Shifter Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Bit of a lurker but always enjoy following the build threads on OS. Came across a few pics of my car so figured I'd post a few up to now, and then update going forward. Got the car off a friend in stock form. It was "restored" in the UK at some point but from what I understand the guy emigrated to NZ but had health issues and passed away once here. I think the car sat for quite some time after. Anyway, I got the car and promptly broke it. The OG six needed a rebuild which priced out pretty high and as I had always planned to make it more of a daily driver I figured there was little reason to throw $ at the six. Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing. That's exactly what I should have done. Oh well... So, the short version... Jag IFS, 350 SBC crate motor, TH375 trans (yes 375!), HQ diff, rewired. Some other stuff. Would like to point out rather quickly that I'm pretty hopeless with the tools and although they entertained my efforts knocking round their shop, all the real heavy lifting was done at Valley Custom in Cambridge. However, Valley Custom wasn't the first lot to have a crack at it and I'm picking this up from when I dragged it to their shop. Long story short, none of the first lot of work was up to cert standard inc engine mounts (had even bent on trailer ride over), gearbox crossmember, rear Jag IRS mounts, and steering rack mounts. But the firewall was painted so totally worth it. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Shifter Posted September 6, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2016 And here's a few randoms from the more successful second attempt. Changed plan to use a HQ diff instead of the Jag rear for $ reasons. Changed headers to Camaro for steering column clearance and engine colour just because. 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Shifter Posted September 6, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2016 Life goals... 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Shifter Posted September 6, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2016 Getting it back looking like a car again after a few years off the road. As you'd expect lots of stuff that takes time and money but isn't too exciting for highlights purposes like custom driveshaft, new exhaust, Rebel wire kit, 6 x seat belts (required due to power increase). Blah blah. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Shifter Posted September 6, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2016 Will upload some more progress shots in this enthralling series a bit later. Cheers. Here's the link to the other page where you can leave all necessary insults and mockery: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/53947-shifters-51-pontiac-chieftain-talky-stuff/ 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifter Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Right, so we got it legal and drove it round for a couple years. Kept losing the full wheel covers so changed them out to Chev dog dish and most recently baby moons with beauty rings. Stuck a visor on and started collecting more bits and trim. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifter Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Ebay find: Took about 2 years to finally track these down via the HAMB: They're now gray with black lettering. Staggered SBC pattern. I mount them to the centre bolt crate motor with adapters. Recent find - rear overriders and bar, needs chrome. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifter Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Anyway, hope this isn't getting too boring but the next problem was this: I don't mind patina and this car had the good version in places, but the variations between panels just annoyed me - so this happened. It is actually a real solid old beast so it was a case of tidying it up rather than back to bare metal. Unfortunately the rear guard didn't get that message...sigh. Was a rather poor mud job done previously, but hidden by chrome. Better to catch it sooner rather than later though. And fortunately the rest of the car was good. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Shifter Posted September 6, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2016 And we're pretty much up to current day. The car is now in primer thanks to Chaz Allen (pinstriper, custom painter and highly recommended) Will get it painted shortly and reassembled and back on the road for summer. Maybe with some fresh chrome via a contra deal. And that'll be phase 2 done. Phase 3 is 2017 and that's to bag it and mess with the wheel/tyre combo (again). Not worried about laying frame but without notching we've got 3" to play with out back and lots up front, still running stock Jag springs. Santa needs to bring me some of those Coker bias look radials in a 3 1/4 whitewall and you might have spotted the sets of ponty full wheel covers on the wall earlier. Will run the Caddy Sombrero style ones. After that I'll probably break something and start over. Talky bits here: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/53947-shifters-51-pontiac-chieftain-talky-stuff/ 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Shifter Posted September 10, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 10, 2016 Found this photoshop I did ages ago... This is pretty much the end goal. Bagged but not on the deck. Found skirts on eBay and they've been blasted and will be painted shortly with the rest of the car. Bought some venetians too. I go through stages of wanting a wider whitewall but looking at this they're not too bad as is when the ride height gets addressed. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifter Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 Ok. Bit of a change of plan. Chaz the painter has been tied up with other work so not much movement on the car in the last month. Obviously given me too much time to think because I'm now planning to change the colour. I liked the white but didn't love it so makes sense to throw a bit more time and money at it now than regret missing my chance later. But now comes the real tough decision of picking a colour so any suggestions, feedback most welcome. This is a colour I've really liked for a long time and if my interior wasn't grey/deep red I'd go for it. Unfortunately I think it'll look like a christmas tree. And the interior is pretty mint so don't really want to go down that track of changing it. So, the other favourite for this era of car is a blue/gray. And after years of thinking "yeah, I like that" I can't seem to work out what car I've seen it on. But it looks a bit like this... To me it's more of a 40s/early 50s flat colour rather than the brighter blues that came in 53ish. Closest I've found is a '50 Windsor Blue which I think would look pretty cool, but could possibly get a little more gray mixed in plus be a little flatter rather than metallic. Decisions... Anyone know of anything along those lines worth considering? Or anything left field? Always thought this car would end up black but while I like black chevs, the few black Pontys I've seen haven't really done it for me. Too much contrast. Cheers. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifter Posted October 12, 2016 Author Share Posted October 12, 2016 Thanks Eddie, I'll lock in Windsor Blue please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifter Posted December 9, 2016 Author Share Posted December 9, 2016 Stuff all to report really 2 months later. Not painted yet but hopefully it'll be underway shortly. Disappointing news is that the colour I wanted to go isn't going to work. Was hoping the Windsor Blue would be gray enough to not look silly with the red interior...but it looks silly with the red interior. So a real left field colour choice going on - a VW colour is now the plan. Anyway, pics for awesomeness. It looks like this now except all masked up to spray the door jambs etc. I bought some mens speciality rubber products. And the garage has gone downhill since the car is missing. Discussion: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/53947-shifters-51-pontiac-chieftain-talky-stuff/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Shifter Posted February 18, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 18, 2017 Right, finally interesting stuff to report. Car went into the booth today. Really happy with the colour but damn, is it impossible to photograph! Looks dark grey, light grey, brown and green from different angles. Something I've heard from other people with this colour. It's definitely not going to be a popular choice with everyone and a few will probably think I missed a sweet opportunity to go some new metallic but I really wanted to do something a bit different while staying very 50s and understated. Anyway here's some pics... 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Shifter Posted February 18, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 18, 2017 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifter Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Or if you're on Facebag or instagram look up Charlie's Pinstriping and Custom Painting and there's video and photos there. Which look completely different to the photos above of course. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifter Posted February 25, 2017 Author Share Posted February 25, 2017 This car is still impossible to take photos of that accurately show the colour but this vid is probably the best so far... Out in the sun... 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Shifter Posted April 5, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 5, 2017 Well, at last I have a large grey pontiac in my garage. Still a couple things to paint like the skirts and the detail on the 'waterfall' trim that goes over the hood and trunk. Grill has been rechromed and will do the front bumper too plus a few randoms like indicators and tail lights, rear bumper is still pretty good. Have a bit of a list of stuff to do, now at that stage where I have to decide if I just want to get back on the road asap or drag it out doing more stuff. I'd like to do as much Dynamat as I can afford, at the very least in the doors/rear quarters. I had a felt kit and new rubbers for the front quarter windows to go in but this didn't happen when it was apart as I 'd hoped it might. Might be the time to pull doors apart and do this, and rechrome the quarter window frames as they're a bit rusty. Hmmm. Anyway, here's a couple of random pics. Since I have such a list of things to do it seemed logical to put the venetians in for a test fit! Priorities... Not 100% sure on them, think they'll work when more chrome is back on car. Currently look like too much of a feature. //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/53947-shifters-51-pontiac-chieftain-talky-stuff/ 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Shifter Posted April 12, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 12, 2017 Been crazy busy at work so not a great deal of progress being made, but been hitting the chrome and stainless with metal polish and jamming it back on the car bit by bit. Also got my grill back from Bumper Replacements in Auckland. Really nice job and had a fair bit of rust on it before so the difference is just massive. 23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifter Posted April 14, 2017 Author Share Posted April 14, 2017 Small steps... 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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