NC-car-guy Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 Made a deal sight unseen on a fairly solid (needs floor pans) 53 special 2 door sedan with a salvage title. Motor turns but not running. Bought it cheap for flipping or part out. Well guys, I got there.... Its a riviera hardtop and all the trim in in the trunk, bumpers are larger stuff in my truck bed. Now im torn on ditching it. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 5, 2021 Author Share Posted June 5, 2021 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 5, 2021 Author Share Posted June 5, 2021 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 A standard transmission as well. Ben 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 5, 2021 Author Share Posted June 5, 2021 So my VIN plate is mis-mounted and the hidden VIN is not where the book says. Any tricks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retirednow Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 (edited) I had a ‘52. The number stamped on the frame was not visible until I removed the wheel well Edited June 6, 2021 by retirednow (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron65 Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 (edited) Your VIN tag looks exactly like my Atlanta-built '53 Special's (cars with numbers that start with 6 were built in Atlanta), so I imagine that your tag is in the correct spot for that plant. Edited June 6, 2021 by Aaron65 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 Crooked like that? Were they all drunk? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerage Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 That's a great design the 53 2dr HT. What a awesome kustom this would make... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retirednow Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 31 minutes ago, NC-car-guy said: Crooked like that? Were they all drunk? There was an old saying back then- “Never buy a car that was built on a Friday or a Monday” 😉 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron65 Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 (edited) 8 hours ago, NC-car-guy said: Crooked like that? Were they all drunk? Regardless of their predilection to drink while tagging, I tell you the truth. I will say this - at least mine isn't upside down. Edited June 6, 2021 by Aaron65 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Heaps Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 If you do decide to part it out, I’d be interested in the driver’s side door and possibly the grill bar. Truth be told, I always hate to see an reasonably intact vehicle parted out. My ‘52 Special Riviera was built in Atlanta and the VIN is hung crooked in the door frame similar to your car. I guess it’s a “Southern “ thing !?😎 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 26 minutes ago, Rusty Heaps said: I guess it’s a “Southern “ thing !? ?...Looks right to me.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 (edited) 6 minutes ago, MrEarl said: ?...Looks right to me.... I've never seen one crooked like that also never had a 53. Maybe quality standards changed by 54.... Edited June 6, 2021 by NC-car-guy (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 Also I know this is a 6v car but where they + or - ground? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 Negative Ground. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 Battery ordered. Need to order 00 battery cables too but will check tractor supply today. Engine is very clean. Will change oil and check all ignition parts while waiting on my battery (supposed to be here by 3 today). And straight 8 specific watch outs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 10 hours ago, powerage said: That's a great design the 53 2dr HT. What a awesome kustom this would make... Yeah, post should be move the the Modified forum now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 Just now, old-tank said: Yeah, post should be move the the Modified forum now... Why? Its not modified as if current. I even just bought a correct 6v battery for $250 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron65 Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 11 minutes ago, NC-car-guy said: Battery ordered. Need to order 00 battery cables too but will check tractor supply today. Engine is very clean. Will change oil and check all ignition parts while waiting on my battery (supposed to be here by 3 today). And straight 8 specific watch outs? Not really...it should have hydraulic lifters, which are fed from the rocker shaft down. Unfortunately, the rocker shaft is probably plugged up with sludge (along with the rocker arm passages). So don't be surprised if there's a little valve noise; I hope you luck out! That big manifold might be warped, so an exhaust leak is not out of the question. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron65 Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 Oops! You probably will luck out - it's a standard transmission car, so it should have solid lifters. If no valves are sticking, you should be in decent shape. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 3 hours ago, NC-car-guy said: 3 hours ago, old-tank said: Yeah, post should be move the the Modified forum now... Why? Its not modified as if current. I even just bought a correct 6v battery for $250 Must be my imagination. I thought I saw fuel injection, nailhead... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 21 minutes ago, old-tank said: Must be my imagination. I thought I saw fuel injection, nailhead... That was my last car 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 Engine turns good, no.spark. I've pulled all the trim from the trunk and all seems to be here including decent door panels for patterns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 Car is for sale btw. Just wanted to get it yard drivable and a bit more presentable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerage Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 My point was - stock, mild, kustom... whatever way you go what a great looking car the 53 hardtop is I'd go mild custom with a 60's nailhead myself. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Heaps Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 9 hours ago, powerage said: I'd go mild custom with a 60's nailhead myself. And I can take the inline eight off your hands! I’d hate for you to have to keep stepping around such a large hunk of iron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 7, 2021 Author Share Posted June 7, 2021 18 minutes ago, Rusty Heaps said: And I can take the inline eight off your hands! I’d hate for you to have to keep stepping around such a large hunk of iron. I'd hate to think what shipping would cost on that engine but I could certainly ship the engine to one of you and the rest of the car to the other Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Heaps Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 I wouldn’t want to pull the engine unless someone else was hotrodding it. I already have a ‘52 Special Riviera sans engine, and a ‘53 2dr sedan which I bought for the engine, transmission, and front seat. Now I can’t seem to part it out, unless someone wanted to make a gasser or hotrod out of it. If I had yours I would have to figure out which one I would have to use for the parts car! I’m getting bogged down! Also, if the engine came up for sale I would just have to drive over the mountain and get it. Let us hope that someone will take the whole car and save me from getting deeper in this rabbit hole.😁 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 Well. Front 3 cylinders have 90, 40, 30 psi respectively the middle two were between 10 and 20 and the last three had zero psi. Along with 5 bent push rods that also have cracked skirts on the lifters. 😳 When in bought it I was able to grab the crank pulley and move it by hand with extra umph but im not that strong so I'm guessing that's part of why this car was parked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron65 Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 I'm guessing some stuck valves danced a little too close to some pistons. You could try some new pushrods and maybe pull the head to check out the valves, but you're getting into some money and time you probably don't want to spend on a car you're selling. You gave it a shot! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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