I have my grandfathers 1951 2 door fleetline. I got it when I was 12. I restored it, kept it all original, and super clean. It was my pride and joy. At some point while I was off at college and without my consent, the engine was blown, (like rod through the side of the engine), then replaced poorly with a rebuilt 235. Langdon supplied an hei ignition, offy intake, and his carter/webers. Fentons were bought for it and then thrown in the trunk. Typical ****. It was never sorted and ran like ****. I started it sporadically for a while and then just parked it in the garage under a cover and ignored it because it just made me so mad. So it’s been basically sitting for around 10+ years untouched. Clearly I have unresolved daddy issues. Now my kiddo wants to get it out and play with it. I figure I have been an immature whiner about it for long enough. I went ahead and put a new fuel pump on it the other day, drained the old gas. I noticed the brake pedal goes to the floor so I ordered a new master cylinder, the wheel cylinders, and new brake shoes too. Figured go through all of that so it’s safe to drive. This danged ole offy intake and **** reaaaaally has me pissed though. Plus I think those Carter / Weber’s Langdon supplied are just about the ugliest thing I have ever seen. Why the hell are there so many vacuum ports on them?!?! I noticed the heat riser isn’t working and someone jammed it halfway open with a pipe wrench. That’s cool.... (it’s not cool) So do I buy a set of Zenith 228s that I can’t afford for it at like $1400, throw the Fentons on, get the water heater for the intake, and start trying to sort through whatever mess I uncover, or do I track down original intake and exhaust manifolds, stock side cover and valve cover, and put it back to stock? Or do I pretend that the terrible looking carbs are ok, track down a couple rebuild kits so I can clean them up, and drive it with those because from what I hear they probably perform the best of all choices? Or do I do some combination of all those things? Advise me, you suave people of the internets.
Find someone who knows how to repair Chev 6 engines. A pair of carbs & a set of headers shouldn't tax one's abilities ... I've set up several 216s & 235s with headers & 2 Rochesters on Offy intakes recently, takes a weekend if you do it with a coffee cup in one hand. I can't see any need to heat the intake in Texas. Since it's been idle for years, probably a head torqueing & valve adjust would be a good idea. I'd also be inspecting the factory master & wheel cylinders for pitting - if none found, rebuild them, as they're better quality than anything made today. Let's see some pictures of the '51 ...
Here it is when I put it away. Nothing has changed really. DSC_0421 by Ryan Smith posted Jul 13, 2020 at 4:52 PM DSC_0425 by Ryan Smith posted Jul 13, 2020 at 4:52 PM
That's a damn nice car! I would spend the time to get the 2 carbs working. The HEI is excellent and when the engine is running, as it should, you're gonna love that ignition. Be sure you have the correct coil and plugs. Hopefully you have a matched pair of carbs. The Offy isn't that bad. If it's all you have make it go. Unless you fall into a Tattersfield. That is the best dual for the 235 or 261. You'll have an almost indestructible combination and it will be right at home under the hood of the pretty Fleetline.
yeah... the more I cost finding all the original stuff... im tempted to just stick with the offy intake, and spend the money on the good Zenith carbs. I have some stuff I can sell to finance it.
Even though they are ugly there are a ton of guys running those Webers from Langdon with great success. Or you could sell the intake and carbs and go back stock 235 which sounds more to your liking anyhow. It's obvious you are never going to be happy with what someone else in the family did to your car without your permission no matter how well it can run with the right person tuning it. I can't see the expense of the Zenith carbs on a stock engine as you won't be happy with it either.
Well, I thought I should update. Firstly I appreciate ALL the offers from so many people on parts, etc. There was quite an outpouring of offers for lots of different options and I sure appreciate it. That being said, I had an unexpected emergency with my mother in law. We were fortunate to be in a position to help as she was 3 miles up the road. She has Alzheimer's, and while things have been very progressive, there was suddenly a huge skip in her condition, and she could no longer live by herself. Covid lock downs removed any possibility of a full time care facility. Her house is twice the size of ours so we moved in with her, and are going to rent out our house when we get through all the drama and can clean our place out. That being said, I spent some aggressive days on the car. New fuel pump, new fuel float, drained and replaced gas, rebuilt two carbs, retimed, adjusted valves, replaced the master cylinder, left front brake was grown together so new shoes in the front. Its running and driving. Took my 3 year old for a ride and he thinks its the greatest thing in the world. Stuck it in the garage at my mother in laws, time to move on to my land rover so that's running and driving and these cars aren't weighing us down. Thanks again all of you. I sure appreciate your generosity.
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