Posted 2015-11-01 3:29 PM (#493849) Subject: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Location: The Mile High City
I installed the new-to-me Model 923 in the De Soto. It seems to work pretty well.
The radio function is pretty good - the antenna needs to be up.
The signal seeking function works when the dial goes right. It does not work when the dial goes left.
Posted 2015-11-01 4:07 PM (#493859 - in reply to #493849) Subject: RE: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Location: Parts Unknown
If I owned a Firedome, I'd be removing all the bling and options to emphasize it's
low-bucks model status.
Paint it all black with the sweep removed (upper bar only), rubber floor mats, no
clock, no radio .... OK, maybe leave the radio so you can justify the rear antennas
dog dishies, blackwalls, and bare fender tops.
Posted 2015-11-02 9:01 AM (#493940 - in reply to #493921) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
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Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT
Interesting stitched dash pad - was it custom made by an upholstery shop? I think the Swedes repop those now, I got one for my '58 Olds and it's darn near perfect. http://www.autoline.se
Posted 2015-11-02 1:11 PM (#493957 - in reply to #493947) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Location: The Mile High City
Thanks, fellas:
Yeah, I wonder about adding extra bling to the old 'Dome, but I couldn't resist with this radio. I did not put in the foot controller switch because that is irreversible (and my radio repair guy couldn't find out where that switch would hook up). I will put the original radio safe and sound in a box and save it for when this one breaks. The signal seeker is such a cool gadget!
Now I want to work on installing the steering wheel watch!
Thanks for the clue on the amp location Greg Leggatt thinks it might go on the back of the hood hinge bolts, which would be up behind the glove box. I will check that out. It seems awfully crowded up there!
Blanche Jones, the second owner, hand stitched the dash pad with a baseball stitch. I know they make the super cool molded ones, but that is now part of the car. I knew Blanche and Ivan so I wouldn't have it any other way.
Doc, those buzzy bees are from the Golden B bar at the BroAdmoor in Colorado Springs. If any of you are ever in that neck of the woods, it is a must see. I was just there last Friday and had a yard of black and tan with lunch. Magnificent in every way. I have buzzy bees on the rear-view mirrors of all my cars.
Posted 2015-11-08 7:55 PM (#494603 - in reply to #493957) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Location: The Mile High City
Doc, even for a Fancypants Fireflite, yours is going ultra-bling bling! But you have rights - it is fan-cy to the TNT to the Highest Degree!
Is there any option you do not have in there?
Posted 2015-11-09 12:25 AM (#494626 - in reply to #494603) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Location: Parts Unknown
You know, I started out "possessed" to own a 58 Adventurer. I had the typical
attitude that all the go-fast possible was King, and one could never have too many
options or chrome bits. The Adventurer bling and go-fast overruled any negatives.
Then I met Leslie Howard. Leslie had an equal fascination with the "googie" interiors
as he did for the uniquely pastel period paint colors. He pointed out how BROWN
the interiors are in an Adventurer and how patently THE SAME they all are. I began
to think that maybe knocking it down a notch might be a better way to go. When
the Fireflite came up, I made the switch and sold the Adventurer. And as time goes
by, the less and less I am interested in the over-blinged Fireflite and wish the Firesweep
had been built on the long wheelbase, so I could do a bare bones stripper convertible !
But I guess I have the Plaza to express my low budget fantasies with. The Fireflite
will have to do. Besides, I just love power windows !
It is pretty loaded. Some was there. Some I added. It has no A/C or EFI. Probably
a couple other things it doesn't have.
Posted 2015-11-09 12:21 PM (#494657 - in reply to #494626) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
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Location: So. Cal
I like a lot of the bling and I like your new radio. Pretty cool option. But I don't like the steering wheel clocks. I prefer the original wheel ornament, especially with the dash clock in place, it would just be tacky in my opinion. And the dash clock is so much better looking than the steering wheel version. If you were to put a Tachometer in your steering wheel it would serve a good purpose, but it would probably look just as Tach-y.
Posted 2015-11-09 12:30 PM (#494659 - in reply to #493849) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13049
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
Actually, it would be totally cool to have a tachometer in the steering wheel center naturally with the same appearance as the clock as for the design, i don't think that would look tach-y at all
Posted 2015-11-11 1:52 AM (#494873 - in reply to #493849) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13049
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
With todays equiment and gadgets it would not be too difficult Mick!
Actually, this morning we have +12 degrees C here and I have been working everyday with the garage door open since I had to wash off the old undercoating with paint thinner
Very strange indeed - a friend has been working way up North in Sweden and there's still no snow, only ground frost......
Posted 2015-11-16 1:14 AM (#495313 - in reply to #494869) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Location: Parts Unknown
ttotired - 2015-11-11 9:04 PM
Hey Doc, why not find a roof and a "B" pillar to put on that desoto?
=============================================
To be honest, I truly believe the side profile of a 57 Fireflite coupe is the ultimate
Forward Look expression of speed while standing still. The way the side sweep and
roof mimic the same forward thrusting arc. It just never got any better.
But there is something to be said for the mile-long straight line of fin that sweeps
backward in an uninterrupted line from the vent frame on a ragtop. And until one
experiences Forward Look fins with the open sky above them, it just remains some-
thing that cannot be explained. There is no experience like it. And then there is the
"oh sh!t !" factor. Like the guy in Colorado who chased me down in the early morning
hours as I was leaving town, he had lusted after a ragtop DeSoto since they were new
and claimed to have never seen one in 50 years. You just do not see these cars outside
of Sweden anymore. Coupes are rare enough. Is there another Fireflite convertible
known to still be in the U.S. ?
I like stuff one never sees. I get my hard roof jollies with the Plaza. Another
car you almost never see.
Posted 2015-11-26 9:41 AM (#496223 - in reply to #493849) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Veteran
Posts: 292
Location: Colorful Colorado skier on the license plate
Just a some fun facts.. My parents 58 Fire sweep was optioned very well.. 350 four barrel, Torqueflite, Fine carpet with chrome trim. Molded cardboard headliner was fastened in with chrome bow strips, sun glass visors. Foil door panel inserts with compass emblem, full wheel covers. Two tone steering wheel, I still have hanging on my garage wall.
Posted 2017-09-04 10:55 PM (#547762 - in reply to #496223) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Location: The Mile High City
I finally gave some attention to that off-color gold steering wheel.
I was going to buy Rick's wheel, but it was way too nice for me to mess around with.
I repainted my wheel with a better-matching gray and faked a two-tone white top.
I actually cut a thin groove between the white and gray to make it look like a real two-tone wheel.
Posted 2017-09-05 11:14 AM (#547780 - in reply to #547778) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Location: The Mile High City
Thanks, Nathan! It looks better in images than it does in person, but by all means better than it was.
I appreciate your '58 Dodge thread inspiring me forward on that little project!
Posted 2017-09-20 10:20 AM (#548783 - in reply to #493849) Subject: RE: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
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Posts: 9672
Location: So. Cal
I picked up this NOS radio foot switch. Where would this mount, I assume near the hi-beam switch somewhere? Does this look like it has the right connection on it?
Posted 2017-09-21 6:21 PM (#548894 - in reply to #548783) Subject: RE: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Location: The Mile High City
Cool, Nathan! My De Soto signal seeker does not have a jack for the foot control. The imperials had it, I think. Maybe the Chryslers too.
The foot control button goes near the high beam button - above it, I think. I bet the firewall had a indentation where it goes.
Posted 2017-09-22 11:54 AM (#548951 - in reply to #548894) Subject: RE: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
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Posts: 9672
Location: So. Cal
I'll have to check my DeSoto version to see if it has one. But I just checked the NY radio and it does have it in the center. Sweet. I like this accessory. Like magic from 1957.
Posted 2017-09-23 12:54 AM (#548995 - in reply to #493849) Subject: Re: New Signal Seeking Radio for the De Soto
Expert
Posts: 3887
Location: Northen Virginia
Yes Nathan, it is a standard of all my radio to maintain knobs and pushbutton functionality. Typically they control the radio Mode, the screen ON/OFF, FM auto search, Skip or in Mp3 they are used for Play, Stop Pause etc.
This is the video of Tom's 1957 DeSoto Fireflite Wagon Radio Conversion