Projects Mild custom '51 Pontiac Chieftain

That there to stop it from rusting.

That's my excuse.

 

I always thought that was what the old road draft tube was for.....

 

That's probably where most of that muck came from.

My radiator has also started to weep, the other side this time! I guess I'll have to clean it down and have as go at soldering it up again.

Phil

 

Hallmark day today; someone asked me if they could buy the car while I was out and about.

I told them to make an offer, they scratched their chin and declined.
You won't offend me, worst I will do is decline your offer...!

Phil

 

I got my 50 running and after flushing the cooling system I found two pinhole leaks in the top of the upper tank right where it bends over to the back side. I guess I am going to learn how to solder and try fixing it myself.

 

If it's leaking from cracks in the tank itself, that's actually the easiest to repair. Hardest part is getting it clean enough for the new metal to stick.
Correct use of plumbing flux and concentrated heat works.
If you're not sure, buy a small sheet of brass at the hardware store, plumbers flux and some 60/40 solder and practise getting the heat right on it to get the solder to stick but not all flow away flat. It's a bit of a balancing game but you can get the knack.

Phil

 

As usual, i'm with "tubman"....i love this thread and the car. You sir have come a long way with that GR8 straight 8 !

 

Just went out and took a photo of the car, covered in dew from being sat out overnight, catching the early morning sun.

7 shots on the film now. I need to get out and about a bit more. I had wanted to go up to old highway 307 early one morning and take some pictures while it's misty in the trees. Weather this weekend doesn't look conducive to doing that, sadly.

Phil

 

Set the timing and idle mix, tune up helped because the timing had slipped.


Went for a ride to get milkshakes.

Phil

 

I hope that good looking sidekick got a shake too!

 

Oh yes!



(In fact, both the dogs got the bottom of the cups, not too much because that's rather rich!)

Phil

 

Good that they have a long tongue.

 

This very tempting, but lately, I am ignoring my baser instincts.

 

Calm down at the back!

 

Today, alternator bracket. I added a quarter inch of adjustment because the pulley needed to be fully squared up.

Correct fan belt fitted now, which doesn't slip, get a much better charge now.


I got a replacement under hood light, that was missing courtesy of a previous owner. Rewired it because the wires were falling apart.


Mounts up to the original holes. This is the 1952 model, the 1951 doesn't have a cover over the bulb; this one is nicely sealed in a glass enclosure.


Lights up when you pull the hood open. Happy with that now.

Phil

 

Now you can stop & reset the points at night!


Sent from my SM-G973U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Sadly that's the reason I got it.

 

Went for a little drive today because the weather was right for it.

Phil

 

That is what it is all about! Get out there and drive it....

 

I wish I was as far along as you are. I just drove the 50 in my avatar around the block last week. It's the first time it has moved under its own power in about 40 years.

 

But that's progress! Keep at it and you'll be on the highway in no time.

 

...and now, today, it's making a godawful noise.
Ran out of time to investigate, it's either the belt, the water pump or the alternator.

Phil

 

Alternator bracket had pulled out of line.

Took it all apart again tonight and tried to get it to sit true. Mostly successful, though I need to loosen it off and bring it forward a touch, that should get it lined up better.

The alternator has seen better days though; a replacement is on the horizon for sure. I can't get the pulley off the shaft, someone's mashed the threads up. I'll get a rebuilt one with a 2.5" pulley on which should help with idle charging.

Phil

 

I think that's about as good as it's gonna get.
Belt makes a schwiep noise every time the area by the print goes over a pulley. It's quiet when I rev the engine then it VVVVvvvwwweeeee on overrun.

Perplexing.

Phil

 

Belt is noisy but getting quieter. I'll try it for a while and see.


Today is Thursday, that means going get a chocolate malt. Heater is working well!

Phil

 

I spent the afternoon fiddling with the alternator bracket. I redid the roll pins and adjusted the angle it all sits at.


It's running true now (the angles of the pulley looking slightly off are an artifact of the camera lens and an optical illusion caused by the top bracket not being straight) so it's not making a hissing noise any more but it still whines.

I think I'm going to swap it for a belt that doesn't have the cooling grooves in the bottom, that should remedy that.



Slightly more positive cosmetic thing- adjusted the hood stops so the grille lines up again.


Phil

 

Doncha just love those little victories? Those, "I'll get around to it" things that bug you but aren't high priority.

 

This is quite a thread, you scored a great car and have done justice by her, keep up the great work, I love gms from 49 to 54, there awsome even in 4dr. style, great job my man, enjoy as I'm sure you will, Tom

 

You might try spraying the belt with a couple shots of WD-40 while it is running. If it quiets down the belt is the problem, if not it is one of the driven components.

 

The belt cross section you have may not be compatible with both pulleys... there are different bely/groove configurations. One size does not fit all. Check the nomenclature of the original Pontiac water pump belt vs the alternator belt (if you know its origin). There are several power-transmission supplier websites that give cross section dimensions.