Projects Mild custom '51 Pontiac Chieftain

Greg,

I don't think it is, being a new cylinder but I'll pop the cover off it and eyeball.

All brakes release, but I think one shoe is just a shade tight and is servoing itself on as I drive.

The shoes are a 30 thou' oversize and are slightly too big for my drums (didn't find an alternative option) so that represents an adjustment issue until they wear in a bit.

Phil

 

It’s probably not it, but I wanted to mention it because mine was a pain to finally discover. My brake shoes only contact in the middle also. I had to fuss with adjustment to get my car to stop straight.

 

Yes, these only really touch at the top. Means there's a fair bit of flex before they make good contact, and the pedal is a little low.
I think I may need to get the drums turned, I can feel they are slightly out of true. I think all that adds together to cause what I'm experiencing.

Phil

 

One thing is for sure ... you will stay on it until you fix it!!!!

 

Or until it drives me utterly insane, one of the two.

 

Welp, I got the engine started with a can of starting fluid just to see if it's worth messing with. I believe I have a valve on number 8 sticking.....got a bunch of Marvel Mystery oil in all the cylinders and I truly believe after a few heat cycles it'll heal up. Then lower it down and buff the old original paint. I need a 1950 illuminated Indian head hood ornament for this car too. Scored a set of '50 poverty caps..But this is your thread.

 

Quite possible, especially if it was sat with the exhaust valve open. Mine had condensation in and the valve was stuck in the guide. Hopefully soaking and a bit of heat will see it behave again. They're a fun engine to cruise about with.

Phil

 

Out and about today, adding a few miles. Backed the rear right brake off a notch and that seems to have solved it for now.


A cold start to today, making clouds!


Drove to work, first time in the office in a while but stalled projects call for some attention.


Then to the grocery store afterwards. Heater is not bad, not great but at least it works! It's funny to stand back at that distance and watch people's reactions to the car. Some people crane their neck, grab their phone and take a photo, other people wave and smile. Many are totally indifferent because it's just an old car.
It's also filthy!
The exhaust downpipe to manifold join sounds like it's leaking so that's on the to-do list now. Everything else is either leaking or weeping with the cold. Blowby is noticeably worse in the cold until it's warmed up properly.

All part of the fun!

Phil

 

It looked like it whoa'd real good in the movie!

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

 

That was from about 20 to a dead halt- front wheels both locked evenly, rears were close to it but did not.

The adjustment... Drums can be better than this but this is my first real foray into all-wheel drums and it's a learning experience.

Phil

 

Broke down today!

Got to the end of the street, switched the turn signal on and it flickered a few times then the dash went dead, GEN light came on but everything else was working.

Shut the car off, it started back up but no charge on the ammeter- basically a good portion of what's switched via the ignition switch (turn signals/alternator voltage reference/dash gauges/back-up lights) was dead.

Checked the fuse box and presto, burned fuse. Popped the spare in and went on my merry way.


One end cap is loose. Looks like I twisted it when I put it in last and that weakened the fusible link.

Simple fix, thankfully.

Phil


Edit: I think I'm going to move the voltage reference to the unfused side. That going to zero made the regulator pack freak out.

 

Went for a somewhat spirited drive tonight.
33 miles, 5 gallons of fuel.

That's an all time low of 6.7 mpg!

Time to buy stocks in oil

 

I feel so much better with the milage my OT 80's 454 gets hauling the camper!

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It gets about 9 on a long run. I might try backing the ignition off a little more.

 

Phil,
Do you know what your rear axle ratio is? I am trying to remember what mine is, but I think it is about 3.25. I would guess I get about the same mileage.
Greg

 

I love this thread!

 

4.1 which sucks. Mountain gears (Atlanta car, guessing to be sold for Tennessee or the surrounds).

Would love a 3.64, better still an Oldsmobile 3.02

(Edit: Might not be the original rear end because the speedometer is uniformly 5mph over across its range).

Phil

 

I can't even imagine a 4.11. In my 53 Pontiac I am not even across the intersection and its shifting into second gear and I have a 3 something rear end. If the car was home I would check it but as I recall it was a 3 something ratio. I will under that end of the car next spring.... last summer my two year old Grandson was playing with a matchbox car by the Pontiac and all the sudden my son hears him say: "oot-oh"... The gas door is open, the gas cap is off and no sign of the matchbox car. The plastic is probably melting in the tank as we speak. On a positive note, my grandson can hang out in the barn for hours while we work on cars which is a good sign he will be a future motorhead!!

 

Oh yeah, this one's in 4th by about 14mph.

Top "unstressed" cruise speed is about 43 mph.

I could probably use it to pull up tree stumps.

 

At least that has a drop out 3rd member, so changing the diff is not hard to do once you find one.

 

Is there a way to determine the gearset on the outside of the diff? I know of a potential donor

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Yessir. By the strengthening spar below the fill plug there is a number stamped into the casing, a code that identifies the gearset.

(from http://pontiac.oldcarmanualproject.com/manuals/1949/1949 Pontiac Shop Manual/06-Rear End Suspension/b_P0002.jpg)




0 being High ratio, 1 being the lowest, going 0 1 2 3 .. 8 9. Pontiac used only a few of the options, but never the highest ratio (3.02:1, code 0). Oldsmobile's A-body cars had the choice of 3.02 as the highest ratio.

 

Huh, I went look at mine again, cleaned it up properly.
I thought I'd read 3, but no. It's stamped 6.

So I'm not totally sure now. It's still a low ratio considering the maximum RPM of the engine.

Phil

 

So, something like this could have the gears you seek?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/51-OLDSMOB...940266?hash=item3b0439632a:g:MPUAAOSwLW1an~~f

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-OLDSM...909094?hash=item1f005a6066:g:6HwAAOSwUY9dYFm~


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Potentially, yes. From what I can see the 3.02 wasn't popular because it made the car slow off the line and have difficulty in the hills.

 

Well, I've got a light throttle misfire once the engine warms up.

Gonna check the points haven't closed up... Might be the condenser too, cheap Auto Zone item.

Phil

 

Trailing points had closed up and the vacuum advance pipe was leaking at the carb so I fixed the union (it has been rounded off and no longer tightened properly).

Test drive to the end of the street shows good; shall try a slightly longer run to check.

Phil

 

Okay, that's definitely better.

Light throttle feels a lot less strained now.

Phil

 

In a fit of curiosity I took my old brake master apart.





Not horrible. Not great. Driven with worse.

That will clean up and reseal as a spare, I think.

Phil

 

Phil, you need to get a bucket and a scraper and clean your rear end!