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Introduction and Looking For Some Advice #1521124 10/21/13 07:55 PM 10/21/13 07:55 PM
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA J jingro OP member
jingro OP member J Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA	Hello, I have a 1938 Plymouth truck that I recently won at my church's annual car show. It's mostly original and in pretty good shape. Right now I enjoy driving it as it is, but would could see doing somethings to it, but I'm not sure what. It would be much more enjoyable without all the shifting. Is there an auto transmission that would bolt to the flat head six, without a whole lot of work, or expence? Any suggestions on what I should do with the truck? I would want something that I could drive, enjoy and not sink a ton of cash into. I've built a few cars, and have experience and ability to do the work myself. Thanks 7895647-7891631-395692_10151420076492939_1141260715_n.jpg (68 downloads) Last edited by jingro; 10/27/13 02:12 AM.

Back [Re: jingro] #1521125 10/21/13 08:13 PM 10/21/13 08:13 PM
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA J jingro OP member
jingro OP member J Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA	Back 7895675-IMG_0033.JPG (81 downloads)

Front [Re: jingro] #1521126 10/21/13 08:30 PM 10/21/13 08:30 PM
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA J jingro OP member
jingro OP member J Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA	Here is the front. 7895696-IMG_0035.JPG (71 downloads)

Interior [Re: jingro] #1521127 10/21/13 08:32 PM 10/21/13 08:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA J jingro OP member
jingro OP member J Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA	The inside has a new seat, matt and door panels. 7895700-IMG_0036.JPG (59 downloads)

Engine [Re: jingro] #1521128 10/21/13 08:35 PM 10/21/13 08:35 PM
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA J jingro OP member
jingro OP member J Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA	Engine 7895705-IMG_0039.JPG (70 downloads)

Re: Engine [Re: jingro] #1521129 10/21/13 09:09 PM 10/21/13 09:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376 D dogdays I Live Here
dogdays I Live Here D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376	You lucky so-and-so! Start here. I'd suggest using a later 904 with the lower First gearset. http://www.qualityengineeredcomponents.com/ Or, here http://www.wilcap.com/chryslerfh.html#230350BOPAT R. Last edited by dogdays; 10/21/13 09:11 PM.

Re: Engine [Re: dogdays] #1521130 10/22/13 12:55 AM 10/22/13 12:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,585 Freeport IL USA poorboy I Live Here
poorboy I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,585 Freeport IL USA	Lucky you! No one has given me anything that still moved under its own power, ever. I would go for the adapter to put the 904 Mopar automatic in your truck. While your changing the transmission, change the rear axle as well. A newer axle assembly with a rear gear in the 3:23- 3:55 range would be a lot nicer behind the flat head 6 and the auto trans, you would be able to drive your truck at highway speeds. Gene

Re: Engine [Re: poorboy] #1521131 10/22/13 04:14 AM 10/22/13 04:14 AM
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA J jingro OP member
jingro OP member J Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA	I like the idea of being able to cruise it on the highway and keeping the original engine for the wow factor. I will research the adapter plates. Are there any older auto transmissions that just bolt up to it without having to use the adapter and switch to 12v for the starter? What about wheels and tires to give it a hot rod look? Or leave it like it is. Thanks

Re: Engine [Re: jingro] #1521132 10/22/13 12:54 PM 10/22/13 12:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376 D dogdays I Live Here
dogdays I Live Here D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376	I believe the better features of the modern aluminum case Torqueflite outweigh the lower cost of the bolt-on cast iron Torqueflite. I also believe cast iron Torqueflites were all pushbutton shift, adding another layer of complexity to the swap. R. Last edited by dogdays; 10/22/13 01:11 PM.

Re: Engine [Re: jingro] #1521133 10/22/13 10:31 PM 10/22/13 10:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,585 Freeport IL USA poorboy I Live Here
poorboy I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,585 Freeport IL USA	Quote: What about wheels and tires to give it a hot rod look? Or leave it like it is. Thanks I'm not sure what bolt pattern they used on that era truck, but the original wheels are held in place with wheel bolts instead of studs and nuts like the modern stuff. Also, one side has left hand threads (loosens backwards), the left hand thread bots have a "L" on the top of the bolt. The other side will have right hand threaded bolts. Don't mix them up. Any modern wheels with the same bolt pattern can be used as long as the lug bolts will hold them on. There is also a mounting stud that is attached to each of the wheel mounting surfaces. That stud is intended to hold the wheel while you screw in the lug bolts. That stud will have to be removed (grind it off) to mount modern wheels on your truck. Once that stud is removed, you have to hold the wheel up to start the lug bolts. At one time there were "kits" available to replace the lug bolts with studs and nuts, but I'm not sure those are available any more. I suppose to could source out the screw in studs and buy the nuts separately. Replacing the lug bolts with studs and nuts would open up the wheel choice even more. Another thought is if your upgrading to a modern rear axle, one might consider a disc brake conversion as well. That would solve the lug bolt issue all together. I believe www.rustyhope.com has a disc brake conversion available for your truck. Modern brakes and a modern transmission would be great upgrades that would increase the driving fun. I love these old cars and trucks, but i like the modern stopping ability as well. Gene

Re: Engine [Re: poorboy] #1521134 10/23/13 03:58 AM 10/23/13 03:58 AM
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA J jingro OP member
jingro OP member J Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA	After having to do a couple of hard stop for traffic, I like the idea of modern brakes. What about converting it to a 12 volt system? Is there more to it than Alt, bulbs and a battery? The truck has been re-wired front to back. Thanks for all the input!!!

Re: Engine [Re: jingro] #1521135 10/23/13 12:57 PM 10/23/13 12:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376 D dogdays I Live Here
dogdays I Live Here D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376	Your truck wheel bolt pattern is 5 on 4 1/2" So most any Mopar or Ford wheel will work, assuming centerbore isn't an issue. I am going to '98 Crown Vic cop wheels on the front of my '64, they are 16 x 7. I'll have to open up the center a little or else use a small spacer. R.

Re: Engine [Re: jingro] #1521136 10/24/13 02:11 AM 10/24/13 02:11 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,585 Freeport IL USA poorboy I Live Here
poorboy I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,585 Freeport IL USA	Quote: After having to do a couple of hard stop for traffic, I like the idea of modern brakes. What about converting it to a 12 volt system? Is there more to it than Alt, bulbs and a battery? The truck has been re-wired front to back. Thanks for all the input!!! Wiring depends on how whoever replaced it did the job. Originally, that was probably a 6 volt positive ground. If all the wiring was done as a positive ground, some things might not work when you go to 12 neg ground. You will also have to do something with any electrical components like a radio or electric wipers if your truck has either of those. You will also have to have a voltage reducer for the fuel gauge. Your probably going to swap the starter for a newer one to match the trans, so that shouldn't be an issue. Be sure to list that starter for sale online, they are getting hard to find in good shape. I can tell you I have swapped in a 12 volt negative ground battery into a 6 positive ground system before and other the frying the lights in short order, the cars drove good. Not saying its right, only I've done it before. Gene

Re: Engine [Re: poorboy] #1521137 10/24/13 12:55 PM 10/24/13 12:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376 D dogdays I Live Here
dogdays I Live Here D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376	The interesting thing about 12V car systems is that most use 5-6 volts at the dashboard. Chrysler products usually use a voltage limiter or reducer mounted behind the gauges. Mopar gauges operate by current heating an element in the gauge. they are relatively insensitive to voltage spikes. As a result, the voltage limiter acts like a mechanical pulse-width-modulation unit. You can achieve the same result but with regulated 5 volt output by building a voltage reducer using commonly available PC power supply chips. There are many articles on this build on the Web. R.

Re: Engine [Re: dogdays] #1521138 10/24/13 07:28 PM 10/24/13 07:28 PM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours Supercuda About to go away
Supercuda About to go away Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours	Many years ago I had a 38 Plymouth. Was thinking to convert to 12v setup, to prep for an eventual V* conversion. had a long talk with a local starter shop of good repute and was told that it that the starter would run fine with 12v as long as the engine was easy to start, as in it didn't take a bunch of cranking to start it. But if I want to they could rebuild the starter and upgrade it to 12v operation when/if it failed. I had an old timer sit down with me and we discussed the other aspects of swapping over to 12v operation and his comments on the gauges pretty much mirrors dogdays statements. Since it had no wipers that wasn't an issue either. They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.

Re: Engine [Re: Supercuda] #1521139 10/24/13 11:30 PM 10/24/13 11:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,585 Freeport IL USA poorboy I Live Here
poorboy I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,585 Freeport IL USA	If he upgrades the transmission, he will be changing to a modern 12 volt starter, so it shouldn't be an issue. I forgot about the low voltage gauges on modern stuff. Oops. Gene

Re: Engine [Re: poorboy] #1521140 10/26/13 11:12 AM 10/26/13 11:12 AM
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA J jingro OP member
jingro OP member J Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 15 New Mexico USA	Thanks for all the info. Poorboy, when you went to a 12v system, you didn't have to do anything with the guages? I would like to keep the originals, as they still work and look good. Also, does anyone sell a dropped front I-beam for these trucks? Or is there another way to lower the front end? If I did new wheels, I would like to lower it too.

Re: Introduction and Looking For Some Advice [Re: jingro] #1521141 10/26/13 01:18 PM 10/26/13 01:18 PM
Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,179 Canada D demon super stock
demon super stock D Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,179 Canada	If I owned the pickup, I wouldn't change a thing. Maybe the 12V upgrade but thts about it. I happen to love original survivor type vehicles. I don't want to knock your ideas because it is your truck. But my personal opinion is if you lower it and add modern wheels and an automatic, you turn a nice original into a hot rod. Then where does it end? Just my 2 cents.

Re: Introduction and Looking For Some Advice [Re: demon] #1521142 10/26/13 04:26 PM 10/26/13 04:26 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 18,575 Dreaming of the 808 AZ_A12_BEE I Live Here
AZ_A12_BEE I Live Here Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 18,575 Dreaming of the 808	Quote: If I owned the pickup, I wouldn't change a thing. Maybe the 12V upgrade but thts about it. I happen to love original survivor type vehicles. I don't want to knock your ideas because it is your truck. But my personal opinion is if you lower it and add modern wheels and an automatic, you turn a nice original into a hot rod. Then where does it end? Just my 2 cents. I ends like this, looking cool 7901553-image.jpg (39 downloads) 69.5 A12 Bee, first purchased in 1976, car 169 on registry 69 Coronet R/T 440/4 spd 69 Coronet 500 Conv H code 383 4bbl/auto 37 Plymouth PU Find your spot on earth and ride it.

Re: Introduction and Looking For Some Advice [Re: AZ_A12_BEE] #1521143 10/26/13 05:30 PM 10/26/13 05:30 PM
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 649 Davis, California, USA MrBelvedere2 mopar
MrBelvedere2 mopar Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 649 Davis, California, USA	I think you need to sell me that truck. I've been looking for one like that for a long time!!! 1965 Plymouth Belvedere II hardtop

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