Jump to content

1951 Pontiac Chieftain


PhilA

Recommended Posts

post-5454-0-47546600-1550347163_thumb.jpg

First order of the day was to find a good place to support the vehicle. Partway down the chassis turned out to not be a good place as the weight of the engine made it all flex.

 

post-5454-0-88127200-1550347193_thumb.jpg

Engine mounts at the front undone.

 

post-5454-0-43112300-1550347219_thumb.jpg

Crossbrace out.

 

post-5454-0-01191900-1550347248_thumb.jpg

Moderately clean up underneath.

 

post-5454-0-95844400-1550347266_thumb.jpg

Apart from at the back of the gearbox. There's spider webs.

 

post-5454-0-27887000-1550347315_thumb.jpg

That there is probably still full of Regrettable Examples. Next up, get under there with a brush and a light and clear the way.

 

Phil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

post-5454-0-45337300-1550352029_thumb.jpg

 

It's less bad under here than I had thought.

 

Currently just cleaning the underbody. Last thing I want is a spider to decide to drop on me when I have nowhere to escape quickly.

 

About to pull the propshaft off the back flange so I can rotate it and get the Hardy-Spicer up front undone.

 

Phil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bloody hell that's big. Looks like it fell out of a warship. Is that gearbox actually small or does it look small as it's attached to such a long engine?

It's about the same size as a Borg-Warner 65.

 

It is merely dwarfed by the engine. Sitting on the floor it makes you say "damn, that's a big engine" every time you set eyes on it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Further investigation shows that:

 

1) There is a pressed tin lower cover for the flywheel to protect the starter ring from damage by flying debris. Just not on mine because some mouthbreather decided they knew better than the designers at General Motors.

2) The correct shade of green is available at great cost from a specialist. Eyeballing it, I'm going to call it Brunswick Green.

IMG_7092.JPG.b3f0ff44eb625287da3f4ab51ac

 

Nobody knows* what color the gearbox should be so it'll probably go gray again.

 

I've been battling a cold/sniffles/man-flu type deal since Saturday afternoon. Beginning to feel better, just in time for a week of rain.

 

Phil

 

 

*The anoraks can't agree on a color

Link to comment
Share on other sites

post-5454-0-93717900-1550884253_thumb.jpg

I have two words for the previous engine builder: Torque Wrench.

 

post-5454-0-06276600-1550884324_thumb.jpg

Big collection of head bolts, most of which are due replacement. Need to get a tap too, so I can chase the holes in the block clean.

 

post-5454-0-21018400-1550884370_thumb.jpg

Initial glance at the head reveals nothing major.

 

post-5454-0-19217400-1550884443_thumb.jpg

What looks like a moderately recent head gasket.

 

post-5454-0-22794500-1550884487_thumb.jpg

Deck looks okay

 

post-5454-0-55016400-1550884517_thumb.jpg

All the pistons are marked forty thou' over, so it's had a rebuild at some point for sure.

 

post-5454-0-96736500-1550884570_thumb.jpg

Couple of the pots have hone marks, the rest are pretty mirrored.

 

post-5454-0-33054300-1550884628_thumb.jpg

Procured a very old dusty can of protection grease.

 

post-5454-0-08360500-1550884681_thumb.jpg

Coated everything to stop it rusting.

 

More to come.

 

 

Phil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...