new guy,new toys

Rolilk · Guru

RE: new guy,new toys

grande jim · Guru

Wow nice car..I love that body Chrome..It looks great!!

hwscowboy · Guru

Alright another da,small progress.Again spent the evening cleaning tin and getting it ready for repaint.I decided to remove the front fenders and such to make motor access easier.There were only a couple bolts holding each one anyways.I beginning to have some suspicions about the motor.I pulled the plugs and it does look like it was running at one time.But everything is just put back together hand tight,no gaskets on the exhaust,waterpump,etc.I may just pull the motor and trans as it would only be another 10 bolts to do so.I gave the local parts stores a chance to track down a gasket set for it so we'll see what they come up with.If not i'll buy one online,same with the condensor and points.I'm not sur if the motor was partially rebuilt,painted and put back in or just pulled when the car was painted as the motor has fresh paint on it as well.I pulled the side (valve cover)plates off,again hand tight no gaskets and everything appears in place and relatively clean.I guess since i need to have a look at the trans pulling the motor would be easier.I could paint it the proper color as well while it's out.I'm not sure if i should pull the head and have a look.Decisions,decisions.I'm not sure why someone would go through all the bother of painting the motor and trans,taking the starter,generator apart and repainting all that if the motor wasn't decent to start with.The downfall of getting someone elses half done project but hey the price was right.Good news is i talked with sms auto fabrics and sent them some pics and they have the interior material and will send me some samples.Actually my wife started cleaning up the seats and they look way better.

Rolilk · Guru

Sounds good! Boy your going full bore on the 54. She will be running soon the way your working at it.

Rolilk · Guru

Sorry for taking so long. I took some shots of the frame with the fuel line loosely placed so you can get an idea of where it goes.

Rolilk · Guru

I know not the best pics.

Fitz · Guru

Hey Rolilk, if I knew you had a Canadian Pontiac frame in 2007, I would not go to BC pickup my "wrong mine"!!!!

Fitz.

Rolilk · Guru

Fitz wrote:

Hey Rolilk, if I knew you had a Canadian Pontiac frame in 2007, I would not go to BC pickup my "wrong mine"!!!!

Fitz.
In a way its too bad, but in 07 I didn't have a frame. I got this one just last year, from a donar car I got. You have the rear frame bracket from this frame and some of its other parts I think.

Fitz · Guru

At least I have a "souvenir" from it!

Fitz.

hwscowboy · Guru

Progress?Feels like i going a little backwards but i've got to see exactly what i do or don't have.I pulled the front sheetmetal,then i decided to just remove the engine and trans as one unit.The torque converter was in the trunk and i actually thought it may be a spare but nope they just never put it back in.Anyways i manged to download and print out a manual for the powerglide so tomorrow i will take it apart a bit and see what i can see.\hopefully just front and rear seals.All the accesories on the engine were just kind of handtight and when i removed the exhaust no gaskets,hmm?No gaskets on the waterpump or side plates either.Everything inside looks fairly clean but i think i will pull the thermostat housing,maybe the balancer and timing cover as well just to have a look.Still lots of cleaning,scraping and painting to do.I have a few parts to source like the torn d.s rear motor mount,the broken return spring,trunk lock is missing.Actually i don't have any keys but i think a locksmith can probably make new ones for the doors and ignition.I ordered a gasket kit from kanter in the u.s as the local parts stores couldn't find one in canada.They did find me a condensor,points and a master cyl. rebuild kit.Enjoy the pics hopefully more progress tomorrow.Oh also good news on the interior as i sent sms auto fabrics some pics and they have the material in stock and will send me some samples.I figured out the fuel line,but when i went to put it on of course it was seized,some cleaning alot of penetrating oil and some gentle turning and i got it free'd up.Thankfully as it is probably not easy to find another one.

Fitz · Guru

it look like the previous owner was in a rush to rebuilt it, but don't worry with some parts to install in..!!!!

Keep posting picture!

On ebay, if you are lucky you can find the trunk lock, is the same as Buick, and US Pontiac.

For the spring make it yourself with a generic style spring found in bolts and nuts store.

The rear engine mounts, are you talking about those on the side of the engine or the rear one under the PG?

If it's the rear one, you can buy it new, but those on the side, I never saw new one, they are special to Canadian Pontiac i think.

Can you take a closer picture of those I will look at it to match mine if I have any. I ran my car all those year with other thing than the original one.

And the engine must be green not black if you want to put back whit the correct color.

Fitz.

hwscowboy · Guru

I found a front engine mount is availible as for the others not so much.It is the drivers side side one that is torn the others are actually ok.Steele rubber offers a re-vulcanization service,it takes about 3 weeks if you send them yours.I will keep an eye out for a trunk lock.I did find some motor paint that says 45-57 pontiac/gm,i sprayed some last night and its a little more blue than green but probably close enough for right now.It sure looks better than the black anyways.We'll see what todays work brings up.

Rolilk · Guru

You say little progress I'd say your well on your way!!! And yes we LOVE pics keep them comming!

hwscowboy · Guru

Not too much progress tonite.Just got started after work and then got called out on a grass fire.(volunteer firefighter) so that shot most of the evening.I did get the convertor taken apart.It looks okay inside no broken pieces,a bit of wear but hey it's 50 yrs old.I lapped all the thrust washers,etc and will put it back together tomorrow.I'm not sure if any of the internal pieces are availible,i wouldn't mind changing the rear bushing but it may be ok with a little clean up.Would a trunk lock off a 55 chevy work,i did find one that is availible with a key.Oh i did get the thermostat housing off the motor,good news there was a gasket,bad news no thermostat so another piece to track down.What does one usually run in this motor?I did find a 165 degree but it was for the 8 cyl.

hwscowboy · Guru

Started taking the tranny apart tonite.Kinda neat,never had a car where i could take the convertor apart.So far everything looks pretty decent.A bit in timidating taking something apart for the first time.Fortunetly i printed out a decent manual and breakdowns from oldcarmanual.com.I'll see how much braver i get tomorrow and see if i take the rest apart.A few pics,but it was getting dark.I think i will order the rebuild kit for it so will be apart until that shows.The clutch discs all look good except one that has a 1/4 inch piece starting to flake.

Fitz · Guru

I agree with you for ordering a new kit, it's not to much expensive and you can trust new parts then old one.

You have in your tranny the original 53-54 clutch pack, appear that this car was unmolested.

Let picture coming.

Fitz.

-- Edited by Fitz on Saturday 24th of April 2010 09:00:02 AM

Stephenzone · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Did you get a key yet? If the lock are original, GM historical says they keep keys code all the way back to 46 for Canadian car.

hwscowboy · Guru

That would be great if they have the key codes.How do i go about contacting them to find out.I found a trunk lock with keys froma 54 chevy,i beleive that one would work?Also i found a thermostat for a 54 chev 6 or 8 cyl,would that work in the 239?The biggest pain may be the gas cap,as it has a factory locking cap on it.Going to order up the trans kit,engine gasket kit today maybe a few other little odds and ends if i can verify they are for my car.The master cyl kit shoild be here today as well.

Fitz · Guru

for your thermostat, you can use mostly anything is big enough to fill the hole into the engine block. If you find different thermostat with the same outside diameter but different inner diameter, use the one with the bigger inner hole , with around 170 degrees . I use for mine with success the #131-6 thermostat (don't remember the brand name!! sorry!).

Fitz.

hwscowboy · Guru

Spent some of the weekend cleaning parts and managed to get a few more things apart.I pulled the rest of the trans apart,everything looks good so now just to wait for the rebuild kit so i can re-assemble it.I also pulled off the oil pan,a good layer of sludge in the bottom but no metal filings that i can feel or see.I turned the motor over by hand and inspected things inside as best i could.The bores all look decent,no scratches,etc.i also checked all the cam lobes and they look good.Cleaned and painted some more parts.i also played around with the buffing wheel and a little bit of work sure can bring the chrome back.Not perfect by any means but better.Just a waiting game for parts now although i did get the master cyl kit so i'll work on getting that rebuilt and back in the car while i wait for the mailman.I did run into one issue on the exhaust as the hot air flap inside is seized up,hopefully i can get it turning with a little work

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Fitz wrote:

I use for mine with success the #131-6 thermostat (don't remember the brand name!! sorry!).

Fitz.

I am quite sure 131-6 is an AC Delco part number.

hwscowboy · Guru

Does anybody have a link to gm historical.I tried gmhc@gm.com but they do not have any records for old pontiacs.

57poncho · Uber Guru

Here is a link http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/shopping/parts/vintage

hwscowboy · Guru

All right,finally a little bit more progress.Today i finished rebuilding the master cylinder and got it installed on the car and the brake lines hooked up.Next step is to try and bleed the brakes.Well actually i've got to read and see what this car uses for brake fluid.I pulled the front wheels in hopes of doing a quick brake shoe check and of course the drums are stuck on.They turn fine but must be rusted to the inside cause evn after some good whacks with the bfh not coming off.Sprayed them down with some penetrant and will let sit for a day or so.Also got the generator put back together as well as the starter,except for one brush screw that is missing.Not a biggie i'll pick one uo tomorrow.I guess next is to get all the brakes checked out and bled.Then i need to do some clean up on the dist and install the new points and condensor.Hopefully by mid week the gasket kits should be here for the engine and trans.

Fitz · Guru

For your front brake did you try to remove it without the bearing hub?

If your car is equipped with original front drum, they are riveted to the hub. For removing you have to dissamble the bearing, and if you need to replace the drum, the rivet have to be remove.

Use regular oil brake in your system.

Fitz.