Moparts

47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project

Posted By: 47droptop

47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 03/05/11 02:55 AM

Just thought I'ld post a thread on my next rod project. I've always wanted a 40's convertible and found a 47 Plymouth. I already have a 46 Plymouth Coupe and a 47 Sedan and lots of parts, so it worked out great. I clipped the original boxed x-member with the front and rear of a 80's Malibu so I can bag the car. It sits 1 1/2 inches off the ground with bags dumped. Found an awesome powerplant to run. Bought a Dodge 8L V10 and tranny combination from a fellow hot rodder. Gonna be a few ride!
[image][/image] [image][/image] [image][/image] [image][/image]
Posted By: poorboy

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 03/08/11 03:01 AM

Looks like that should be a nice ride when you get it done. Keep us posted, we love to watch new things come together. I'm sure we are going to have lots of questions as you get the drive train in and functioning. Gene
Posted By: MuuMuu101

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 03/08/11 10:59 PM

8L V10? A Viper Motor and 6-Speed perhaps???

I like it!!!
Posted By: moparjack44

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 03/12/11 02:44 AM

Why? Couldn't you find a 350 Chevy? Kidding of course, great to see you keeping it MoPar

Jack
Posted By: Birdturd

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 03/27/11 02:20 PM

Cool lookin ride
Posted By: fstfish66

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 04/10/11 07:38 AM

very kool,,,,
Posted By: kbuhagiar

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 04/21/11 06:04 PM


Keep us posted!
Posted By: badblubeee

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/08/11 06:15 AM

Very cool-here's a pic of my brothers 48. It has a 47 Olds grill that was installed 1n the 50s. This car was featured in May 1956 Car Craft mag when it was originally completed.It was brown at that time.He go it in 1977.(don't wanna say what running gear it has on this site )

Attached picture 6622869-Benny's48.jpg
Posted By: moparx

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/08/11 02:27 PM

Quote:

Very cool-here's a pic of my brothers 48. It has a 47 Olds grill that was installed 1n the 50s. This car was featured in May 1956 Car Craft mag when it was originally completed.It was brown at that time.He go it in 1977.(don't wanna say what running gear it has on this site )


SMALL BLOCK CHUBBY has been said here before............
Posted By: badblubeee

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/08/11 06:18 PM

Well,you got it-it's a 350-350 and 58 olds 411 rear.
When he was building the car a friend of mine had a 340 4spd for sale but my brothers car buddys convinced him that the Mopar would interfear with the steering box,oh you can get Chevy parts anywhere blah blah blah.
After 25 years and still having to fight with the steering box/exhaust clearance and the disaproving comments of true Mope Heads he still regrets listening to his long gone "buddys".
To bad but still a cool ride.
Posted By: poorboy

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/09/11 02:01 AM

If the GM drive train really bothers him, he can correct the wrong doing anytime he wants. There are still people buying that GM stuff.

Not sure I would go through the effort, but when the GM stuff has any issue, it would be gone. Of course, I would not have done it in the first place, nor would not have bought any non GM car with a GM drive train to begin with. Guess that's just me. Gene
Posted By: 47droptop

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/09/11 05:33 AM

Tell your brother he has an awesome car, badblubee! I also run a 46 Plymouth Coupe that was someone's unfinished project from the 70's. It's on a 69 Chevelle frame (117" wheel base) so I run a fuel injected 350/700r4 combo. The car was started with Chevy so it was WAY easier to continue on that way. I built my wife a 47 Plymouth sedan with a fuel injected 340/727 combo because I started from scratch. There's no shame in building a beautiful car that someone else started and it being just what it is....BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Attached picture 6624350-myCoupe.jpg
Posted By: 47droptop

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/09/11 06:00 AM

I also wanted to say that hot rods (I feel) are different when it comes to building. It's more of creating the car you want. I restored my 71 Demon before my Coupe and being a factory muscle car, it HAD to be all Mopar. I've seen some people cross breed muscle cars and it's real sad. That's just my opinion and to each their own. I do appreciate people who put alot of hard work into building the car they want. [image][/image]

Attached picture 6624375-032_32.JPG
Posted By: therocks

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/11/11 02:16 PM

I wish I still had my 47 Coupe.Bought it for 150 bucks out the door.Drove it for 3 years and sold it for 75 bucks still running and rust free.Rocky
Posted By: 47droptop

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/11/16 08:18 AM

Well it's been awhile since I posted some updated pics of the car. Been doing customer projects which made me put the car aside. I've been working steady on it and not stopping till it's done. It's amazing how much you get done when you stay focused...lol. Had to fab an entire new floor, rockers, rear wheel wells, recess the firewall, but was so much easier to do in a rotisserie. Chassis is all painted and powertrain set into place.
[img:center][/img]
[img:center]http://[/img]
[img:center][/img]
[img:center][/img]
[img:center][/img]
Posted By: Crizila

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/11/16 06:23 PM

Beautiful work - and plenty of it. Interesting shock location?
Posted By: moparx

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/11/16 06:55 PM

i was wondering about the shock location as well. nice floor pan work by the way ! up
beer
Posted By: 47droptop

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/11/16 10:36 PM

Thanks guys. The shocks were relocated because the car is on air ride. I used the front and back clip from a 1980 Malibu to do the air ride. The whole center section is the original frame.
Posted By: dogdays

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/16/16 09:39 PM

Let's see.....convertible, 8.0 liter engine, hmmmmmmm.


I see a need for some more stiffening of the frame in torsion.

For example, GM A-bodies like chevelle and skylark had boxed frames for the convertibles, C-channel frames for roof cars.


R.
Posted By: poorboy

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/17/16 05:12 AM

Originally Posted By dogdays
Let's see.....convertible, 8.0 liter engine, hmmmmmmm.


I see a need for some more stiffening of the frame in torsion.

For example, GM A-bodies like chevelle and skylark had boxed frames for the convertibles, C-channel frames for roof cars.


R.


He used the GM front clip, all boxed. The GM rear clip 78-88 all boxed, and the center was original 47 Plymouth, rails boxed, X member was C channel. If He added a rear crossmember to the 80 Malibu rear clip, it should be pretty tough. The 78-88 GM metric frame was the go to frame for lower class dirt track cars for years, they held up pretty well, except for the center flex, which he eliminated. Gene
Posted By: 47droptop

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/18/16 11:02 PM

Thanks for the concern Dogdays, but Poorboy is right. This frame is extremely rigid. It is all boxed except 12" of the outside "X" sections. There is also a bolt in cross member for the transmission mount. The car won't be a 1/4 mile drag car, just cruisin
Posted By: 47droptop

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/30/16 03:33 AM

Motor and tranny bolted in.

Posted By: moparx

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/30/16 02:46 PM

do you, by chance, know what the engine/transmission assembly weighs ? it looks great installed ! up
beer
how does it compare in relationship to the spindle location of the viper ? in other words, how is it located fore/aft of the spindle center line ?
Posted By: OzHemi

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/30/16 09:49 PM

I weighed the Viper SRT10 engine and trans (all aluminum setup, out of a 2006 crew cab truck so has the auto behind it instead of a 6 speed)I have here that I am swapping into a '68 C10 and for comparison it was 912 pounds.

That is a complete take-out engine and trans basically.
Posted By: moparx

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/31/16 02:13 PM

wow ! that was much heavier than i expected ! i know there are two extra cylinders and a couple of extra gears [8spd. auto ?] but somehow, i still was thinking maybe 800 would be stretching it ! no wonder i could never win anything at those carnival weight guessing games......
beer
Posted By: OzHemi

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 12/31/16 05:20 PM

Nope, just a 4 speed auto....nothing exotic !

The forklift wasn't touching the scale or engine...just left it there in case the engine decided to tip or anything. laugh2

Attached picture 20151228_113705_resized_1.jpg
Attached picture 20151228_113657_resized_1.jpg
Posted By: 47droptop

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 02/12/18 07:26 AM

Well after 8 years of poking at this project and 2 years of serious $$$ and time dedication, this car will be on the road this spring!!




[URL=http://s42.photobucket.com/user/47droptop/media/20180210_1631271_1.jpg.html]
Posted By: moparx

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 02/12/18 03:04 PM

looks great ! up job well done !
beer
Posted By: Old Ray

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 02/13/18 03:15 AM

Originally Posted By moparx
looks great ! up job well done ! beer


WHAT HE SAID !!

47droptop: See you at Radium this year? confused
Posted By: Joatha

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 02/13/18 04:26 PM

Wow!
Posted By: 47droptop

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 03/24/18 03:56 AM

Old Ray, the car will be at Radium this year. I sold my white coupe last summer and had to drive my Kia to the Radium show.....not cool..lol
Posted By: Old Ray

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 03/24/18 04:07 PM

Originally Posted By 47droptop
Old Ray, the car will be at Radium this year. I sold my white coupe last summer and had to drive my Kia to the Radium show.....not cool..lol


I will stop by and say hello. Thanks.
Posted By: 47droptop

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/14/18 01:41 AM

Finally got 'er on the road. Had to replace the engine, had no oil pressure and didn't know cuz I had no gauges in. Has been a two steps forward and one step back kinda build. Well atleast I have stories to tell...lol



[URL=http://s42.photobucket.com/user/47droptop/media/20180410_194348.jpg.html][
Posted By: Old Ray

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/14/18 03:46 AM

CONGRATULATIONS ! boogie Feels good huh?
Posted By: moparx

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/14/18 02:46 PM

super nice ! your interior is drop dead gorgeous ! bow now to drive the wheels off........ drive
beer
Posted By: Mike P

Re: 47 Plymouth Convertible Rod Project - 05/14/18 04:09 PM

I'm usually not a big fan of the post war Plymouths or convertibles, but that car is enough to make me reconsider both!!

Very nice.
© 2024 Moparts Forums