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.
__________________
www.FitzbackGarage.com Look for Easy Steering in your vintage Poncho, Look for the EasyDrive Power Steering System in the web site
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.
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.
__________________
www.FitzbackGarage.com Look for Easy Steering in your vintage Poncho, Look for the EasyDrive Power Steering System in the web site
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 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.
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
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
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.
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!
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
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!
