MercMontMars

@Gary_Ash That’s pretty nifty! I gotta ask, what is your distributor out of? I don’t often see dual ignition points.

@Old buicks 2 I’ve removed the distributor and the number on it reads “1110831 - 1L9”. It is a Delco Remy unit. Hope this helps track it down, let me know. Thanks!

Hi there, I can't be much help other than suggesting California Pontiac Restoration if you haven't tried them already. I've had them help me out several times with parts that I couldn't find on their catalog. Good luck!

@PhilAndrews Hi there, sorry I kind of let this topic get buried over time. Since posting this I've done a ton to the car and have driven it several times, each time I get a new problem to fix but it's getting better and better. No more fuel problems, the last cruise left me stranded though and I suspect I blew my condenser somehow. Tested everything but that so it must be the culprit. Thanks!

@DE SOTO Hi there, is there any chance the flywheel inspection cover is still intact? Been looking for one for a while now. Would love more photos of the motor and dashboard to see what's left of it, also looking for an original throttle linkage and for the decorative silver piece that holds up the driver side interior sun visor. Thanks!

Hi there, interesting build you have going on. Have you tried calling California Pontiac Restoration? They likely don't have one, but they may be able to refer you to someplace that does if you don't find one here. Pretty big part to not have, was the original cracked or damaged? Good luck with your project!

@Old buicks 2 Hi Tom, that would be very helpful! Here are some pictures from a while ago when I was rebuilding it, let me know if they are sufficient. If not, I’ll be taking it out soon. The data plate was in rough shape, I’ll try to get a better look at it once it’s out. It’s for a Pontiac straight-8.

@Dave39MD She was running pretty good, couldn’t confirm if the generator was working or not as I was running a 12v battery for the tired starter and for spark.(Was just a trial run cruise.) She’s in my driveway now, had a good buddy tow her home for me and right now I have no spark, ran all the tests and checked my points, distributor just won’t give anything. I fully rebuilt it with all new wiring, condenser etc a while ago. Before she died I noticed the classic carburetor “pinging” or sipping sound then she stopped running and I pulled off. Thought I might’ve run out of gas but after filling the tank and trying her, I got no spark. Thinking I might’ve blown my condenser somehow, as it’s the only thing I haven’t swapped or tested yet.

@Frank DuVal That’s what confused me the most, the amount of effort it must’ve taken to do that! No way they took the whole block out to drill those, kind of crazy the things people do to these cars. I definitely plan on having it checked out, I just want to see if there’s any life left in it. Just a little hum or click, even a blown fuse would make me happy!

Hi there, I’m looking over my wiring on my 52 Pontiac Chieftain. From what I’ve seen, the original wiring under the dash is mostly intact. One goal is to get some life out of the radio without pulling it out.I got the old blower motor going and I don’t expect the clock to work (they never do.. In the attached picture, the 3rd row is connected to my radio with a single wire. There’s some kind of copper pin attached, and there other end of the connection is seemingly missing. What might I be looking at here? Is anything missing or out of place? Thanks for any help!

Hi there, I took my Pontiac out for a cruise yesterday and all was well until I completely lost spark and broke down. I checked my distributor and saw that the positive connection to the coil and distributor was loose, and when I went to tighten it the plastic bushing broke. Is there any replacement for this part or am I going to have to rig something up? I tightened it best I could but I don’t like how loose it is without that piece. Thanks for any help!

@Dave39MD That would be very helpful! What are you looking to get for the unit? Unfortunately no, I cannot find any identifying markings on this generator. I’m seeing a pattern with how poorly the previous owner handled it, probably dropped it on the shaft and then again on the other side.. and apparently removed the info plate for some reason. It came out of my 1952 Pontiac Chieftain.

Cracked steel where the rear end of the bushing sits:

Hi there, I’m picking out a new generator for my 1952 Pontiac and I’m trying to find the right one. I attempted to fix the original one, but it’s more trouble than it is worth as the steel casing is somehow very brittle and cracking along with a bent shaft. Shame because everything else was very clean and functional, good brushes and the copper cleaned up nice. The reason I’m asking for advice is because I want to get the right thing, but I don’t want to pay almost $300 for an original remanned one. I’ve found ones for $70 or lower but they say they are for 12v systems. How much does this really matter? Any suggestions on what I should get? eBay link to one of my considerations: https://www.ebay.com/itm/393259703381?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=8amhqwfisik&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=pfqk-z0dthg&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Thanks for any help! And apologies for repeat posts, I post as I work on things and it leads to multiple questions..-

@Frank DuVal Thanks for the reply! I’ll have to check around, but not too many generator repair guys around me sadly. I’ll have to find one of those, can’t believe I’ve never heard of a woodruff key until now. Eventually gonna replace the unit, the thing broke even more as I was working on it just now. Somehow the metal casing around the back just started cracking apart and the shaft appears bent, since when I put the pulley on and rotate it it wobbles. I’ve never seen such brittle steel, it’s kind of scary. Will post pictures of it soon. Hard part now is finding an affordable compatible unit.

Hi there, I’m partially rebuilding my first generator and I’m at the final step of putting the new pulley on. The original one sheared itself apart somehow. I’m getting hung up on how to attach it correctly. When I bolt the pulley to the shaft it cannot rotate as it’s right up against the generator casing and I obviously can’t run it too loose. I tried using a bushing/ring from an old alternator I had lying around and it fits together but doesn’t seem right, the pulley seems too far out. I noticed a square fitting on the shaft and pulley, indicating that there might’ve been something there. Was there something here to hold it in place correctly? I’m just trying to get the most life out of it before replacing it, I tested the unit and it works but it’s just old and worn. Thanks for any help!

@pfloro Lots of great information here, thank you! I’ll be looking over all of this as I tinker with it. After reading your comment I have a feeling my throttle linkage may be at fault, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle so far. Thanks again!

@The 55er Good to know! I’m glad to hear you got positive results from your manuals. I will be getting one soon. Feeling a bit more optimistic if yours came around with just some basic adjustment.

@Bloo Thanks for the reply Bloo! I’m not too sure on what the temp gauge is, I haven’t disassembled anything yet as I’m scared to see the mess the previous owner has created. They’ve made a very finicky taped-up mess of the wiring, no clue what they were trying to do. I agree with you on the 12 conversion problems, it’s only been an idea of mine because I know a new wiring harness is in my near future. Don’t feel too safe with 70+ yr old wiring along with previous owners handling it as destructively as possible..(??) once everything is sorted out and I have a not-so-tired starter motor I probably will keep the car 6v. I’ll be using your advice as I check all my grounds and such soon. You mentioned radios, and that’s another thing I’m trying to figure out. I have the original Chieftain radio, it seems to all be there but I can’t get any life out of it. I’ve tried it with a 6v battery in and I don’t get any lights or hum, almost as if it’s simply been disconnected. Before I get into any serious disassembly with it, what should I check for? If I’m not wrong, don’t these use vacuum tubes?

@Rata Road That is actually an amazing idea.. so simple but I’ve never thought of that before! I will be stealing that. 😉

@Frank DuVal Thanks for the heads up, I had no idea! It is a GM Generator out of a Pontiac Chieftain. Which diagram is for the GM generator? Thanks again.

Hi there, I had some questions in regards to preserving my 52’ Pontiac’s original dash gauges. What I am wanting to do is preserve the original appearance as much as possible but restoring accurate functionality. Each gauge (fuel, oil pressure, temp) gives a reading when run on 6v, none of them are accurate. Fuel gauge shoots to Full when it receives power and stays there, temp gauge quickly rises to 250 but the motor runs very cool (verified with temp gun) and I haven’t tested the accuracy of the oil pressure gauge but let’s just assume it’s not working. Anyone out there familiar with these old gauges and how to get them reading properly again without too much alteration? And if I were to change the car’s electric system to 12v, is there a way I can keep them as they are without frying them? Just trying to gather as much info on them as I can before I open anything up. Thank you for any help!

Hi there, I’m working on an early 50’s AC Delco 6v generator. I’m trying to test the unit to see where it’s at functionality-wise which I’m sure is bad but it is clean and seems worth trying to fix up. The two terminals are marked, one being F and the other A. I’ve never worked on these, what do these stand for? Once I know that, how might I go about testing it? I’ve watched a couple videos on the topic but I’m not confident enough to know I won’t fry the unit. Thanks for any help!

Hi there, I’m posting to hopefully learn more about my 54’ Pontiac Hydramatic transmission. In the few times I got to run the transmission it functioned but was very fussy. I believe it has 4 gears and gets fussy around 3-4. Downshifts perfectly fine at stops. It’s fluid levels are normal, it doesn’t leak at all. I’m well aware it’s a very old transmission, but I can tell it still has some kick left in it. What can I do to it while it is still in the car to make it run just a bit better/healthier? I will eventually overhaul it, but for now I just want to enjoy it and know that I’m not destroying anything. Thanks in advance!