'Hey Guys, here's the latest update on the 53 Catalina.
Finely had the time to finish the complete brake overhaul, everything is new, master and wheel cylinders, hard and flex lines, shoes and hardware and had drums turned.
Got everything bled and adjusted per the manual (a very tedious process) but now have excellent brakes, the car stops very well (for 4 wheel drums).
I registered it a couple weeks ago, with a 1953 plate, and for it's first drive in ~ 20 years went to our local cruise night about 8 mile away, it was running a little rough but seemed to improve the more it ran.
As some of you guys suggested, the smoke has pretty much cleared up the more I drive it as everything begins to loosen up. Was able to solve all the electrical gremlins (horn, turn signals, charging, reverse lights) and get it inspected, so now it's legal. The fellow doing the inspection laughed and said the inspection sticker that was on it was from before he was born!
I've put about 100 miles on it and a few more issues have surfaced, the NOS carb I put on is weeping gas from the upper and lower gaskets, so ordered a rebuild kit for that (anyone know where I can get just the carb gasket set, don't really need the full rebuild kit). One of the rear springs has a broken leaf so it's sagging a bit in the rear, good thing I have a pair of NOS springs (thanks Dad!) so I'll get those installed as well as 4 new shocks and sway bar end links, that should tighten it up a bit.
Still need to figure out why the dash lights aren't working and install the rebuilt radio and some seatbelts.
Does anyone have a suggestion on what I should use to change the fluid in the Hydromatic trans?
After that, I'll just keep driving it until the next problem reveals itself.
I hope to drive it to Lime Rock Park for the vintage festival Labor Day weekend and to the POCI Northeast get-together in RI next month..... we'll see how that goes.
It'll also be in my nephew's wedding next month (he was very close to my Dad) as well as his 67 400 Firebird convertible.