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Re: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 2:26 am
by PhilA
Spoke to a few people and they suggested I bump up the pressure in my tires from 26 to 32.
I put them up to 30 all round and went for a quick drive.
The ride is better, despite the car liking to tramline more, but the steering is noticably more light.

I set the timing back just a touch, think it might have been a bit much. Now that I'm getting it all dialed in better, smaller changes are making a greater difference. That's a good thing in my book. Means I'm getting it right.

Phil

Re: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 10:08 am
by mercrocker
Are you adding any kind of octane booster or is the Eight happy on regular? Seem to recall that a lot of the iron-block stuff was.....

Re: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 12:21 pm
by PhilA
mercrocker wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 10:08 am Are you adding any kind of octane booster or is the Eight happy on regular? Seem to recall that a lot of the iron-block stuff was.....
It's happy on regular, apparently it's good down to about 65 octane.

Re: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 2:41 pm
by DodgeRover
PhilA wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 12:21 pm
mercrocker wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 10:08 am Are you adding any kind of octane booster or is the Eight happy on regular? Seem to recall that a lot of the iron-block stuff was.....
It's happy on regular, apparently it's good down to about 65 octane.
You should be able to run kero in it then to keep mobile at the end of the world!

Re: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 2:42 pm
by Hooli
So it'd even run on JD then.

Re: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 3:55 pm
by PhilA
Started on petrol, once warm, with modification it would run on TVO yes

Re: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 4:53 am
by PhilA
20210406_191327.jpg
20210406_191327.jpg (248.99 KiB) Viewed 1948 times
I now have the factory option handbrake warning light!
20210406_194827.jpg
20210406_194827.jpg (156.55 KiB) Viewed 1948 times
Ignition on, pull the handbrake on and the light blinks at you as a reminder.

Wanted to fit this, could never find one, typical one lands unexpectedly on my doorstep.

Amongst a bunch of other spare parts, was a clock. I said I would repair it and send it back because the guy who sent me the spares is hotrodding a '53 Chieftain and put a tachometer where the clock goes. I said no, clock goes there, tacho goes in a pod on the steering column. Etiquette!
20210406_205126_1.gif
20210406_205126_1.gif (300.86 KiB) Viewed 1948 times
I got the clock running, it just needs a little work and conversion to 12v.

Phil

Re: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 3:08 pm
by PhilA
20210407_090207.jpg
20210407_090207.jpg (348.21 KiB) Viewed 1923 times
If nothing else, at least it looks pretty.

Re: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:14 pm
by DodgeRover
I should think with the low compression ratio the easiest way to make hot rod power would be to fit a large blower?
Be a shame to fit a V8 if it had the straight 8 still

Re: 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:49 pm
by PhilA
That's the generally accepted method- either that or improve the breathing with more carburetors and massively bump up the CR.

Either way the main bearings and big ends tend not to last well if you do.