The 1947 Dodge Build

[65dartcharger]

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!

I know the feeling Don. I ordered new door panels for my wagon from a company in January last year. I have sent them seven reminders and they answer me all the time. I was promised delivery in July last year. Sent them a mail 4 weeks ago. Strange, he answered! I thought they were delivered by now.
The have super great fabrics they sell and the door panels are great.(when they have arrived!) I just wish they would have a service level like Legendary Auto!
I hope it shows up soon Don!

 

[65 Dartman]

Wow! Jan of 2018 and you haven’t received them yet! The quality must be better than Legendary to wait so long! I’ll be trying to contact them (clock people) this week - fingers crossed!

 

[65 Dartman]

I have an update to my rant (Post 196 page 8) about a vendor and a clock they’re doing for me. The owner called me yesterday saying they’re having a problem keeping the lens separated from the face and hands of the clock. He unscrewed the outer bezel from the speedometer I sent to match clock numbers and said there’s some kind of ring that keeps the lens apart from the gauge face. Told him I would check on it and get back to him today. So I called Speedhut and explained the problem. Yes, there is a ring about 3/8ths thick that keeps the lens away from the gauge face AND there’s another ring to keep the face (with the electronics on the bottom of the face away from the bottom of the gauge pod bottom. Speedhut inadvertently forgot to include both when putting the package together according to the parts list on their invoice copy!!! Passed this info on the the vendor who said it now all made sense. Speedhut is sending out the 2 missing rings so it looks like I’ll have my clock back soon with the face and numerals matching my other 2 gauges.

 

[LocuMob]

I have an update to my rant (Post 196 page 8) about a vendor and a clock they’re doing for me. The owner called me yesterday saying they’re having a problem keeping the lens separated from the face and hands of the clock. He unscrewed the outer bezel from the speedometer I sent to match clock numbers and said there’s some kind of ring that keeps the lens apart from the gauge face. Told him I would check on it and get back to him today. So I called Speedhut and explained the problem. Yes, there is a ring about 3/8ths thick that keeps the lens away from the gauge face AND there’s another ring to keep the face (with the electronics on the bottom of the face away from the bottom of the gauge pod bottom. Speedhut inadvertently forgot to include both when putting the package together according to the parts list on their invoice copy!!! Passed this info on the the vendor who said it now all made sense. Speedhut is sending out the 2 missing rings so it looks like I’ll have my clock back soon with the face and numerals matching my other 2 gauges.

Woohoo!

 

[65 Dartman]

And I received an email from Speedjut that the parts have already been shipped and will be here by Thursday (as long as FedeX does their job).

Woohoo!

I agree - WOOHOO!

 

[65 Dartman]

Quick update: received the 2 rings from Speedhut yesterday and on the way to the gauge guy that afternoon. Called him with that update and he said he’d get right on finishing the clock up as soon as the spacer rings cane in. As LocuMob said - WooHoo!

 

[65dartcharger]

Quick update: received the 2 rings from Speedhut yesterday and on the way to the gauge guy that afternoon. Called him with that update and he said he’d get right on finishing the clock up as soon as the spacer rings cane in. As LocuMob said - WooHoo!

Good to get some progress!

 

[65 Dartman]

Major WOOHOO! Finally got my custom clock gauge with the quartz conversion and clock numerals back from the vendor. They did a good job on matching the number fonts with the speedo/tach unit I send them. Other than the center button on the hands in the clock (silver versus black), they’re a great match for the size and color of the hands on the speedo. Time to get cracking on getting the dash wetsanded and woodgrained

 

[sgrip65]

Major WOOHOO! Finally got my custom clock gauge with the quartz conversion and clock numerals back from the vendor. They did a good job on matching the number fonts with the speedo/tach unit I send them. Other than the center button on the hands in the clock (silver versus black), they’re a great match for the size and color of the hands on the speedo. Time to get cracking on getting the dash wetsanded and woodgrained

View attachment 1715366121

Nice Looking Stuff Don. When will you be on the road? Everything you have posted on the 47 looks great. Fun build. sgrip65

 

[65dartcharger]

Major WOOHOO! Finally got my custom clock gauge with the quartz conversion and clock numerals back from the vendor. They did a good job on matching the number fonts with the speedo/tach unit I send them. Other than the center button on the hands in the clock (silver versus black), they’re a great match for the size and color of the hands on the speedo. Time to get cracking on getting the dash wetsanded and woodgrained

View attachment 1715366121

Looks awesome Don!

 

[65 Dartman]

Nice Looking Stuff Don. When will you be on the road? sgrip65

Definitely not until the sedan delivery is done and on the road, ready to roll to Carlisle and the Nationals - yes, it will be driven not trailered (don’t even own a trailer!)

 

[65 Dartman]

All the window metal moldings and dash were originally woodgrained which I plan to keep. The few companies that do very nice woodgraining are beyond my meager means, so I think I can do it myself. After watching a few You Tube videos I will give it a try. So the glove box is wetsanded and masked in preparation for the base coat.

 

[sgrip65]

All the window metal moldings and dash were originally woodgrained which I plan to keep. The few companies that do very nice woodgraining are beyond my meager means, so I will be doing it myself. After watching a few You Tube videos I will give it a try myself. So the glove box is wetsanded and masked in preparation for the base coat.

View attachment 1715392195

Hi Don. YouTube is a treasuretrove of information. Will be exciting to see how they turn out. I am sure it will look great. I remember, once, using Kodak paper on the end of a cabinet repair.....it did not stay on very long. sgrip65

 

[65 Dartman]

Well, time for a little update on this project! Sandblasted the blue paint a PO did on the dash and the OEM base coat and woodgrain that that was present. Got the first application of the base coat on. Now it’s time to wet sand and apply the final coat of the base coat before trying my hand at woodgraining - thanks to You Tube for several videos on this!

 

[Tooljunkie]

Had a buddy that did some awesome airbrush work.
Took a sheet of mdf and made it look like a slab of wood for a sign. Hes somewhere in south dakota now. Fantastic artist.

 

[sgrip65]

Don. Those old cars had some style didn't they. The dash looks great, and it will look better once the wood grain is on. Excited to see your work on the wood grain. sgrip65

 

[Tooljunkie]

I was admiring the dash in the ‘57 belair i was road testing the other day. Back then they were pieces of art in themselves.

 

[d55dave]

So, I haven't had an a body in quiet a few years now, and this is an a body site. I have been working on my 55 (which is for sale if anyone is interested). But thought I would jump into this thread. I just bought this, a 49 dodge with a Plymouth nose. Plans are to turn it into a gasser with an I beam front axle. I will be re reading your post here 65 Dartman, and have many trim duplicates if you are needing anything!

 

[65 Dartman]

So, I haven't had an a body in quiet a few years now, and this is an a body site. I have been working on my 55 (which is for sale if anyone is interested). But thought I would jump into this thread. I just bought this, a 49 dodge with a Plymouth nose. Plans are to turn it into a gasser with an I beam front axle. I will be re reading your post here 65 Dartman, and have many trim duplicates if you are needing anything!

View attachment 1715397837

View attachment 1715397839

Hey Dave - be sure to start a thread on your gasser project - there should be a lot of interest in it!

Thanks for the offer of duplicate trim! I’ve got all the side trim (which is stainless) and found all the pot metal taillight bezels, door handles, etc on eBay. This stuff was all NOS so I guess my 47 Dodge wasn’t all that popular lol!

 

[65 Dartman]

Well got the First coat of MinWax stain applied over the base coat . The procedure is apply the stain with a reasonably large brush - I used a 2 inch brush. While still sort of wet, take a smaller brush - I used a 1/2 inch brush - called a dry brush and start laying out the grain. Keep the brush dry and use long even strokes in the wet stain. I am not looking for an OEM woodgraining effect - just a nice woodgraining effect, which I like how it’s turned out so far! Next step is a light wetsanding and do the final coat of wet and dry. Once dry spray clear with a hardener over everything. Looking forward to assembling all the shiny pot metal with the gauges and switches. After it’s all completed, I’ll bag the dash and store it in the rafters until time to install it - whenever that will be!

 

[Tooljunkie]

Well got the First coat of MinWax stain applied over the base coat . The procedure is apply the stain with a reasonably large brush - I used a 2 inch brush. While still sort of wet, take a smaller brush - I used a 1/2 inch brush - called a dry brush and start laying out the grain. Keep the brush dry and use long even strokes in the wet stain. I am not looking for an OEM woodgraining effect - just a nice woodgraining effect, which I like how it’s turned out so far! Next step is a light wetsanding and do the final coat of wet and dry. Once dry spray clear with a hardener over everything. Looking forward to assembling all the shiny pot metal with the gauges and switches. After it’s all completed, I’ll bag the dash and store it in the rafters until time to install it - whenever that will be!

View attachment 1715401964 View attachment 1715401965 View attachment 1715401966 View attachment 1715401967

Looks awesome!
So i grabbed an old project too, 1949 fargo. Want to keep the original flathead,if i get it unseized.
I fell in love with the styling when i saw it less than a week ago.

 

[65 Dartman]

Looks awesome!
So i grabbed an old project too, 1949 fargo. Want to keep the original flathead,if i get it unseized.
I fell in love with the styling when i saw it less than a week ago.

Be sure to start a thread on it! Too bad you’ so far away as i’d Give you the flathead and 3 speed stick from my 47!

 

[Tooljunkie]

Be sure to start a thread on it! Too bad you’ so far away as i’d Give you the flathead and 3 speed stick from my 47!

Kick a guy when he’s down. J/k
Thanks for the thought though.
I just pulled the head today to see if its getting a 318 or not.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I think it was just called a Dodge - the model number was a D24 which is what they refer it as on the P15-D24 forum - the P15 being the Plymouth lol!

Just joined that forum. I find it hard to navigate. Decided to re-read your thread. Been a while.

 

[65 Dartman]

Just joined that forum. I find it hard to navigate. Decided to re-read your thread. Been a while.

I joined it awhile back and also found it hard to navigate. There's a member there that's done several 90 or so to 96 or so Dakota to late (46-48) Dodge front frame clip swaps and never getting any info out of him. Others have asked as well - must be a big secret! I'd love to have the modern rack and pinion steering, disc brakes etc in the 47. There are some other ways to get the same result so we'll see! I'll see how that goes after I get the 47 into my garage.