needs a refresh I might be willing to trade...
That's a thought too. But it would depend on the mods that were made to the Coronet, stock the Dodge and DeSoto would have had pretty much the same drive line.
Those original early 50's Mopar rearends are **** in my opinion, the drums are near impossible to get off, they have **** gear ratios unless you want to pull stumps out, and I wouldn't trust them with any great deal of power. I have to agree that it's a waste of the Dodge to part it out if all you're going to use is a 360 and some drivetrain bits. Also, not very traditional either. I'd much rather see the DeSoto get a hopped up flat 6 with some sort of overdrive stick trans adapted to it, or a Firedome Hemi engine. Not the cheapest option but I think a convertible deserves better than a 70's truck engine.
The de soto is stock and worn - old brakes and tip toe trans . Ideally I'd sell the coronet to someone that would like to finish or what ever but no bites makes me think all over the map. Seems not too many four door mopar shoppers are put there .... Its a Jasper 360 nothing too crazy I guess - Im actually in agreement about selling as a whole cash deal but craigslist is Freakshow Central
That's what I would do, hop up the 6 but swap out the junk original transmission and rear end, and I wouldn't blame a guy for putting a disc brake conversion on the front of the car, although I think a whole different front suspension is unnecessary. I wouldn't expect to get big bucks for the '50, but certainly you could sell it for more than the value of the handful of parts you want to rob off of it. That body could be 2 door sedan converted and it'd probably double or triple the resale value of it, something to consider if you have some metalworking skills and access to a donor car. As for those suggesting putting the DeSoto engine into the Dodge, that would be a big h***le, as the DeSoto engines are longer than the stock Dodge flat 6's are and are not a direct bolt-in, you'd have to give it some engine setback and/or relocate the radiator which would probably be way more h***le than it's worth to put a flat 6 in that particular car. Probably best to leave that one whole.
Don't listen to anyone but yourself. like you said... Build it the way YOU want to build it. 49's are cool, i have 2 of them but they aren't worth much... there are just way too many of them around. Yet parts are a nightmare to find lol. personally i like the de soto better.
Good news on the sale of the Dodge to someone who will build it. There are a couple of nice ones that are pretty stock done up with nice paint and wheels that seem to show up just about everywhere I hit an event. That Desoto Ragtop should be a pretty nice cruiser when it's done and you get it on the road.
Dodge and DeSoto completely different cars back then. Plymouth and Dodge had a lot in common. So did DeSoto/Chrysler in fact DeSoto and Chrysler Windsor were nearly identical except for trim. Then there was the big 8 p***enger limousine long wheelbase car available as a Dodge DeSoto or Chrysler. They had their own body and ch***is. Finally the eight cylinder cars, New Yorker and Imperial.
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