got a chance to spend a few hours on the car today.I am still waiting for the new battery to show up so no start up yet.But i did mange to get enough charge in the old one to get the front light wiring sorted out.Also got the rear seats cleaned up.A few more mystery wires under the dash to figure out and that will be wrapped up.A few pics for you guys as well.
'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.
the car is a 1954 pontiac pathfinder special deluxe 4 door.It is a low production number at #13 off the line that year and the 2nd special deluxe built in 54.I am hoping to get a report from gm historic services to get a bit more info on it.Yes it's been a bit of a haul to get her up and running but almost there.
the car has been repainted at one time in it's life,probably about 15 years ago from what i know about the car.It is very close to the original color which you can see on the firewall which is original.The original color is called pueblo tan and the roof is white.Someday i will have to do the rockers and rear quarters as i can see some bondo ripples in them,but overall she's a pretty solid start.
Alright new battery bought and installed.At first i just got a clunk from the starter but gave it a few taps with a hammer and now the engine turns over.I suspect the battery is a bit low from sitting on the store shelf.The motor turns over a bit slow but then again not sure how fast it should turn being a 6 volt system.I have the battery on my trickle charger and off to get a can of gas.With any luck i'll have it running tomorrow.I still have to find a few parts,mainly a new gas cap and a new license plate light.
on your first post you mentioned some mystery wires under the dash and then it will be wrapped up. just want to clarify that the wiring mess under the dash is stock and should never be wrapped into harnesses. something to do with keeping cool and the original style insulation. keep up the good work!!!
I did manage to figure out the mystery wire.It was one of the two that have he inline fuse and it was for the radio.Looked like it hadjimmy rigged at some point with a small spring and wire instead of the fuse.Fortunetly i had a spare ignition cyl from my parts car and the one wire that was good was the one with the inline fuse for the radio,got lucky.Swapped itout andnow he radio turns on and lights up.
I charged the battery for a few hours and turned the engine over some more,it was better but still a bit slow i think.I took the sparkplugs out and put some oil down the cylinders and turned the motor over without the plugs.I suspect evrything i a litte ight from sittng so long.I'll let it charge overnight since my charger is only goodfor 6 amps on the 6 volt setting.
don't forget to polarize the generator if it has been sitting longer that 6 months with out a battery. you'll find a previous thread with the instructions.
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pontiax- (canadian pontiac X frame)1964 Parisienne 2dr. Hardtop ,lagoon aqua metallic (Q) ,421 cid Dart Industries block and heads. 550 hp. 575 ft lb of torque.
I tthink i may have a starter issue.Had the charger on all day and the car still turns over really slow.I'll check some wiring,grounds tomorrow before pulling the starter.Also will have to read up on polarizing the geneator,thanks for the heads up on that.
ok checked the ground,cleaned it,but no difference.Took the starter off and bench testd it.The gear shoots out quickly like it should but turns extremelly slow,any ideas?Going to pull it apart and see if i can see anything obvious.
A bit of wierdness.I dis assembled and re-assembled the starter and on the first bench test alli got was a slow turn and a bit of smoke out the brush end.I found one of the wires fom the brushes was against the case.Moved it away and tried it again and now verythingseems fine and the starter turns fast.I did move the solenoid slightly forward as well but can't see that tat would change anything.I may try to tape up the one copper wire from the brush as it is a bit frayed.At worst can a guy find a rebuilt one of these starters anywhere?
You can send it out to be restored in a starter/alt repair shop.
You must pay attention the the brush, they must touch COMPLETLY on the brass rotor section. If they don't touch on all the surface you will experiment a slow rotation from your starter. You can ajust your brush if they look enough long for, with a sand paper taped around the brass rotor section and turn by hand to fit the brush on.
good luck.
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
Thanks fitz,i will pull it tomorrow again and try that.I have seen the brushes for sale on ebay.It is still turning too slow for what i would conside normal and gets hot quick,like 60 secs and its smokin.I did get the generator polarized,found it in the manual.Now the second issue is i don't seem to be getting any fuel to the carb so need to figure that out.Oh and a leak from one of the oil hoses from the reservoir,but i thought i may have to replace them anyways as they were a bit frayed.I know i found them on chevs of the 40's.The joys of a 15 year slumber i guess.At least i know i have some oil pressure,which is good.
ok got a chance to work on the starter,took it appart,cleaned it up again,sanded the brushes and put it back together.It spins much faster now.I do have a few problems that are keeping the car from starting up.First is the piece of crap battery they sold me,as it goes dead after about 20 scs of trying to turn the motor over.Second i am not getting any fuel to the carb or fuel pump.I disconnected the line about 6 inches from the fuel tank and blew air into the tank.I can hear it bubbling so assume no plug.Disconnected it at the rubber line that goes to the fuel pump and blew air through it,seems clear.Re-connected it all and turned the car over probably 100 times but no sign of fuel.I did notce te pickup tbe sits a bit high on the tank so maybe i haven't put enough in the tank yet.I did put about 15-20 liters in the tank.I dumped some fuel in the carb and it almost seems to want to start.I am starting to second guess the timing and getting a bit frustarted,any ideas.I will let it sit for a day or so and try again.I would dearly love to see the old girl run again.
your gas pump may have a cracked diaphragm, but often, it is the poppet valve the problem. Most of the time the screen inside disapear and dirt go right into those poppet. If they cannot close properly, you pump, even with a good diaphragm will not pump any gas.
Look at the picture of the interior of the pump poppet.
Fitz.
-- Edited by Fitz on Sunday 15th of May 2011 09:50:58 PM
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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
All right after being sick for the last few days i finally pulledoff the fuel pump and took it apart.Before i took it apart i gave it a good few pumps by hand and lots of suction from it.Took it apart and to my surprise it was spotless inside,diapreagm is good poppet is shiny clean.So now i wonder ing if i somehow missed the cam when i put it in.By the wear marks it appears that the cam rides on top of the lever.Other than that maybe a clogged line which i will double check this weekend.
well i'd love to say she's up and running,but not yet.Got busy with work again so not too much spare time to work on the car.I exchanged the new battery i bought for another as the first wouldn't hold a charge overnight.I still think i have starte issues as it seems to take alot of power to get the starter turning.I may have another off another 54 with a manual trans,hope they are the same for the auto.I am still not getting ay fuel to the carb.I took off the pump,took it apart and it is like new inside.I move the rm and it makes sucking sounds.I bought a little hand suction pump and put it on the fuel line up by the rad and pumped until i had fuel there.Put everything back together but still no fuel.I even took off the line at the pump and just a drip of fuel coming out when turning over.Really scratching my head on this one.I am going to take the fuel pump off again,check for fuel at the steel line agaian,check the small 12 inch fabric line for a blockage and see what the heck could possibly be wrong.My other issue may be that i have the timing 180 degrees out as when i do put some fuel down the carb i seem to get a backfire up through the carb occassionally.I would relly like to get the fuel issue solved first and then the timing should be simpler.Trying not to get frustrated,really want to hear her come to life.
first, the automatic and standard starter are the same, should work. Your gas problem is maybe air succion into the gas line between the tank and the pump?
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
well i think i got it figured out.Got fuel at the pump and through the pump now,a couple loose fittings.Then i put my suction line at the carb and got some fuel there.My problem lies in a crappy starter i beleive.It just won't turn the motor over quick enough to make the fuel pump fuel.Ocassionally it does if i have the battery charger up high and then i get some fuel pumping into the glass bowl on the carb.So the hunt is on for a replacement starter,anyone know the part number for it?I may have one off a buddies parts car but no guarentees it works.Hopefully i can get a spare day to go up to his farm and take it off.Unfortunetly my busy time just started so working 10-12 hours a day right now.
