Projects Mild custom '51 Pontiac Chieftain

Tonight, I changed the oil. What came out was rather gray and thin. Put nice new fresh 30W in.
That made a significant difference. So smooth running now!
(What a surprise).

Went to the store in it. Got some strange looks, apparently it's not normal to go grocery shopping in an old car.

Phil

 

I use my '51 Ford club coupe to go grocery shopping all the time. The trunk is HUGE and it's super easy to load and unload (after I get home).

I have received many more compliments than "strange looks".

 

Granted, the compliments so far have outweighed the strange looks, which is nice.
My OT daily that's a bit hit or miss (muscle car) but the Chieftain definitely makes more people smile.

Phil

 

Today, I almost completed the list.

Coolant changed, now 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water

Manifold and heat riser gaskets replaced

Fuel pump tightened

Hard fuel lines replaced. Steel line to carburetor was cracked

Rubber fuel lines replaced with marine grade fuel pipe

Air filter gauze oiled and dish filled



Throttle pump needs looking at



Phil

 

That's a fine looking Poncho, and great job in bringing it back...

 

Just taken it for a quick run out to get pizza.



Running really nicely now. All the pops and bangs on overrun are gone, so the manifold is sealing.
Met with general approval.

Phil

 

Figured I'd share a quick drive to the milkshake stand and back.



Couple things need addressing (bands are toast and squeak on uptake until the oil's gotten around but that's an engine-out so it can wait, exhaust needs a couple more supports to stop clunks and bangs underneath as it swings).

Other than that, pretty happy with a nice old cruiser to go places in.

Phil

 

The hydro sounds like it has many more miles left in it before needing any work ...

 

Very nice!

 

I didn't replace the drum bands when I rebuilt the gearbox because they had plenty of depth left. However, I think they're harder than they should be; the gearbox did get very very hot.

Afterthought: They don't grab, they don't slip, they just squeak a bit. They're on next year's to-do list.

Phil

 

Purrs along right nice. Have you tried out the hybrid radio system yet?

 

Yup, it plays nicely. It's nice to be able to put period correct music over the radio while you're driving.

Edit: I didn't put it on for the film because YouTube does audio analytics and will pull from service any movie found to have copyright music in the audio track.

Phil

 

What a sweet ride! You’ve done really well on this one.

 

Sweet ride - well done. I'm impressed that you can clearly hear the click of turn signal flasher.

 

Thank you. It's been fun so far, and there's no sign of it stopping yet. Still plenty to do!

Yup, it's not loud, either! The only reason I didn't put a louder one in is the auto-cancel mechanism for the turn signals works properly (you can hear that CLIK CLIK over a I turn the wheel).

With the window closed the loudest sound in the cabin is the whine of the gearbox when you're moving.

Phil

 

The sound of that engine is "ear candy". The early 1950's was a 6 cylinder world for this kid. Used cars for my dad, and new Plymouths and then Dodges as my Grandpa got more prosperous. Then it came to me, my great-grandfather had a 1952 straight 8 Buick. By the late 1950's, they all had V-8 (a very different sound) - except dad, still motoring on with straight 6 motors (less parts to wear out...).

 

The Buick 8 has quite a different sound to this, being OHV. Gone is that muted exhaust burble that comes from poor flow and large valve overlap inherent with a side-valve (you know how a side-valve V8 has that almost hissing burble in the exhaust compared to a modern OHV V8), but this one has all the valvegear buried so is a little less clattery from the motor itself.
I always wanted an inline 8, but it wasn't an engine layout common to the UK, too big, too expensive, too thirsty.

I'm glad I got this one, it's quite different to drive, though getting used to how fast it sounds like the engine is turning compared to how fast it actually is going aurally is a challenge. It sounds like it needs another gear up by 35!

Phil

 

Here’s hoping a lot of folks have paid close attention to your adventures with your brake and fuel lines. After so many years the old steel lines can be downright dangerous even though they look somewhat ok on the outside. I found this on one of my cars. The PO updated a lot of stuff but left the old lines. Most just broke at the slightest movement due to rust. I replaced all of mine too.
Really enjoying your thread Phil.


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After the rest of the really high quality work found done on this car by previous keepers, I decided that it just wasn't worth not doing.

 

Just recieved the correct crank vent tube in the mail, that's going to get a clean up tonight.

 

Just came out to the garage. It's a warm day and whoooeee, just discovered that the fuel gauge sender weeps. Amazing how little fuel makes so big of a stink.

 

Crank case ventilation tube arrived today in the mail. Dirty but otherwise in good shape.


Stuck it in the ultrasonic bath, in gasoline to clean it both inside and outside.


Cleaned up nicely.


... as did the down tube ...


...and the clamps.

It's missing the lower bracket, but that's just a piece of flat bar that clamps onto the lower tube and bolts to the engine.

Paint is drying now, that can go on tomorrow. Discovered also that there should be a standoff clamp for the exhaust downpipe, to steady it at the engine end. That's missing, too.

I'm wondering if the garage that did the work just threw it all away...

Phil

 

I like your car, I liked the ride, but was disappointed you didn't take us in for a milkshake.

 

Sadly only the window is open. It's a nice little diner inside.

Phil

 

It was a great ride! Cool old ponch!
We all know how miss Daisy felt now!


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On the Driving Miss Daisy front, are there any direct axle swaps? Round here is flat as a pancake and acceleration isn't an issue, but bringing the cruise RPM down a bit would be preferable- it's got oodles of low end torque but I feel a bit uncomfortable pushing it at high RPM for extended periods.

Phil

 

39-56 olds and pontiac rear center sections are interchangeable. You should be able to find a 3.00 center section pretty easy. What rpm are you at ?

If you are talking complete r/e I have no idea.

 

Phil,
If this will help, '49 - '54 axle codes are stamped on the housing as follows :
3.08 - ''0''
3.23 - ''9''
3.42 - ''8''
3,64 - ''6''
3.90 - ''4''
4.10 - ''3'
4.30 - ''2''

 

Whereabouts? I need to clean mine up, the axle looks like it was dug up out of a garden somewhere the amount of mud and junk stuck to it

 

Either gears or entire assembly.

I need to reconnect my tach and check see accurate speed at 1000 rpm.

I'll do that tonight if I have time.