9-28-16

Made some progress over the last few days. I was able to make a new wire harness for the overdrive system. I had to leave some wires long because they were cut by a previous owner and I wouldn't know how long they should be until it was in the car.

Today I got the overdrive lockout cable back on. I used the same route it was originally even though it doesn't seem right. I've been looking at pics of engine bays to try to see what the routing is supposed to look like but I haven't found a picture that shows it. I have to look up any adjustments because I'm not sure how the lockout switch is supposed to work.

I also have most of the wires hooked up. There is supposed to be a wire from the governor to the lockout switch that is missing on my car. I can't see where iris supposed to connect so a lot more cleaning is in order.

I also still need to wire in the kick down switch, the wire that goes to the ignition switch (which went to the circuit breaker behind the instruments on my car) and the wire that goes to the coil.

I'm working with Gerry on why my speedometer cable and gear do not like each other.

After I get all back together I still don't know if it will work or there is some component that was defective to begin with!

9-25-16

Taking a break from the car right now. So far I have lubed the replacement speedometer cable with graphite and the overdrive cable with grease. The bolts that hold the overdrive knob bracket under the dash are now stripped out and won't hold it in place. The speedometer gear is very tight in the new cable and doesn't appear to go all the way in. It is very easy to insert in the old cable. Argh!

Even with the speedometer inner cable pulled out, the speedometer gear is not fitting easily.

UPDATE: There is definitely something wrong with the new speedo cable and/or my existing speedometer gear. Even with it in the position in the pics it is too tight to move.

I loosely reinstalled the overdrive lockout cable. I will have to look up how to adjust it. I also removed what was left of the overdrive wiring harness. I will make a new one.

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9-21-16

Tomorrow my speedometer cable from Gerry should be arriving so I crawled under the car to remove the old one. While I was under there, I figured it was a good time to remove the overdrive lockout cable. Both came out without much drama, but the routing seemed odd.

On the speedometer cable, I found 2 very old clothes pins attached to it! What could that be for? Did a previous owner attempt to cure vapor lock and mistake it for the fuel line?

The overdrive cable had a 90 degree angle to it. I straightened it out and now it moves! That was a relief. It is still a little hard to move so I'm going to have to lube it somehow.

This makes me question if the car was originally a stick or converted at some point? Anyone know the proper routing for the speedometer cable and overdrive lockout cable? The way they are on my car does not seem factory. I also noticed a lot of oil covering the trans so that will need to be addressed at some point.

Here are some pics. Sorry for taking them in the driveway. I didn't know my driveway would reflect so much.

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Thanks guys...I'll probably try using the wiper oil to see what happens but eventually will have to send the motor out for a rebuild. I don't want to convert to electric wipers.

Any updates on your progress?

Thanks Howard, I will see what my local hardware store has to offer.

ptv, yes I need wipers! At least for emergencies. A previous owner removed the vacuum lines going to the wiper motor and also the ones going to the switch in the steering column. I assume the wiper motor will need to be rebuilt. Maybe he was contemplating an electric wiper conversion since a 12v conversion was already started.

9-17-16

Did a little tinkering today. When I bought the car the drivers side hood hinge was missing the spring. I took the spring off the hinge I saved from the '51. It was a pain to get on the car! I finally got it on using a heavy screwdriver through the eye of the spring and prying it on the hinge. The I used a hammer to help slide the spring down the screwdriver. Also used it to tap the end of the screwdriver to get it back out when the spring was close to being in place.

Next I removed the copper plate from the starter to clean up as Ross suggested. Used a large file on it, the nuts and the washers. I used steel wool to clean the lugs on the starter. After getting it all back together I started the car. Might be my imagination but it felt like it turned over even faster than before. I let the car idle for 15 minutes, turned it off, waited another 3 minutes and then restarted. Fired right up. The real proof will be after driving the car for a while. That's when the symptom really shows up.

Ever since I swapped my grills a couple of times, the hood latch would not catch. I tried adjusting the bottom plate but that did not help. Started loosening the spike on the hood and tried again. Now it latches! The sweet spot appears to loosen on side and keep the other side tight. I can live with that.

I noticed while I was under the hood that the overdrive cable and the wires for the overdrive are rubbing against the levers on the steering column. How is the cable supposed to be run through the engine compartment. Maybe it's missing a clamp somewhere.

One thing that drives me nuts is the woot woot noise coming from the vacuum side of the fuel pump. It is not hooked up to anything because the wiper motor system was disabled by a previous owner. I was thinking of running a hose to connect both sides to itself to eliminate the noise but I don't know if that would work or damage the fuel pump.

Your website works fine on my IPad

Not a joke...you will need it!!!

She's a great looking car! Lucky to have you as the caretaker!