Old school pics of an old school ride
07-06-08, 12:38 AM
#17
Keeper of the light
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
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.
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.
07-06-08, 12:51 AM
#18
Keeper of the light
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
Dang I forgot the mod list.....
- 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).
- 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
- 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
).- 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
Last edited by O. L. T.; 07-06-08 at 12:56 AM.
07-06-08, 04:53 PM
#19
Lexus Fanatic
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.
07-06-08, 10:54 PM
#20
Lead Lap
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^^^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).
Regarding the smoothness of the V8 it's already a balanced engine due to the overlapping crank phase (usually 90 degrees).
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