Projects Mild custom '51 Pontiac Chieftain

Next up I need to find a thermostat to fit. I had a looksee and some larger diesel engines use a similar device to what was originally fitted- a big cage style thermostat that fits up into the housing.

There are adapter plates that allow a regular waxstat thermostat to be fitted but I am not sure if those will flow adequately, particularly at highway speeds and also stuck idling in traffic.

I think I will drain down and bring the housing to the parts place and see if they have anything that fits.

Then, I am gonna flush it out because it's been sitting with straight water in and there's a lot of rusty sediment, before filling back up with proper antifreeze with corrosion inhibitors in.

Phil

 

Just spoke to Kurt Kelsey in Iowa, and he's got me the correct thermostat, which should be here soon.

Saves trying to hack something to fit because it's a very non-standard design hosting compared to what I'm used to.

 

Thermostat arrived today, well ahead of schedule.


Nice new old stock parts.


Strange contraption.


All pushed together to form an assembly.


Cut a new gasket, applied a little sealant and bolted it all together, filled it up and ran it to temperature. Opens up at 180 and holds at about 190; heater blows red hot. Happy with that.

Oh, and another milestone today...



Eventful day.


Phil

 

Threw the front brakes back together for now.



Nice to see it in the sunshine again.

Phil

 

Braved the sunshine and washed the car.

 

Sure cleans up nice for a photo!

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

 

Thanks. It looks okay from a few yards, if you squint! As I was washing it, a pleasant couple stopped and made comment, apparently they're from out of town but have a '52 2-door with all the usual (350/TH400/new axle/power steering/aircon). Very complimentary both ways, he says he enjoys being able to get in and drive anywhere, I like having greasy hands; but it does attract comment, even in what I call rather rough-n-ready finish...

 

I’d rather have yours. Still has its soul.

 

Nothing bad about a 10 footer! Especially one that's older than me!

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

 

Today, rain. So, before it got too hot I decided to put in a little "free" garage time.


Previous owner decided to polish the chrome with a wire wheel. Naturally the best choice for a good finish.


They've gone through to the nickel in a lot of places but I had a go at buffing it out. Looks a little bit better.


It also has a very large number of nooks and crannies. Small buffing wheel broken out to try and get into the corners better.


Plenty more to do, but it got too warm even with the big drum fan running. Improvement there, at least. Need to put all the screws back in the grille, it's only held on with a couple right now.

Phil

 

The sun went down so it was a little bit cooler in the garage.



Little bit more work on the grille, ended up with an unintentionally arty shot.

Phil

 

Awesome post. Congratulations on a job well done.

 

Tonight's task- remove old muffler, which was full of holes and just plain junk.


Did the right thing.



That'll do. Need to rebuild the rest of the system, going 2¼" all the way back instead of 1⅞".

Phil

 

Slight change of plan, going 2" all the way back which is fine because that's the size from the manifold from the factory.
I found a place that does mandrel bending not too far from here (25 minute drive) so they have the old pipe and are going to copy it, mostly. I asked for a joint in the back so I can actually get it over the axle. The stock design would come out if it wasn't on lowering blocks...

 

Change of plan back! They found some 2 1/4" offcuts that were long enough and bent them up to fit.


Surprisingly good tube, too. I was expecting really thin stuff. All done by a Napa not too far from here for $55 including 3 clamps for it. It needed to be in 3 pieces to be able to get up over the axle. That was my request.


There we go, all in nice and snug.



Still cold there, sounds nice. Has a decent bass note to it also with no drone. Going to finish it off with a chrome turn down tip.

Phil

 

Shiny bits. Everybody likes shiny bits.



Got a nice note to it. Happy with that.

Phil

 

Great job Phil. I've been watching this from the start and it looks like you nailed it. Plus, the presentation was very well done. I'm almost sorry you're so near to done. Or maybe you have another project in the works!

 

No more projects yet- there is still a fair bit to do to this but it's nice to be able to see the point actually going for a ride in it is viable.

 

Sounds good and the turn signals are nice and visible in the daylight too.

 

Brake lights work too, just didn't have to brake! (First cut of me going right down the road, just as I go behind the tree you can catch a glimpse of them on though...)

 

Talks have started with the Accountancy Dept. about brakes.

 

Talks broke down. Dog went see the vet yesterday. Brakes have to wait.

 

I had a moment of morbid curiosity tonight, so I pulled the window frame off the back right door to try and see what was wrong with the mechanism and why the glass is so spectacularly fractured.


Well, that's why. I'm missing the top roller bar and the sash channel. The roller has gone to the side of the glass and pop, broken it. So, need to find replacements of those along with glass.

Silver lining in all of it is I got the door lock working...

Phil

 

Couldn't get much else done so I had a go at getting the roof looking better.


Not great but it's good for 50/50.


It'll be okay.

I guess, if I can't do anything else I can at least get it to look a bit better, even though it's just too hot in the garage right now.

Phil

 

Got as far as putting some better nuts on the license plate (couple nice stainless acorns) and buffing it's butt before getting all hot and sweaty lost its appeal.

Phil

 

Got the headlight aim set right.
I can tolerate sitting there, looking out of that window.

Phil

 

Today the weather turned pleasant after work so I did something I've been putting off- namely getting burned hands!


The car assumed the position, I pulled the wheel off and got cracking after driving it up and down the street a little to get it up to temperature.


Required tools gathered (3x 9/16" wrenches, a 1/2" wrench and an 11-13 thou' go-no-go feeler).


Access could be worse, I guess.



Most of the valves were too tight, the rest were too loose. One was just right. Got them all set now and it's got that proper note back again to the exhaust. Pops and sneezes a little because I was getting fuel vapor lock from it idling so long and getting heat soak into the fuel line where it runs under the oil pan.

Really smooth to drive now, glad I did it. Nursing a few burns between my thumb and index finger on both hands, which appears to be par for the course doing this job.

Phil

 

If you are not careful, you are going to end up with a really nice cruiser.

 

I know. I'll book it in for LS1 transplant next week, some 20" alloy wheels, big sound system... Haha

 

...I hope you realize I'm joking