Re: 1942 plymouth P14C club coupe
[Re: otter440]
#1868392
07/11/15 07:59 PM
07/11/15 07:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 12,481 Chino Valley
RodStRace
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 12,481
Chino Valley
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I have a tough time understanding the mentality of keeping the stock suspension but the steering needs to be upgraded. I see it a lot though, so I guess I'm the weird one. Like I need another example of that! There are kits that use a GM econobox rack (cavalier?) to replace the worm and sector and slightly strange linkage. It's had mixed reviews, you should be able to find it and the reviews out there with a search. I plan on getting my '40 running with the disc brakes, lowered uprights and shock relocation then see if the steering is bad enough to warrant looking at an upgrade. P.S. Would like to see pics of yours. A 42 is darn rare, as I'm sure you know.
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Re: 1942 plymouth P14C club coupe
[Re: otter440]
#1869333
07/13/15 11:58 AM
07/13/15 11:58 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
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Biggest issue with the stock suspension is how the shock is mounted. Relocate the upper mount to the frame and it's pretty good.
The add discs to the front, be advised with your 8 3/4 rear you have better rear brakes than front brakes.
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.
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Re: 1942 plymouth P14C club coupe
[Re: otter440]
#1869857
07/14/15 12:17 AM
07/14/15 12:17 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,641 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,641
Freeport IL USA
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The cars original suspension was light years ahead of everyone else at that time, it is fairly modern. Moving the upper shock mount from the upper control arm to the frame is a huge improvement. A front disc brake conversion would be a requirement from me. I would also update to the dual well master as well. A sway bar off a newer jeep will stiffen up he front end even more.
The Dakota option is a very good option (I have one under my 48 Plymouth coupe), it is a lot more work then adding a disc brake conversion, moving the shock mount, and updating the master. Depending on the condition of the brakes & suspension of the doner Dakota, your probably even money by time you rebuild the Dakota stuff.
If you keep the original frame, mount your 360 1 1/2" to 2" towards the passenger side off center. Keep the motor & trans in line with the frame, there is enough movement in the u joints to allow this. Then everything will clear the driver side exhaust. I usually put a notch in the crossmember to clear the crank pulleys, then box it back in. I've done 6 of these cars (5 39-48 Plymouth & 1 Dodge) 4 were original frames, 1 a Dakota clip, & 1 a full Dakota frame. 1 was just the disc brake upgrade & frame notch (360), 2 were disc brake & shock (318 & 360) 1 was disc brake, rack & pinion, sway bar (no shock move) (V6), 1 was a Dakota clip sold off before complete, and the current one is a complete Dakota frame. All of them got the master moved to the firewall. Gene
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Re: 1942 plymouth P14C club coupe
[Re: otter440]
#1870484
07/14/15 11:36 PM
07/14/15 11:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,641 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,641
Freeport IL USA
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I'm not going to be much help today. Steering box. The 3 steering boxes I reused were in very good condition, The one I replaced with the rack was junk, and the Dakota has rack & pinion. I've not had any boxes rebuilt. Upper shock mounts. I'm a welder by trade, I made my own mounts. They are pretty simple. You need an eye for the shock to mount to, and an arm that extends up and out away from the frame about 2", then a way to attach it to the frame, either weld on to or bolt to the frame at the outside edge of coil spring pocket. The shock just needs to clear everything as it moves, and the bracket needs to be strong enough to do the job. Nothing radical required, unless you intend to be going off road.... Fatman Fabrication (should show up on a Google search) makes the brackets that you weld on the frame for the shocks, and some early 50s Ford trucks used bolt on brackets the are suppose to work on these cars. Disc brake conversion. Let me start out saying its been many years since I've done the disc brake conversions. Back then there were very few options, and most were petty costly (for me anyway). I always used www.rustyhope.com disc brake conversions. His "kits" come with a couple machined parts, a couple bolts, some instructions and a list of parts you source from whom ever you choose to deal with. His kit requires drilling and re-tapping 2 bolt holes in your spindles. These days there are disc brake conversions that use off the shelf parts that are a simple bolt on. Some even use your cars bearing hubs. Some days we can help, some days we can't. Gene
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