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This weekend’s project was fabricating and installing new wind lace.
Attached are pictures of the wind lace in prep stage, installed and the repainted trim that secures the headliner.
That's good progress! Is the headliner next?
Good progress for a winter weekend! Keep us posted on future updates.
I sewed a new headliner. Same painters drop cloth material. Still having fun. The weather here is delightful.
The first work significant work on my DeSotos in 2024 was also my first attempt to polish a windshield. I got this from a nearby NDC member who removed it from a 30k mile car because it had light wiper marks that were annoying when driving into the sun. He bought a reproduction windshield to replace it, but I preferred an original to have the correct tint, thickness, and Solex logo. I did some research and was reasonably confident that the marks could be polished out since they were surface only (not able to be felt with my fingernail). I used Eastwood kit number 12525. I started out with light pressure and a slow speed, working up from there. After about 2.5 hours, during which I had gone over the whole section about 3-4 times and then another 3-4 times over heavier marks, all the marks appear to be gone! I am going to check it in the setting sunlight again when I do the driver's side, but so far I am super happy with the results! This should be perfect for my '56 Fireflite to replace the original one that the shop broke in 2017.
Nice work David! I did not know that was even possible.
I learned something new today.
Thanks for sharing.
@stevegiddens thanks! I'll report back when it's finished. My only concern at this point is distortion, but I didn't see any as I was going. I need to inspect in better light than I had at the very end when the sun had already set.
Last year, my '59 Fireflite turned over slow a few times when hot and I suspected (and still do) that the starter was getting weak. I went to pull it off last week and spent about 2 hours trying every which way to get it out of the engine bay to no avail. I even pulled the solenoid off, thinking that might make it easier to maneuver. What's frustrating is that there are a couple spots where I could get it out between the frame and torsion bar if it was but a half inch wider. As it turns out, it appears that the exhaust (factory routing) must be dropped for the starter to be pulled out! What a dumb design! I ended up pulling the one off my parts car (where I cut the exhaust) to have it rebuilt instead and will tackle the exhaust pipe bolts on my other car at some point now that they have soaked in Kroil for a bit.
Got to take Ernestine to her first car show of the season..
Great looking 59. How long have you owned it?
I do not see your name in the National Desoto Club roster. Are you a member?
Sharp car, Parnell! Keep getting it out there for the people to see.
Glenn
I got the starter (from the parts car) back from the rebuilder and installed it in the '59 Fireflite Sportsman yesterday and test drove it. So far, it seems to turn over strong and fast, regardless of engine temperature! I will be taking the car up north on a 6 day trip revolving around the big Iola car show. That and then the convention at the end of the month should be some good testing for it. If all goes well, I will post the rebuilder's info as they do stuff all the back to the teens and has been very friendly and professional to deal with so far. The solenoid is even a USA-made part! They also did the alternator for my '66 Plymouth, so I will have a second item to evaluate as I start using that car.
I finally got around to addressing the speedometer cable that broke in 2023. I didn't want to just replace the cable until I had a chance to remove and test the speedometer in case something jammed up - that way I wouldn't break another one. Since I focused on getting the Fury back on the road in 2023 and 2024 and this was a non-critical issue, I put it off until this year.
Anyhow, I removed the gauge cluster and used the broken cable trimmed down to use in a drill chuck to run the speedometer. Nothing was jammed, but I decided to take it apart anyways - something I should have done in 2021 when I restored the dash and had it out. I pulled the gear cover off and found some old, chunky grease, so I cleaned that all up and regreased it with some axle grease. I also put a few drops of oil on the smaller external gears and re-oiled (sewing machine oil) the wick. The way that ribbon speedometer works is pretty ingenious - the spinning cup on the left end grabs just enough at the roll to move it as you accelerate and the coil spring on the right end rolls in back when decelerating.
Anyhow, I got that all back in the car, grabbed a cable from the parts car, cleaned and lubricated it, removed the broken stub from the transmission end, and installed the new cable. Now I'm just waiting on the salt to get washed off the road and to get the brake booster back on the car to test drive it.
David, if I recall correctly, prior to the speedometer cable breaking, your speedometer read rather optimistic. I am curious to see if the new speedometer cable and lubing the gears will resolve that issue! Or if that is a problem with an incorrect speedometer drive gear/pinion in the transmission?
