FAQs, and Tech Articles - National DeSoto Club Forum

THE COWL FRESH-AIR VENT ON MY 1953 POWERMASTER IS STUCK OPEN

samnicolosi — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 23:10:47 +0000

Has anyone else experienced problems with opening or closing the cowl vent?
I think the root of my problem lies in the under-the-dash "control-lever assembly". I have the factory service manual, and also the body maintenance pamphlet, but neither seems to provide any pictures or instructions for servicing the mechanism. I have tried spraying everything with WD-40, but that didn't help. Suggestions, anyone?

1949 Desoto Custom Starter ( PROBLEM SOLVED)

Dick Pirkey — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 18:33:39 +0000

The starter is spinning the pinion but not moving to engage it to the flywheel. I put it in a vise and it still does it. I only have a hot wire going to the big bolt on the bottom and a ground from the battery to the starter housing. The top portion of the solenoid has nothing wired to it. Is that the problem?

Problem Solved by Big A at the MG Experience Forum. The solenoid has to be wired as well to a hot wire as well as the bottom starter motor. If you look down from the driver side at the square solenoid,,, the pole farthest way and the pole closest must be wired through the ignition or just jumped across from under the hood. If they are not connected, the starter will whirl but will not push to engage. You can use an tractor starter button and hook one end to one pole and hook the other end to the other pole and when you push the switch it will both spin and push out to engage.

1949 Desoto Custom Club Coupe Second Series Floor Pan Restoration Part 2

Dick Pirkey — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:03:07 +0000

1396

Get 1 gallon of flat black housepaint and paint every surface you can, firewall, floors, trunk, inner fenders, inner door panels, inner quarter panels, inner wheel tubs, any surface you can find that will eventually be covered with something. This incapsulates the dust and rust and freshens the car for future work. Areas that are hard to get to get an aerosol flat black can of paint. Paint it from the rooter to the tooter!!Don't worry about runs or technique, just slap it on thick. wait 24 hours for the paint to dry then star adding the sheet metal you got at Ace hardware (22ga. 24"X24" sheets). More pics of that to follow. I have a little trouble with the pics. Don't know how to edit out a double pic??

1395

1381 1382 1383 1387 1388 1389 1390 1391 1392 1394

1949 Desoto Custom Club Coupe Second Series Floor Pan Restoration

Dick Pirkey — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 22:05:23 +0000

I am new to DeSoto's but have quite a few other cars. This is a Po'Boy restoration that I personally like to do. None of my previous restorations would qualify for the Concours de Elegance at Pebble Beach, but I like um. I am not one to get upside down on a car... no fun in that. I like to spend the least and get a good bang for my dollar. To some it may be below par.. and to you I apologize. If it is close... then that is good enough. I don't like to get bogged down in the minutia of the job. I, one would say, make 20 footers. I am starting to do the floor of this car and my purpose is to fix the holes and have fun doing it. So here we go!! First I removed the seats, then vacuumed all I could, took a prybar and scraped as much sealant off as I could, then vacuumed again. Now I coat the bottom with Lochtite Rust Converter and a coat of Flat Black house paint. I will show pics after that is done.

1364 1365 1366 1367 1368 1369 1370

Here are the pics of the Rust Treatment...I used 1 Bottle of brush on because I had it and it goes into easy flat areas well. I used 2 cans of Aerosol

1372

Rust Treatment in the rest of the car, it goes into hard to get to parts. I will let it set till tomorrow and apply the house paint. I don't

know how to drop the wheel well pic it has not been done.

1373 1374

I have to go to Ace Hardware to get my floor patch panels...22 gauge...2'X2' sheets....$28.99 a sheet...need maybe 6 sheets. I will most likely screw them down.. I have a wire welder... but screws are quicker. I have little patience..

1375

Harbor Freight 3 and 6 ton jackstands have been recalled

RichardHartung — Wed, 20 May 2020 16:48:22 +0000

If you have purchased any Harbor Freight 3 toon or 6 ton jackstand witht he following parts number 61196, 61197 or 56371 then stop using this RIGHT NOW.

Again STOPUSING THESE JACKSTANDS. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE INWHICH THE LEVER THAT HOLD THE SUPPORT HAD BAD MANUFACTURING AND THESE STANDS CAN COLLAPSE WITH WEITGHT ON THE STAND.

RUTRN THESE STAND BACK TO hf TO GET A CREDIT FOR THE CURRENT PURCHASE PRICE OF EACH STAND.

353