1937-1938 Dodge Desoto interchange - calling all MOPAR guru's

I am trying to find out if the 1938 Desoto and Dodge are interchangeable, more specifically what I am trying to do is put the front sheetmetal from the Dodge onto the Desoto body and frame. This is for a 4 door sedan of each make. I would also like to know if the rear fenders are the same. I have a Desoto that has a decent body but rough sheetmetal and a 2 door sedan Dodge in pretty good shape. I really like the 4 door models better so I'd like to put the 2 together somehow. It will save some time if I knew the fitment possibilities ahead of time.

So far what I've found is that the coupe bodies may be the same for 37-38 for all Mopars but nothing on the sedans.

I need a MOPAR guru that has messed with all of these makes, Dodge, Desoto, plymouth and Chrysler. Thanks.

 

Try asking on the p-15-d24 forum? Or the AAC forums, tread lightly there (ask humbly, don't mention the HAMB)

 

Thanks I've been trying to find a good early mopar forum to check with.

 

I really Doubt it & personaly i would say No.

I thought about it for a minute and maybe have changed my mind.

I had a '37 DeSoto & a Friend now owns a '38 Plymouth and from what i remeber i think you will be O.K.

Might not be a direct bolt on... But Very do-able

 

Thanks DE SOTO, The first project I ever brought home was a 38 Dodge 4 door when I lived in MN, I sold it when we moved to Kansas and I've missed that car ever since. Now that I've tracked this 37 Desoto down, it looks very close to the 38 Dodge. When you look at the 37-38 Dodge, Plymouth and Desoto they all look pretty dang similar.

Maybe I'll just have to pick up the Dodge and see what it will take to mate everything up.

 

Depends, Dodge and Desoto shared a lot of stuff, one thing they did not share was the engine, the dodge engine is 23 1/2 inches long (same as plymouth) the DeS engine is 25 (same Chrysler) so the difference lies in where they accomodated the extra inch an a half, most probably the hood and there for the fenders are longer o the Desoto.

The 37/38 Dodge has a wheelbase of 115, the Des is 116 in 37 and 119 in 38. So there is a difference somwhere, my guess its ahead of the firewall.

 

Plym 46, I saw the difference in the wheelbases and was thinking the same thing. I bet I'd be safe pulling the body and putting it on the Dodge chassis and finding that all else will bolt up with little to no problems.

 

37 and 38 are different The mount sides are different.
Top is 37
Bottom is 38

 

Generally speaking DeSoto was more of a junior Chrysler than a glorified Dodge. Bodies, engines, chassis were shared with Chrysler.

I don't have experience of the 1938 models but since you have both, what is stopping you from bolting the parts together any way you want?

 

quack , quack , quack . It should work , maybe , I think ?