I'm trying not to screw it up by over-restoring it. The age is what makes this car, but I keep finding things to screw with. :D
Classified
07-05-08, 09:57 PM
Beautiful find! I love the style of old cars like that. Each one was very distinct. I have a 49' Lincoln that I'm considering restoring... this gives me inspiration to do so.
iasc300
07-05-08, 09:58 PM
very nice- i like the tone of the pictures as well-
cliffud
07-05-08, 10:02 PM
very nice car man.
it should almost come with an instruction booklet...
"to be driven only when wearing simply a black or white t-shirt and very worn jeans...
and no flip flops."
DaveGS4
07-05-08, 10:13 PM
Great pictures (considering moving this to photography forum!), very cool car!!
mmarshall
07-05-08, 10:25 PM
I'm trying not to screw it up by over-restoring it. The age is what makes this car, but I keep finding things to screw with. :D
One thing to keep in mind if you restore it and actually drive it: If you keep the stock carburator and don't convert it to fuel injection, pull and inspect the the spark plugs regularly. One of the weaknesses of the old Pontiac/Buick straight-8's was that the engine block (and intake manifold) was so long that, even with a good carburator, the fuel mixture varied quite a bit from the rich, close-in cylinders to the lean, faraway ones....which, of course, often meant deposits on the near plugs and prematurely burnt-up electrodes on the far ones. One of the reasons the straight-8 design was dropped was that the engineers, with the technology of the time, never really got that problem solved.
Sup2jzgte
07-05-08, 10:29 PM
Those pictures are absolutely amazing, I love the 1st and 2nd ones the most. What year is it?
GFerg
07-05-08, 10:38 PM
In love with that car. Very nice. :thumbup:
O. L. T.
07-05-08, 11:03 PM
MMarshall, not a daily so won't bother me a bit.
Those pictures are absolutely amazing, I love the 1st and 2nd ones the most. What year is it?
That's a 1950 Pontiac Chieftain Eight Streamliner Deluxe. It's a rare version. You can search the internet for 1950 Pontiac Chieftain and you'll see pics that have a flat rear end on them. The Streamliner has the rounded Mafia rear end (room for the bodies). You'll also come across several descriptions in the pics you find and most all of them say "inline 6 or straight 6". This one is the deluxe inline eight (or straight 8, or "flathead" eight). Combined, the straight eight and the streamliner body in deluxe trim is a very rare car.
I got very lucky when I found it.
This is a regular Chieftain, which as you can see (if this image hotlinks) is a completely different car compared to my Streamliner Chieftain flathead 8.
Very nice, OLT. I've always been a huge fan of the flat black gangster rigs with the white walls. My dad's got a '70 Chevelle SS that we show often and it's a blast. Nothing like driving a classic out on a nice day :thumbup:
trukn1
07-06-08, 12:42 AM
OLT,, I love the ride. I have a 52 Chieftan myself which is in need of restore and I have just had sitting. I too have the straight 8 and push button start. Looks like you runing 3 on the tree. Good luck with that in getting used to it. Was hard for me when I first drove one. Keep us informed with updates.
chrisyano
07-06-08, 01:05 AM
Nice ride. A real classic beauty and great pics too.
Question:
Is the the car seen in Cobra? Not the one Stallone is driving, but the guy who lives on his street that is always taking up two stalls? The guy who gets his T-shirt ripped off his chest LOL.
whoster
07-06-08, 01:27 AM
looking good, looking good!
Classic cars always make me drool...
O. L. T.
07-06-08, 01:38 AM
OLT,, I love the ride. I have a 52 Chieftan myself which is in need of restore and I have just had sitting. I too have the straight 8 and push button start. Looks like you runing 3 on the tree. Good luck with that in getting used to it. Was hard for me when I first drove one. Keep us informed with updates.
NIIIIIIICCCCE. Are you gonna tell me you found a Streamliner too, or did you go with the Chieftain sedan or coupe? Either way, Vuury kool. :)
When I first got it I couldn't visualize where the gears were supposed to set when shifting. It's actually more tricky than you think if you haven't driven one, but I'm sure as you found once you were able to "see" the gears sitting in place it's CAKE...... this just isn't one of those cars you can speed shift. :D
O. L. T.
07-06-08, 01:51 AM
Dang I forgot the mod list..... :D
- All the trim except the window trim has been removed and the holes welded and sanded.
- The headlights were frenched, welded, and sanded.
- The rear bumper was cut and shortened, frenched into the body, welded, sanded.
- The front grill was cut in half, shortened, and welded in a V pattern.
- rear trunk trim and emblem deleted, holes welded and sanded.
- Hood trim frenched into the hood, welded, sanded.
- Rear emblem relocated to front bumper/grill. (these emblems aren't like today, they are a foot long 6 inches high, 2 inches deep, and steel :D).
- MoonEyes.
- Front facia trim delete.
- Front turn signals deleted.
- Hood emblem deleted.
- 12 volt conversion.
- 3 inch drop
- Custom battery box.
- Custom made rear wheel well panel covers.
- Full vehicle rewire with Lighting Audio cable.
- "Hot Rod black" paint
UDel
07-06-08, 05:53 PM
One thing to keep in mind if you restore it and actually drive it: If you keep the stock carburator and don't convert it to fuel injection, pull and inspect the the spark plugs regularly. One of the weaknesses of the old Pontiac/Buick straight-8's was that the engine block (and intake manifold) was so long that, even with a good carburator, the fuel mixture varied quite a bit from the rich, close-in cylinders to the lean, faraway ones....which, of course, often meant deposits on the near plugs and prematurely burnt-up electrodes on the far ones. One of the reasons the straight-8 design was dropped was that the engineers, with the technology of the time, never really got that problem solved.
Maybe you can answer this mmarshall. Is there any advantages in the straight 8 configuration over a v8 kind of like the advantages of a straight six(smoother reving, balanced smoother powerband/engine/acceleration, stronger, good candidate for turbocharging) over a V6. I know V6 are much easier to package and are cheaper to make but many prefer smooth inline sixes over v6 and some car companies still make inline 6's because of these advantages. I don't think there are any straight 8s available now and packaging would be an issue but if their are some advantages of the I8 configuration over a v8 especially with performance or smoothness then I don't see why a company would not try it and just have a design with a longer hood like a TVR or Rolls Royce.
94lex83457
07-06-08, 11:54 PM
^^^this is why I have always wanted a modern straight 8. Especially in a classic, neo classic, or art deco style. Back in the day the straight 8 was the top of the line engine on many cars but were eventually dropped due to the mixture issues in addition to weight, packaging and crank/cam shaft weakness. Before I die I want to construct or commission a modern straight 8 and stick it in a car like a first gen SC or merc CL.
Regarding the smoothness of the V8 it's already a balanced engine due to the overlapping crank phase (usually 90 degrees).