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guyman

Posted 2015-03-18 12:29 AM (#472747)
Subject: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Well., it's been a nice winter working on this '60 Desoto....today was nice enough to push her outside and clean the garage some....was a bit dusty after 3 months of welding, sanding and body work dust needless to say.

Now have to figure out how to push it down my driveway and back into the garage backwards so I can fit the other fender on the passenger side...

Getting close to paint! Yippee!

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b5rt

Posted 2015-03-18 9:57 PM (#472835 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Looking good!

guyman

Posted 2015-03-23 11:24 PM (#473266 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Bodywork finally done.....now just gotta take her back apart again!

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fenix

Posted 2015-03-24 9:41 AM (#473294 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Lot's of work evident, great looking car!

guyman

Posted 2015-03-24 10:35 PM (#473365 - in reply to #473294)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Just pulled the front end back off., took off all the suspension....and started to "attempt" to take off the strut arms to remove the lower control arms....wholly chit!....those bolts are like 7 inches long, fine thread and took about a two foot long breaker bar to take the passenger side one off (and had to construct a special tool to keep the nut from rotating...the bolts realistically only need to be like maybe 3 inches long. Took about 30/45 minutes just to get that one side off....still have to tackle the other side...then the fun begins on the front end rebuild.

Now I can get down and dirty sanding the frame rails/firewall for painting and start cleaning up the suspension components. Progress!

ttotired

Posted 2015-03-24 10:56 PM (#473369 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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I would (in hindsight) leave the suspention wish bones on until you get the ball joints off

You thought the strut arms were difficult, wait until you try to get those ball joints off, I had a 6 foot peice of pipe on my 3/4 inch bar to do this and they were really tight all the way and you have to turn them 1/4 of a turn at a go because they are sort of square

Handy to have them still attached so you have something to hold them

With the sub frame removed off the car, it still took the best part of a day to change them, but the sub frame kept getting dragged all over the place doing it

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guyman

Posted 2015-03-25 2:32 AM (#473386 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Well...a little late....I have the one side off already...and the way the car is sitting...too close to one of my work benches..no way to get a six foot pry bar on it....so will take em off and then try and figure it out.

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ttotired

Posted 2015-03-25 3:46 AM (#473391 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Good luck

Might not be as bad as mine anyway

The threads arnt cut like normal threads, they sort of make their own way as you wind them in

I did do mine without the sub frame attached, but I stood it up and tied it to the rafters of my garage in the end to try and stop it moving

196061SAVOY

Posted 2015-03-25 6:51 PM (#473453 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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100

wow, incredible work , that's goes for all of u, that can rebuild these old mopars , that's a man's car for sure , i like those tires, good looking tires, are those universal tires

guyman

Posted 2015-03-27 4:37 AM (#473552 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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I got the rest of the front end off today...the other strut arm came right off...easy..took like 5 minutes....

Also got the rest of the front end sanded and primered up....firewall sanded and primered etc....now Need some black primer for the front frame assembly..then sand and paint.....started cleaning all the front end parts....upper and lower control arms etc....lots of cleaning to do.

Luckily this project came with a ton of new parts for front end, brakes etc.

the tires came with the car too....not sure the brand, but they do look good...came with a new spare tire too.

FIN ME

Posted 2015-03-28 11:46 AM (#473667 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Congratulations on all of this progress, guyman!

You've obviously been busy this winter!

Yep...pushing our behemoths around is no fun; they're a lot more fun once they get running again.

Edited by FIN ME 2015-03-28 11:47 AM

guyman

Posted 2015-04-08 2:47 AM (#474718 - in reply to #473667)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Got the upper and lower control arms rebuilt today, just used tools laying around....a big adjustable crescent wrench, another crescent wrench and a five foot cheater bar....and a press to press in the upper control arm bushings...took about four hours to get everything taken out and new put in....now will have a nice tight front suspension again.

Front end is painted and ready for all the new suspension to go on. I use a trim black automotive one stage paint, but you gotta primer the metal first or it won't stick....perfect eggshell sheen.

Had to order a new center link cause mine was toast.

Edited by guyman 2015-04-08 2:49 AM

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guyman

Posted 2015-04-09 11:43 PM (#474921 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Got some of the front end installed today...A little confused on how to properly re-install the torsion bars., so stopped for the day., put the passenger side in already., but there is not enough resistance when I pull up on the lower control arm and it bottoms out too easily....assuming I don't have it installed correctly., posted a topic about torsion bars under the brakes/suspension area to get some feedback on the subject.

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guyman

Posted 2015-04-12 12:44 AM (#475153 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Front end almost done...waiting on a few parts to finish it up.

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guyman

Posted 2015-04-13 10:04 PM (#475395 - in reply to #475153)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Front end about done....finished and painted firewall today and inner fender panels. Love that black paint...perfect eggshell sheen right out of the can.

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imopar380

Posted 2015-04-13 11:20 PM (#475405 - in reply to #475395)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Nice!! What assembly plant was your DeSoto built in? I'm assuming L.A. as the L.A. plant painted the fender wells black. All others, to my knowledge, except Windsor, ON painted them body color. My 60 Saratoga is an L.A. built car with black fender wells.

guyman

Posted 2015-04-14 1:05 AM (#475411 - in reply to #475405)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Was gonna paint them body color., but liked the black look instead...this car is from the Carolina's, so should be body color....not building a 100% correct car, but close...I also filled the holes in the dash to smooth it out with no dash pad!...so I am adding a few personal touches.

60 dart

Posted 2015-04-14 4:28 AM (#475418 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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almost looks like 02 dodge pearl blue ---------------------------------------------later

guyman

Posted 2015-04-17 12:12 AM (#475744 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Got my engine and transmission in today....!!! have to repaint the gold colors..been sitting too long and got dusty...so will freshen them up a bit. Engine and trans rebuilt., front end about done...so moving along!

Edited by guyman 2015-04-17 12:22 AM

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d500neil

Posted 2015-04-17 2:39 AM (#475750 - in reply to #475744)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

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Location: bishop, ca

Boyhowdy, that's pretty work!

Windsor59

Posted 2015-04-17 5:20 AM (#475757 - in reply to #475750)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Super nice work you do.

60 Imp

Posted 2015-04-17 8:13 AM (#475762 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

Location: North Australia

Looking real good, you are doing that car justice, I bet you cant wait to drive it.

Steve

ttotired

Posted 2015-04-17 9:22 AM (#475768 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Looks good

Looks like you had a little helper there for a bit as well

wizard

Posted 2015-04-17 1:26 PM (#475781 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Nice work you're doing on the car - this will be a great ride!

guyman

Posted 2015-04-18 12:08 AM (#475842 - in reply to #475781)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Thanks for the compliments...just finished painting the rest of the engine bay parts today., some sandblasting...etc....trying to get most of this one done by end of summer....so I can re-focus on my 59 Sport Fury.

Speaking of helpers., I do have a little daughter that loves helping me in the garage......shes gonna be the first NASCAR chief mechanic!>..LOL

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guyman

Posted 2015-04-19 12:02 AM (#475929 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Posts: 451
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She's come a long way since beginning of winter...actually was a pretty nice rust free car except some bubbling on the lower quarters., so just replaced them...had to hand make the pieces to fit., turned out good.

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Mike McCandless

Posted 2015-04-19 8:06 AM (#475951 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Awesome man, love seeing the progress!

haspe

Posted 2015-04-19 1:02 PM (#475979 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Location: Washington State, the wet side

Very cool. Nice progress.

haspe

Posted 2015-04-19 1:03 PM (#475980 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Location: Washington State, the wet side

Very cool. I wish my -60 was something other than white

guyman

Posted 2015-04-19 2:48 PM (#475990 - in reply to #475980)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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I like your white adventurer....it looks clean...I've had several old white cars and loved the clean look of white!

di_ch_NY56

Posted 2015-04-19 4:07 PM (#476000 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Guyman, I appreciate your photo story about your wonderful De Soto. It's an astonishing job your doing. I like the color you've chosen. It's my favorite color. Even though I'll keep my Letter white as it was (stock color). The inner fenders by the way are black in my '60 Letter as well, even though there were no '60 Letters built in L.A. as far as I know. It's possible that anybody of the forum knows it better than me.

Good luck with your wonderful car!

Dieter

guyman

Posted 2015-04-19 6:19 PM (#476014 - in reply to #476000)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Thanks for the information....the color is the stock color I am using...it may be a shade off, but I like the color I mixed up....it may be a tad more darker blue then it is suppose to be.....I painted the interior pieces like the dash, trim a shade off the exterior color to give it a little contrast. It looks good.

Getting ready to reprint the valve covers and air cleaner.....I am not too fond of the gold...so I may paint them body color also....but not sure the paint can stand up to the heat on the valve covers....

cheers, Guy

guyman

Posted 2015-04-20 10:07 PM (#476161 - in reply to #476014)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Got the valve covers and air cleaner painted yesterday....I just hope the paint stays on the valve covers....we'll see soon enough.

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FIN ME

Posted 2015-04-21 9:49 AM (#476198 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Location: USA - KY

Looks good! I really like that shade of blue, and it looks good in that very tidy engine compartment too.

Great job!

haspe

Posted 2015-04-21 11:25 PM (#476288 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Location: Washington State, the wet side

Are the exhaust manifolds painted or natural cast?

haspe

Posted 2015-04-21 11:26 PM (#476289 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Location: Washington State, the wet side

Are the exhaust manifolds painted or natural cast?

haspe

Posted 2015-04-21 11:26 PM (#476290 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Location: Washington State, the wet side

Are the exhaust manifolds painted or natural cast?

guyman

Posted 2015-04-22 1:31 AM (#476305 - in reply to #476290)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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I used a natural cast high temp paint on them....suppose to work well, but we'll see once I do the motor break in.

guyman

Posted 2015-04-29 3:45 AM (#476910 - in reply to #476305)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Working on the desoto today..got a lot done....electrical is going back in as well as starter, brackets, gen., exhaust manifolds, brake lines, master cylinder and booster, etc.....front end all done, all new suspension installed, brakes etc....getting there!

Edited by guyman 2015-04-29 3:49 AM

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wizard

Posted 2015-04-29 6:04 AM (#476914 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Looks good Guy, keep us posted about the progress

di_ch_NY56

Posted 2015-05-01 4:36 PM (#477096 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Location: ZH, Switzerland

Thanks for posting your informations and pictures of the progress of your wonderful De Soto hardtop. I'm always interested in watching the progress of 1960 full size hardtops (DeS, Chry) and convertibles. They all are from the body very similar to my Letter. Please keep us informed about your further progress. Thank you.

Happy Motoring!

Dieter

guyman

Posted 2015-05-03 3:08 AM (#477208 - in reply to #477096)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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It's coming together...had a few problems today., but figured out I had the radiator support on backwards (smooth part outwards)...I know, sounds silly., but I thought the smooth part goes to the outside...and well., nothing was fitting right... it's the opposite!..haha, smooth goes in.....didn't think something was right cause I had a big gap between the battery trey and the rad. support and had to use long bolts to install the radiator!...Douh!...LOL My first Desoto full restore...so it's a learning curve for sure!....you can actually bolt the support in backwards and it works...for the most part!>. You can see how I installed it in the photos above!!!!! So tomorow have to unbolt everything and re-install the radiator and rad. support...What an idiot!...haha...Everything should fit then I hope.!

Edited by guyman 2015-05-03 3:11 AM

ttotired

Posted 2015-05-03 4:08 AM (#477210 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Whats funny is that no one else picked it up either lmao

I didnt notice

What a bunch of gurus we are

guyman

Posted 2015-05-03 5:13 AM (#477213 - in reply to #477210)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Posts: 451
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I know..I figured some "senior" user would have noticed that one and saved me a lot of time and head scratchn'....that's like a big typo! Haha

Edited by guyman 2015-05-03 5:15 AM

guyman

Posted 2015-05-03 6:50 PM (#477264 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: RE: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Posts: 451
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OK, that's much better, everything fits now...LOL

Edited by guyman 2015-05-03 6:53 PM

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ttotired

Posted 2015-05-03 7:02 PM (#477267 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Location: Perth Australia

It does look good, but you will have to undo most of it again though

I think you will find the fenders slip (get sandwiched) between the radiator support and the inner guards

I think we will have to keep an eye on you now

guyman

Posted 2015-05-04 1:47 AM (#477296 - in reply to #477267)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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A ha.....good thing I had it together at one point to do body work and back apart again...lol...I just hand tightened the bolts for now...thanks for the heads up...I am going to jam paint everything before I put it together finally andddd..I wanna start and break in the motor before I put the car together in case the breakin doesn't go well and I have to pull the motor again. Appreciate the tips!

haspe

Posted 2015-05-06 11:03 PM (#477533 - in reply to #472747)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

Veteran

Posts: 113
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Location: Washington State, the wet side

Looking at your car I am thinking about painting my sheet metal black rather than body colour. Did they come either way? Black would look good in contrast to the white firewall.

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Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2015-05-07 1:36 AM (#477543 - in reply to #477533)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

Location: Parts Unknown

My 60 Fireflite coupe was all black, so ALL the sheetmetal was black !
On 57's, the Detroit-built cars got light grey inner fenders, but L.A.-built
cars got P&A Black. My 58 has all black inner sheetmetal. Judging by the
rusted bolts, etc., it is all original. It is a Detroit-built car. Don't know a
dammed thing about how they did it in 59, and my 60 wasn't any help. I
am afriad my brain is too fuzzy on the parts car 60's I owned to remember.

guyman

Posted 2015-05-11 7:41 PM (#478022 - in reply to #477543)
Subject: Re: Updates on my '60 Desoto

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Posts: 451
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Picked up a rebuilt carb off ebay, nice rebuilt unit for my 383 2bbl., numbers were the same., so I bought it., the only difference is this one I just bought has a big vacuum port on the back of the carb...so wondering if I can just cap it and be on my way?

Edited by guyman 2015-05-11 8:02 PM

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