1950 Pontiac "Ol Blue" spirited cruiser (who am i kidding AutoX monster eventually)

[Mtrhd329]

Here is my 1950 Pontiac Streamliner. I traded my 79 C10 race truck for it. When i got it there was a TON of work that needed to be done. Previous owner was trying to build a car but it was not very safe in some of the execution of mods. I have slowly been going through each area and cleaning up the work and installing new mods as i save up cash. This entire build like the truck will be at a budget of under 75 dollars a month. The challenge proved fun on my last build with all used, traded, or junkyard parts. 166664
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Here she is when i first got her. With all her floatiness and 350/350 power.

[KiwiStarChief]

Cool old car for sure. I like these "out of left field" machines.

[Mtrhd329]

Thanks. Most of my build are typically not the normal cookie cutter type builds. I like to be different.

This car is definately cool. I cant go far without someone wanting to talk about it.

First order of busniss was to get the battery off the knife esge of the fender the PO made by cutting a hole in it. Next i cleaned up all of the wiring going to nothing under the hood. Then moved the noisy electric fuel pump feeding the carb off the firewall. Why a fuel pump? Cause thecrossmber gave no room for a mechanical pump.

[Mtrhd329]

Next up the fuel filter was full of rusty trash. Why you ask? Cause there was a junkyard tank in a hole cut in the floor?
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How did it stay? Why just screw some sheet metal to the trunk floor and screw that to the tank of course!!
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Next i couldnt figure out why it wouldnt cool. New thermostat, burped and filled the coolant, it had an aluminum radiator and a electric fan.....what wrong here? Lets check the pump flow by unhooking a radiator hose and see if water sprays....ooooh. see if you can see whats wrong with this picture.

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[Mtrhd329]

About this time i drove this underpowered running this **** car around to run some errands and pulled it into the garage. I went inside and smelled burning. I went back to the garage and found my starter on fire. I killed the battery and pulled the starter. Above it i found some coolant. I checked the freeze plug where some gunk had built up, and as i touched the plug it busted and sprayed hot coolant in my face.
When i took the starter apart it had coolant all inside it and had shorted the solenoid and cooked it. I checked the other freeze plugs and they were are rotting and about to burst. I popped on out to replace it and there was gravel in the block. I lost my **** and pulled the motor the same day
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166690 i also replaced the steering shaft with a safer alternative. Previously it had two shafts welded together to make it work.

What will i do for a motor? Well i was building a LQ4 for my truck before i traded it.....and its just been sitting there on my stand. 862 heads i ported and polished, ASA cam, ls6 springs, trunion upgrade, ARP bolts, etc. But it was blue. Good thing i have a few extra rattle cans of blue left....but royal blue wont work on this car.....166691
Which blue should i use?? Hmm.

[andrewb70]

Cool project!

Andrew

[Mtrhd329]

About now is when things got interesting. I swapped the motor in and had picked up a 4l80e locally on craigslist.....big kistake. It was an older model and i checked the fluid and it seemed clean and well taken care of. Everything looked good internally. But once installed it would not hold gear and slipped l166711ike crazy.

About the same time i decided the flat black had to go. It was too ghetto hot rod and not enough classic car that i wanted. To the spray paint aisle i went and found a nice light blue.
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[Mtrhd329]

About this time i started to get into the tuning with HP Tuners. I hooked up a wideband 02 and started trying to get this thing to idle. This is my first cable throttle body that i am attempting to play with. The cam is on the large side but nothing too crazy. Its a Howard ASA cam. I am using 862 heads and a thin head gasket on an LQ4 so the compression is a little higher. Its been fun so far learning. The transmission has been another story. Ive been through a 4l80e i got from craigslist that would just slip in every gear. Swapped that out for another 4l80e i got from a racing buddy. That one started slipping a little also. Apparently the software and the tune did not like me putting in the 2.29 rear end ratio and it was messing with my shift points badly. Swapped to a more acceptable 3.08 gear and found Bluecats tuning sheet and my god it made a world of difference.
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Heres a video of me testing the gears when the wife wasnt home on the 4th of July. That made a mess!!
https://youtu.be/LaqM_5Ijt4o

[jc70chevy]

Bad ass build ... Check mine out love what ur doing with urs

[Mtrhd329]

Ive been watching yours. Its progressing nicely. I need to cut out my trunk area also. Way too much cancer. I like the trailer fenders that is cleaner than what i had in my head for mine. Did yours have the oily tar **** all over the underside of every thing? That stuff has been annoying to scrape off. And under it moisture has build and slowly at my floors. Thats a project im not looking forward to.

[jc70chevy]

Yeas mine had all that tar looking stuff I used a torch to get it hot then scrapped it it worked better for me.... Respirator and fan will be ur friend.....I haven't decided if a ls or a old sbc will power mine

[Mtrhd329]

I had a lot of tranny fluid that got everywhere and it seemed to loosen it up nicely. I sprayed some liquid wrench on spots and after i let it soak in for a few days it scraped off in chunks.
I really like the old school feel of my old sbc but the problems i was having and the availability and familiarity of the LS sold me. I got tired of it one weekend and just yanked out the old motor. Much nicer with a matching tranny also. Im not at 3k on the freeway now lol.

[jc70chevy]

Yeah my buddy's keep trying to talk me into a ls ..... I know I'll enjoy it just undecided

[FLYNAVY53]

cool build, in for the updates

[jc70chevy]

Loving that color blue u put on the exterior

[Mtrhd329]

I thought it would be too much but once i had it sprayed i loved it. Its really expensive also

[jc70chevy]

I thought it would be too much but once i had it sprayed i loved it. Its really expensive alsoBad ass..... It don't look half bad

[Mtrhd329]

I try not to go too crazy with my paint while im building. I am clumsy and scratch stuff or change my mind. My last step will be the rust repair and body work so i can have a solid base to paint. I just couldnt handle the black primer look. It was ugly. This gives it a more classic look. I like it.

[Mtrhd329]

Got a little crazy tonight as i usually do, and i am thinking of using a BCM from the vehicle my PCM was from and see if i can add some modern features to the car. I do t have handles or locks but i could use the key fob to pop the door poppers. It would be nice to have some other features also. Intruiged for sure.

[jc70chevy]

Got a little crazy tonight as i usually do, and i am thinking of using a BCM from the vehicle my PCM was from and see if i can add some modern features to the car. I do t have handles or locks but i could use the key fob to pop the door poppers. It would be nice to have some other features also. Intruiged for sure.Do it buddy..... I finished the frame work for my floors tonight in the passenger area....waiting on my dang front suspension to arrive

[andrewb70]

I like the blue but why did you do a burnout in your garage?!?

[jc70chevy]

I like the blue but why did you do a burnout in your garage?!?I think he's was check the transmission... Make sure it would shift through all gears [emoji16]

[Mtrhd329]

Lol it was the fourth of July and i just got it running again. Wasnt planning on a burnout but my buddy talked me into it. It was definately a bad idea in the garage. I was scrubbing rubber off of everything and then the rubber in the air landed and i was scrubbing again. Never done one inside and never will again lol.

[Mtrhd329]

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Was having a brake issue where my pedal was pulsing and pulling to the side. I took the front suspension apart (good excuse) i took the wheel bearings out and regreased them. New brake pads, and then i saw these beauties. From what it looks like the PO swapped the entire braking system from the donor gbody into this car. I will have to go through and replace and rebend all new lines once i upgrade my front and rear brakes. I plan to swap the s10 spindles in the front and matching rotors eventually and when i decide on my rear (prob a ford 8.8) i can upgrade those then i will run my new lines and prop valve. Front end is feeling better now on to the back.

[Mtrhd329]

So i started working on the rear next.
This "lowering kit" was so sketchy in surprised it worked. A G-Body 10 bolt 7.5" rear was swapped in. The perches were bubble gum welded in. The wrong u-bolts were added and sone stupid lowering blocks were added to some form of plate. Everything was bent or half ass welded. I removed all the dumb **** and replaced with some u-bolts i had in my drawer. This will hold me over until i decide on what rear im going to run. Im looking for either a 8.8 or a 8.5" 10 bolt. 167223167224167225

[eville]

Looks safe to me.

[jc70chevy]

Upside down pigeon s&#t I was looking for that same rearend u have in there now...

[Mtrhd329]

Its a 7.5" i guess if your not looking for racing or any power it can hold well. I should have a swap candidate lined up soon once i figure it out. I dont know if you would drive that far for a rear but if you do its yours when it comes out.

[jc70chevy]

Its a 7.5" i guess if your not looking for racing or any power it can hold well. I should have a swap candidate lined up soon once i figure it out. I dont know if you would drive that far for a rear but if you do its yours when it comes out.Do you know the hub to hub measure ment?

[Mtrhd329]

Should be 57 5/8 axle flange to axle flange. Never measured it. Came from a 78-88 monte carlo ish car. Best i can tell.

[jc70chevy]

Should be 57 5/8 axle flange to axle flange. Never measured it. Came from a 78-88 monte carlo ish car. Best i can tell.Yeah I have a 8.5 out if a Camaro which is 60"hub to hub and wheels sit a lil closer to quarter then I'd like....

[Mtrhd329]

I loved my little 8.5. I welded the tubes and ran a true trac in her and never had an issue. And i was driving it like i stole it. There were times i was racing and snapped lug studs off and sent the wheel flying, or snapped the panhard mount and drug the ground. It didnt car it was pretty stout.

[Mtrhd329]

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So the 50 pontiac has a unique x frame that seems to be pretty strong......unless someone has given a plasma to a small child to cut holes all in it. So now will start the fun process of cutting out the cut up x brace and making a decent transmission crossmember and frame bracing.

Im thinking i may use 1x4 box tubing for the crossmember and 1" round tube for my bracing. Should be strong enough. I also will cut out the fsctory shock crossmember since i can move it with a single finger and make a stronger one. I have 1/8" plate i picked up to box the frame. We will see how long it takes me to get to that. If i box it i will want to dimole die holes in the boxing plates and that will take time. I may try and find a hydraulic press for cheap, that would make the dimples easier.

[jc70chevy]

167253

So the 50 pontiac has a unique x frame that seems to be pretty strong......unless someone has given a plasma to a small child to cut holes all in it. So now will start the fun process of cutting out the cut up x brace and making a decent transmission crossmember and frame bracing.

Im thinking i may use 1x4 box tubing for the crossmember and 1" round tube for my bracing. Should be strong enough. I also will cut out the fsctory shock crossmember since i can move it with a single finger and make a stronger one. I have 1/8" plate i picked up to box the frame. We will see how long it takes me to get to that. If i box it i will want to dimole die holes in the boxing plates and that will take time. I may try and find a hydraulic press for cheap, that would make the dimples easier.Did you see the lil frame bracing I did I used 3x3.120 it wasn't as heavy as I thought it would be but I didn't have a tubing bender or I would have done tubing also.. ur guna kill it

[jc70chevy]

Pic of mine urs will be better167254

[Mtrhd329]

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Got some work done today. It was a bitch cutting out the x frame. It is riveted in place and welded top and bottom. Normally wouldnt be so hard but the body is still on amd its hard to cut the top of the frame. Creative work with the air chisel and the sawzall and i got it out. Made the crossmember removable with 8 bolts. Used 2x4 .120 wall sideways to help box the frame around my tie in points. Ran 1" .120 wall tubing as bracing to make the triangles. I got some 1/8 plate i will cut up and make boxing plates. I found my dimple die and i will be using that to dimple the plates to save weight. Once the plates are in i can run additional bracing until i have no deflection in the frame when i jack it up. I plan to run new brake lines once i have to plates in and run my fuel lines inside the frame rail.

[jc70chevy]

Killer work buddy keep it up...

[nos487]

I love these car so cool looking.

[Mtrhd329]

Got around to measuring drive line angle.....wow167310

Looks like i will need about 6 degrees of pinion shim to correct this issue. Maybe i need to cut off the booger weld axle saddles that were welding on and instal new ones at the correct angle. I HATE grinding. Takes forever and gets black stuff everywhere. Oh well time to hike up my skirt and set my purse down and start cutting.

[jc70chevy]

Got around to measuring drive line angle.....wow167310

Looks like i will need about 6 degrees of pinion shim to correct this issue. Maybe i need to cut off the booger weld axle saddles that were welding on and instal new ones at the correct angle. I HATE grinding. Takes forever and gets black stuff everywhere. Oh well time to hike up my skirt and set my purse down and start cutting.Put ur purse down and get after it sister...lol

[Mtrhd329]

I did. I cut the mounting pads off both sides and ground down the leftover metal.....plus all the stuff the PO missed when he cut all of the brackets off to swap this axle in. Mocked up the new saddles without shims this time and made new center bolts for the springs. I swapped the leaf springs so the front mount is in the rear and the rear is in the front. I know its not the right thing to do but it made the rear end line up better in the fender opening. I will see if i can spin the lower leafs around so i have some support from axle wrap. But thats another day. I ran out of sawzall blades and cutoff wheels and jigsaw blades so i cant cut **** until amazon brings me more tools. Plan to start cutting my boxing plates tomorrow and weld them in. Then i can re run my fuel lines make new brake lines and set the car down to set the pinion angle and tack the saddles in place.

[jc70chevy]

Keep up the good work bud... U keep me motivated.

[Mtrhd329]

Likewise!! I got some "new" leaf springs from a 2nd gen camaro and modified my shackles and made new front mounts from 2x3 to fit them. Got them installed and my mounts all welded in place. New perches set on the axle and now i just need to set pinion angle and weld them in place.

Forgot to mention earlier i swapped in moog springs and cut a coil to drip the front some. That and 3" lowering blocks and i think i will have a decent stance. We will see tomorrow.

[jc70chevy]

What rate on the Moog springs

[Mtrhd329]

They were the moog 5660. I prob should have went with the 5664s as they are a little stuffer but i can always swap them later. I cant remember the rate. They are way more than the stock springs that were in there thats for sure.

[jc70chevy]

I did a similar thing with my Monte Carlo I ordered Moog springs and cut them down to fit my ride height..they worked well

[jc70chevy]

You should check out second chance parts... Or second chance race parts

[Mtrhd329]

Got the rear end centered and sat down on the perches. I am going to hate speed bumps. I may need to lift it up a tad but we will see when i drive it around the block.167390167391
Got my.angles right and tacked the perches on. Going to sleep on whether or not i want to swap from the 3" block to the 2" block and look at it again before i weld it solid. At least now i know i can beat on this car and not lose the rear end. Larger lesfs, perches done right, and proper u bolts will ensure a safe driver.167392

[jc70chevy]

What app is that you use for the angle finder

[Mtrhd329]

Its the tremec toolbox app. Ive built lots of stuff with it. Works awesome!!

[Mtrhd329]

Swapped the 2" blocks in while i was down there and had this thing apart for the nine teen hundred and fourty seventh time. I can always swap back to the 3" blocks later. Got my perches welded in and the suspension all put back together. Had to wrap up early and pack up for tomorrows events. I have a work thing that will be taking place over the next 36 hours initiating some people to the next rank, so needless to say i will be taking tomorrow off from the car.167414167415

Please excuse my mess.

Got a box of brake lines today. A roll of 1/4 a roll of 3/16 a roll of line wrap (springy stuff) and a bag of fittings for both. Not bad for 60 bucks. We will see how it works out.

[Mtrhd329]

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Took the cover off the master in an attempt to suck the fluid out before i took the brake lines apart and found this gem. Gotta love a junkyard swap where they use ****ing everything including the brake lines.

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Well this looks prefect. If you need to seal your brake lines just wrap some of this "i used the wrong fitting" tape on it and send it home.

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Combination valve is on the passenger side with this bracket so i need to make it work on the drivers side.

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Well that was easy. Now i can unroll this brake line and start mocking up lines. I ordered larger wheel cylinders and the better brackets for the 9.5" drums. Supposed to have a little more holding power going from 3/4" bore to the 7/8" bore the new ones have. Also swapping in the larger bore master from a B body which should help the pedal feel a little better.

[jc70chevy]

Any updates buddy

[Mtrhd329]

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To keep myself from racing i plan to keep the drums. I will do some upgrades to make sure i can still stop well. With the 9.5" drums come a 3/4" wheel cylinder. A 80s manual brake s10 has a 7/8" bore cylinder that also uses a bracket instead of the goofy clip. These together make much more stable braking and more holding power. Once i sell some more stuff i will get another brake shoe set and add two rear pads to each side. They have a little more pad surface area which will help stopping power.
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Picture of said cylinder bracket
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Goofy clip thing.
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Here is everything removed. Waiting for funding for shoes.

I also managed to secure a braided rear hose to replace the factory rubber one. And a 1980 c10 master cylinder which has the same fittings as a gbody which i what i had in there but a 1 1/8" bore instead of the 1" bore i had on it. This should help pedal feel some. I also got a brake line for the axle that i knicked with the grinder when i was cutting off the old perches.

Got the master bench bled and installed with the combo valve on my new bracket. Started bending up the lines to go between them and the combo valve is metric. Gunna see what i can do to save those fittings. The kit i got only had SAE fittings in it. Got the brake line to the rear mostly ran but i need to make a support bracket for where it transitions to the runner line since this car never had one.

[jc70chevy]

Keep killing it buddy

[Mtrhd329]

Got a little bit of work done today. Got all but the drivers side front line out. Cut all of the fittings off and saved the ones i could. Made the new line to the rear. Made a bracket to support the hard line where it bolts to the flex line. Got my braidedrear flex line installed. Got the drivers side front line bent. Waiting for my buddy to come by when i get everything mocked up to flair the lines. I still cant believe the PO swapped the entire brake system in. Lines are too long for this car? Its ok i will just bend them up into a ball and run it. Be glad when i fix all these issues.167578167579167580167581

[Mtrhd329]

Waiting on some parts. Making the best of my time and ran my fuel lines AWAY from the exhaust and put some heat shielding i had in my drawer on it to protect my little nylon lines. 167607

[jc70chevy]

Keep up the good work bud......I'm bored with floor pans ...on mine may try to install a cage on her next.... Never seen a four door with a good looking cage

[Mtrhd329]

Ha. Floor pans take a while. Its worth it when its done though. I need to do mine still. Not looking forward to that.
Cage is fun but then you have to cut holes in your floor.

Got a lot done today. Got all my drivers side boxing plates cut out and welded in. Mocked up my shock crossmember and tscked it in place. Waiting on my braided stainless lines for the front and then i can turn the car around after i bleed it to work on the other side.

[Mtrhd329]

Got some time in the garage tonight. Getting less and less with my new job. Got my shock crossmember tacked in place and started making the shock mounts. 167702167701

Im still not sure i like how they mounted. I may add some triangles so they are stronger.

Got my brake line and fuel lines ran in nut serts and brackets down the boxed frame rail. Now just a few more brackets and this side will be done. Then i can turn the beast around and start the other side.167703

[jc70chevy]

Keep up the good work buddy...... Ur killin it

[Mtrhd329]

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Got a little more work done. Installed braided front brake lines welded the mounting tabs and did some bleeding. Fronts are coming together.

[jc70chevy]

Where did u order brake tabs from

[Mtrhd329]

Mine came with the kit i got from speedway. Kit was 40 bucks in think with hoses bolts and tabs.

[Mtrhd329]

Been lots of little progress and not much to report. Got the brakes together and bled. Fighting a small leak at one of the fittings on the prop valve. Brakes feel solid despite that though.

Got the drivers side frame braced and boxed and rear shocks mounted to the crossmember i made. Had to make version 2.0 of my shock mounts as the first ones has only about an inch of travel when the weight was on them. Dropped the mounting points about 2" to put resting position at about the center of the travel.

Started playing with my tuning again since the idle hangs slightly and i am getting fed up with having to play around in HP Tuners all the time. The features are awesome but i would rather spend my time building instead of tuning. My buddy does LS Swaps at work and highly reccomends the new holley terminator x. I may be saving my lunch money for a while.

Oh and had to make a rear package tray cause why not. Figured it would look good wrapped in a mexican blanket.168485

[jc70chevy]

Bad ass buddy keep killing it

[jc70chevy]

Checking in to see if any updates....?????

[Mtrhd329]

Been busy with work but ive still been plugging away at this thing. Swapped in a NNBS intake, 92mm TB, and Holley terminator X Max. It idles so much better. Getting the mechanicals sorted out and started a you tube channel to document the rest of the process. Ill post up links here to my videos as they come out.

https://youtu.be/GqY7QNlJYtU

This is my first video and i need a microphone and a beer next time. Tear it up. Open to hear what you guys want to see. Im going to do one showing how easy it is to set up the terminator next.

[68400BIRD]

It has been fun following along on this unique build. May I ask what angle finder app you were using on your phone?
I have a drive-train shake in my car and I think my angles might be off a little. I believe i aimed for 3.5 down on the motor and 3.5 up on the leaf rear end.

[Mtrhd329]

Interesting you ask that. I was just making a video to cover that. I use the tremec toolbox app.

[Mtrhd329]

Latest video up on how to get Holley Terminator to idle correctly. Check it out. More to follow.

https://youtu.be/EuZC79sOZOk

[Mtrhd329]

https://youtu.be/7ySQ2kVAcAw

Update

[Mtrhd329]

Part 2


https://youtu.be/oAe4zv5YJwg

[Mtrhd329]

Pulled the old girl put and took her arou d the block tonight. Man it felt good and sounded great!! Snapped a few pics before the drive.173550173549

[Mtrhd329]

https://youtu.be/m1xi_6dm7Vg

[Mtrhd329]

Havent updated in a while. Lots happening. Slow and steady progress. Rear end is in and exhaust done. Sway bar mounted, shocks in. Had issues here and there. Pinion angle was off, little shake down problems to fix. Ultimately i got it running decent for a day and drove it around and blew the upper radiator hose off. My fault for how i rigged the remote filler inline and didnt have any bead on my pipe im using as a hose. Fixed that. Buddy has a 10 camaro SS he took apart to put into another car hes building at work and i scored some brembo 4 pisont calipers from. Now im slowly grafting that setup into the front end. Waiting on parts but should have it ready to take around the block shortly after they get here.


https://youtu.be/V0EQ0NIQ4AA

https://youtu.be/L_71CPEAPao

https://youtu.be/pRTnoDy2gFY