Hot Rods '51 Chevy Fleetline DeLuxe Project

I know you want to stay original, a worthy idea. But manufacturers went to a dual master cylinder for a reason. Walton Fabrication sells a firewall mount kit to mount a dual master on the firewall, and the brake pedal hangs down under the dash. I think someone may make a dual master cylinder that can be mounted underneath on the frame, but I can't remember who. A leak anywhere on a single system could create an unwelcome surprise!

 

I didn't see anyone answer your question on the plug try canning wax or candle wax heat up cyl apply the wax cool may have to do that several times it will work

 

cool project so far

keep those updates comin'

 

I've heard that one about wax before. Another thread persuader I read about was a 50/50 mix of Automatic Transmission Fluid and Acetone. I tried it, and it seemed to work pretty good.

 

Buffalo Enterprises makes a conversion kit on an exchange basis, which mounts a '67 Corvette dual MC behind a gutted stocker, so you keep the stock pedals. It is practically a bolt-in. (You must plumb in a couple of residual valves. I also cut a hole in the floor board for an access cover plate.)

 

Thanks for the advice on the master cylinders, guys. Things have been going really smooth for me on this build so something had to hang me up.. this MC is it.

I finally got the large front plug off of the front after using the candle wax method and an air impact. I rebuilt the whole MC but now after putting in all that work I don't think I'll use it.. the inner cylinder walls are just a bit too pitted for my peace of mind. So a reproduction has been ordered. I have a genuine 1951 Delco paperweight now!

Before


After.. and unusable


I got new stainless front brake lines installed and will finish the rear very soon. When I get my new MC I should find myself boogie'n down a road or two.

 

I finally got some new bulbs for the car... just finished putting in the new headlights along with some chrome visors for that sleepy look. I dig it!

 

You're one cool kid Will. Go man, go!

 

Thanks man!!! Just started reading the first few pages of your '51 build. Lovin it so far!!

I've made just a little progress today. Didn't get but about an hour to work on the ole '51.

I went to replace the parking light bulbs but the sockets were rusted pretty badly so no matter how much I wire brushed them I really couldn't get a good enough contact on the new bulbs. I noticed some small 12v off-road fog lights I had laying in the corner. I gutted the fixtures out of them and retro fitted them into the parking lights. Running at 6 volts, they are about the perfect brightness.

 

I know it doesnt work but if ur interested in selling that id buy it.. Ive got one from own car. That plant is like 3 miles from my house.. So i have some sentimental attachment to it.

Pm me if youre interested.

Thank you and nice build btw..

Luke

 

I second the suggestion of a powerglide rearend,I did it to my '50 made a big difference.Especially if your keeping the 216.

 

Looks like you're making a lot of progess already!!
I have a 51 Fleetline, black it has a orignal 216 rebuilt with fenton headers, love the sound.
Walton fabrication sells a dual chamber master cylinder that sits in the same place as the old one, I am consider it for the next brake job.

I've had the car for 12 years and I am very happy with it!

 

Coooool car...................rich

 

Thanks guys!

Luke - I appreciate that inquiry, I would consider selling it but it turns out that I am actually going to use it.

So here we are as of today, I made some good forward progress and feel good about it.

First things first, I think I got ripped off on my new MC. Buyer beware of Partsgeek.com.. TOTAL RIPOFF. They claimed that my order shipped and gave me a tracking number, but UPS said they know nothing of it. The company provides no contact phone number and does not reply to any of my emails. There are numerous complaints on the web about this vendor but unfortunately I did not think to check before ordering from them.

Since I got screwed over on my new MC I figured I would give one last shot at saving the original. I went to Autozone and bought a brake cylinder hone and gently honed it out to get the walls nice and smooth. After honing it and putting it all back together it performed really well on the bench. So I have decided to use it now.

And after many bloody knuckles I finally got her back in the car.


Earlier this morning I finished up the lights on the car. The brake lights were as easy as simply installing new bulbs. I ended up having to install a new brake light switch because the original was seized. Fortunately I had a spare from another build. The brake lights perform flawlessly.

The license light was a different story. The original fixture was so rusted it was almost unidentifiable. After a bit of work I was able to remove the lens and cover. For the new fixture, I went back behind my house to my stock pile and pulled a license light fixture from the original bumper to my '56 Chevy. After enlarging the hole on the splash pan a bit I was able to get the fixture to fit nicely. I had good luck as well in the sense that the replacement 6v bulb fit perfectly in the '56 fixture. I like it when things work!



The reverse light bulbs and fixtures are good, but the switch for them is seized. I'll have to do research to find if a reproduction is available.

I replaced all the bulbs in the gauges but at first they did not work. I pulled the light switch out and cleaned the mild corrosion off of the dimmer element and voila!


While I was at autozone I noticed that they carry 3x6 rolls of cheap black replacement carpet. I bought two rolls.. after some careful cutting I now have some nice temporary carpet in the '51! (The floor mats were on hand)


Until next time..

 

Very cool build.

I think bias ply tires would have looked much better, however. Since you're going with everything else original I'm suprised you went with radials.

Good looking car, Cant wait to see more progress.

 

She is looking good

 

I admit that I cringe every time I look at the radials. Bias ply tires do look so much more at home than these radials. I have a '57 Bel Air that has bias plies and it is a real battle to drive that car down the road. I want the driveability of this '51 to be as high as possible so I went with them for that purpose.

 

Made some progress today while still waiting on my dang brake lines to show up.

Took the car down off jacks to clean out the garage. While I had the car out I sprayed it with a thin coat of satin clear. It really deepened the black and I love the way it looks now. I'm also happy because I pulled it back into the garage under its own power by using the clutch and parking brake.

 

whatch out for that peeling chrome bro, its like razors, really!

nice work so far...

 

Thanks for the heads up! Never thought about that but can definitely see how that would be.. With my luck I'm surprised I haven't slid out from under the car and put my face right into it!

Hmmm this ole gal must like me

 

Time for a big update on the Fleetline!

I've been working towards the goal of getting a first test drive in. I am happy to say that today I drove it for the first time! Let me tell you what it took, and then a video.

As previously stated, I rebuilt all of the original wheel cylinders and the master cylinder. I waited four weeks for my pre-bent brake lines to finally arrive and I got them on Monday. I quickly got them installed and went to bleed the brakes. All seemed to go smooth but when I went to test the brakes, I had pedal for a moment, and then it would slowly sink to the floor. I knew I had a leak somewhere.

I hate going backwards in progress, but I got the car back up on jackstands and popped off all of the wheels and drums to inspect the wheel cylinders. I found no leaks at all, so I immediately knew where the problem was... the master cylinder. The last thing I wanted to do was have to remove that thing, but there was no way around it. After 5 hours of intense labor this morning I was able to install a new MC. As previously stated, it is an unbelievably painstaking process and it isn't any easier the second time.

I went to bleed the brakes to find that the new MC did solve the issue and the brakes are now solid and dependable, so it was time for a test drive!

Here is a short video of the first time around the block. Feel free to laugh as you listen to the sounds this old car makes. Between the bad throw out bearing and noisy gearbox, she sure does talk to ya! Otherwise the car runs AWESOME and I will be going to get it tagged tomorrow morning.

By the way, complete goof in the editing on my part. Should say March 20th.. the video is not from the future LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj59QQWq0rY

Next on the list is to fine tune the engine. Those who are observant will notice the speedometer does not function in the video. In my test runs on jackstands I found that the speedo slips and I believe the internal drums are sticking. I'll soon dissasmble it, oil it, and we should be good to go.

 

Great looking car, I used to have a 51 Styleline Deluxe. Im just across the bridge from you and I work in Memphis.

 

Hey, thanks for the ride around the block. You're doing a great job on that Fleetline. You seem wise beyond your years, and I'm wondering where a young fella like you got the old car bug, and how did you acquire your considerable mechanical skills?

 

Thanks for the cruise things are coming right along, your fleetline just looks cool. Keep up the good work..............

CRUISER

 

Thats awesome, I wish I could start with rust free projects like that. Everything is rusted to shit in this state so you have to be an expert welder to even start a project around here. Also I agree, red wheels are gay. Thanks for painting them black.

 

Hey there Will, first, cool old Fleetline. I had 51 Fleetline back in 74. Was married in 75 and had to let it go. It took another 30 years, a couple of houses and two daughters to go before I could get my 52. Now I have the 51 vert and a 51 truck coming home Saturday. Got to make up for lost time. Aka, mid life crisis. Second, I'm loving your sound. No doubt we'll be seeing more of you in the future. You look a lot like a local boy from just south of me. Maybe you've heard of him? John Mayer. There's not a lot that goes together as well as a blues guitar and an old Chevy.
Play on man!
Dominic

 

That thing is sooo bad ass. It'll be a fun ride

How did the clear coat come out? I've thought about doing my 50 before it is done while its apart but I dont want to make a mistake and make it look awkward. Paint over patina looks good but over rust (like mine) probably peal and look like ass.

 

Thank you so very much for the very kind words and support, gentlemen!

Thank you sir! What is interesting is that nobody in my family really has any interest in old cars, in fact my dad can't really stand old cars!

Since I was a little kid I can always remember having a love for all things old. To me, everything has a story, and the thought of that always fascinated me. That and a natural love of cars is what really drove this old car bug in me. In 2011, when I was 17, I was able to purchase a '57 Bel Air four door (since sold) and that really fueled the drive to build old cars for me.

As far as mechanical skills go, I can't own up to much. I suppose you can say trial and error... learn as you go type of thing. I bought a '56 Bel Air in October of 2011 that was an all original car sitting in a guy's backyard since 1978. I had no skills further than changing oil at that point and planned to learn everything required to completely restore that car, frame off - nut and bolt. Well I'm proud to say that I did just that. Reading books and scouring the internet for information, I completed the restoration, did the paint and bodywork, interior, frame, electrical, and just about everything short of the engine rebuild alone in 9 months in my home garage(I gave up my life ). It was a learning experience that I will never forget, and I have been bitten by the old car bug for good.

Here's a little before and after on the my '56. Also a link to the full build thread is here.



Something about building these cars is such a release. I enjoy it very thoroughly, and the gratification of a job well done just can't be beat.

Thanks Dominic! I'm really glad you dig it! I'm a big Mayer fan myself - especially his blues stuff. It is very true that blues guitar and old cars compliment each other quite well!

I'm quite pleased with the clear. I actually used urethane clear in a spray can from Automotive Touchup. I have been using their products for some time now and am always pleased with the results. About 2 1/2 cans covered the whole car in one wet coat. Alot of this car is surface rust, but I like what the clear did. I sort of darkened it up and gave it that "wet" look that really made the whole car a more uniform color. If your surface is really rough, maybe try wetsanding the car with 400-600 grit to smooth it out a little bit before clear, and hopefully not change the look of the patina too much. Just a thought.

 

Little story for ya. Back when i was a snot nosed kid( some 53 )years ago i blew up my 53, my buddy's dad was the local mechanic he rebuilt my motor on the weekends if he had spare time he had a crank grinder/welder fixed the crank, hand fitted the rods. I couldn't afford pistons so he put 10 over rings on the standard pistons ,he told me to go to the junk yard and get a automatic carb. and cam because they were bigger,it ran like a scalded dog.Ran good enough to beat my stepsisters boy friends new but cheep 63 biscain 283 two barrel carb 3 on the tree. when he got out of his car he slamed the door so hard i though he was going to brake the glass boy did that feel good, beating him with a ten year old car and still brings a lot of these On the chrome, the guy beat me on that one, you don't want to go to a show and a little kid get cut either, may have a pissed off parent. Hope you enjoy yours as much. Jack the old fart

 

Sorry dude just went back and watched your video , that trans. sounds too loud, may need a little tlc , bearings and thrush washers.I'm sure it will get you were your going but it would be quieter.