Lisa P

Thanks to all of you, the Chieftain is back up and running!

He is always right, isn't he? If I only knew where to get replacement parts for the darn thing...thank goodness for guys like Charles and his willingness to help!

Oh wow, you are a lifesaver! Thank you so much for the quick reply, I guess you'll know where to find me this weekend. By any chance, are the 3 metal strips something that can be bought, or do they have to be fabricated? And, if they need to be fabricated, are they steel, or spring steel, or some other material? Thanks again.

I believe that I have discovered why my car has not run reliably or predictably. Today, for a nice 30 seconds, she ran great. No misfiring, no hesitation but then stalled out. Troubleshooting lead to discovering that the rotor will spin freely, even with the distributor bolted down. The shaft on the end of the distributor looks fine, it is slotted and must fit into something, but what is that mysterious something and can I access it by dropping the oil pan? On a side note, I was trying to make sure she would run smoothly as it is a project that needs a new home. *I pulled the oil pump out this morning, and as you can see the drive springs are missing as is part of the retaining clip. Can these drive springs and clip be purchased? If so, where? If not, can they be fabricated? Thanks again for all of your invaluable input.

When I took delivery of my 1951 Chieftain, the biggest challenge facing me seemed to be the installation of the hood springs. Mind you, the car was partially disassembled and therefore the springs were located in one of the 13 totes I received with the car. After reviewing my options, a plan was made. The hood was removed and set aside. I then rolled my engine hoist into place so that the hook on the end of its chain was positioned directly over the spring mounting tab that is bolted onto the lower portion of the Pontiac's firewall. The spring was attached here first and then to a lighter (but not too light) length of chain of which the other end was attached to my engine hoist's hook. Carefully, I used to hoist to stretch the spring until it was enough the maneuver it onto the hook of the hood hinge assembly. Slowly, the tension was released, the spring stayed put and a battle was won. This procedure was then repeated for the other side and the hood was carefully bolted back onto the hinge assembly. I have now found another use for the engine hoist I never thought I would need!

Here are some before (the top two photos) and after photos of the repairs I've done. I had a donor rear quarter for the right side and used the dogleg, rocker extension and wheel well arch. This replaced the older repair attempt that was made by the previous owner. I purchased a rocker extension and a portion of the wheel well arch for the left side. After welding these in, I did my best to blend it all with body filler. The left side was more extensive due to a crease that ran along a portion of the quarter panel just above where the molding bolts on. I tried to get it out, but I could not get it smooth. This is still a learning experience for me, and at least it is better than it was : ) Now if I could just find the front tabs that bolt on to hold the wheel skirts on...

Why I am asking this is because I would like to order a new thick gasket, however the Vauxhall manual and California Pontiac Restoration both list only a thin gasket for the 1951 model year. Hmmm...

I have looked in my shop and Vauxhall manual to find a diagram for the carburetor and heat shield mounting, but have not found anything. At first glance, it would seem apparent that there may only be one way to mount these, but I would still feel better if I knew what order you all have had success with. In other terms, does the order go: manifold, thick gasket, heatshield, base gasket, then carburetor? It appears I may have a vacuum leak that I am trying to track down. Any input is greatly appreciated, thanks!

Thanks for all the photos and the help. I believe I have sorted out the wiring and will now be working on getting the old gal to idle properly...

John, thanks for the photos! I definitely don't have this set up, I'll keep digging behind the dash to look into other options. I have all of the lights working with the exception of the left turn signal. Again, thanks so much for the photos, they are worth a million words.

Gary, thanks for the response! I wasn't able to find anything on the handle, but there is a light without a socket, perhaps that is the one, I'll give it a try tomorrow. Also, does anyone happen to know what type of light socket is correct for the hood ornament? I have the ornament, but the socket it long gone. thanks again!

Ah yes, one of my favorite jobs, wiring. My car had been completely disassembled before I bought it, so I have a question. My wiring diagram mentions a parking brake indicator lamp but I have not located a switch or anything on the brake itself. Does anyone have an idea regarding this? Again, thank you for your patience and insight. I really appreciate it!

You guys are fantastic! Thanks to the advice and the photographs, I have a flathead that runs well, has good oil pressure and even impressed my mechanic mentor (which is nearly impossible to do). He helped me run it through the proper break in procedure with no problems whatsoever. The no spark condition seemed to have been caused by that little wire in the distributor grounding against the body. After moving that wire away from the body of the distributor, the car fired right up! Thanks again to everyone for your insight and help.

John, this is exactly what I needed, thanks!!! This photo also helps me sort out some other mystery parts and their locations. When they say a picture is worth a thousand words, it really is true. It looks like your 53 is coming along beautifully!

Thanks! When I see you again, I'll remember ya'. I am glad that you enjoyed the visit to my shop. I hope someday I can get a 4 post lift in order to make life easier for myself and others. The Pontiac is certainly a joy compared to the cars I'm usually saving!