Projects Updates on my 33 Plymouth PD Coupe Build

Wife took a couple pics of the exhaust mounts and the tail pipes so I thought I would include them.

Dave

 

Here is the WCFB carb after rebuilding.

Dave

 

Is it just the angle of the camera or is that rubber brake line feeding the rear brakes right next to the exhaust pipe?

 

I wondered how long it would take for that question! I noticed it in the pic when I posted it. It actually clears it by several inches, but thanks for the heads up on what might have been!

Dave

 

@Fat47 does this show it better?

Dave

 

Yes. It was the camera angle. Great work.

 

Been working steady on this one for awhile now. Gotta be ready to be my driver at Bonneville! Bought a pair of '40 Chev tail lights. One had a chipped and cracked lens and no lens fit it right. It was also ground around on at the bezel attachment points. Then finally I realized one had a chrome bezel and the other had a stainless. I like the look of them and they nicely fill the factory holes in the rear of the frame/tank cover. The angled lens will make them easier to see. I'm hoping the seller swaps this bad one out for another good one.

Pulled the steering box and cleaned and painted and filled it. Also took the bends back out of the steering arm which effectively made it longer. It did help with the slow steering. Wish it was faster but for now I can live with it.

Swapped out the 2bbl intake and carb for the '54 4bbl setup. Runs much better and looks better too! Made a new fuel line from pump to carb.

Tightened brake lines some more to get rid of tiny leaks and screwed the brake light switch in a bunch as it was leaking. I must of forgot to really tighten it.

Finished welding bottom of exhaust pipes. Found I have 1 pinhole in the rear right pipe about a foot from the end.

Mocked up a crusty pair of BLC 904a headlights cuz they had bulbs in them and my painted ones didn't.

Started running tail light wires from the cab back through the frame to the tail end.

Been working on a throttle pedal. Right now it is vised gripped to the firewall as I haven't quite figured out a way to make it clear the toe board. Works better than baling wire through the firewall!

Here are the latest pics, except without the new fuel line (You can see it some in the right front pic of the car.)

Dave

 

Looks pretty racy, Dave. I sure would like to meet up with you at B-ville but probably won't happen.

 

Finally found a WCFB air cleaner base in my junk out back so I cut everything off that didn't look like an open air cleaner, got a new element and dusted off a chrome top and installed the whole pile! Today I cut up another piece of a '29 Ford headlight bar and made spacers to mount the Mopar alternator on the stock generator mount. Wired it up to a new regulator and what do you know, it works!

Also dug out my '33 Plymouth gauge sets and got one nice clean one out of the bunch. Will probably mount that in tomorrow.

Here is a pic as of tonight. Now I will clean it up and paint the spacer tube.

Dave

 

It's getting to look like a hotrod, Dave.

 

Getting closer! Tail lights are in and wired and working along with turn and brake lights. License plate mounted. Hood repaired and massaged on the front. Windshield mounted. Mirror mounted. Working on the turn signal sockets on the BLC 904a headlights, wiring run for them. Dimmer switch here tomorrow, headlight switch and ignition switch are installed. Instrument cluster is in. Speedo hooked up but something amiss in trans as the cable doesn't turn. Weather permitting I am about ready to take a spin down the road for it's 1st on the road test drive.

Dave

 

Coming along nicely. Good work!

 

I dig that, very nice! Congratulations.

 

It finally happened! Took my wife with me for the first drive on the road this afternoon. Ran and drove great! Straight down the road when letting go of the wheel. I like that a lot. No problems or issues. Still have to finish turn signals in the BLC 904a headlights and a few more details but it's gonna make it this year to Bonneville! No pics cuz I didn't have to do anything.

I still have the 2.76 rear gears in it and while it is a little tall taking off, the LaSalle trans gear ratio spacing is wonderful! I may just leave them, or maybe go to a 3.23 but not a 3.91 like I was originally thinking. Plenty of torque!

Dave

 

Dave, wish I could meet up with you but not going to happen. We are headed west next week, plan to stop at Speedy Bill's again, then on to Denver.

 

Lookin good Dave!

 

Neat car Dave and by the way, I bet there are a lot of skid marks on the road in front of your place with people (tourists) being surprised at your "yard art".

 

Will have to check it out on the salt

 

Pulled the heads and intake yesterday. Back and hip are killing me now! I loaded up the '54 heads to take them to the machine shop to get them shaved only to find they are closed until Wednesday.
Chased and cleaned all the oil and water holes in the block. Cleaned stuff up. Just waiting to have heads done now. Headers will go on it with the '54 heads as they match the big ports. I had them on the little port heads in mock up a long time ago and was asked why I put cast iron manifolds on it later. They will not seal on the small round ports.

Dave

 

I have my son in law taking an inch out of the Stainless headers so they will clear the oil pan. Welder extraordinaire! He can do stainless TIG. I started modifying the down pipes to fit the headers but that is stalled until he gets a chance to finish the headers. Poor guy works 6 days a week.

Got my '54 heads back all nice and shaved .020 with the second one matched for depth. Cleaning and getting ready for head assembly.

Many thanks and shout out to Gary @73RR for all his help for this Hemi newbie! It is much appreciated.

I also got the wood built and installed around the quarter windows and the rear window and installed the glass.

Drilled out the broken off screws in the deck lid latch and the handle screws as well and tapped them. Installed a correct '33 Plymouth deck handle.

It was 109 degrees here today but somewhat cooler in the shop so I did that cleaning on the valve train etc. Another week of above normal temps. Ready for that to be over.

Not much more that a month until Bonneville!

Dave

 

Dave, just made a 6100 mile trip to Utah and Ariz. Wish I could come to B-ville but not this year.

 

Dave, just found this discussion- love the build, have a 33 that I'm chugging away at that I hope comes out half as cool as your ride!

 

Thanks! Good luck with your project. Mine has taken way too long! At the moment I am bed ridden from severe back/hip problems. Been since trip to ER on Monday. Finally able to get out of bed long enough to check email and visit the HAMB this afternoon.

New heads still need assembled and installed and finish getting this together before our trip to Bonneville August 5th. Quickly running out of time. Thinking I may have to have son in law Justin assemble the heads and help me put the top end back together. Seems there is always something

Dave

 

There is no shame in getting help. Those heads are heavy bastards.

 

Dave, I hope you get to feeling better soon! Looking forward to seeing you and the coupe on the salt.

 

Go visit a chiropractor! Mine is pretty good at keeping me sorted out, especially when I do something stupid like splitting a pile of cordwood by hand, crashing my mountain bike, etc. Really enjoying your build, can't wait to read the next installment of your progress!

 

Neat rod .. looks like fun

 

I missed going to the circle track tonight to pit for my son because of my broken down back but he swept the night again without me! He swept last week too! 4 main event wins in a row. 2 points behind 1st place for the championship. He just could do it this year!

I did get one '54 331 Hemi head assembled this afternoon before I wore out. Maybe tomorrow I can do the other one.

Man it sucks getting old!

Dave

p.s. Thanks for the support guys!

 

It beats the alternative!

 

Progress! Heads are together and painted. With pics no less! I will have them on the engine today and maybe fire it up.

Dave