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Post Info TOPIC: 52 Chieftain Survivor


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52 Chieftain Survivor


New Project. Don't know much about this car. Any info or resources would be helpful.

1952 Pontiac Chieftain 2569 Deluxe 4dr sedan L6 239 Hydromatic 4 spd Automatic - see cowl tag in pictures

Appears to be a very well kept original condition car.

Alberta car and seems to have been continuously plated - maybe owned previous by "rousifier" (no current contact info available)

Known Issues

  • Leaky Transmission - now on my bench for a reseal job - check our the grime in the pics.
  • Charging system didn't work - battery was installed wrong when I got it
  • Interior is toast
  • Tires are toast - had tires with the shell logo on them - looked near original
  • Very Minor rust focused along the rocker panels
  • Exhaust system needed full replacement
  • Speedometer does not work - doesn't seem to be binding in the cable - planning to inspect port on transmission shortly.
  • Chrome needs some TLC but seems all here

Any suggestions on must do work? Should I keep it original?

 



-- Edited by 52 Chief Sedan Survivor on Tuesday 22nd of December 2015 03:36:46 PM



-- Edited by 52 Chief Sedan Survivor on Tuesday 22nd of December 2015 03:58:51 PM



-- Edited by 52 Chief Sedan Survivor on Tuesday 22nd of December 2015 04:10:00 PM

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Poncho Master!

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I can give you the benefit of the first thing I discovered with my 50 hardtop.  Rear lug nut threads are left threaded.  Someone had painted over the "L" on my studs and I wasted a lot of energy trying to remove the rear tires until I found this little tidbit.



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1951 Chevy Styleline -- Gasser

1966 Chevy Biscayne -- Sleeper

 



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IMG_1660 (Large).JPG

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I'm not an expert on Cdn. '52's but is that how the front clip is supposed to look? The tag is clearly Cdn. and it looks like a deluxe model with the trim and gravel guards, but I know the 1950 models had Chevy fenders w/o the body line coming back from the headlight. Also the '50 had a shorter front clip by about 8" (found that out after trying to use an American hood trim) and no trim down the center body.
Maybe by '52 they were using U.S. Pontiac parts??

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A Poncho Legend!

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Welcome. Love the car. I'd keep it original, but modify the engine (2 or 3 single carbs/intake and split dual exhaust).



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.



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US model, built in cda

polish the hell out the original paint and chrome, don't paint it.



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2drpost wrote:

don't paint it.





Agreed, that thing looks amazing the way it is.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



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2drpost wrote:

US model, built in cda

polish the hell out the original paint and chrome, don't paint it.


 They built US models in Oshawa??

I would stay original everything. I've got a 1000 lb. tranny for you !biggrin



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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Amazing car !  Love it the way it is .. Make it run strong and enjoy !!

 

Here is the 51 done up like a chieftan that I just bought in the fall.. All hot rod underneath . 

image.jpg



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later...rog

AADD supporting member !!
I'm a collector...not a builder!!Located in sunny central Saskatchewan at the lakehead!


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Goodmorning; great looking car just getting mine finished up now but winter set in and it is sleeping for a few months, did have the chance to speak with rousifier a couple of times I was looking for front signal housings, he is listed on the site but has not been on line since Nov 5 2013 you can go there to find out any info that you may be looking for, such as his home base and a pic of the car he has posted. You can get all the info on the car such as paint code when built and where and how how many. not really computer handy but will get some pics of mine on here.


Cheers for now
Boomer

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Great looking car. My two bits would say to save the paint but clean and polish it really well. I would be tempted to replace drive train with 261 Pontiac with multiple carbs and maybe a 200R tranny. I think you could shed some weight and increase  the power.  She would be a real nice driver. Hard to find a nice original car like that in Ontario!. Good luck with it.



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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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50sedandelivery wrote:
2drpost wrote:

US model, built in cda

polish the hell out the original paint and chrome, don't paint it.


 They built US models in Oshawa??

I would stay original everything. I've got a 1000 lb. tranny for you !biggrin


Yes Oshawa did produce the US body Pontiac but I think they all had the 6 bangers?? could be wrong there but everyone I've seen so far out of Oshawa plant has been the 6 cyl. I'd leave the body alone but put something newer under the hood, get rid of the torque tube rear end & D/shaft unless your just going to "putz" around local but later drive train will be easier to get parts for in case you do have a break down!!  



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 I never knew they built U.S. Pontiac's in Oshawa then. WOW, i love learning new stuff on here but i have a really hard time thinking this is actual fact. Cheers. George



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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8



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George I can certainly verify that 1952 Pontiac series 25 with a six and series 27 with an eight were built in Oshawa as in 1960 I owned one!  One of the nicest old cars I ever owned!  Flat head eight with standard trans!  When it was idling you could not hear it and I could set the idle so slow that it was almost possible to count the fan blades as they slowly revolved!  Yes these were the bigger Pontiac's with the round taillights and seats so comfortable you thought you were sitting on a couch as home!  Going to try to attach a pix of the car as it is identical to the one in this post except being an eight!  Bob.



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1965 Thunderbird Special Landau 10th Anniversary Limited Edition only 4500 built 34,800 miles

 

 



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Yes that is me on the fender at age 21 with a full head of hair and about 80 lbs less in weight!  Ah the good old days!  Bob.



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1965 Thunderbird Special Landau 10th Anniversary Limited Edition only 4500 built 34,800 miles

 

 



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great picture thanks bob smile

1827108?AWSAccessKeyId=1XXJBWHKN0QBQS6TGPG2&Expires=1452124800&Signature=c6lT0xGD%2FuHuVb%2BxoLIXLTV0eWY%3D



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thanks for the info! Just finished taking apart the tranny looking for clue to my leak. No smoking gun found so hopefully a little tlc and a pack of new seals and gaskets do the trick. I didn't find a lick of paint on the motor or the tranny. Did these have paint out of the factory? What colour should it be?

I am leaning toward the engine enamel product from por15 in pontiac metallic light blue,  grey manifold paint, and some black for accessories. Anyone with experience with this product? I used Por for a waste water tank once and was amazed at the results. That paint also stayed on my hand for over a week and never came out of my clothes at all.

 



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A Poncho Legend!

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52 Chief Sedan Survivor wrote:

I didn't find a lick of paint on the motor or the tranny. Did these have paint out of the factory? What colour should it be?

I am leaning toward the engine enamel product from por15 in pontiac metallic light blue,  grey manifold paint, and some black for accessories. Anyone with experience with this product? I used Por for a waste water tank once and was amazed at the results. That paint also stayed on my hand for over a week and never came out of my clothes at all.

 


If you want to keep it stock colour, there should be pictures somewhere on the internet. These are all we have on this website http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t26831642/239-i6-flathead-261-big-six-strato-six-engine-colour/ but it gives you an idea.

POR would be overkill on an engine, and hard to work with. I'd use just engine enamel over high heat primer. POR (Paint Over Rust) adheres to (non-flakey) rust well, but not to bare metal.

 



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.



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58 poncho fan wrote:

George I can certainly verify that 1952 Pontiac series 25 with a six and series 27 with an eight were built in Oshawa as in 1960 I owned one!  One of the nicest old cars I ever owned!  Flat head eight with standard trans!  When it was idling you could not hear it and I could set the idle so slow that it was almost possible to count the fan blades as they slowly revolved!  Yes these were the bigger Pontiac's with the round taillights and seats so comfortable you thought you were sitting on a couch as home!  Going to try to attach a pix of the car as it is identical to the one in this post except being an eight!  Bob.


 Bob, thanks for the information because i love learning new stuff and that is a real neat photo of you and your past Poncho. 



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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8



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This Pontiac is a nice find!

 

The tranny was never (in early days..) painted. It's natural iron color. You don't get torque tube in it, and, it's 25 series, so, full US car style. Canadian Oshawa made? Not sure to me. I've heard (maybe not true) that US car were rebadged (new name plate) for Canadian customer who order those US Pontiac. Maybe not true.

 

My opinion about your car is you should kept your original tranny. A flathead Pontiac 6 or 8 are dependable and trouble free. Some work are needed before running it on a long ride (because you maybe don't get all the history of it).

Cleaning the inside of the engine is a must. In the coolant passage, AND, under the pistons, oil filter etc. The Hydra-Matic of 52 is a strong unit and easy to restore. Plan a band adjustment.  It's a lot of job to replace to a newer tranny, and, you lost the great feeling of a original flathead engine.

just my opinion.

 

Fitz.



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Fitz wrote:

This Pontiac is a nice find!

 

, it's 25 series, so, full US car style. Canadian Oshawa made? Not sure to me. I've heard (maybe not true) that US car were rebadged (new name plate) for Canadian customer who order those US Pontiac. Maybe not true.

 

Fitz.


 I find it hard to believe Oshawa would stock both types of fenders, hoods, waterfall, etc. I also think the US chassis has a longer wheelbase to accommodate the 8 Cyl. mill and extended front clip. Maybe if you ordered a "deluxe' model they brought them up and re-badged them as Fitz speculates.



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The available 'supposed' period GM OEM engine paints available in rattle cans are not even close to a match. The original color is a dark bluish green. I did finally find it and next time out in the cave I'll get a picture and the details to order it from the US.

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Addicted!

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50sedandelivery wrote:

The available 'supposed' period GM OEM engine paints available in rattle cans are not even close to a match. The original color is a dark bluish green. I did finally find it and next time out in the cave I'll get a picture and the details to order it from the US.


 Here's the website for Alvin Products:

www.hightempenginepaint.com    

Colour is: JADE GREEN # 398-50  available only in a 12oz. spray can ( 1 can barely does an engine. 2 would be better) It's $14.95 US/ can plus shipping.

I'm very happy with how it goes on. I found the original colour under the grease on the bell housing and it's a good match. I think I see traces of it on some of your photos too.



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Only paint found so far is on the rear housing. It does look like that ugly green. I don't think I can stay original in this case. I'm not driving a tractor after all!  After much cleaning the tranny case is looking good. reassembly time soon. Had to track down a new spedo gear - found one at Fatsco for $55 funny options they gave me. "rusty" NOS gear or clean used one.

001.JPG

002.JPG

004.JPG

IMG_2171.jpg



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Addicted!

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Date:

50sedandelivery wrote:
50sedandelivery wrote:

The available 'supposed' period GM OEM engine paints available in rattle cans are not even close to a match. The original color is a dark bluish green. I did finally find it and next time out in the cave I'll get a picture and the details to order it from the US.


 Here's the website for Alvin Products:

www.hightempenginepaint.com    

Colour is: JADE GREEN # 398-50  available only in a 12oz. spray can ( 1 can barely does an engine. 2 would be better) It's $14.95 US/ can plus shipping.

I'm very happy with how it goes on. I found the original colour under the grease on the bell housing and it's a good match. I think I see traces of it on some of your photos too.


 Here's what I think it should look like (not the John Deere look!!)



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