1951 Pontiac Chieftain

[LynehamHerc]

Keep safe Phil.

[xtriple]

Yeah, keep very safe mate and look after my car... or else the wind and rain will be nothing compared to the ire and spite that will come your way from its new owner (clue:ME!).

[PhilA]

Come tomorrow the weather's going to be quite different. We're already getting the muggy gulf air today, despite it looking pleasant:

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Hopefully it's just gonna be windy with some rain. It already looks like this weekend may be off the books. We'll see.

Phil

[PhilA]

Storm track is pushing west; we are off hurricane warning, downgraded to tropical storm.

Phil

[PhilA]

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Compared to today, which is breezy and overcast. Sky is moving quickly. It takes about a minute for the cloud on one horizon to reach the other.

Car is running better now I've set the timing. Holds 180 unless you stop in traffic where it goes to about 190.
It's a fair bit quieter at cruise and the fuel economy is noticably better.
Had to give the brakes a shove when someone pulled out in front of me, thankfully this time it pulled up in a straight line. Last time the front left brake grabbed and pulled the wheel hard until I lifted pressure and braked again.

Coolant remains florescent yellow, oil looks moderately ok for the moment.

Steering box lower bushing definitely needs attention though.

Phil

[mercrocker]

I guess it's all about building confidence in it now. That's one heavy looking sky too, and to think I have just kicked off about a bit of drizzle when I had got the jack and stands out to grease the Cowley....Meh, can wait.

[Hooli]

So it goes, can't stop & doesn't corner? That's how they are meant to be isn't it?

[PhilA]

I guess it's all about building confidence in it now. That's one heavy looking sky too, and to think I have just kicked off about a bit of drizzle when I had got the jack and stands out to grease the Cowley....Meh, can wait.

That's a good part of it. I'm fairly happy with how it's been so far, with exception of the stupidly low rear axle ratio and sloppy front suspension and steering.

The engine has been mostly behaving, gearbox is good other than squeaking on engaging the second band and the rest is all just bedding in from new.

So it goes, can't stop & doesn't corner? That's how they are meant to be isn't it?

To a degree. The brakes were good for the era, and still bring the car to a halt but do suffer from fade if pushed hard. The steering is hugely geared down (lock to lock is 6 full revolutions of the steering wheel so you'll never drive it like a rally car) and the suspension is typical 50's blemonge.

Phil

[PhilA]

Tonight, after boarding up the garage doors, I decided to investigate why the throttle pump wasn't working.

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The leather seal on the plunger was hardened and not making good contact with the bore. I oiled it and got it supple again, which, upon reassembly showed it to work correctly again.

I also adjusted the throttle linkage because it was all wrong, from trying to get the old worn out carburetor to work right.

Phil

[PhilA]

Set off for Cruisin' The Coast.

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Got as far as New Orleans before trip was abandoned due to mechanical issues. Gearbox governor was getting stuck and was causing the gears to hang up in low range.

Made it home. Wife highly unimpressed. Went worse than hoped for, better than feared.

Gonna pull governor apart again and see if I can free it up, but really it needs a new one


Suspension is a bit low for the roads we got round these parts, crash bang
Engine comes on cam at 2200 rpm, and is more rev-happy than I gave it credit for
Brakes need adjusting again
Fuel pump farts oil everywhere, need to look at why
Fuel economy was calculated at an immense 9.3mpg over 117 miles
It gets a bit blue when it's hot and in traffic

Phil