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Looks good and nostalgic to me. Back in my college days I had a '49 PLY followed by a '50 PLY. The '49 had the grooved bumpers favored by some customisers but the '50 had plain rounded bumpers. Maybe you did not get bumpers with your $400 deal but I am just wondering if the title is really for a 1949 then you could go look for the rippled bumpers, although they may be hard to find now. Just wondering.
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder
Thanks, Don. The title says 50 Dodge and the car is a wide mix of Plymouth and Dodge leftover parts from several 1949-51 cars I scrapped over the last few years, so originality is not a big concern. I love the ribbed bumpers, too. I've been keeping an eye out for a couple of pairs; I'd like to have them on my 48, too.
I did a little boneyard shopping on the way home from work today. One of the guys on the P15D24 website figured out how to put a Ford Ranger 5 speed behind the old Mopar flat sixes so I got one of those and an 8.8 Explorer rear end with disc brakes and a 3:73 limited slip.
Falcon good info for a easy change up to a modern 5 spd . I hope you delve a little deeper explaining what you need to convert it in . The 3.73 and 5 spd will be a street and good high way car .
b
Thanks, Bobby. The reason Im doing it is that the car has terrible highway manners and 1950 brake technology really blows. Id like to be able to keep up with traffic without sounding like it's ready to float the valves and be able to stop better. Im doing front discs, too; the 8.8 looked like a cheap easy way to get four wheel discs.
Yeah at the u pull its its a great way to upgrade , also the mustang 8.8 is a little narrower if you want some deeper wheels . I looked for a 8.8 from a 90 ranger with the 4.0 V6 that is perfect for the Model A in width .
b
I thought it was interesting that my 48 chassis is almost 5" wider than this car. 49 was the model year change but you wouldnt think it would have been that much. I finished my hood peak and shot some epoxy primer on it; that'll hold it for a while. Im still not 100% sure where Im going with this; just doing one small mod at a time and see where it ends up.
Hood turned out very nice Falcon!!!! Just keep listening to the car, it'll tell you what it wants!
Well, I gotta admit that I wasn't to sure about the hood mod but it's really "tasteful" and not so "in your face" as I thought it might be. Good Job!
Dave sounds like Mr. Miyagi trimmin' bonsai... :LOL::LOL::rolleyes:
Hah! I'll call it the Bonzi Mopar! I started mocking up the Ranger 5 speed onto the factory bellhousing using an old spare flathead I had. I'm copying this idea; a guy on the P15D24 site designed this swap. I had the bellhousing blasted and made a template; just need to drop it off at the machine shop to have the center hole machined out 1/8".
The tranny swap will be another cool update that no-one will see, but it'll be a huge improvement!
^ 2nd so true you get the lower end performance with top end fuel economy . Also at the light they may be thinking 3 spd at the most .
HMmmmm.. Bobby, are you sayin' you'd participate in a street race? :eek::LOL: :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by bluestang67
Hah! I think that would be like OJ Simpsons low speed pursuit! You could smoke this old flathead in a well tuned John Derre. I ordered a HEI distributor for the flattie from Langdons Stovebolt and it came in yesterday so I may do the swap this week. I had some minor throat surgery yesterday and am off work until next Tuesday. I feel pretty good but wont have a voice for a few days.
NNNOOOO street racing is against the law but a few 1-2-3 shifts help keep the plugs from fowling .
That's true, Bobby; but with the old unsynchronized tranny it's more like 1-----------2-------3. Wait until I get my five speed in, grab your kid's 250,000 mile Cavalier and we'll throw down. At least I'll have a fighting chance:D
I got my Ranger trans front plate back from the machine shop. They did an awesome job; they made this snout for the Dodge throwout bearing to ride on. Reasonable price, too. It's Morley Performance in Fenton, Missouri if anyone wants to check them out online or on Facebook. Great shop with some cool projects going on.
I got my HEI installed; wow, what a difference in throttle response! Very easy to do; only took a few hours.
Lookin good Falcon! Keep it coming, I enjoy watching this build.
Thanks! I kind of like keeping it on the road while i"m tinkering with it. At least for the summer, anyway. Winter plans are brewing as we speak.
That's some very nice machine work on the trans!!! Did you do the Petronix change over on the ignition?
They did and a good thing that could be done . Falcon I so want to drive one soon , must be nice to just tinker and go for a ride in it .
Thanks, Dave. I got an HEI dizzy from Langdon's Stovebolt; he uses the 2.8 V6 Chevy dizzy with the remote coil and converts them to work in the old Mopar flatheads. Slick piece and under $200.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson