Projects Fleetline special deluxe

Hello I’m totally new this page but I just have a few questions and well more like some suggestions, I came a across a 1943 fleetline special deluxe with suicide doors, I’m just having troubles on what do it with it like I wanna build it into a hot rod/lowrider not sure if I shoukd have it chopped or not so yeah wouldn’t mind some more input or some ideas of some sort

 

No my bad was told it was a Chevy fleetline but now was just told and seen it is Plymouth

 

Heres the 2 cents you didnt ask for.

4 doors plus Plymouth - money pit that you wont recover from.

 

4drs are coming up in value in general, but early mopars are somewhat hard to get parts for, and somewhat hard to work on ( they are mechanically very well made ). You’ll need a couple special tools to do the brakes ect… early to mid 40s mopar im not good at identifying but it’s between ‘40-‘48. ‘43- 45 don’t exist due to war efforts. I think its ‘46-‘48

that said, if you want a car to have fun with and don’t care; it could make a cool sled

 

Get it running and moving and then make plans. My 2 cents

 

A top chop on this car would be an incredible amount of metalwork and I can't picture it looking good when done. If it's dirt cheap, it'd be a good car for a beginner to learn skills on, like basic mechanical and bodywork and whatnot.

 

No chop. You need to get it cheap for it to be worthwhile. Get it running, driving and stopping first. Then oil the body for some nice patina. Clean out the inside and throw some Mexican blankets on the seat remains and you’re good to cruise.

 

looks like a cool car to me.

 

Here's some pros to consider: It's well made and made out of good American steel and iron. It's simple as hell to work on and mechanical parts are reasonably easy to find. The engine is a ****ing UNIT of durability as long as it's not cracked from freezing. It doesn't have the fluid drive trans Dodges used, just a dead nuts reliable three speed. That one looks like it's fairly complete.
Now, here's some cons. Under floor brake master. It can be replaced with a modern split master, and you can get front disc kits. Don't bother with discs on the back. It's got the old MoPar lug bolts; you CAN get the hubs redrilled for studs. Don't rush to hang pedals from the firewall; it's not a simple task to rework the clutch linkage.
Replacement flathead sixes are everywhere; Yale forklifts used them, industrial welders, generators, pumps.. but, if you want automatic trans and more power EASILY, get a 225 slant six with a 904.
Don't go cutting that roof; it's too easy to get all crossed up and be unable to finish it right OR go back.

 

I'd like to see of there is any green paint left under the rust

 

Probably more than you might think; I've seen blush rust like that hiding pretty good paint a few times. Something about the formula of the paint back then.

 

Ditch the Dodge, buy the Silverado pickup behind it.

 

One thing it has going for it is it looks very complete, so not a lot of tougher parts needed to find. But late 40's Mopar 4 door cars aren't going to be worth much, so hopefully you can get it for $1000 or less. Personally I'm not sure I'd waste much time trying to get it running myself. I'd probably bring it home and go for a later V8 swap, and hopefully find a donor car to get all the drivetrain from to keep it inexpensive.

 

If it’s not stuck, the flathead would be far cheaper. They were not easy to kill and still run well enough even with issues. Even if it was stuck, it could still be saved. Depends on the effort… but slant 6 is another good option