john hess

thank you for your response... I now have a working spare... if I aquire any more 'spares' I will certainly contact you for any parts If needed..

Question for carb gurus. As I am still learning, and rebuilding spare carburetors for my 53 chieftain, my question for you guys is this..... How important are the 2 small brass guides for the metering rods in this carb? I have a functional one in the car. It was just rebuilt and has the brass guides... Now, my project carbs, are both missing these guides.... Are they needed, or can I proceed without them? Let me know what you think.... thanks, John

6 or 8? running or stuck?

where are you located.. manual or auto?

good looking car...... I have a 53

coolant should squirt out and almost hit the frame if not clogged. take the drain petcock completely out of the block and probe with a small wire. if you get a lot of muddy water you still have sediment in the block. if you can, shoot your pressure washer in there until it runs clean. fill with water and drive. then repeat flush. the heat will help loosen the sediment. may have to do this a few times. hard to get completely clean without pulling the head or the freeze plugs. if you are OK with current temperature, just drive and flush occasionally. I cleaned my block with compressed air. this block was sitting dry for 2 years and head was off. I think you can do ok with multiple flushing. hope this helps. welcome to the forum.....

more $$$$$$

so ... how did your trip end with this happening...?

I'm with Phil on that statement 100%

I have done similar and have also reaped the rewards of this 'paying forward in short order... it's not always about money... friendships and knowledge gained just interacting with people through the forums has more value to me than the $$$

if starter was just rebuilt, ...solenoid may be positioned wrong.. there are 4 slotted holes on solenoid base... may need adjustment... yep, been there...

if starter was rebuilt, one or more of the brushes may be sticking also... rebuilt and spun on a bench is different than under load...

odometer is correct... speedo I can live with...

yes, my 53 reads 5 mph over... I'm cheap.. .. I just llive with it, knowing it's 5 over..!!

not sure why picture post sideways. sorry

TTR.. will keep that in mind.... thanks for the invite... plans to be finalized over this winter..... john

just got back from a 950 mile round trip to Ohio to visit family over the 4th of July.... my 53 pontiac is in the long distance shakedown mode since getting back on the road 2 years ago.... Maiden voyage was to Wisconsin. 2173 miles round trip..... sept 2021 to flathead reunion.... numerous local runs 50-60 miles weekends... 40 miles round trip to work each day when no hail or bad storms expected... Next major trip next summer/fall to Arizona.... from PA to visit family... Anyone local feel free to contact me. Sometimes best to travel in a group. This car is a one family, 4th generation driver.. My wife's great grandfather had from new.... got passed down to grandfather, then got put in the barn 1976.... Her father missed actual ownership because of a stint in the Army.... We took ownership in 2009 after Bills passing..... Got it running in about 2 weeks and enjoyed the car for 1500 more miles over the next 2 years.... A rear main oil leak and a slipping clutch repair turned into an 8 year journey,(in the barn again) which led to the current enjoyment of this piece of history......

A thought ...... since you say the transmission is like a swamp, leaks I presume, have you checked the oil level ? As silly as this seems, we often overlook the obvious.... been there, done that.... that's why I ask...... This will cause the grinding, as there is no oil friction to slow gears down or even allow synchronizer cones to work..

I'm with EmTee also. shift lever doesn't look quite right.. Even though mine is 53 pontiac, transmission is the same..(buick series40) not sure about shift lever though. maybe early years are different. your over-ceter spring that you just got should cure coming out of gear. Here are the pictures I was talking about. Not the picture of the shifter linkage wear, but the same concept.. this is of the clutch push rod.

shift rod, not shift shaft...my bad..

nothing inside, all external... just left house... send you something about 45 min...

doesn't look the same as my 53 pontiac (shift lever)... but.. have you checked for excessive wear on one side of the shift shaft where it is attached to the shift lever ?.. may need weld build up and reground.... this can cause full travel one way but not quite enough travel on the other.. hence the grind,grind, engaging issue. Since you are saying 2 gear is the issue this is suspect to me. I have one apart on the bench right now with this shift shaft wear issue.....

ha... yes,8 years later got that oil leak fixed..... and whole car gone over....