Projects Mild custom '51 Pontiac Chieftain

Hard to believe it’s been 2 years! Thanks for sharing the journey with us.

 

Well, documented here it hasn't been; it's not even been a year. But, the rebuild process has been underway that long.

That was a little unexpected, the primary hold up was the gearbox. If have probably had it on the road already if it weren't for that.

Phil

 

Ok, i watched this until it hypnotized me and i fell out of my chair!

 

Sounds 100 % better now. Looks pretty good too.

 

I agree with the above 100%.

 

For the two year anniversary of the car, somebody asked me to film a celebratory donut.



So, I obliged.

You're welcome.



Phil

 

Bout shit on myself! you're such a smartass

 

As my mother used to say "you are a big WISEACRE" But clever.

 

Wouldn't have it any other way!

 

Your lucky you weren't over run with Police men, the way you were waving that doughnut around.

 

New wing mirrors, to replace the broken ones.

Phil

 

Tonight started with a coat hanger stolen from the wardrobe.


Liberated the nice chromed pot metal wire.


Using the other side as a template, it was bent to shape.


Why? That on the left was the passenger side lock pin. Floppy and useless, plus it was causing the mechanism to get all hung up.


Slotted the new one in place, put the door frame back on and now it locks with a smooth clunk. Enough for today.

Phil

 

Just spent $350 on the car. One of the last "big push" runs; new brake shoes, new wheel cylinders, new flexible hoses and a couple engine gaskets.

Phil

Edit: It's on order...

 

I can now lock and unlock all the doors. Everything that's meant to, latches.

Now there's progress!

Phil

 

Well, as seem to be typical with everything this year, the car show I had wanted to go to has been canceled.

Maybe next year, then?

Phil

 

If nothing else, I did recieve my new traffic light lens today, plus a special gift from 302GMC, so that's a good start. Didn't fit it because we were about to drop the kids with Granny and go have a quiet afternoon to ourselves.

Phil

 

Quiet evening my ass! It's brake job time!

 

Brake parts won't be here before Tuesday.


My new traffic light viewer lens did arrive today, though.


Got to fit it tonight, it's a lot clearer than the old one.

Phil

 

You left the "ordered" part out big guy Ya kinda set me up on that one as for the car show, yeah this year is about a joke. I don't think i can handle another one like this. There's a cruise in at the drive in tmrw night, but my enthusiasm is non existent

 

The cruise aspect this year here is dead.
Shows deader yet.

My first "big" outing gonna be a few miles to the drive-in and get me a chocolate malt.

Phil

 

WHAT, no donut run.

 

Not yet. The donut shop has road construction outside with some really nasty uneven pavement and large step-ups that I don't think I would get up.

 

I got inspired by Chrysler's electroluminescent dashboards of the late fifties tonight.


So now, we are leaving the jet age and entering the space-age with turquoise.

Still waiting on brakes.

Phil

 

That looks good!

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

 

Attacked the front suspension with the pressure washer tonight; not perfect but at least you can see it it made from metal now...

Phil

 

Get a cheap rubber plug for that brake adjustment hole those drum brakes get mighty "touchy" after an unexpected trip through a deep puddle for the first few applications until the heat drys them out Unless it's your baby and not driven in the rain

 

Yeah, I need to. I did go for a drive down the street with the brakes on to dry them out afterwards,
Must've done it right because I went out to the garage at 9pm to check the doors, put my foot on the bumper and gave a shove and the car moved. I was expecting the brakes to be stuck.

Phil

 

Ooh, my brake parts shipped today.

The dogs are watching out for the FedEx truck.

 

I just read this entire thread today...my boss is probably wondering what I have been working on at my desk so intently! I love how each component is its own project & treated as such. Fantastic build thread & as everyone has said I love your attention to detail. I'll be following along with your thread from here on out. Lots of good stuff in here that I will be keeping in my back pocket!

 

Just read through your Plymouth thread. You had a harder time of it than me, trying to figure out someone else's ideas about mechanics and engineering... but you are right. I figure the easiest way to understand, and therefore be able to repair an issue is to break it down far enough that it can be pieced back together again in a working fashion.
Just be methodical like you have been and you can't go too far wrong.

--Phil