PhilAndrews Posted January 31, 2023 Author Share Posted January 31, 2023 (edited) New 12v fan motor, after the old 6v one died for the third time. Blows nicely and is nearly silent which is good. Made in Canada, which is surprising. Phil Edited January 31, 2023 by PhilAndrews (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 On 1/28/2023 at 10:26 PM, PhilAndrews said: The heater motor finally quit. I ordered another one, in 12V flavor but while I'm waiting for that to come in I had a look inside this one. One brush had shattered, the commutator showing a badly out of round burned section. So, for now I bought a couple of brushes, sized them to fit and put it all back together. It runs again. Should last until the new motor comes in. Phil nice, I bought a nos delco 12 volt blower motor and nos squirrel cage fan for my 1953 Chieftain blower assembly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share Posted February 5, 2023 Heater put to the test. A clear, bright, chilly moonlit night. Heater on full, toasty warm! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted February 19, 2023 Author Share Posted February 19, 2023 The car is parked in the naughty corner. I need to get the drums turned and a new set of brake shoes, these new ones have fallen apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john hess Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 sounds like you been drivin it like ya stole it.... good on you,Phil ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted February 19, 2023 Author Share Posted February 19, 2023 It's done about 5000 miles this past year. I thought the new shoes would have lasted but apparently not. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Summershandy Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 Good on you is right! I've put a whopping 1500 miles in about 5 years. Mind you, it's in winter storage from Nov - May but I do admit not driving anywhere like I stole it. Good job Phil. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted February 19, 2023 Author Share Posted February 19, 2023 Thanks. I do enjoy driving it, for sure. It doesn't like being parked up for more than a few days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john hess Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 little over 6000 on mine.... still like new.... no babying them either... got my shoes from napa I think... just matched them by dimensions... I think they are for a 79 bronco.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 Are there any cross references for front and rear drums? Are they available new still? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 55er Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 Pontiac front brake drums are the same from 1949-1954. Pontiac rear drums are the same from 1939-1957. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 (edited) Front shoes look the same between 54 and 57. What changed on the front brakes? Edited February 20, 2023 by PhilAndrews (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 55er Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 The drums & shoes are different sizes. 1949-1954 Pontiacs (11" brakes) used 11"x2 1/4" shoes (left & top) and the 1955-1958 Pontiacs (12" brakes) used 12"x2 1/4" shoes (right & bottom). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 4 minutes ago, The 55er said: The drums & shoes are different sizes. 1949-1954 Pontiacs (11" brakes) used 11"x2 1/4" shoes (left & top) and the 1955-1958 Pontiacs (12" brakes) used 12"x2 1/4" shoes (right & bottom). Okay, they didn't do anything other than increase the diameter. Gotcha. The listing I have here for '57 has 11x2¼ for the front and I was looking, that's what mine are.... Listing is wrong for the model. Works for me, the shoes should fit. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted March 4, 2023 Author Share Posted March 4, 2023 New rear brakes in place and adjusted. They are bedding in ok. Gave the paint a bit of TLC. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted March 4, 2023 Author Share Posted March 4, 2023 A little more repair today. A while ago I had accidentally jetwashed the paint off this wheel trim, so I masked it up this afternoon after giving it a gentle key with 1500 grit paper. Nice and pretty red again. Defeats the point, but at least I know it's there. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted March 20, 2023 Author Share Posted March 20, 2023 The car is getting driven everywhere. Weather's been nice for it, the gearbox has been mostly playing nice so the heavier oil has helped. I think a heavier grade yet for summertime should see it behave. Proof of it being enjoyed, rolled over 110,000 miles today. Due an oil change! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GARY F Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 Looks good. Looks like you need a little gas also. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted March 21, 2023 Author Share Posted March 21, 2023 12 minutes ago, GARY F said: Looks good. Looks like you need a little gas also. Yeah, I put fifteen bucks in it today and it just about made it to a quarter full... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted March 25, 2023 Author Share Posted March 25, 2023 I went put fuel in. Just been adding the miles; did an oil change today, greased everything up. Phil 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted March 26, 2023 Author Share Posted March 26, 2023 A change of oil, a change of oil brands. I had used Shell Rotella T4 before; that wasn't bad but would always shell of burning oil on deceleration. I bought Mobil 1 Delvac this time and so far it's better than the T4, noticably quieter and much less in the way of burning oil smell. My wife had followed me in her car; with my engine fully up to operating temperature, she said no smoke was visible from under the car (so minimal blow-by), and on deceleration no smoke from the tailpipe, only a light blue smell. Under hard acceleration she said it started to smoke by the time I got to 45-50 mph, which is over 2500 rpm in 3rd gear. Normal, pale gray she said so the beginnings of all the fuel not burning. Should be better now, I've adjusted the ignition timing since then. So, overall, quite impressed by this engine oil so far. We'll see how it does in a thousand miles or so. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrtonvilleBob Posted March 27, 2023 Share Posted March 27, 2023 Phil, could you provide more information on that Mobil oil? I believe you mentioned in another post that it was 20w40 but I can find no Mobil oil listed anywhere with "Delvac" as part of the name in that weight. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted March 27, 2023 Author Share Posted March 27, 2023 1 hour ago, OrtonvilleBob said: Phil, could you provide more information on that Mobil oil? I believe you mentioned in another post that it was 20w40 but I can find no Mobil oil listed anywhere with "Delvac" as part of the name in that weight. Thanks. That's because it was late and my memory was doing silly things. It's 15W/40. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted April 17, 2023 Author Share Posted April 17, 2023 Bought a more suitable tachometer for the car. It's quite neat, the only one I found in this size (2¼") that is calibrated to a sensible limit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted April 17, 2023 Author Share Posted April 17, 2023 Works nicely. Need to paint the bezel black though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted April 19, 2023 Author Share Posted April 19, 2023 Painted to match, and added the warning and danger zones on the markings in orange and red. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrtonvilleBob Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 Phil, Nice find on the tachometer. I've added that one to my wish list. I have a question regarding the vacuum gauge. Do you have a snubber in the line to reduce fluctuations at idle? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted April 19, 2023 Author Share Posted April 19, 2023 19 minutes ago, OrtonvilleBob said: Phil, Nice find on the tachometer. I've added that one to my wish list. I have a question regarding the vacuum gauge. Do you have a snubber in the line to reduce fluctuations at idle? I've had vehicles with vacuum gauges that needed it, but this one does not. It doesn't buzz or wobble. I've been impressed by it, actually. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted April 24, 2023 Author Share Posted April 24, 2023 Recent tune-up seems to be good. Fuel economy has improved also, which is an added bonus. Phil 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted April 29, 2023 Author Share Posted April 29, 2023 Went on a bit of a road trip. Backroads, where the car is happiest. Up onto the big roads to play in traffic, crossing the Mississippi river. That cleaned some carbon out, it's running quite nicely now. Averaged 13mpg, doing 45-55 the whole way. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted May 5, 2023 Author Share Posted May 5, 2023 Started the car up tonight, was welcomed with konk konk konk from the bottom end until the oil pressure came up. Guess we'll be looking at a bottom end rebuild at some point, then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted May 6, 2023 Share Posted May 6, 2023 What oil are you using? Have you ever inspected the condition of the oil pump and pickup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted May 6, 2023 Author Share Posted May 6, 2023 7 minutes ago, EmTee said: What oil are you using? Have you ever inspected the condition of the oil pump and pickup? Delvac 15W/40. I haven't but the oil pressure is good. It's always had a bit of rod knock, ever since I've owned it. It does shut up once the pressure comes up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted May 6, 2023 Share Posted May 6, 2023 (edited) It might be worthwhile to try an aftermarket mechanical gauge just to corroborate/calibrate the gauge in the dash. I'm using the same oil in my '38 Buick. It does seem a bit heavier than the 10W-30 I had used before. In my case, I didn't see a difference in hot oil pressure between the two. Edited May 6, 2023 by EmTee typo (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted May 6, 2023 Author Share Posted May 6, 2023 1 hour ago, EmTee said: It might be worthwhile to try an aftermarket mechanical gauge just to corroborate/calibrate the gauge in the dash. I'm using the same oil in my '38 Buick. It does seem a bit heavier than the 10W-30 I had used before. In my case, I didn't see a difference in hot oil pressure between the two. I have and the dash gauge, while slow is accurate. Hot, at idle, I have about 15-20 psi oil pressure. Hot at cruise 35. Cold 40. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted May 20, 2023 Author Share Posted May 20, 2023 A pleasant drive this evening. Pulled the fuses now, parked up. Going on vacation. Phil 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted June 14, 2023 Author Share Posted June 14, 2023 Done a few high speed, moderate distance runs recently. 80-100 miles at 55. Summertime fuel, got the carb set up and running just about right. 13.8 mpg on the last run which I'm quite happy with. Phil 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 7, 2023 Author Share Posted August 7, 2023 (edited) Just been driving the heck out of the car. The more it's driven, the better it drives. Held 175-180F all the way regardless of speed; had it up to 65 for part of the way which is really motoring (3000rpm). Considering fitting an under-dash air-conditioning unit because man, driving in 105° summer heat is just plain warm. Sweaty. Yuk. You can see how hot it's been, my inspection sticker is peeling off the screen! Phil Edited August 7, 2023 by PhilAndrews (see edit history) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted August 7, 2023 Share Posted August 7, 2023 10 hours ago, PhilAndrews said: Just been driving the heck out of the car. The more it's driven, the better it drives. Held 175-180F all the way regardless of speed; had it up to 65 for part of the way which is really motoring (3000rpm). Considering fitting an under-dash air-conditioning unit because man, driving in 105° summer heat is just plain warm. Sweaty. Yuk. You can see how hot it's been, my inspection sticker is peeling off the screen! Phil Imagine, the guys that designed and put that car together all those years ago. I'll bet none of them could imagine someone like you enjoying this car in 2023. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAndrews Posted August 8, 2023 Author Share Posted August 8, 2023 20 hours ago, Pfeil said: Imagine, the guys that designed and put that car together all those years ago. I'll bet none of them could imagine someone like you enjoying this car in 2023. I would think that maybe they'd ponder if any of the cars would really last a long time- "modern" cars produced in mass volumes like these had only really been in production for about thirty years- certainly long enough to see a lot having gone to the scrap yard by then- the idea that they could be in use 70+ years on would be nothing but a pipedream. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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