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Projects 1954 Pontiac Chieftain build

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by fowldog8, May 18, 2013.

  1. fowldog8
    Joined: Dec 9, 2012
    Posts: 18

    fowldog8
    Member

    Hoping to get my Pontiac on the road soon, so I am posting some pictures. It's a 1954 Pontiac Chieftain Eight, and I bought it from the owner of a hot rod shop in Texas a little over a year ago. He had done quite a bit of work on it, and I am trying to finish the loose ends and get it on the road.

    The body is very solid except the floors, but the hood has been stripped of all paint and someone started to add fake patina to the RF fender. It has a second-generation Camaro front end and airbags on every wheel. When I got it, it had a late 80's Chevy truck 350 and turbo 400, but I traded that for a 1969 Olds 455 that should move it a little faster.

    I took these pictures the day it arrived on the truck.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. fowldog8
    Joined: Dec 9, 2012
    Posts: 18

    fowldog8
    Member

    First thing I did was find a fuel tank - the original had apparently rusted out and had been removed before I bought the car. I originally thought it was a common tank to the 1954 Chevrolet, but apparently the 1953-1954 Pontiac tank is not common because of the filler neck location.

    I found an aluminum racing tank on craigslist for $75 and installed after cutting access in the trunk floor. The trunk pan needs to be replaced eventually, and I hope to install a tank in the original location when that happens. I eventually replaced the fast filler neck with a normal gas cap, and you can see the relocated battery, too.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. fowldog8
    Joined: Dec 9, 2012
    Posts: 18

    fowldog8
    Member

    Here is my biggest challenge right now - what to do with the rear end and the rear brakes. It appears to be the original rear end (casting 513261) with date code G1 4 (July 1954), 29 splines, and 3.08 gears. I'd prefer something stronger because the 455 had 365hp and 490 torque from the factory, and I plan to boost that eventually. I considered swapping in a Ford 8.8 from an Explorer on the cheap to get the posi and disc brakes, but decided against it because it requires changing bolt pattern, cutting the housing, etc.

    The brakes are completely gutted except for the drums, so I'm not sure I can reconstruct them with a normal rebuild kit plus pads and adjusters.

    Any recommendations?
     

    Attached Files:

  4. fowldog8
    Joined: Dec 9, 2012
    Posts: 18

    fowldog8
    Member

    Here are a few more pictures of various parts of the car.
     

    Attached Files:


  5. fowldog8
    Joined: Dec 9, 2012
    Posts: 18

    fowldog8
    Member

    The car still had the original wheels, but they did not clear the new disc brake setup, so it had two aluminum wheel spacers on the right side, and one spacer plus 3 heavy duty washers on the left side to ensure enough clearance for the wheels to spin. I bought new 15" wheels from Wheel Vintiques that just barely clear the discs, and had them powder coated red. Here are some shots of the front disc brake setup, with a good shot of the front airbags, too.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. fowldog8
    Joined: Dec 9, 2012
    Posts: 18

    fowldog8
    Member

    One more showing the left side spacer and washers. Only 3 lug nuts too.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. fowldog8
    Joined: Dec 9, 2012
    Posts: 18

    fowldog8
    Member

    I've got fenderskirts for the car, but I think I prefer it without them. Here are two shots for comparison.
     

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  8. Dead End Sleds
    Joined: Oct 13, 2009
    Posts: 224

    Dead End Sleds
    Member

    Cool car. I like it.

    I have a couple dumb questions: What's the deal with that clock? Is that a speaker behind it? Seems like a large hole in the dash for a clock. Not being a prick, I just don't know.

    Is that original style trim?

    For rear end, maybe look for Nova or other mid 70's Chevy. That's what's in my '54 Chevy. It was in there when I bought it. Bolt pattern is same as original and still GM.
     
  9. 1951Streamliner
    Joined: May 15, 2011
    Posts: 1,875

    1951Streamliner
    Member
    from Reno, NV

    Yes that's where the original speaker went.

    When I had my 51 Pontiac I thought that was the coolest part of the dash.
     
  10. fowldog8
    Joined: Dec 9, 2012
    Posts: 18

    fowldog8
    Member

    Thanks, man. I just got rid of the Olds donor car for the 455 and probably should have looked more closely at that rear end, but in my quick search everything I saw said it was not a great unit. Between the width, bolt pattern, posi, and wanting discs, I think I am just going to tough this one out until the budget can afford to build the right one.

    Love the color combo and the new whitewalls on your Chevy - looks like a great car.


     
  11. cousin steve
    Joined: Aug 11, 2008
    Posts: 63

    cousin steve
    Member
    from Orting WA

    I'm still using the stock rear in mine. Worst part is is uses a special u-jount = extra $ and carry a spare. Putting together a custom 9 inch is the best answer in my opinion. Bolt pattern is 5 on 5 and nova and camaro are 5 on 4 3/4. Big lincoln is disk and 5 on 5 but too wide. Caprice is too wide but impalla ss and cop package is narrower and disk. Not sure if its narrow enough though. Just a few ideas I've been looking at.

    Good luck, looking good!
     
  12. Dead End Sleds
    Joined: Oct 13, 2009
    Posts: 224

    Dead End Sleds
    Member


    Thanks. We have fun with it.
     
  13. rfstx1010
    Joined: Jan 31, 2007
    Posts: 136

    rfstx1010
    Member
    from Bear, DE

    if you just want a cheap way to replace the rear end completely then use a 1967 to 79 Camaro/Firebird rear or the small Lincoln disc brake rear.
     
  14. Barn Find
    Joined: Feb 2, 2013
    Posts: 2,312

    Barn Find
    Member
    from Missouri

  15. BabbitBeater
    Joined: Aug 18, 2009
    Posts: 160

    BabbitBeater
    Member
    from Colorado

    If its the original rear end, with original parts, the bolt pattern would be 5 on 5". Unfortunately, not the common Chevy size.
     
  16. Wanderer1957
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 20

    Wanderer1957
    Member

    I've always pictured 53-54 Pontiacs with skirts, but with the mounting hardware in the center of the skirts, I've had problems running wheelcovers on both of mine for some reason. The stock skirts are too short to run without wheelcovers. I tried a set of custom fiberglass ones for a 53-54 Chevy, but didn't fit well. I put the wheelcovers on and left the skirts off. I'm getting used to it and am actually starting to like the look, but I want to be able to run them any time I want to. I will figure out the problem. I can't even put factory wheelcovers on the bone stock Pontiac. If you decide you don't want your skirts, I could always use an extra pair. I have two '54 Pontiacs.
    Yours looks awesome, by the way. The visor really looks great on it, especially with your car being white. Looks good either way, with or without skirts.
     
  17. 53chieftian
    Joined: Aug 13, 2005
    Posts: 611

    53chieftian
    Member

    The stock rear diff is about the strongest thing you will find to put in it. Only draw back is performance parts for them don't exist. I have a 472 caddy pushing mine and using the original to the car rear u joint. Haven't had a problem yet (12 years on the road). I still have 4 wheel drums and it stops fair. But the big Caddy barely weighs more than a small block Chevy which is WAY lighter than the straight 8!
     
  18. Just my input, I think it looks WAY better without the skirts. Updates, please!
     
  19. Skankin' Rat Fink
    Joined: Jun 18, 2006
    Posts: 1,496

    Skankin' Rat Fink
    Member
    from NYC

    Any updates on this car? The rear suspension setup looks great.
     
  20. fowldog8
    Joined: Dec 9, 2012
    Posts: 18

    fowldog8
    Member

    Not much happening with this car because there is another "running" project ahead of it, but here is the 1969 Olds 455 I put in it. Love the look of the cable keepers (added).
    455Olds.jpg Exhaust.jpg LeftHeader.jpg RightHeader.jpg
     
    40LUV likes this.
  21. plymouthgoat62
    Joined: Jun 22, 2019
    Posts: 31

    plymouthgoat62

    Hi fowldog8. As you can see I have a 53 Chieftain convertible. My trunk was also rusted out which rotted out the top of the gas tank. I bought a complete trunk from a 53 on ebay. Still looking for a gas tank. Mine still has the straight 8. I was gonna do a front disc brake kit from toms classics on ebay. Is your car front stubbed or is that the factory frame? I have a rebuilt Pontiac 301 that I might put in mine. I know. It's not gonna be fast but I'll get great cruising mileage. I didn't know about the skirt issue either that you've been discussing with the members on here. Good to know as I really do want to run my skirts. I have all the chrome redone. Just have to address some rust on the rear 1/4s and get the seats redone. Any more progress on yours?
     

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