I just got into a 1938 coupe project and did not konw what I was getting into. need help on finding information about building car and repairing issues with car. Car was a quick purchase and now as I have time to look over I have found many many many issues with the car. motor mounts, trans issues, and drive shaft issues.

bigges issues is steering and bad vibration when accelerating.

steering system- 5 inch drop with disk brakes but only turn 1/4 of way to the left and full movement to right. steering colum hits exhaust manifold. etc.

bad vibration when accelerating or letting off of the gas.

car has a 350 engine with 400 turbo trans and factory rear end.

Wanting to restore and turn into a great project, first of many mopar projects .

Howdy ..welcome to the site !

Must have some type of Mustang 2 front stuff on it huh ?

If a hack did it(sounds like), no easy fix..

sad but true

The vibration could be drive shaft bent
or maybe its not phased ..

Could have a bent wheel, axle

I'd look there for those items

hello!
Guy buys a primered, incomplete running rod and has issues. Sounds like he doesn't have the bucks to do a complete rebuild all at once.

First, the steering issue means you shouldn't even drive it on the streets. Let us know if it's a steering box with linkage or a rack and pinion setup. Pictures would be nice.

Next, inspect every inch of the frame, drivetrain, brake system and wiring. Look at the welds, the way things are put together and for any loose, leaking cut up or rusty parts. It sounds like someone didn't have a level of workmanship that you should trust your life with.
We can help, just take it a step at a time.

I agree with you John, I don't know he has the $$$$ to rebuild the whole car at once, I just wanted to give him my opinion on what I think would make a nice car.

and making it mopar powered would be one of my top priority's after I got the frontend fixed to steer and stop right Ron...

I'd bet $ that the vibration is driveshaft related (as mentioned) or pinion angle. Sounds like the previous "builder" didn't necessarily take a lot of time to make things right. Doesn't sound like anything a bit of hard work won't cure, and will be a good learning curve.

I'll add my vote to the motion for replacing the 350/400 combo with a Mopar driveline of some sort...

Ron, I think you know my feelings on Mopars in Mopars.

Bryce, post more pictures!

Thanks I know I will have alot of questions and appreciate all the feed back and help.

just pulled motor trans out of the car tonight, putting out for sale. no need to keep a chevy motor in the car, going to pull the body and other items Thursday night so i can see what I am up against. Alot of my friends are chevy guys and its the same car and same items they do to each of them. had to get something different that has some class to it. I might be over my head alot but i am hoping this will turn into a great project. $$$ is no option but I have told myself that I am going to do the car myself. the more I look and find It looks like a very bad hack job. the guy who started really left me with alot of work.

Post some pics ..

more pictures

picture

interior

pic

j

can you get some Clear detailed pics of the frontend and steering before you pull it apart???

do you have plans to change the frontend or are you going to stay with the axle?

also are you planing to change out the rear end? I would.....

I have allways liked this 36 ply coupe, its pro streeted with a 340 6 pack just to give you some incentive Ron...






and heres a cool 38:

Look at this thread for some pics on an F/M/J install:

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...e=1#Post5021197

Also, it's not likely as bad as all that. By the looks of things, if you have to you could probably chop the frame at the firewall and slide an early Dakota setup right in between the rails. A couple hundred buck and a few hours and you won't be feeling like you're dealing with a bad hack job anymore. If the current frontend stuff IS MII, you can likely flog it for a few bucks as well.

Raw material, to be sure!
Looks like a dropped axle on parallel leaf springs in front. Doubt that has a rack and pinion, but you never know!
The steering column looks like an 80s Chevy, probably the same donor that gave the engine/trans. Those columns should just keep spinning in either direction, so the issue is probably the box or linkage. Normally on a rear steer box, the box itself has internal stops. You could disconnect the linkage and turn the box both ways to find the center point and check that with where it is when the linkage is connected and the wheels straight ahead.
However, if you are going to change stuff, the main things to remember before tearing it apart is where the sheetmetal attaches, what the wheelbase and track are, and what you want the final ride height to be. Figure all that out before cutting!
Full frame swaps are a lot more work than you would think, so that leaves using the current frame rails with something attached, or a subframe graft.
Popular stuff is Mustang II based (examples only)
http://www.streetrodengineering.com/Products/mustangllifskits.htm
and
http://www.progressiveautomotive.com/street.htm
Others include Pacer, Volare, vette, jaguar, and any other OE that may fit.

Have you read about LAWFISH's project? It ought to give you lots to consider..
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...e=1#Post5088072

Looks like the stock front axle. If so the metal bushings in the spring could be all wore out, they are supposed to be grease regularly. Also, king pin bushings could be shot too, again they are metal and supposed to get greased often.

Somewhere I have the FSM for a 38 Plymouth, used to own one.

Steve

starting going over the car today since the motor and trans are out. has a 5inch drop axle with parrelle leaf springs. it appears the steering system along with the engine and trans came out of a chevy van... where do people get ideas for taking items from a van to make project. the master cylinder for the brakes also came out of the van. steering colum is sto short and does not connect properly and the steering box it at a very bad angle. looks like the steering system is not set up at all. the location and set up alonly allow the steering to turn to the right and I get 1/4 of the movement to the left. I am going to take some more pictures on Friday. Motor mounts and other items are not mounted properly either. right side mount is welded 1/2 inch lower than left side. Drive shaft is home made and welded in the middle. and way out of round. Found my vibration when driving. going to michigan to look at a drive tran, engine and trans. found on-line not a hemi but getting back to the mopar drive tran.

will keep you posted.