Hi, all. I'm a newbie, so this is my first post. I picked up this 54 as a Chieftain, but i was told there is no such thing as a Canadian Chieftain. Rather it was a Laurentian. Thanks Cowboy. I found her on kijiji in April. She was a little rough, but very restoreable. It read 80,877 miles. I bought it from the nephew of the original owner who inherited it and never had time to do anything with it, so, really, it was a one owner car. I towed her home and got to work pretty much the next day off with the chrome and to the platers. I was told he started it 10 years ago but hadn't turned over since. I bought a new 6v battery and gave it a try. It didn't start, but she spun. Perfect. I replaced the plugs, wires, coil, points. Put in a new water pump as the old one apparently leaked like a sieve. Drained the gas and put new in it, threw some down the carb and turned the key... She fired right up. Awesme. Ran like a Swiss watch. With that hurdle overcome, I replaced all wheel bearings, brakes, brake cylinders, tires. i was going to go with wide whites, but changed my mind and got just radials to fit the original rims which i sandblasted and repainted. Time to start the bodywork. I was on the sanpaper every day after work and weekends for about 5 weeks with seemingly no end in sight . Since I'm just a carpenter, there were things I couldn't do. There were children size foot imprints all over the roof, a few spots where he had an altercation with a combine so I was told. The passenger side rocker was the worse for wear as the original owner tied to do some 4x4 through a wheat field and had a run in with a boulder. Being a Saskatchewan farmer, there might have been a little liquor involved. I had a guy come in and fix this stuff. So, 5 days later she was ready for paint. I trackked down the original colour code and off we went. After 3 long days she was painted. looked better than new. I was stoked and I'm 53. I never use the word stoked, but i was stoked. a week later it was time for the bling. It took 4 hours to remove the chrome and 3 days to put it back on. I was 8 weeks getting done, but very worth it. Couple things left to do and time for a test drive. rebuilt the carb, rebled the brakes just to be sure and away we go. There is something to be said for modern technology. It drove like a 58 year old car, but I had a blast. Turned heads everywhere I went. I have it up for sale, but i don't want to sell it, just getting a feel for what she's worth. I know in ideal shape it could fetch 20k or better, but i won't hold my breath. Interior still needs to be done. Thats a winter project. Come spring I'll be cruising. A&Ws here I come. I have posted some pics so have a look and tell me what you think. Like I said, I'm just a carpenter.
Well let me welcome you from just another guy who is a carpenter. You sure got it in gear once you picked up the car and it looks great. Love those original colors.
hwscowboy said
Oct 10, 2012
car looks fantastic rick.we will have to get together for some cruise runs since we are so close.You've found some good folks onhere with a wealth of info on these old cdn pontiacs.
Lefty said
Oct 10, 2012
love the original colours, looks perfect. Welcome
Johnnee D said
Oct 10, 2012
WOW, Welcome, car looks great, you should keep it...
timbuk said
Oct 10, 2012
there is no such thing as JUST a carpenter nice job and welcome!
Canadian Poncho said
Oct 10, 2012
Welcome aboard. Great first post! Your car looks great!
B-52 said
Oct 10, 2012
Great looking car, it also had the factory markings under the hood like my '52 does. You have some nice photos so if you wanted to, you could put the numbers back on the firewall. Welcome from Winnipeg.
4SPEED427 said
Oct 10, 2012
Welcome here, and as someone said, for your first post, that is an amazing introduction!
big blue 54 said
Oct 10, 2012
Thanks all for the warm welcome. Wish I knew about this site when I needed advice. I'm already planning my next project, looking at a 62 Strato. Will be a little more work, tho. Will need some input for sure.
Pontiacanada said
Oct 10, 2012
Welcome Rick, that '54 Laurentian "fixed up good"!
Fitz said
Oct 11, 2012
2 thumbs up, another one saved!
Fitz.
long stroke said
Oct 11, 2012
Rick you are a carpenter with a real talent for sweet old iron. I love your car Rick and she looks real fine. So glad to see you kept that sweet flat head inliner six. Runs quite, reliable and economical and today that is more important than ever, considering todays absurd gas prices. Beautiful car Rick, you have every reason to be proud. Any chance on photos of the cars interior. Whats left to be done on the car? Concratulations on the resto and continued good luck with her. Cheers. George.
Hi, all. I'm a newbie, so this is my first post. I picked up this 54 as a Chieftain, but i was told there is no such thing as a Canadian Chieftain. Rather it was a Laurentian. Thanks Cowboy. I found her on kijiji in April. She was a little rough, but very restoreable. It read 80,877 miles. I bought it from the nephew of the original owner who inherited it and never had time to do anything with it, so, really, it was a one owner car. I towed her home and got to work pretty much the next day off with the chrome and to the platers. I was told he started it 10 years ago but hadn't turned over since. I bought a new 6v battery and gave it a try. It didn't start, but she spun. Perfect
. I replaced the plugs, wires, coil, points. Put in a new water pump as the old one apparently leaked like a sieve. Drained the gas and put new in it, threw some down the carb and turned the key... She fired right up. Awesme. Ran like a Swiss watch. With that hurdle overcome, I replaced all wheel bearings, brakes, brake cylinders, tires. i was going to go with wide whites, but changed my mind and got just radials to fit the original rims which i sandblasted and repainted. Time to start the bodywork. I was on the sanpaper every day after work and weekends for about 5 weeks with seemingly no end in sight 
. Since I'm just a carpenter, there were things I couldn't do. There were children size foot imprints all over the roof, a few spots where he had an altercation with a combine so I was told. The passenger side rocker was the worse for wear as the original owner tied to do some 4x4 through a wheat field and had a run in with a boulder. Being a Saskatchewan farmer, there might have been a little liquor involved. I had a guy come in and fix this stuff. So, 5 days later she was ready for paint. I trackked down the original colour code and off we went. After 3 long days she was painted. looked better than new. I was stoked and I'm 53. I never use the word stoked, but i was stoked. a week later it was time for the bling. It took 4 hours to remove the chrome and 3 days to put it back on. I was 8 weeks getting done, but very worth it. Couple things left to do and time for a test drive. rebuilt the carb, rebled the brakes just to be sure and away we go. There is something to be said for modern technology. It drove like a 58 year old car, but I had a blast. Turned heads everywhere I went. I have it up for sale, but i don't want to sell it, just getting a feel for what she's worth. I know in ideal shape it could fetch 20k or better, but i won't hold my breath. Interior still needs to be done. Thats a winter project. Come spring I'll be cruising. A&Ws here I come. I have posted some pics so have a look and tell me what you think. Like I said, I'm just a carpenter.
Rick
Welcome
Welcome aboard. Great first post! Your car looks great!
Welcome Rick, that '54 Laurentian "fixed up good"!
2 thumbs up, another one saved!
Fitz.
Rick you are a carpenter with a real talent for sweet old iron. I love your car Rick and she looks real fine. So glad to see you kept that sweet flat head inliner six. Runs quite, reliable and economical and today that is more important than ever, considering todays absurd gas prices. Beautiful car Rick, you have every reason to be proud. Any chance on photos of the cars interior. Whats left to be done on the car? Concratulations on the resto and continued good luck with her. Cheers. George.
nice! welcome here!