Register now to get rid of these ads!

Projects 1953 Chieftain Deluxe

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Rob Stumpf, Oct 17, 2017.

  1. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    I guess I'm overdue for starting this thread...but oh well. Picked this up in October 2015...loved the patina...but beneath all that trim was some pretty bad rust...so the disassembly began.
    I started searching for a donor fender and finally found one in a great yard in southern colorado...but realized that was way beyond my capability. Got some sheet metal and started in on some of the more simple patches and repairs..started stripping paint, prioritizing projects..All of this learning as I go..having never worked on a car before...relying on a lot of help from fellow Pontiac guys on FB.
    Got a little sidetracked...decided to cut some coils and put some blocks on the back end...a nice 3" drop, I think.
    I was back and forth over 6v vs. 12v, but knew it needed to be rewired...horn/turns didnt work, speedo...and there were drinking straws and garden hose being used as wire conduit from previous hack. So I shopped around and settled on Rebel Wire's 9+3 harness, and a 12v conversion kit from a shop in Ohio. Meanwhile snatching up books and reading everything I can. Thanks to the tax man, I sprung for paint and primer and gear to go with...decided on 1949 Pontiac Sage Green.

    Nervously jumped in...started removing old wire, replacing solenoid, coil, swapped the old generator for an alternator etc. Stumbled along the way...thanks to some old timers...got her back to where she would start and run again. Moved to the dash, troubleshooting some shorts..eventually got it all wired up and running on 12v.
    So I buttoned up the interior, put the steering column back together, dash etc. Almost looks like a real car again. More importantly, I can move it...
    I did some minor welding on spots I thought I could handle...but paid a guy to remove the worst on pass side rear wheel well, and replace w/ the donor piece....once i got the patching done..hit it w/ some rust inhibitor.
    Then my first go w/ an HVLP....
     
    pontiac, wvenfield, 302GMC and 2 others like this.
  2. Turned out nice.
     
  3. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    Update: been able to cruise here and there.. but dealing with issues of vapor lock and running hot. Never venture too far from home. Got bored with the color, and wanted more practice spraying...so changed it up a bit.
    Cant rightly afford the rechrome of the grille...so just took it down to the copper. Had the radiator boiled out.
    Replaced thermostat, found a shroud, still running hot. Swapped in a six blade fan, still running hot. Finally broke down and took rad out, water pump, flushed the block w/ pressure washer. No fix. New aluminum rad. Still hot.
     
    thegreenbuzzer likes this.
  4. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

  5. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    thegreenbuzzer likes this.
  6. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    Haha. Forgot to mention the brakes going out on me. So we did a brake overhaul, new cylinders and lines and shoes.
    Thanks to mama for helping bleed em.
     
  7. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

  8. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    Bruce Fischer and Terrible80 like this.
  9. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 8,393

    302GMC
    Member
    from Idaho

    Nice work ... the overheating is very likely the water distribution tube which runs back from the pump discharge to the rear of the block. Keep the 'Ironing Board Eight", they have a personality all their own.
    That's a hydro, right ?
     
  10. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    Yep..hydramatic. pulled the tube 3/4 when I flushed it...imagine the back.end.is full of.gunk.
     
  11. Rob.I been going a year now on the 56 Chrysler and its finally going to be on the road again.Heres a before and after picture.Good work on yours.Bruce. 006.JPG
     
    Skankin' Rat Fink likes this.
  12. Here she is now.Bruce. 003.JPG
     
  13. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    Hell yeah! That's a nice ride Bruce.
     
    Bruce Fischer likes this.
  14. There's no sweeter song than that sung by a 4-speed Hydra-Matic going up through the gears. I'm glad you're keeping it.

    Have you thought about pulling the eight-in-line this winter, disassembling it, and doing a boil out and minor overhaul, replacing only those parts into the clean block that are out of service tolerance?
     
  15. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    Not sure how it'll go honestly. May swap it out right..with a different straight eight...may rebuild.it...may find she only needs what.you suggest...
     
  16. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    What a slacker!!!
    Due to cost...I decided to try to swap out my straight eight rather than rebuild...as I found one from a fellow pontiac guy for a screamin deal. Shipped it from Wisconsin to Colorado via fastenal third party shipping.
    [​IMG]
    So I pulled the front clip, and set about removing my overheating 1953 Straight 8....
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Paid for a recently rebuilt 1951 Straight 8, and shipped it to CO...and began the process of cleaning up and separating the bellhousing and trans.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Bruce Fischer and 'Mo like this.
  17. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    You wouldnt believe me if I told you it only cost $300 to ship, and took less than a week...but it did...so i got the 51 uncrated, started piecing together bits I would need from mine, and got some engine enamel to give her a fresh coat of paint. Had to redrill and tap a new port in the head for the water temp guage and replace some bad motor mounts courtesy of CPR, but made good progress. [​IMG]
    Once the 51 was mostly back together...dropped her in her new home...probably not a one man job...
    [​IMG]
     
    zggum and Bruce Fischer like this.
  18. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    From there it was just putting it back reverse of taking it apart...made a point to label the shit out of everything..wiring, nuts, bolts, etc. Fuel lines, sensors, exhaust, vacuum lines, trans and throttle linkage. Then rewired it and invited an old timer over to help me test fire..after getting nowhere...we discovered the plug wires were out of order...and the distributor needed to be rotated a bit...then we got a backfire..and then......
     
    Larryboy?, Bruce Fischer and 'Mo like this.
  19. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    So she's running....replaced the hood springs...dont ever let anyone tell you that's not fun....

    toss on the front clip, mess around with some shims, install the rad, rewire the headlights.Still need to put the hood back and fill the trans. Come early March, it'll be time to tune up and test drive...but for now I'm sidetracked rebuilding a 1961 Red Dale travel trailer from the frame up...WTF!!!!
     
  20. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    Oh, and if it werent for Skankin Rat Fink, Charles Coker, and Tom Holden I'd be f'ed in the drive thru. Those guys are saints
     
    Skankin' Rat Fink likes this.
  21. a note about chrome. We have gone to what is called race chrome for our midget racers. Looks good but not the finishing that chrome requires. Might ask about that and test a small piece to see. I know some guys are just using nickel plating as well. Might ask about that.
    Great project you have. Good to see those old Pontiacs on the road.
     
  22. Rob, if that's the original 4-speed Hydra-Matic, how come you are parking it in Neutral rather than in Reverse?
     
  23. Rob Stumpf
    Joined: Feb 19, 2015
    Posts: 87

    Rob Stumpf
    Member

    never thought about it...mostly bc i have to push her forward and back to access that side of the garage...
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.