In my hunt for a project I have come across a 1954 Pathfinder in need of some help.
It needs all new rockers (inners & outers)new rear quarter lowers(inner & outers) and front and rear floor patches. No exhaust after manifold. Flat head 6 standard.
The rest of the car seems very good, doors close like new, seats and headliner not so much. I am having a hard time finding interior pieces????
Sheet metal comes to about $800 USD plus shipping. Assuming 54 Chev 210 panels work on this.
Windshield glass needs to be changed...hard to find for sure.
Well I did pull the trigger on it. Will pick it up on Saturday, then the work begins. PO threw in an extra windshield that will pass inspection so that helps. I have to get my head around 6 volt system and remember that. Is there a manual that would be beneficial to get?
-- Edited by cdnwillyg on Thursday 15th of June 2017 10:46:30 PM
Congrats!By the looks of it..sweet deal! No matter what you buy at that price (fairly cheap) it's going to need work but that one looks like less work than most .
One mistake a lot of people make is using the incorrect battery cables on a six volt system. Thicker is better. If needed use welding whip cable and make your own.
Hawkeye, cheap is relative to what it's compared to, my last project started a lot higher so that's the reason I used the word cheap. $1200, saying that the motor and trany are to have been gone thru, but that may mean I will be doing it again too.
What caught me on this car is how it looked and what I think I can make it look like with a little or lot of elbow grease and welding.( main reason was to put to use all the metal working stuff I bought for the other projects) Not seen in the pics is someone has sheet metal screwed the trim on??????not sure what they were thinking?? Going to stay that way until I get the lower metal issues dealt with.
First thing is to get it running, stopping and critter free.
Don't see many works in progress here unless they are hiding someplace I haven't looked yet?
Nice project! Always admired the chrome on these cars - the silver streak was long a Pontiac signature piece and really set it apart from other makes IMHO.
yes the chevy panels will work on your car,from the firewall back its a 54 chevy.As for interior you can buy all the original fabrics from smsautofabrics.com,carpets from nos reproductions,and door cards are available for the 54 chevies..A couple good places for parts ecklers early chevy,national chevy association,chevs of the 40's.LMK if you have any questions,i'll try to help you out.Did it come with a parts car?
Thanks Brian for the vendors that supply these cdn poncho's. Interior stuff will be a ways off but the sheet metal parts a lot sooner. There was another brown 54 sedan but I felt this offered more to what I like,,,,I think it may be the 100 spoke wheels and the blue color was more to my taste. One concern I have is the front seat had visitors and they made a mess, not sure what will happen there.
I see you are at the other end of the province, to bad you weren't closer I would love pick your brain for all it's knowledge!
I posted the cowl tag numbers in this thread and would like to know what it's telling me, any help there?
Here's what I was able to come up with from the data plate:
model 20-69W = Pathfinder Deluxe 4 dr sedan
serial 420692066, 4 = yr, 2069 = model, 2066 = consecutive number
engine W284056, sequential number that started at W258001
trim 606, sorry no info
paint 451 appears to be a Canadian only code as it's not on the later US chart
price = $2391
weight = 3440 lbs
this is all from the Cdn Book of numbers. ( just a caution as it has been known to contain errors )
Started going thru the different issues this car has and found clutch linkage was installed backwards and need to change that. Brakes all working even the emergency brake yahoo! New lines were plumbed bonus. With out a manual yet, so need some help. The car has no filter that I can see but has a canister installed that I think is called an oil bypass, which doesn't have the lines running to it. Can't seem to find that info, pic would be wonderful please. Also I have what looks like a throttle cable laying on the front floor and help there would be great,,,pic too! Starting to feel the love affair happening. I'm working on it on my front driveway and can't believe both young and old giving thumbs up or whipping their head around to see it better and the ones I like the most are the ones that stop and talk. Who knew! Thanks for any info.
-- Edited by cdnwillyg on Friday 23rd of June 2017 09:56:09 AM
ok so you have the oil bath filter,which believe it or not is an option in 54.So one line run from the filter to a pass through bolt on the fuel filter.
I may have a spare manual around,let me check,I will warn you the manuals are fairly vague on the details of a lot of the stuff.Good for the major componenets but lacking in a lot of areas.I actually have no less than 6 different manuals of 49-54,pontiac and chevy,plus a parts catalogue.Between all those sometimes you still have to guess.
Thanks for the pics Brian, when you say filter as an option, these engines ran normally with out filtering the oil? The PO did say this bypass didn't come with the car when he bought it so makes sense now. I ordered a manual, the only one I could find on 49-54 Pontiacs so will see what that will tell me. Parts catalogue from who?
Any info on the throttle linkage to carb?
lets see if this helps,remember my 54 is an automatic so linkage may be slightly different.I suspect the standard may not have the rod going under the starter back to the transmission.
That's awesome Brian thanks so much! Your pics are better than any manual I'll get. The rod that goes to the gas pedal is the top right one that goes off the pic I take it.
I took out the seats to try and rid myself of the funky smell in the car and cleaned them. Cleaned the floor with vinegar and then car soap to remove the vinegar smell. In the process I squealed like a girl when one of the residents jumped out at me. Then found the rest of the family too.....all in a better place now!
So after that episode I checked the floors for replacement and to my surprise only the drivers front floor pan is needed, along with both rockers inner and outer on two sides. The rear quarters will be done with the tail pan. May need trunk extension too but will wait and see if it can be just patched.
I have an issue with getting my gas pedal linkage to mate up with the linkage on the block. I have a solenoid from my started in the way? I see in pics Brian posted that his solenoid is real close to his block while mine is straight up and down. files.activeboard.com/2046054%3D
Is there any way to relocate the solenoid on this starter to a different position? I guess my question is if I take the starter apart is it possible to change config so solenoid is more left looking at firewall? Model no. of starter is 1107080 0 F15 series. 6Volt.
Thanks
