It never ceases to amaze me how silent the flathead, and a lot of the early OHV engines are. Much quieter than the "new & improved" cars we have now, with all that electronic junk buzzing under the hood and acres of vacuum lines and other things creating noise and problems. Beautiful car.
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
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...)
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.
Thank you! I have been trying to remember the name of the other o/d supplier besides Gear Vendors for about ten years and you finally jogged my memory! Sounds like you've got a nice car, there, too.
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:]
The other user must have assumed it was an eight because eights are much more common. In 1951 only 53,748 sixes were sold compared to 316,411 eights. That means about one in six 1951 Pontiacs has a six cylinder engine, and most of those have disappeared because they were thought to be less desirable.
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.
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?
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!"
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.
This is the beautiful sound !
andyunderground 9 months ago
nice pontiac
greeting
marcelfast1 1 year ago
That runs exceptionally smooth!
chargerrthemi 2 years ago
It never ceases to amaze me how silent the flathead, and a lot of the early OHV engines are. Much quieter than the "new & improved" cars we have now, with all that electronic junk buzzing under the hood and acres of vacuum lines and other things creating noise and problems. Beautiful car.
charlie8575 2 years ago
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
ghostofjim 2 years ago
Check out California Pontiac Restoration. They're on the web. Good Luck!
crankstart 2 years ago
@ghostofjim Have You joined P.O.C.I.? You can get good tech help from other members.
mwk1977 1 year ago
i love the way flatheads rumble, def one of a kind
dmellow45 2 years ago
I like these old engines and how uncomplicated they are no rats nest of wires and vacuum hoses.
Membrane556 2 years ago 7
You can count the revolutions! I love the "stripper" models--you never see them.
NDrLoR 2 years ago
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!
skbetts47 2 years ago 4
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...)
lilshu1990 2 years ago
sweet
mercjoe72 2 years ago
The engine sounds fantastic.
coffeefish 3 years ago 3
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.
Kaeferpaul 3 years ago
nice vid. I have done some cylinder head work on an older straight eight like this. fun cars
Jurgy777 3 years ago
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 -
54blueflamesix 3 years ago
Thank you! I have been trying to remember the name of the other o/d supplier besides Gear Vendors for about ten years and you finally jogged my memory! Sounds like you've got a nice car, there, too.
charlie8575 2 years ago
Nice!!!!
smokey65662 3 years ago
What's the gas mileage on one of these beautiful cars?
cmcanuck 3 years ago
Cool.
1Bandit455 3 years ago
hey i have a 51pontiac cheiftan but it isnt the american model its the canadian one
ariespears 3 years ago
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:]
tylergeipel 3 years ago
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.
carnut 3 years ago
nice chieftain i got a 55 keep up the good work!
Djnoxes 3 years ago
The other user must have assumed it was an eight because eights are much more common. In 1951 only 53,748 sixes were sold compared to 316,411 eights. That means about one in six 1951 Pontiacs has a six cylinder engine, and most of those have disappeared because they were thought to be less desirable.
crankstart 3 years ago
Thats such a lovely slow sound.
Is it a manual or a 2 speed auto?
Man that exhaust noise is lovely!
tpvalley 3 years ago
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!
crankstart 3 years ago
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?
tpvalley 3 years ago
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.
crankstart 3 years ago
U can buy overdrives for a lot of older cars.
tpvalley 3 years ago
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?
crankstart 3 years ago
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...
tpvalley 3 years ago
Thanks for the info. I'll check around. Had nice weather last weekend. Drove the Chieftain a lot.
crankstart 3 years ago
Could u not change diff for more tall gearing?
whats first gear like, is it a struggle or a crawler?
tpvalley 3 years ago
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.
crankstart 3 years ago
yeah buddy. straight eight sound...nice!
67genxer 3 years ago
nice engine!
mk3stargazer 3 years ago
Nice engine man...
Volga2402 3 years ago