1937 Dodge D5 Sedan

Sharps40

Price, it's all about the price
Joined
Dec 18, 2016
Messages
2,583
Location
Pekin, NC.
Rating - 100%
32   0   0
Ol Bessy is getting there. A bit dusty but the 2015 HellCat B5 Pearl Blue looks good with the original 82 year old stainless steel trim.

zIkafeW.jpg


sSuMCyu.jpg


I9AUMrq.jpg


UowvIrS.jpg
 
Last edited:
Yep. No buckets is for another ride. This is pure restorod. But the headwinds adapters for the buckets are sparkly delicious!
 
Last edited:
Something along the lines of a Cord 810/812 hide away headlights would look killer IMO. I should probably stop throwing out ideas, your body man will wind up hunting me down.
 
No worries. We are straight restorod here. Cant even tell where the drunk mashed the entire DS by driving over the front fender ripping the doors, down the length of the running board and through the rear fender and quarter. Very little plastic in the repairs, shes all steel.
 
So, for them as is new to the 4 year project. The theme is What Dad Wanted and what he could do at 18 in 1957 when he bought it for $50.

He always wanted an 8 with auto. So, its getting a 5.3 LS with 4l60E.

Paint. Blue of course, since there is no other color which is proper and fitting for a car.

Upholstery, factory pattern, TBD.

Polish trim, glass, rubber.

600x16 Radials with wide whites on chrome smoothies with baby moons.

Now, for the 21st century, I have ordered in tilt steering, cruise, tunes, 2" raised MI II suspension, power disc brakes, AC, Heat, Defrost, Electric wipers, 16" stainless banjo steering wheel, etc.

and, it'll all be wrapped in a package that looks 1937 factory stock.
 
Glad to see some updates. Been following your threads about since the beginning. Looks real good!
 
Looks like we are bringing Ol Bessy home, incomplete.

In a nutshell, original owner sold the business then quit as chief of hot rods, abandoning 22 hotrods in progress. To his credit, new owner is working with customers to try to get all of those on track and completed.

But, Dad lost $15000 parts and labor funds posted to the businesses accounts in Feb to finish the car. That money is now gone. We are at zero and the new owner quotes $39000 to finish the job. A bit frustrating to say the least. I'm sure i can do everything except steering joints, wire and program the LS engine and 4L60e and if I can't do that i'll simply swap in a carbed crate engine and TCI trans controller.

Now I wonder if I'll ever get it done for Dad. At 80 years old and with health issues creeping into his life its hard to hope for that day when I throw him the keys and he drives me around town like we used to when i was just a little kid who opened the windshield even in the winter!

I need to call over to a new builder in Concord NC and see if we can get some help with start, run stop. If we can afford to pay for that amount of heavy lifting, I'll do the rest.
 
Looks like we are bringing Ol Bessy home, incomplete.

In a nutshell, original owner sold the business then quit as chief of hot rods, abandoning 22 hotrods in progress. To his credit, new owner is working with customers to try to get all of those on track and completed.

But, Dad lost $15000 parts and labor funds posted to the businesses accounts in Feb to finish the car. That money is now gone. We are at zero and the new owner quotes $39000 to finish the job. A bit frustrating to say the least. I'm sure i can do everything except steering joints, wire and program the LS engine and 4L60e and if I can't do that i'll simply swap in a carbed crate engine and TCI trans controller.

Now I wonder if I'll ever get it done for Dad. At 80 years old and with health issues creeping into his life its hard to hope for that day when I throw him the keys and he drives me around town like we used to when i was just a little kid who opened the windshield even in the winter!

I need to call over to a new builder in Concord NC and see if we can get some help with start, run stop. If we can afford to pay for that amount of heavy lifting, I'll do the rest.
:(
 
Man that sucks!
 
Yep, Dad will be working that separate. For now I need to work with Dad to get the car moved here. Currently talking with a hot rod shop in Concord NC on start, run, stop. I can get the car to 99% myself in a few months time as its mostly basic assembly left to do. However, I don't want to mess with LS wiring and steering connections. Rather have that ECU programming and suspension safety to a pro. I'd estimate that with all the parts in hand I could get everything done by Christmas and take dad for a Christmas Day first ride. We'll see. First to get it home. He's torn up, was talking about parting it out last night. I gotta find a way around that for him.
 
I was going to comment on the shop being a good one judging by some of the classics in the pics then I read on. It's a shame that there are so few artisans left in the world. Someone who could do that work and do it right could write their own ticket.
 
Probably still a good shop but looks like the new owner is sending a clear message.....he doesn't want this particular job. So, we'll relieve him of it.
 
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Sadly it happen all too often in the restoration world. I hear about it all the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Dad called. Working the shipment now. Tentative date to load Ol Bessy on the truck is 14 August. Awaiting confirmation from shop owner and trucking company. With any luck, I should have her in my garage sometime around the week of 18 August.
 
Been doing a lot of research. I'm thinking about first three steps in this soon to be garage project. After inventory and bolting up all the sheet metal, I think I am ditching the used modern engine and transmission. Looking at the cost (let alone complexity) of fuel system mods, trans wiring/programming, engine wiring/reprograming, coolant system hose monster, and the list go's on.......I am leaning towards a v8 and trans more closely aligned with my budget and knowledge.....a small block and a th350. The modern stuff would have been wonderful.....if they would have finished the car. Hell Bells, the engine alone needs 40eleven electrical connectors and 2 miles of coolant hose, brains, 6 million lbs of fuel pressure and its so wide, I can't even see where it'll all go..... I'm liking the simplicity and cost of a 600 CFM carb and HEI lots better.

Hell, a Goodwrench engine and TCI trans with converter are less new with warranty than all the mods to get the LS to run.

Crossed fingers, car might just be in my garage this week. Wed is supposed to be the loading day.
 
What are you going to do with the engine you have?
 
I'm likely to see if some of the accessory brackets (ps, alternator) interchange to a Gen III block and I will for sure want to get rid of the LS and its harness/etc. Its under 100K miles and supposed to be a good solid 5.3L as the prior owner had acquired it for his personal truck. But I think we want a simpler motor and a 96 to 2000 Vortec 5.7 is affordable, bolts right up to the 4l60E I have and can run on a computer or not, carb or FI and will mate well with the cooling system and accessories I have planned.....besides that, take up a lot less room under the hood!

I should have a decision on the motor in a couple weeks. Car should load tomorrow so it should be here in a week. After an inventory and some basic planning I'll know more. But, for now, leaning toward ditching at least the overly complicated LS power plant. I may ditch the 4l60e as well for a 700r4 or even TH350 in order to maximize simplicity of the systems.
 
Its a contender. Ideal would be a 327 with dual weber 38/38 or a 283 with 3 weber 34 ict.

But im still out on the engine, so many options. Its smelling like a 350 in the 1994 to 2000 vortec

First i gotta look her over. Ill start that in earnest on Sunday
 
Todays work.
Got her home and in the garage.
Front suspension springs are too long, bent and shocks won't fit.....I'll call Fat Man, may need shorter ones....not sure, this is a potential major screw up by the shop.
Dash is scraped up and needs new paint, probably by the shop in the moving around.
Headlights are scratched, not too bad though.
Hood braces installed, hood aligned, hood pins fitted, hood handles adjusted/freed up to operate.
Door check straps installed, door hinge pins seated.
Running board brackets installed, running boards need drilled and fitted.
Headlight stands and trim installed.
Headlight buckets installed.
Headlight inserts installed (6 hours to figure it out!!!)
Front Wing emblem installed.
License plate installed.
Screws installed in dash to hold it on, all threads are stripped, will have to repair to hold the dash up.

67841297_2846738515396621_2886644848171941888_n.jpg
 
Last edited:
Dad, this mornings work......off to mow and buy bolts to fix the dash attachment.
Installed the windshield inner trim, installed lower dash bolts (it won't fall out now), found steering column drop, installed rear view mirror, painted and reinstalled the license plate bracket (Silver), installed back seat hand straps and coat hangers, installed dome lamp and dome lamp switch, found and hung the dash plates that hold the light switches, throttle and choke, installed the full filler neck and grommet, located and installed the very poor condition front bumperettes.
 
Dash is fully secured now, top and bottom. Top screws are stainless with stainless nuts and washers as the windshield opens for ventilation and is subject to water. I have three windshield drains to hook up. Running boards by Smoothie Fab are on. Pretty good fit for 82 year old car and lots of body work. Drivers side is a bit off but i still have front sheet metal to align. Back to front is where it needs to be and locked down snug. These are made for stepping on, top coat is black bed liner instead of the old style rubber mat.

68680484_2849496525120820_6086084089973047296_n.jpg 68858326_2849496595120813_4692619810922561536_n.jpg 69609088_2849496451787494_7637917853475143680_n.jpg
 
Looks good already mate. You're a better man than I, I'd be looking for the guy that dunned me rather than working on the car....
 
Dads 80 and health issues I have to get to where he can drive his car, configured much like he wanted back in 1957 when he bought it. I consider that the worthy fight. But, I feel much anger towards the shop . They left dad hanging and showed no respect for him or the car.
 
Last edited:
Tonights work.

- Glass inventory. Three cars worth will yield 8 near perfect sections of glass of the 11 pieces needed. We'll buy 1 drivers window, and 2 vent wings for the front doors. Savings will be about $700.....don't worry, we'll spend that on rubber!

- The window crank mechanism in the dash is cleaned, lubed and the zinc gears in near new condition. I have a spare mechanism for parts, and this part is not available at any price!

- Windshield in good shape, I'd replaced it in 91, and the rubber is still soft and plyable, no cracks, so, cleaning it up and it'll go back on the car this week. Located every screw needed, those hard to find 8x32 dome top tapered bottom screws.....at least the shop kept them in jar in the box, in the trunk!

- I properly installed the cigarette holder and cigar lighter box, seems the shop forgot the bolts.

- The cowl vent is rebuilt with its bug screen and ready to install.....However, rather than remove the hinge bolts under the dash, they cut the damn things off. I'll soak them in PB blaster and see if i can drill them out from the underside. If not, i have to remove all the upper dash bolts and rotate the dash down and back out of the way. Galls my ass they did such good work on the car and got lazy with two bolts.

68516107_2852216274848845_3475103673221120000_n.jpg 68734351_2852216341515505_3507349261182304256_n.jpg 68894929_2852216144848858_9214013144203001856_n.jpg 69084553_2852216204848852_5570186495416860672_n.jpg
 
Last edited:
Dad,
Tonights work. Rubber for trunk, opera windows, vent windows and cowl vent should be here Saturday.
I'll start buttoning her cabin up snug, back to front like all the work. So, the first piece of glass is restored. Drivers side rear seat vent window. Frame and paint good, glass tight and the latch is now polished again. Compare to the Passenger side on the right. I have spare frames to replace the missing hardware so they'll stay open when driving.
Will probably also build the original trunk shelf this weekend.
And, buttoned up the dash for the last time I think. Here on the underside is the passenger side cowl vent hinge mounting point. they cut the studs off, no way to get to them from the top, but loosening the dash made enough room for the drill the studs came out. It'll be a 3.5 handed job to get the bolts and nuts back in there through the hinge, but i think duct tape and a drop of superglue on the wrench will make it go smooth in such a tight space.
Finally, the windshield is coming along. I should be ready to prime and paint it in a couple evenings and then hopefully install it this weekend.
If i get the cowl vent and crank open windshield done sunday, I'll let you know that the innovative MOPAR Bug Induction System is back up and running!

68916538_2854818274588645_7580805092064886784_n.jpg 68562572_2854818331255306_4090339355913093120_n.jpg
 
Back
Top Bottom