The 1947 Dodge Build

[65 Dartman]

Those early cars are sure plenty of a challenge. I have bout decided to sell off my rust free 79 volare. Great driver, impossible to find any car rust free today that has not been restored, BUT I crave doing a hotrod before I get too damn old!

I’ve always wanted to do a sreetrod. I believe by definition the NSRA defined a streetrod is anything 1948 or earlier. IDK if They’ve added additional years to increase that year cutoff. Irregardless, when my 47 became available at what I considered a great price, I jumped on it! Thank goodness I didn’t have to go through my banker on this one!

 

[65 Dartman]

Another option is to add a shift position indicator - probably a digital version. The steering column I will be using doesn’t have any provisions for a shift indicator. Seems like in Virginia it is required for an automatic!

A digital version might be the ticket for you. We have those requirements in Sweden too.

I decided to go with a Dakota Digital shift indicator panel and their transmission adapter and module to show what gear ( or Park and Reverse) the transmission is in. The indicator panel fits perfectly in the space and is actually held in place when the LEDs are installed.

 

[SNKEBIT]

Nice

 

[65 Dartman]

Who Hoo! Got my 5 piece front bumper back today from Tri City. All 5 pieces of the front bumper are just as gorgeous as the 5 piece rear bumper they did earlier this year. FWIW the front and rear bumpers are identical except on the rear main center bar it says FLUID DRIVE and it’s plain on the front. If the rest of the car turns out as nice as the bumpers did, I will be one happy camper!

Long center

Bumper Guards

Both end pieces

 

[famous bob]

Who Hoo! Got my 5 piece front bumper back today from Tri City. All 5 pieces of the front bumper are just as gorgeous as the 5 piece rear bumper they did earlier this year. FWIW the front and rear bumpers are identical except on the rear main center bar it says FLUID DRIVE and it’s plain on the front. If the rest of the car turns out as nice as the bumpers did, I will be one happy camper!

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KINDA UN RELATEED, BUT THERE WAS AN AUCTION RECENTLY HERE. AN OLD FORD NUT, HAD PASSED AND HIS WIFE OR KIDS AUCTIONED OFF HIS CARS, ALL FORDS. HE HAD ABOUT 40 OR SO FROM WHAT I HEAR. Musta been rich. He was about conceited as I was when I used to race hemi`s. (think its called hemi head!) LOL
Anyway, he had turned down $50,000 for a 40 ford convertible, making the brag that it wasn`t enough for that car, "it sold for $17,500 !! last week.

 

[65 Dartman]

You hear about stuff like that where someone turns down a great offer, then he dies and it get’s sold for little or nothing. Take the money now cause you ain’t taking it with you!

 

[65dartcharger]

Who Hoo! Got my 5 piece front bumper back today from Tri City. All 5 pieces of the front bumper are just as gorgeous as the 5 piece rear bumper they did earlier this year. FWIW the front and rear bumpers are identical except on the rear main center bar it says FLUID DRIVE and it’s plain on the front. If the rest of the car turns out as nice as the bumpers did, I will be one happy camper!

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Looking great! That will for sure give your car more shine too it!

 

[LocuMob]

Nice chrome pieces! That's gotta feel good just holding them!

 

[65 Dartman]

Nice chrome pieces! That's gotta feel good just holding them!

Yes, the before and after pics are like night and day!

 

[65 Dartman]

Here’s a couple unique and interesting knobs/switch I’ve found for the 47’s switch panel - Mopar of course! And obviously from year(s) other than 1947! More to come as they arrive!

Until I get it wired, I'm not sure if the internal connections will allow separate control of the factory map light and dome light circuit. The switch is off in the center position and turns either to the right or left to operate each circuit, I think!

 

[65 Dartman]

The original switch/speaker grille panel used switches or pull cables with beige plastic knobs. Most switches/knobs were beyond saving.

So with some searching on eBay, I happened to find a lighter and Map/Dome light switch with the original cups and knobs from a 56 Chrysler (pics in my previous post). Then just recently I found a 56 Chrysler matching light switch and panel light dimmer switch on eBay.

I also found just a knob for a power rear window and a wiper knob from a 62/63 Chrysler. The rear window knob says REAR WINDOW while the wiper knob says WIPER on top and ON OFF on the bottom. I’ll use a pair of mid-60’s Chrysler rotary switches originally for a rear defroster for my wiper switch and a rear window defroster. Next to the wiper switch I will use an original starter push button momentary switch for the windshield washer pump. I still had 1 empty hole in the panel and still looking on eBay, I found a 2 speed fan switch the the knob says fan from a 53/54 Dodge that I can use on my heater blower.

The center of the switch panel had the ignition switch - a brake idiot light from my old 69 A108 fit perfectly!

I’ve got everything all assembled and IMO looks pretty good. Everything is pretty symmetrical with the panel and map/dome knobs/cups on top and the light switch/lighter cups/knobs on the outer bottom and the matching 63 knobs for the wipers and Rear (Air) Window next to the outer parts. Wiring it when the time comes should be fun!

With the new gauges and reworked speaker/switch panel, it will turn out great!

 

[65dartcharger]

The original switch/speaker grille panel used switches or pull cables with beige plastic knobs. Most switches/knobs were beyond saving.

View attachment 1715261064
So with some searching on eBay, I happened to find a lighter and Map/Dome light switch with the original cups and knobs from a 56 Chrysler (pics in my previous post). Then just recently I found a 56 Chrysler matching light switch and panel light dimmer switch on eBay.

View attachment 1715261067

I also found just a knob for a power rear window and a wiper knob from a 62/63 Chrysler. The rear window knob says REAR WINDOW while the wiper knob says WIPER on top and ON OFF on the bottom. I’ll use a pair of mid-60’s Chrysler rotary switches originally for a rear defroster for my wiper switch and a rear window defroster. Next to the wiper switch I will use an original starter push button momentary switch for the windshield washer pump. I still had 1 empty hole in the panel and still looking on eBay, I found a 2 speed fan switch the the knob says fan from a 53/54 Dodge that I can use on my heater blower.

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The center of the switch panel had the ignition switch - a brake idiot light from my old 69 A108 fit perfectly!

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I’ve got everything all assembled and IMO looks pretty good. Everything is pretty symmetrical with the panel and map/dome knobs/cups on top and the light switch/lighter cups/knobs on the outer bottom and the matching 63 knobs for the wipers and Rear (Air) Window next to the outer parts. Wiring it when the time comes should be fun!

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Looking great Don! Keep up the good work.

 

[Rock Able]

Sweet! There sure is a lot of Nickel plating on that dash!

 

[sgrip65]

Don. Your 47 has seen some work done!!! Which will, first, see the road....the Longroof or the 47? An absolute WOW on the dash and the bumpers and etc. Were all the parts there on the 47? Looks great. Best to you, the 47, and the Longroof. sgrip65

 

[65 Dartman]

Hey Jerry - The 47 was complete except for the front and rear seats - easier to use what I have on hand! Even the pit-free trim wasn’t too hard to find - no one wants the stuff except me I guess! I’m pretty pleased with the way the center switch/speaker grille panel has turned out as well as the speedometer and minor gauges. I bought a blank gauge from Speedhut and it’s currently having clock numerals/hands added to match the other gauges. A 12 volt quartz conversion is being installed for accuracy.

I’m not sure which will see the light of day first - both projects are slow going!

 

[65 Dartman]

I bought a blank gauge from Speedhut and it’s currently having clock numerals/hands added to match the other gauges. A 12 volt quartz conversion is being installed for accuracy.

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Got a couple of pics from the company doing the clock refacing to match my speedo/tach. They still need to complete the 12 volt quartz conversion and that should be done by the end of next week. Looking forward to getting it back!

 

[sgrip65]

Got a couple of pics from the company doing the clock refacing to match my speedo/tach. They still need to complete the 12 volt quartz conversion and that should be done by the end of next week. Looking forward to getting it back!
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Don. Looks like this will be a great addition to you 47 build. Good to know that there are companies out there that look after our hobbies for us. Think about the design work that went into these old Beauties......how great is that. sgrip65

 

[65 Dartman]

Thanks! The center of the hands don’t match that of the speedo but that’s OK - close enough. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I can’t look straight ahead and over to the right at the same time - no problem.

 

[65dartcharger]

Thanks! The center of the hands don’t match that of the speedo but that’s OK - close enough. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I can’t look straight ahead and over to the right at the same time - no problem.

That clock looks great Don!

 

[barbee6043]

Great work!!!!

 

[65 Dartman]

No real update or work being done on the 47 as I am slowly plodding along on the 65. I am a little disappointed in how long the clock is taking - I shipped it to the company back in Dec2018 - it’s now 6 months later and still no clock in my grubby little hands. They did send me pics back in early April of the completed clock numerals that are identical to the speedometer numbers with indications that installation of the quartz conversion “shouldn’t take too long”. I’ve found it’s difficult to contact them - no one answers the telephone or text messages and learned from a friend who knows the owner that it’s basically a husband wife team. I hope he’ll have better luck when he sends his truck’s temperature gauge to be converted to electric. Rant over!

 

[sgrip65]

No real update or work being done on the 47 as I am slowly plodding along on the 65. I am a little disappointed in how long the clock is taking - I shipped it to the company back in Dec2018 - it’s now 6 months later and still no clock in my grubby little hands. They did send me pics back in early April of the completed clock numerals that are identical to the speedometer numbers with indications that installation of the quartz conversion “shouldn’t take too long”. I’ve found it’s difficult to contact them - no one answers the telephone or text messages and learned from a friend who knows the owner that it’s basically a husband wife team. I hope he’ll have better luck when he sends his truck’s temperature gauge to be converted to electric. Rant over!

Hello Don. You might remember my dash bezel parts on my 66 from a few years ago. A bit longer than expected for completion, and then they got lost in the UPS transit. It goes that way sometimes. Hope you will have good luck in getting them back. Sometime folks do not answer emails, phone calls, or texts because they already know what you are calling about......scared they might be in trouble. It will get done. Have a good one. Thanks for the post. sgrip65

 

[Bill Crowell]

65 Dartman, here's a picture of me in 1960, lusting after my brother's '41 Plymouth. (Due to the war, and the shutdown of auto production, the late '40s cars weren't that different from those produced in the early '40s.)

 

[sgrip65]

65 Dartman, here's a picture of me in 1960, lusting after my brother's '41 Plymouth. (Due to the war, and the shutdown of auto production, the late '40s cars weren't that different from those produced in the early '40s.)

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Back in the day...cool. White T-shirt and Blue Jeans.....I will bet black engineer boots not shown in the pic. You need a Chopped Harley in the background. Memories.....very cool. sgrip65

 

[65 Dartman]

65 Dartman, here's a picture of me in 1960, lusting after my brother's '41 Plymouth. (Due to the war, and the shutdown of auto production, the late '40s cars weren't that different from those produced in the early '40s.)

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Yep, up though mid 49, bodies were basically the same as pre-war for most makes. Now, The question is, did you ever get the 41?