Talk me out of it? Is it a bad idea is it to play with a toy like this for a while? 1930s Dodge

So this popped up nearby:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1644966416427277

I've always wanted a 30s car with suicide doors, and that looks about perfect to take a herd of kids out for ice cream and the like.

The immediate plan would be to do a sympathetic driving-resto on it; Think the quality that a mechanically handy someone could get in the their garage maybe circa 1945-1950 on a budget with kids & life to manage.   That means roller/brush paint, simple bracket repair, etc.   Hopefully get the original power plant running?  Not a frame off resto-mod done to ProTouring standards or anything.

Medium-range plans would be to swap maybe a V6 or low-end LS V8 into it, that might bump up earlier if the original power plant isn't available. 

For reference, I've never played with anything with carbs that wasn't a tractor.   I've never so much as sat in something made before mid-1950s, and I think the oldest car I've ever driven is from the 60s.

How bad of an idea would this be if I could fit it into my life, both physically and time-wise?

I can't think of a single thing that could go wrong!

I positively love the idea.  Such a cool-looking car.

I suspect your tractor experience may be more relevant here than you imagine.

There are quite a few videos out there showing pre-war engines being revived; I know Cold War Motors has several, and I've seen others, I just don't recall specifically where. They're quite simple and generally robust. If it turns, you're already ahead of the game.

Drum brakes, incredibly simple electrics, flathead engine...there's not much to them if you know basic mechanics. I'm sure you're more than capable of getting it going fairly easily.

I've had similar thoughts (more than once), but a lack of storage and time have kept me from doing anything about them.

I'd have a hard time NOT hotrodding the shot out of that.

Appleseed said:

I'd have a hard time NOT hotrodding the shot out of that.

Well, yeah, I mean, I'd love to do something like

From the HAMB

However, I have 5 kids and no monies, instead of 5 monies and no kids, so time will be my biggest limitation. 

02Pilot said:

I suspect your tractor experience may be more relevant here than you imagine.

There are quite a few videos out there showing pre-war engines being revived; I know Cold War Motors has several, and I've seen others, I just don't recall specifically where. They're quite simple and generally robust. If it turns, you're already ahead of the game.

Drum brakes, incredibly simple electrics, flathead engine...there's not much to them if you know basic mechanics. I'm sure you're more than capable of getting it going fairly easily.

I've had similar thoughts (more than once), but a lack of storage and time have kept me from doing anything about them.

That's good to hear, and kinda on par with what I was expecting... Maybe I'll see if the dude is available this weekend to check it out and make sure it'll fit in my garage.

Also, there's no windows in the pictures..  I haven't been able to find anything about 30s cars and automotive windows. 

Are they all just simple flat-plane stuff that can be easily sourced? 

I know that's always the project killer for the wild custom builds I watch wither on the vine..

Flat glass. Make a pattern out of hardboard, trim it until it works great, take the patterns to a glass shop.

Be aware, those engines are probably babbitt bearing, splash lube. 50mph is your friend, don't expect to do interstate speed with it.

ShawnG said:

Flat glass. Make a pattern out of hardboard, trim it until it works great, take the patterns to a glass shop.

Be aware, those engines are probably babbitt bearing, splash lube. 50mph is your friend, don't expect to do interstate speed with it.

Thanks Shawn!  I was hoping you'd chime in.

Good advice on both mechanicals and glass, thanks!   Luckily there's not too much need to hit the highway in my normal usage with it.  The ice cream shops we'd probably go to are within 10 miles of hilly backroads and little towns.

I'm not 100% committed yet, but I've always wanted to play with one, ya know?

There is a reason doors are not made like that anymore.  You might consider some sort of safety device to prevent the rear doors from being opened while the car is moving.   Other than that, rock on!

BTW, I wonder if a Slant 6 would fit in that?

In reply to WonkoTheSane :

I'm a huge fan of just getting it running, making it safe and enjoying it for a while.

What if you take it home, blow it apart, do a ton of work and then hate the car?

That engine is just a big lawnmower. As long as it doesn't have a bearing knock or a dead cylinder, it will run with minimal maintenance for a long time.

As for the doors. There were period-correct accessory latches available, very much like a deadbolt which prevented opening the door by accident unless you really meant to. They should be available on eBay or swap meets.

Steele Rubber should have all the seals, run channels and window fuzzies to make it all work again.

I categorically refuse to talk anyone out of a classic Dodge/Mopar purchase. 

'36 should have a 218 c.i. flathead straight 6. The Chrysler flatheads soldiered on in one form or another until the 70s.

The 218 and 230 share a lot of parts, so there's lots of neat vintage stuff out there for them. Put a header and a dual single manifold on it, run holley efi single barrel throttlebodies, tweak the oiling a bit and modify it for modern bearings.

The forums of P15-D24.Com, Mopar cars and trucks from mid 1930s to late 1950s - P15-D24.com and Pilot-house.com is a good source for flathead shenanigans.

Parts source- 218 & 230 Flathead 6 Cylinder Engine Parts – Vintage Power Wagons

There's not a ton of space in those engine compartments. Even the '50s cars are tricky to cram a v-8 into. 

If you're gonna be sacrilegious, at least put a modern inline six in it. Jeep 4.0, GM I-6, etc. 

Noddaz said:

There is a reason doors are not made like that anymore.  You might consider some sort of safety device to prevent the rear doors from being opened while the car is moving.   Other than that, rock on!

Well, yes, but in the defense of them, I offer the following:
 

ShawnG said:

In reply to WonkoTheSane :

I'm a huge fan of just getting it running, making it safe and enjoying it for a while.

What if you take it home, blow it apart, do a ton of work and then hate the car?

That engine is just a big lawnmower. As long as it doesn't have a bearing knock or a dead cylinder, it will run with minimal maintenance for a long time.

As for the doors. There were period-correct accessory latches available, very much like a deadbolt which prevented opening the door by accident unless you really meant to. They should be available on eBay or swap meets.

Steele Rubber should have all the seals, run channels and window fuzzies to make it all work again.

That would be exactly the plan.  Keep it from sitting as much as possible.  Thanks for the heads on up Steele Rubber.

And thanks to you and Noddaz to the concern about the doors.. I had stumbled upon these guys before I posted this:  https://carolinacustom.com/pages/product_pages/suicide_door_safety_pin_kits/suicide_door_safety_pin_kits_page.jsp

I assume you guys are talking about something like that?

Recon1342 said:

I categorically refuse to talk anyone out of a classic Dodge/Mopar purchase. 

'36 should have a 218 c.i. flathead straight 6. The Chrysler flatheads soldiered on in one form or another until the 70s.

The 218 and 230 share a lot of parts, so there's lots of neat vintage stuff out there for them. Put a header and a dual single manifold on it, run holley efi single barrel throttlebodies, tweak the oiling a bit and modify it for modern bearings.

The forums of P15-D24.Com, Mopar cars and trucks from mid 1930s to late 1950s - P15-D24.com and Pilot-house.com is a good source for flathead shenanigans.

Parts source- 218 & 230 Flathead 6 Cylinder Engine Parts – Vintage Power Wagons

There's not a ton of space in those engine compartments. Even the '50s cars are tricky to cram a v-8 into. 

If you're gonna be sacrilegious, at least put a modern inline six in it. Jeep 4.0, GM I-6, etc. 

Yeah, the engine swap thing is way down the list, I was just throwing it out there as a plan if the original mill is out of service/too expensive to bring back. 

I don't really care about sacrilegious, I think it would be hilarious to drop a 20B in it I had the money :)  But yeah, I have no idea what will fit easily and reasonably reversibly, and I haven't done any research about it either.

Thanks so much for all of the links! I'll be doing some reading as I have time!

My vote is one the running, driving and safe.

On the safe part make sure the doors stay shut and add some seat belts.

Old flat head motors have a cool exhaust note unto themselves.

@Wonko- 

A good point to remember is that the Chrysler flatheads were the Chevy 350 of the '30s and '40s... they run reliably even when they are in need of serious TLC. 
 

One of my previous employers was a nationwide corporation that owns an early '70s Hyster with a Chrysler 230 in it, chugging away reliably to this day. 
 

I can't get to FB now, but if that's a 1930 Dodge (Brothers) Model 6, then my dad has one. Wood wheels, wood floor, lots of wood. It is awesome, it's reliable, and it's been pretty easy to maintain. It's one of my favorite vehicles he's ever owned. It has plenty of power, especially considering that when it gets to 42 mph (or near that and hits a bump) it starts a horrendous wobble. The six-in-a-row-ready-to-go has more than enough oomph for that kind of speed.

To comment on, or reinforce stuff I see here:

Yes. It is very tractor-like. Go drive a Farm-All or something and you'll know a bit about what it's like to drive. A little more refined, but not much.

The glass is, indeed, flat. I think my dad had the glass replaced or something, and I don't recall it being a huge deal.

Other stuff:

They're 6 volt cars. To convert the car to 12 volts, there's not much to do. Swap the generator for a modern alternator, install 12 volt light bulbs (he pulled the glass off the buckets and simply installed entire 12 volt lamps behind the glass--they are awesome), and drop in a 12 volt battery. The starter will continue to work... just with WAY more vigor. That's about the extent of the electrical system.

Be prepared for a lot of fun conversations with strangers.

He's running a tiny little carburetor that might be the original. This is plenty for the chassis.

We had to install a fuel pump for it. We put one of those cheap, noisy, clicky-clacky fuel pumps in. An external unit. It works great!

Brakes are going to be hard to find. They also suck. But then again, it also goes 40 mph. 35 is a good cruise speed. They don't have to be that good.

My dad talks about converting it to modern suspension and putting a modern engine in it (hey, 1970s or something... not today's modern), but then we go drive it and like... why would you do that to this car? Want a 1970s feel? Go buy a 1970s era car. And stay off my lawn!

In reply to confuZion3 :

It's a 1936 Dodge, so no wood wheels.  Judging the photo it does need some assembly, though.

Oh, 36. I saw "1930s" and read it as "1930". Still. Quite cool.