9/5/05 - Finished re-wiring most everything under the hood. No longer a fire hazard. Scored a
very nice nos carburetor.
very nice nos carburetor.
9/5/05 - Finished re-wiring most everything under the hood. No longer a fire hazard. Found a
very nice nos carburetor.
very nice nos carburetor.
9/23/05 - New tires. Having new tires allowed me to drive the car for a distance which allowed
the engine to warm up for me to notice a small hole in the radiator.
the engine to warm up for me to notice a small hole in the radiator.
10/24/05 - Cleaned up the engine and dressed it up a bit. Click Here to have a look at the
difference it made
difference it made
11/6/05 - Lost my brakes on the way to get breakfast. E-brake got me home. Radiator hole got
much worse as well. I plan to get the disc brake kit after I save up some $$$.
much worse as well. I plan to get the disc brake kit after I save up some $$$.
11/6/05 - Lost my brakes on the way to get breakfast. E-brake got me home. Radiator hole got
much worse as well. I plan to get the disc brake kit after I save up some $$$.
much worse as well. I plan to get the disc brake kit after I save up some $$$.
11/20/05 - Turns out my brakes were just incredibly low on fluid. Added fluid and they work
again. I still plan to get the disc brake kit asap. Found a door latch on ebay for $4.99 and a
speedometer cable with door handle for $9.99. I had been quoted prices of up to $75 for a
used speedometer (new ones are only $60 on oldmoparts website).
again. I still plan to get the disc brake kit asap. Found a door latch on ebay for $4.99 and a
speedometer cable with door handle for $9.99. I had been quoted prices of up to $75 for a
used speedometer (new ones are only $60 on oldmoparts website).
11/26/05 - Took the DeSoto to Baldwin's in Rock Hill to re core the radiator. Impressive looking
shop.
shop.
12/12/05 - Got the car back from the radiator shop. Had the entire cooling system (and heater
core) flushed. All new hoses and thermostat. The shop manager said the fluid in my car was
some of the nastiest he had ever seen. The total bill was nearly $800 but the work was of
wonderful quality. Have a look, click here.
core) flushed. All new hoses and thermostat. The shop manager said the fluid in my car was
some of the nastiest he had ever seen. The total bill was nearly $800 but the work was of
wonderful quality. Have a look, click here.
1/2/06 - Purchased a dash clock, windshield wiper arms, chrome rear view mirror with
compass, nicer seats with handles on the back and armrest on back seat, another set of tail
lamp towers with very nice lenses, and a couple other assorted chrome pieces off of a 56
Fireflite Sportsman. The 56 being parted out is at Peterson Performance in Mayo, SC if
anyone else needs parts. Very reasonable on parts but big on stories.
compass, nicer seats with handles on the back and armrest on back seat, another set of tail
lamp towers with very nice lenses, and a couple other assorted chrome pieces off of a 56
Fireflite Sportsman. The 56 being parted out is at Peterson Performance in Mayo, SC if
anyone else needs parts. Very reasonable on parts but big on stories.
1/21/06 - Brakes are finally completely redone, though still drum. What a pain it was to get the
rear drums off. Rear brakes were terrible. It helped a lot, but I still want to eventually go to disc
brakes. Installed the nos Carter Carburetor as well as a new fuel pump and gas line. The old
Carburetor and fuel pump were starting to leak. I also had new dual exhaust installed and while
the manifolds were off they went ahead and changed the freeze plugs. I put on a better pair of
wiper arms from the Fireflite with brand new wiper blades. Still polishing up some of the chrome
pieces I got from the Fireflite for the interior. The car is really starting to come together and
feel safer to drive. Have a look at the work, Click Here
rear drums off. Rear brakes were terrible. It helped a lot, but I still want to eventually go to disc
brakes. Installed the nos Carter Carburetor as well as a new fuel pump and gas line. The old
Carburetor and fuel pump were starting to leak. I also had new dual exhaust installed and while
the manifolds were off they went ahead and changed the freeze plugs. I put on a better pair of
wiper arms from the Fireflite with brand new wiper blades. Still polishing up some of the chrome
pieces I got from the Fireflite for the interior. The car is really starting to come together and
feel safer to drive. Have a look at the work, Click Here
2/5/06 - Installed the chrome that had been removed from around the windshield and rear
glass. Replaced the tail lamp lenses with the nice ones off the parts car.
glass. Replaced the tail lamp lenses with the nice ones off the parts car.
2/5/06 - Installed the chrome that had been removed from around the windshield and rear
glass. Replaced the tail lamp lenses with the nice ones off the parts car.
glass. Replaced the tail lamp lenses with the nice ones off the parts car.
2/18/6 - Installed the chrome trim I've been polishing forever around the inside of the
windshield. It made an impressive improvement over my old painted trim. I also polished the
center brass piece of my horn button. It really made and impressive difference in the interiors
appearance.
windshield. It made an impressive improvement over my old painted trim. I also polished the
center brass piece of my horn button. It really made and impressive difference in the interiors
appearance.
3/19/6 - Finally found and installed a passenger side Firedome script. The original was in
multiple pieces when I got the car. I also installed a nose emblem that I restored over the past
few weeks. You can see it in the image at the top of this page.
multiple pieces when I got the car. I also installed a nose emblem that I restored over the past
few weeks. You can see it in the image at the top of this page.
9/16/6 – My Desoto has been in the shop 3 months now with rear end trouble. I’ve spent a lot
of money on it and still haven’t gotten it back. One difficulty and problem seems to come after
another with it. BTW I do trust the shop it’s at isn’t taking me for a ride. I’d be doing the work
myself if I had the time. At this point I’m ready to swap out the entire rear end for a more
modern one since my 56 is a driver not a show car. Now I just have to find out if there are any
that will interchange. If someone knows of one that will work please email me. It’s killing me not
being able to drive it for this long.
of money on it and still haven’t gotten it back. One difficulty and problem seems to come after
another with it. BTW I do trust the shop it’s at isn’t taking me for a ride. I’d be doing the work
myself if I had the time. At this point I’m ready to swap out the entire rear end for a more
modern one since my 56 is a driver not a show car. Now I just have to find out if there are any
that will interchange. If someone knows of one that will work please email me. It’s killing me not
being able to drive it for this long.
3/10/7 - My Desoto is finally home from the shop and worse off then when she left. The
rear end still needs repair or replacing and when I cranked her up I noticed the Carburetor
Gasket isn't sealing and is sucking quite a bit of air. On a more positive note an acquaintance
who runs a Corvette and classics restoration shop has taken an interest in the car and may be
able to help me with the rear end troubles. Only time will tell, but at least I'm able to look out my
window and see my Desoto again.
rear end still needs repair or replacing and when I cranked her up I noticed the Carburetor
Gasket isn't sealing and is sucking quite a bit of air. On a more positive note an acquaintance
who runs a Corvette and classics restoration shop has taken an interest in the car and may be
able to help me with the rear end troubles. Only time will tell, but at least I'm able to look out my
window and see my Desoto again.
10/20/7 - I replaced the break drum that the local shop cracked with parts from another read
end a good friend of mine found. The drum puller was absolutely necessary, even though it did
set me back a hundred bucks. While I had the drums off I replaced the old shoes and wheel
cylinders. I also changed out the seals and changed out the rear axle oil (it REALLY needed it).
One thing the shop did a great job on was replacing all my break lines, both steel and rubber. I
feel a lot safer driving it around now. I've also replaced the rear shocks with NAPA part number
RR 94050 which is the same as Monroe 31131. I have had no luck finding a NAPA or Monroe
part number for the front shocks, but I have found a Gabriel number 2001G. I hope these
numbers are helpful to someone else trying to find shocks. The next major project will be new
seals for the transmission. I'm looking for someone local that I can drive the car to who can do
the work and knows what there doing on early Mopars. I've heard of a place in Rock Hill and
will be checking it out in the coming weeks. I'm just happy to be driving my Desoto around
again!
end a good friend of mine found. The drum puller was absolutely necessary, even though it did
set me back a hundred bucks. While I had the drums off I replaced the old shoes and wheel
cylinders. I also changed out the seals and changed out the rear axle oil (it REALLY needed it).
One thing the shop did a great job on was replacing all my break lines, both steel and rubber. I
feel a lot safer driving it around now. I've also replaced the rear shocks with NAPA part number
RR 94050 which is the same as Monroe 31131. I have had no luck finding a NAPA or Monroe
part number for the front shocks, but I have found a Gabriel number 2001G. I hope these
numbers are helpful to someone else trying to find shocks. The next major project will be new
seals for the transmission. I'm looking for someone local that I can drive the car to who can do
the work and knows what there doing on early Mopars. I've heard of a place in Rock Hill and
will be checking it out in the coming weeks. I'm just happy to be driving my Desoto around
again!