Road trip in a 71 year old car.

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thesiren74 said:
I greased everything before we left even the water pump! All wheel bearing were cleaned and re- packed so this thing rolls very easy.
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If you don’t know it, check out P15-D25.com. Lots of fellow old Mopes there. Do a search for rebuilding the fluid drive unit - there is at least one rebuilder out there.

My 53 Dodge truck has fluid drive - still works fine and does not leak. I have driven it from SA to Dallas, SA to Corpus Christi at highway speeds. I don’t do that anymore .
 
I put an 8.25 diff from a ‘90 Dakota under my truck - no idea what the gear ratio is. Correct bolt pattern and parts are readily available. If you want disc brakes up front, Rusty Hope on the website can hook you up. Lots of good people and help on that site.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Then it will be a slug. That's why it has the 3.90 gear. It has little torque compared to modern engines. It was basically made to run from 40 to about 55 for long distances. Remember, these were the cars that rarely lasted to 100K. ......and the gearing necessary for them to have decent acceleration was a big reason for that.
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I bought a 49 Plymouth 4 door in 65 while on leave from Navy. No telling how long it had been sitting. I bought it from my bro in law. It used more oil than gas, I would by what was called "Reclaimed motor oil", cost me 10 cents a quart! Gas was around 12 to 15 cents a gallon. Car lasted me 2 weeks. Broke down alongside Ft Ord on hwy 1. My sister's bro in law came from San Jose to Monterey to pull it back north. He had a 49 Buick torpedo back with a straight 8. Lots of fun.
 
My buddy daily drives his old flat head, fluid drive business coupe.
He will drive it anywhere, its really reliable.
I have a 46 dodge truck, but I have not tried to get it running, the guy I bought it off of, said he could not get it to run.
I bet it just has a couple stuck valves.

Flat heads are somewhat reliable, think of a common Briggs and Stratton push mower, they run forever.
The new Briggs OHV all I can say is run, my zero turn mower, the engine is trash with only 200 hrs on it. The valves will not stay in adjustment.
 
Saw this at a local car show 61 Dodge Senaca.
Thought it was cool till he opened the hood. 350/350 chevy...:mad:
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my 57 Fairlane 500 4dr was 3310 lbs and that had power everything....'cept brakes!? they were light back then without the crash beams and crazy hydraulic bumpers full frame car.
 
I've been wanting to build a 40s to mid 50s Mopar for 15 years probably. Bout a year ago I picked up this 49 Wayfarer. It was a sorta resto from 20 years ago or more. Then the owner went into a nursing home and then a nephew (70) got it and I bought it off him. Needs plenty buy some pretty go bones The flathead is locked up tight. Stick car.
My first car at 16 in 1964 was a 49 Chevy but I ain't going there!!!! I always wondered what it could have been back then.
At 73 I am just about done. I am thinking of selling off everything and keeping the 49 to "try" to get it decent driver. And buy a pretty decently done driver in that same era.
OK so the wife won't let me sell her Toad and its done except for dropping in a good slant ( or half *** good slant!).
I had some pics but must of got deleted!! Like the PO's 50 Dodge!
Like mentioned above these old cars from that era were never meant to run down the roads 70 mph, more like 50! road with one at 50 chillin and those that want it modern to haul *** and be totally comfortable and not worry about their chevy powered Mopardying out there. There are peeps that love to tool down the
 
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