1939 Plymouth Sedan

1939 Plymouth Sedan

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Discussion

likaleica

Original Poster:

36 posts

142 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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Hi guys. I've just joined the Yank Tank fraternity after years of British classic car ownership - by buying a 1939 model Plymouth Sedan. Web searches have failed to identify it as either the Road King or a Deluxe model so any advice on how I can tell which one would be gratefully received.
A good older restoration having been stored a few years, the car needs some recommissioning. The brake pedal goes right to the floor without any action - guess it needs at least bleeding. I hear this can be tricky so any hints would be very useful. Any modern British part numbers for replacement wheel cylinder and master cylinder seals would be a godsend too, having drawn a blank with classic car suppliers.
And at risk of sounding a complete klutz I cannot find the fluid reservoir - anyone know where it is ?!
It's been rewired completely and neatly, retaining the 6v positive earth setup and I have had conflicting advice on 1) Leave as is 2) Better to change it to 12v negative earth and use voltage reducers to retain original 6v equipment. Any views on that ?
Finally (for the moment!) I can't get the lights or the windscreen wipers to work. As above, I am embarrassed to say I can't even find the wiper switch and don't know if they are vacuum operated or electric!
Thanks guys!

Simon

Motorama

439 posts

218 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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For wheel cylinders try CM Frost or Customville over here, maybe US Automotive or in the USA try Rock Auto or Kanters and American Ebay. You might find you have to make do with seal kits for a car that age.

The brake fluid reservoir is likely under the floor, try lifting the carpet around the pedal area see if there is a access door

Ubendum

105 posts

137 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
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Re it being a Road King or Deluxe. The chassis number should start with the letter "P". The number immediately after the P tells which one it is. It should be either 7 or 8.

mr_spock

3,341 posts

215 months

Saturday 23rd August 2014
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For parts try Andy Bernbaum. He's a grumpy sod but knows his stuff.

likaleica

Original Poster:

36 posts

142 months

Saturday 23rd August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for all the valuable help guys. I've drawn a blank so far on wheel cylinder kits but will follow the rest of the leads I've been given (work commitments permitting.)
Still uncertain if my car is a Road King or Deluxe. I think because it's a RHD from new export model, its chassis number starts with XX not P7 or P8. Perhaps the export models were all Deluxe P8 - or were they a hybrid of the two ? One strange feature of my car is that the driver door lock is still on the outside of the left door, not on the right as it ought to be for RHD. The car came without keys for this lock or the trunk lock. Can't see any serial numbers on the locks - does anyone know where can I get keys cut from the locks themselves ?
Thanks again fellas