1954 Pontiac

1954 Ken · Addicted!

RE: 1954 Pontiac

Fitz · Guru

I think the 49-52 series has a differente location for the K member along with the manual or PG transmission. So the 53-54 series has the same location of the transmission rear mounts.

This question is a hard one...

here is picture of the rear mounts.

hope this help.

Fitz.

intake, exhaust 016.jpg

1954 Ken · Addicted!

yup, shoulda checked the trany fluid before going out around the block. Just checked now, and I cant even feel it with my finger. I didnt bother checking it with anything else. I just got back from picking up some gear oil to throw in there and fill er up.

Saturday im bringing her in to see just what she needs for a Manitoba safety. Thatll give me my next few projects to work on. Then its a summer of cruizin, and seeing what else may need tweeking before hitting any of the major body work, etc....

1954 Ken · Addicted!

Well, the trany took about 1/2 to 3/4 of a litre of gear oil.

As for the government safety, not a terrible list

-wipers not functioning

-right front turn signal lens

-battery hold down

-dash lights

-right rear shock torn away from body

-front passenger floor

-right side rocker panel

-tail pipe

-missing rubber plug (covering master cyl)

-king pins

-idler arm

-left outer tie rod

-both rear wheel cyldrs

-4 tires

Some of the things actually work, like the wipers. I think they just didnt know how they work. Some things like the tires, is kinda funny. The same place JUST passed them in a safety on 53 Bobs car last summer. Some things, like the King Pins, I have NO idea how to do. Ill most likely be bringing her in for them.

Anyway, I have the next few projects to work on. :)

Fitz · Guru

If you need help you know where to ask.

Fitz.

1954 Ken · Addicted!

-wipers not functioning

-missing rubber plug (covering master cyl)

-king pins

-idler arm

-left outer tie rod

can be knocked off the list

Fitz · Guru

you work hard since 10 days!

Fitz.

hwscowboy · Guru

wow they sure are alot stricker in manitoba than alberta.I should get lucky and only have to do an alberta inspection instead of the much more extensive out of province inspection.My car was lat registered in alberta in the eary 90-s so should still be in the system.I think there is only 20 or so things on the basic inspection.Suspension,lights,horn,windsheild,pretty basic.They don't even ask about exhaust,body,cracked lenses.I think as long as it has four wheels and stops ok it passes here it seems.Alot of the formsdon't even mention the e brake.

I do hae a bit of play in thekingpins but not sure how much is too much.We aredealing with 1950' tech here not a ferrari.

bob53 · Addicted!

Hey Ken, do you notice a big difference in the steering?

1954 Ken · Addicted!

Hey Fitz,

the king pins, tie rod end, and idler arm were done by a mechanic. I didnt want to start playing around with front end stuff like that quite yet. disbelief I want to keep the car on the road!

With that being said, to answer your question Bob, the steering actually doesnt feel any better. In my opinion, it still likes to wander around quite a bit. I was just reading up on it in here though, and it sounds pretty common for bias tires to do that. Ill see better once I pick up some Radials.

hscowboy,

Id say thet do cover quite a bit in their inspections. All in all though, those were pretty much all things I was going to be doing anyway. It just gave me a bit more of a starting list to work on.

The rest of the things on the list I will be doing myself. Welding in the new Rocker panel, and fixing up that shock mount as well as the big hole in the passenger floor I didnt even notice! :) While its up, ill be doing the rear wheel cyls too.

1954 Ken · Addicted!

Where do I find where my 54 was made? (as in which car plant)

Rolilk · Guru

98% sure it was from the oshawa Plant. Saskatchewan plant was not running in 54 i think.. There are others here that know this info much better than me.

1954 Ken · Addicted!

Time for the passenger side rocker panel!

Before Pics:

1954 Ken · Addicted!

Starting to cut out the front passenger rocker panel:

1954 Ken · Addicted!

As you can see, a previous owner attempted to repair the rocker panel. Unfortunately, they felt that a combination of spray foam and bondo was the way to go. Im replacing the old rocker panel with new metal.

Ive started cutting out the front door rocker panel. I roughly cut out the main part, then slowly started taking out the welded pieces. It seems it was spot welded about every 1 1/4" most of the way down. I still have more material to cut out, and more clean up to do, as well as straighten some spots that have previous damage.

It doesnt look like much was done, but it took quite awhile to get to where it is right now. A little at a time, when time permits now. Between picking up a parts car, and a swap meet in Winnipeg this weekend, im not sure exactly how much I will get done this weekend. (Ill have to post some pics of the parts car when I pick it up)

This is my first rocker panel replacement, so if anyone has any suggestions, or questions about what im doing, feel free to ask or comment.

Rolilk · Guru

Good luck with your work. Looks like alot of work ahead. Keep it up with the Pics Thanks.

1954 Ken · Addicted!

Ya, the more I dig, the more I see!

I started cutting out the back passenger rocker panel today. There is more spray foam, duct tape, and body filler than there is metal!

1954 Ken · Addicted!

Once I finish cutting everything out and cleaning it up, I was basically planning on drilling holes through the new rocker panel, and with a mig welder, plug welding it with approximately the same spacing as the spot welds were. Is this the best way to do it, or should I be trying something else?

1954 Ken · Addicted!

New 54 on the block

Rolilk · Guru

RE: 1954 Pontiac

1954 Ken · Addicted!

All in all, im sure if someone wanted to, they could restore it. It is fairly solid, and complete. Too bad it wasnt a Laurentian, the trim is in decent shape on it too. Motor isnt turning, but I may see if I can get it going. The interior is pretty trashed. Looks like mice, or even a raccoon was having some fun in there while it was sitting out on the farm where I picked it up (Near Shoal Lake)

-- Edited by 1954 Ken on Sunday 15th of May 2011 07:41:37 AM

Fitz · Guru

Yes this car look fairly good looking!

Fitz.

1954 Ken · Addicted!

I cant seem to find it in here. What ar eyou supposed to put in when you pull the spark plugs to try free up a seized motor? I know Bob was saying something about that "miracle oil" or something like that. I just wanted to see if I could get the parts car turning over.

Fitz · Guru

You can pour any antirust liquid or diesel, but most of the engine with that problem did not run vrey well after, most of the time the cylinder is damaged by the corrosion, ring are glued into the piston groove, and often, valve are stuck.

Fitz.

1954 Ken · Addicted!

Question.

I thought the new outer rocker would weld directly to the inner rocker, but there seems to be quite a gap between them. Is it the floor pan that actually ties the 2 together, or do I need to extend the top lip of the outter rocker panel? it seems to line up fairly nice with the door closed, so I dont think its too far out.

Any enlightenment would be appreciated.