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??

US model, built in cda

polish the hell out the original paint and chrome, don't paint it.

2drpost wrote:

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US model, built in cda

polish the hell out the original paint and chrome, don't paint it.

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 They built US models in Oshawa??

I would stay original everything. I've got a 1000 lb. tranny for you !

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.


Cheers for now
Boomer

50sedandelivery wrote:

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2drpost wrote:

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US model, built in cda

polish the hell out the original paint and chrome, don't paint it.

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 They built US models in Oshawa??

I would stay original everything. I've got a 1000 lb. tranny for you !

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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!!  

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.

great picture thanks bob 

52 Chief Sedan Survivor wrote:

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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.

 

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If you want to keep it stock colour, there should be pictures somewhere on the internet. These are all we have on this website http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t26831642/239-i6-flathead-261-big-six-strato-six-engine-colour/ but it gives you an idea.

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.

 

This Pontiac is a nice find!

 

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.

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.

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.