So you have the high gear ratio with a stick transmission.
Just a suggestion, plan to find a powerglide diff. the ratio is really better highway speed for your car, a powerglide diff is 3.55 instead of yours (I think is 4.10, I don't have my book near, but it is write inside).
This is a bolt in replacement, without removing the diff. only the front part ( the tube).
Mine is powerglide equipped, and I can run to 75 mph "nearly" easily.
Fitz.
4SPEED427 said
Feb 25, 2009
That sure is coming along nicely. Detailing like that is SO rewarding.
Keep it up, and keep up the pictorial updates too!
Rolilk said
Feb 26, 2009
Fitz wrote:
So you have the high gear ratio with a stick transmission.
Just a suggestion, plan to find a powerglide diff. the ratio is really better highway speed for your car, a powerglide diff is 3.55 instead of yours (I think is 4.10, I don't have my book near, but it is write inside).
This is a bolt in replacement, without removing the diff. only the front part ( the tube).
Mine is powerglide equipped, and I can run to 75 mph "nearly" easily.
Fitz.
Thanks for that info. It is tall for highway speeds, so far I've just lived with it.
Rolilk said
Feb 26, 2009
My book tells me 53/54 conventional 3.70, Powerglide 3.55. It also says that the 49/52 conventional is 4.11.
Rolilk said
Feb 26, 2009
so if you replace only the propeler shaft with the right pinion gear ratio this would give me the 3.55 i'm looking for?
Fitz said
Feb 26, 2009
Yes, but it is almost impossible to find parts to correct your diff. that's why i suggest you to replace the torque tube as a unit, without the diff. axle housing by a powerglide one.
PS: thank for correct me about the diff. ratio.
Fitz.
Rolilk said
Feb 26, 2009
thanks I will have to keep a lookout for a powergllide unit.
Rolilk said
Sep 19, 2009
Fitz has inspired me to post a few new shots of what I've done. First off The original rad recored cleaned and repainted. A new fuel pump, new water pump, and a complete overhaul on the generator. I still have some bugs to work out on the car, but she's starting to be a real joy to drive down the road!
-- Edited by Rolilk on Saturday 19th of September 2009 10:50:25 PM
I would like to refinnish my oil bath air cleaner. I have a couple of shot of the cleaner decal. I have yet to find a repro of this decal. It says dominion of Canada on it. Sorry my shots of it suck! I'm going to throw in a pic of the water pump before I installed it.
The color of the engine is the correct green or not?
Keep posting picture it's very welcome
Fitz.
Rolilk said
Sep 20, 2009
The higher powers tell me that its the right colour, but they were wrong once before. I am investigating more yet with another source. It is green, or blue/green but in the pictures I have noticed it looks lot more blue. Maybe its the camera. I still think its not the right colour thats why I'm still hunting for more info on the right paint code.
57poncho said
Sep 20, 2009
looks great keep us posted
bob53 said
Nov 22, 2009
Rolilk wrote:
A few more progress shots. Not restoration but at least its going to help save what I allready have. Its amazing the rust prep that I tried works pretty good. Picked it up at Rondex in Winnipeg.
that looks like really good stuff. what kind of prep did you do before using it? bob
Rolilk said
Nov 22, 2009
I used a rust inhibiter from KBS coatings or something like that, then cleaned what was left of the rust as much as I could with a wire wheel Soft one. Then once it was as clean and as smooth as I could get, two coats of POR15. That is good stuff dries slow, but puts a pretty hard finnish that is sandable and recoatable. By the way Welcome here From another Manitobain and I love your Avatar..That is one nice 53!
-- Edited by Rolilk on Sunday 22nd of November 2009 10:59:16 PM
bob53 said
Nov 22, 2009
thanks, after seeing your before and after pics i figured thats the way to go.i droped my fuel tank today and going to try make it to rondex tommorow for the repair kit.
Canadian Poncho said
Nov 23, 2009
Your car looks great Rolilk!
Fitz said
Nov 23, 2009
yes, your car look great Rolilk!
post some new picture!!
Hey Bob, start a new thread with yours, and a lot of picture of your work.
Fitz.
Rolilk said
Nov 23, 2009
Fitz wrote:
Hey Bob, start a new thread with yours, and a lot of picture of your work.
Fitz.
I second that remark!
-- Edited by Rolilk on Monday 23rd of November 2009 10:04:15 PM
Rolilk said
Nov 23, 2009
When I et some time I will post some pics. I think I have not yet posted a shot with the new gas tank, that looks pretty good under the car. I put some stainless straps on it and they look good.
This past Sunday the Family and I went out to Gull Lake with the 54 and she was just a treat to drive that far. Went to Church there and afterward Took the Father out to Soutbeach Casino for lunch and Had a wonderfull time. On the way back visited some friends and got back home after about 200 miles on the odo had passed. What a wonderfull day this past Sunday, one of the good ones for me to remember!
Fitz said
Nov 24, 2009
those car are easy and fun to drive.
Fitz.
bob53 said
Nov 25, 2009
I will start a new thread, i just have to wait for my computer to get repaired(glad i bought the extra coverage). Sounds like you had a wonderful day,200 miles, must have been nice.
-- Edited by bob53 on Wednesday 25th of November 2009 11:39:54 PM
Rolilk said
Feb 15, 2010
OK.. I got the itch to get some work done on the 54. I also took some new shots of the car. I now have the new tank in and its running good. But will need to drop it down yet once more to install a new sending unit as when I installed the original one it seems to have stopped operating. Oh well I knew I should have replaced it when putting in the new tank, Murphy's law I guess. Now I need to put a new sending unit in still need somework on the cluster as it still is skipping, thought I had this one fixed, nope. I have to get a new horn ring as when I last took it out for a run to keep things up I pushed on the horn ring and realized it was falling apart. Poor fix from Jack, which is not what he normally did. But I will put a new one in and it will look good. I also have to replace the heater control valve these are things that would readily go on these cars. I am working on a way to repair the original one but for now I will install an aftermarket one untill I can get the factory one repaired. I had some trouble back on a Sunday cruise night with the car and had to have it towed back home. I have now figured out what was wrong with the car and finnally found a new regulator for it and it seems to be runing just fine! I have finished the front hood trim polished and painted to match the car. I still have the rear one to do yet. Some of the shots show some of the parts I have gatherd up. Enjoy!
Just a suggestion, plan to find a powerglide diff. the ratio is really better highway speed for your car, a powerglide diff is 3.55 instead of yours (I think is 4.10, I don't have my book near, but it is write inside).
This is a bolt in replacement, without removing the diff. only the front part ( the tube).
Mine is powerglide equipped, and I can run to 75 mph "nearly" easily.
Fitz.
PS: thank for correct me about the diff. ratio.
Fitz.
-- Edited by Rolilk on Saturday 19th of September 2009 10:50:25 PM
I'm going to throw in a pic of the water pump before I installed it.
The color of the engine is the correct green or not?
Keep posting picture it's very welcome
Fitz.
By the way Welcome here From another Manitobain and I love your Avatar..That is one nice 53!
-- Edited by Rolilk on Sunday 22nd of November 2009 10:59:16 PM
post some new picture!!
Hey Bob, start a new thread with yours, and a lot of picture of your work.
Fitz.
-- Edited by Rolilk on Monday 23rd of November 2009 10:04:15 PM
Fitz.
Sounds like you had a wonderful day,200 miles, must have been nice.
-- Edited by bob53 on Wednesday 25th of November 2009 11:39:54 PM
Some of the shots show some of the parts I have gatherd up. Enjoy!
-- Edited by Rolilk on Monday 15th of February 2010 04:03:18 PM