National DeSoto Club Forum - Recent Posts

1930 cf

Mauricetremblay — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 20:12:21 +0000

Looking for thermostat housing for 30 cf. also just looking for any parts person.

1930 cf

Mauricetremblay — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 20:12:10 +0000

Looking for thermostat housing for 30 cf. also just looking for any parts person.

RE: Grease fittings for 1949 S13

GlennColburn — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:12:02 +0000

Good Morning, Greg-

The only reference I could find in the service manual was "lubrication fittings". If you have verified that your standard Zerk gun won't fit, the best option is to remove the fittings and replace them with Zerk fittings. Hopefully they have the same thread pattern. As for removal, determine the correct size wrench and use a 6 point socket to avoid rounding off the shoulders.

Keeping everything properly lubed goes a long way toward a pleasant driving experience.

Let us know what you find out.

Glenn

Grease fittings for 1949 S13

Greg Pifer — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:03:13 +0000

Getting ready for summer driving in Ohio and I believe that the grease fittings are different than the Zerk fittings I am used to. I tried to remove one and can't figure out the size of socket to use. I think my best option is to use existing but need to know what kind of grease gun end fits these fittings. Can someone help me?

RE: What did you do with or to your DeSoto today?

RegisBodnar — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:56:45 +0000

A very wise decision. If you are going to drive the car regularly disc brakes are the only way to go. I have used AAJ front conversions on 2 of my cars and they work great. I also have rear disc on my 60 Adventurer; stops like the new cars, LOL.

RE: What did you do with or to your DeSoto today?

Jarmo Sirkia — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:06:43 +0000

I started disk brake conversion to Fireflite. Adapter is from AAJ Brakes.

https://forums.offipalsta.com/picture.php?albumid=9157&pictureid=249062

RE: Axle shaft for '58 Firedome Ambulance

RichardHartung — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 17:33:08 +0000

Here is the puller that I use on my 39 Desoto. You willnotice that there are 6 holes and not the standard 5 holes. The 6th hole is for the mounting pin that would have been on the older Mopar drums that used bolts instead of lug nuts. The pin is used to holed the rim in place so you can start to thread the bolt back into the drum.

I prefer the this style puller since you are pulling equally on all 5 points instead of 3 point in a triangualted setup so with the 3 arm you do not have a balanced point when pulling. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com

1879

RE: 1957 26A Adventurer Engine

EdwardPetrus — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:01:13 +0000

@scottmiller I agree with everything that David has said about welding, AND to leave the engine number as it is without re-stamping. The only thing I would add to the thinking (and I have no personal experience with it) is that you should look into STITCHING the crack in the block. I think you can find it as an alternative to welding cast iron, and from the few instances where I've known people who have done it, it has worked very well. You can do your own Google search for it, but here's one YouTube link I found in 2 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq0wfU4ZaKk

Ed Petrus

RE: 1957 26A Adventurer Engine

DavidFrank — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:26:28 +0000

@scottmiller thanks for saving it! Let us know what the shop says regarding the welding.

RE: 1957 26A Adventurer Engine

Scott Miller — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:16:25 +0000

@davidfrank Thank you for all the information! I have a very reputable machine shop (they did the shot peening). They also do work for other machine shops, and they are old school racers. I'm sure they can point me in the right direction for getting it welded.

I still have no idea on value. Honestly, I purchased it to save it from the scrap pile. A guy bought an entire estate and this was in the detached garage. He had no idea what it was. I knew it was an old hemi, but I had to educate myself on it a bit.