[Sticky] Welcome to New Forum Members!

@jdabbey this is definitely a good place to ask for advice with many helpful people. Once you receive your first magazine (if you haven't already), you can also contact the 1955 technical advisor, Mark. If you need his contact info sooner, let us know and one of us can send you that.

Regarding your pedals (item #9 on your list), those used to be recast by a company called Gary Goers, who sold out to Quirey Quality Design. They haven't gotten everything online yet, so you'll need to use Gary's catalogue and then call Quirey with the number of the parts you want to order (note that prices have also gone up since Gary's last catalogue). They also have odds and ends like rubber bumpers, firewall pads, etc. that you may need as well. Links for both are below:

Catalogue: https://www.chryslerclub.org/PDF%20files/GOERS.pdf

Quirey: https://quirey-quality-design-co.business.site/

383's are good motors with good availability on parts and good performance. If it's not going to be original, that's not a bad alternative!

@davidfrank Thanks for the helpful info. I've been told that the magazine is running a little late this quarter, so if someone could DM me Mark's details, that would be awesome. 

I went ahead and inquired about the pedals. Thanks again for the heads up there.

Between that and the AAJ recommendation from @RegisBodnar, I have a few projects in the works already. Even ordered new carpet from ocautocarpets.com and sound deadener(Yes, I got the Amazon Basics, it's 100mil for cheaper than competitors 80 mil., just sayin)

I'll start posting my questions in general so that I'm not clogging up this thread.

I appreciate the welcome.

Hello, I'm Nancy Dailey.  New owner to 1948/49 Desoto 2 door sedan.  My car is being restored and about to be painted.  Wanting advice on whether to keep paint the same (black) or go to a prettier color that is still historical for Desoto's that age.  Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Paint and original colors are a subject a lot of people debate. There is a group that says to keep everything original. Others say, it's your car, paint it any color you like. I look at it this way, you are the person who will be behind the wheel driving it and you will enjoy it more if it is the color you like. There are a lot of historically correct colors, and I would say if you like one other than black, then go with it. Paint is VERY expensive and you will probably only have one shot of making this car the car of your dreams, so pick a color you love and go with it. I'm sure you know dark colors, especially black, are very hard to keep clean. Wash the car and let it sit for an hour, and you can probably write your name in the dust. Light colored cars don't have that issue, just saying, LOL.

DeSotos of that era aren't my area of expertise, but I don't think you will affect the value of the car much if you pick another available color for DeSotos of that year. If a color change would make you happier than black, that seems like the route to go in my opinion.

@nancydailey hello nancy! Regis and David are right about the colors, people have many different opinions. I am a person that tries to stay as close to original as possible. However I personally don't mind if a color change is made to an original car as long as it is one of the colors that was available during that model year. The best way to find this out would be to gather some paint chip samples, you can find them on eBay, and go through the colors until you find one that you like and that will match whatever color your interior is as well. I had one car in the past that I was going to change the color on because I could not stand the exterior color. I ended up selling the car before I got it painted though. Good luck with your decision and on your car. Keep us in the loop by posting pictures when you can!

Hello Nancy,

As the owner of an original, mostly black '55, one thing not yet mentioned is that black cars get HOT!  If you are not installing air conditioning in the car keep in mind that you may get cooked inside a slow moving black car.

Mark

Thanks, I do hope to add AC.  Like some others, I am putting in new engine and transmission - what I really need is power steering.  I never got to drive this car.  My brother wrecked it in the late 60's and it got parked in a chicken coop then later a warehouse waiting on family interest to fix it.  Anyway, I'm a small person (5ft 1 in) and think power steering is my best solution. 

Are you putting in an original style 6 cylinder engine, or going resto-mod and putting in a V8 and automatic?

You can add electric power steering without a lot of problems if you want to add power steering without changing the steering box and all associated linkage. 

V8 and automatic transmission

Gen III Hemi?

Probably Chevy 350/385 crate engine....

Just like the color issue, it's your car and your choice of how you restore and modify it. Personally, I like putting a Mopar in a Mopar, but the Chevy route is very popular and supported by a vast network. The Chevy drivetrains are bulletproof and have a great following and I know of a lot of old Mopars that have Chevy drivetrains. I see that you are wanting to have a 48/49 with a modern drivetrain to be able to get in and drive off like any new car, along with comforts like A/C etc. 

I recently completed a 60 DeSoto Adventurer restoration and went the rest-mod route on a lot of items. I do have the original drivetrain, but have added A/C, cruise control, tilt steering, 4 wheel disc brakes, custom interior, and painted it in a not 60 factory color.

This is my first (probably one and only) restoration and am learning as I go.  Appreciate suggestions.

Hi, Nancy Dailey again.  Here is our car's family history and a few pictures.  It was bought as a new car in 1949 by my Grandpa (Harry A. Staats) in Parkersburg, WV.  My parents (Percy A. and Julia Staats) bought it from him in 1951.  They moved it to Riverside NJ for a couple of years while my Dad worked for Rohm and Haas.  My Mom had never driven a car, so it's the first car she ever drove.  In 1953, they moved back to Oak Ridge TN (the Secret City); they had lived there previously and both had worked for Union Carbide during the war years.  The DeSoto was our family car for many years.  My older brother and sister got to drive it. I remember riding in it. However, my brother wrecked it in the mid60's and it never got repaired.  It was stored in a chicken coop for many years.  When the farm was sold, the DeSoto was moved into a warehouse.  My Dad would periodically work on the engine and get it running.  Dad died in November 2019 and was almost 99 years old.  I acquired the car from his estate in July 2022. It's path to restoration started in late August 2022.

I have since learned that it is actually a 1948 body style.  Some of the photos are of the car before I washed it.  Two are after I washed it. Probably first time it had been washed in 50 years.  Last photos are from today.  A lot of body work has been done.  Some parts are from a second DeSoto.  Hope it will be ready for painting soon.  Anyway, it's a work in progress.