1951 pontiac flathead
My 51 Cheiftain. Old flathead Pontiacs make a really nice sound!
If Hotrod Ratrod is available on eBay, you can find it below.
Cool, arent they?
Tagged with: 1951 • Flathead • pontiac
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Check out California Pontiac Restoration. They’re on the web. Good Luck!
i just bought a 51 pontiac indian?straight 8 flathead,for 500.where can i get parts???it runsgood,but body needs work.need interior replacement even thought its all there
i love the way flatheads rumble, def one of a kind
I like these old engines and how uncomplicated they are no rats nest of wires and vacuum hoses.
You can count the revolutions! I love the “stripper” models–you never see them.
My first car was a ‘51 Pontiac 4dr. My brother borrowed it and pulled wristpin out of #2 piston. My dad & I pulled the center 4 pistons and rods out, plugged the oil ports on crank w/self thread screws, removed the lifters for these 4 cyl’s and I ran it on 4 cylinders for 8 more months till the clutch went out. Great car…greater memories. Puff the Magic Dragon!
Haha, this gives a new meaning to the vegetable juice commercial: “Could’ve had a V8!”
That’s a very nice sounding (and looking!) car. It certainly idles slower than my ‘50 ford though. (I’m always afraid it’s going to end up choking down at a stoplight though, so I kind of cranked up the idle speed…)
sweet
The engine sounds fantastic.
My first car was a ‘51 Pontiac Chieftan Deluxe. Those straight eights were pretty torquey and smooth. I see you are also in WI. I am into Studebakers and aircooled VWs these days.
nice vid. I have done some cylinder head work on an older straight eight like this. fun cars
Hey -shes a cruiser not a bruiser – great
ride – i have 4:11 gears in my 50 -strt-8
and overdrive – the Mitchell overdrive works great -and they are still around – i have mitchell -in my 34-ford -40 ford – a few
trucks – and model A – you should hear my
50 -pontiac pull grade in o/d with smitty
mufflers and split exhaust – drool factor
is 9- about as good my 51 merc – again very
nice car -
Nice!!!!
What’s the gas mileage on one of these beautiful cars?
wow that is incredible I’ve never heard a 51 pontiac running before. that is sweet!! especially for the original engine (it is the original right?) amazing sound. we have the same exaust tip on our 96 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 V6 just put it on today:]
Niiiiiice !! I was looking for an engine for my hot rod..Was thinking about buying an engine like yours. This vid made me decide to buy it
Gert Ouderits
Belgium.
I’ve thought about that, but I don’t want to sacrifice what little “off the line” performance I already have. It’s too bad third gear isn’t a little higher.
Could u not change diff for more tall gearing?
whats first gear like, is it a struggle or a crawler?
Thanks for the info. I’ll check around. Had nice weather last weekend. Drove the Chieftain a lot.
Theres a company here in the UK called Farley overdrives, they can bolt on the rear of tranny in place of the last portion of the tranny.
They could be called ferley, or fairley or fairy. have a look.
It may be a little rare for them to make one unless the tranny was used on many other things, I’m sure someone in america land must make one – surely?! ” dont call me shirley!”
har har…
If you or anyone else has a source for these overdrives please let me know. It would put me a little more at ease when I travel longer distances with the car.
Thanks for the good conversation tpvalley! Your homepage states that you like large machines. Did you see my Fairbanks Morse video?
U can buy overdrives for a lot of older cars.
Picture an “H” pattern facing the passenger window. Back and up is reverse. Back and down is first. Forward and up is second. Forward and down is third.
I wish it had another gear because it really winds out on the freeway.
So where r the gears?
ie is first towards steering wheel and anti clockwise, second clockwise and 3rd away from wheel and anti clockwise? or something?
It’s a “three on the tree” (manual). The car is not what I would call fast, but it sure is fun to cruise around!