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.
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??
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.
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.
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.
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 !
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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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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www.FitzbackGarage.com Look for Easy Steering in your vintage Poncho, Look for the EasyDrive Power Steering System in the web site
, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!)