Hot Rods 1950 Desoto Flathead question...

Subscribed...recently aquired a '49 Coronet with the flat 6 and this is all new to me (first MoPar). Keep us posted!

 

73RR, Thanks for the input. I was just kicking the idea of the straight axle around. I do believe that keeping it original is my best bet: with disc brakes. I am just budget minded. Believe me, this thing is gonna take me a while to build on a police officer's budget and another kid on the way. I am just happy there is a place to come to for this information with people that know what they are talking about...well some..

 

...a cops's budget and a houseful of young-uns.....You are a brave little soldier....

The front suspension is actually quite advanced for the year, it will make a nice DD. Plan on the rear axle swap...the stock piece lacks the e-brake and with kids in the car safety is number one, but you already make that speech to the folks you have to deal with.

Gary

 

What's the going rate for a two carb set up for one of these?

 

The 383 will fit, but some surgery will be required on either the firewall or the front crossmember. I didn't have to deal with the steering column because mine already had been switched to R&P.

Photos show my '38, but should be pretty similar to yours.

 

THAT LOOKS AWESOME! I am hopefully going to get to work on it the next couple of days and see just exactly what I have to work with.

 

Well, I am going to start a build page tonight. Another question I had, If I do decide to sell the flathead and trans, whats it worth? I hate that I don't know and I haven't really found something to compare. Maybe good trade material?

 

That is a good question. The 50 DeSoto is a fairly desirable motor in some circles although not the most desirable. It would make a good swap into a flathead Plymouth or Dodge or, of course, a DeSoto or Chrysler.

Not the most desirable. That would be the 51 up Chrysler with full flow oil filter and 4 3/4 stroke crankshaft for 265 cu in. Yours has a good filter but slightly smaller displacement, 4 1/2 stroke for 251 cu in.

The Fluid Drive unit and transmission might be useful to someone for spare parts, they were used on nearly all Chrysler DeSoto and many Dodges from the late 40s to 1953.

The trouble is there are not a lot of people looking for these engines and trans, and most of us are kind of broke.

The other trouble is, once it is out of the car who knows if it's any good or not?

But if it's complete, stored inside, block not cracked $200 or $250 for the package. Maybe $150 for the engine, $100 for the trans and Fluid Drive.

Scrap iron value, about $50.

It would be a shame to scrap it, at least try advertising it first if you have room to keep it around. It could take a few months to find the right buyer but it would be nice to see it all fixed up and put to good use.

If worst comes to worst at least save the special carburetor with the 2 electrical switches on it, and the control box and the governor and solenoids off the transmission. They don't take up much space and someone may need them. They are getting hard to find.

 

You sure do know your stuff. I plan on keeping it, but was just wondering. I thought I was going to get to work on it yesterday, but the power was off at the shop where I work on my car. Not sure why, but I didn't get to do anything.

I was going to start the build page last night on the little bit I have done, but kids got in the way...I will put a link on here when I do.

 

You might like to know that the Chrysler brakes were state of the art for the times. Before disc brakes, if you were building a hot rod or race car and wanted the best brakes, you used Chrysler Centerplane brakes with Buick finned aluminum brake drums. Basically the same brakes on your car (without the aluminum drums).

IF they are in good shape and set up correctly they stop the car straight and true but, unlike the loose leaf brakes used by cheaper cars, they must be set up and adjusted by the book when you do a brake job or replace the brake shoes. After that, they only need a minor adjustment to take up wear every 10,000 miles.

For a stock or near stock motor the stock brakes are fine, but if you put in the big block you better get the disc brakes.

 

In those days Chrysler was famous for their engineering, not so much for their styling. When someone starts talking about ripping out the stock engine, trans, steering, suspension, brakes etc and sticking in some Camaro shit it makes me think of gutting a Rolex and putting in a Casio movement because you don't know how to wind a Rolex.

 

I rebuilt the Chrysler 237 for a "46 Dodge 1.5 ton truck. It was absolutely reliable and easy to drive (top speed 54 mph) and in retrospect, it really was nice to have that motor in that truck. Just more traditional and period for the ride. Good luck with the project! By the way, you can over carburate that motor in a heart-beat!

 

AGREED! And this just may be one of my favorite responses.

 

No, only the S-14 CUSTOMS came standard with FluidDrive. The S-14 Deluxe had a standard 3 speed. Look for the nameplate under the front wing windows or easier yet, the 2 chrome spears on the lower front fenders behind the wheel openings. Hope this helps.

 

Interesting that when you need something there isn't any around. I just picked up a used 1950 Chrystler to put on my 40 Desoto coupe. Looking for speed goodies. Like the info on this thread.


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Oh in what way?
I have dual truck carbs on a 228, it ain't over carbed, it runs great it gets better fuel economy.
You must have had a story involving over carbing a chrysler flathead 6....