1948 Pontiac STRAIGHT EIGHT! Will It RUN??

This 48 Pontiac Streamliner Deluxe hasn't ran in Lord knows how long, but before we move on to other aspects of this car, we HAVE to hear it bark off! if it doesn't, we could be shopping for an engine swap! stay tuned, relax, and let's see if we can't get this ol Betty to show signs of life!

[@davidadkison4702]

Those old 8’s really ran and they don’t die. It’s a fixer upper for sure.

[@sammyboy8760]

This gal is a runner! Can’t wait to see you on the road with this original engine!

[@sammyboy8760]

I’m following this 1948 Pontiac with great interest! My first car at 15 was an ancient 1948 Pontiac Silver Streak straight 8 automatic two door with 8 tube radio and heater under the seat! Loved that slow old car. The starter is under the gas pedal so you had to floor the gas to hit the starter. It would turn over-slowly with 6 volts-exactly 3 times, then fire off! Always, no matter what the weather. What it lacked in hp it had great torque. I climbed Fort Mountain in Chatsworth GA, 2,850 feet of spiraling steep road, and the old thing never slowed down. Just held my gas pedal at 35 mph and it went same speed all the way.

[@route40rust]

Oh man! Appreciate you tuning in and most importantly dropping some great comments! Yea, we are working hard to make sure we can use this old straight 8! I wasn't necessarily looking for a Pontiac, an old Packard or Studebaker straight 8 would have worked for me but this car was found at a good price and with a title, that was a must. Lord willing I get some time to edit and upload the latest video on schedule but you know how life can get. I'll work hard and get it uploaded this weekend or early next week. We made HUGE progress with this engine in the last couple weeks

[@sammyboy8760]

@@route40rust oh, so glad to hear this! Looking forward to seeing-and hearing the old motor!

[@sammyboy8760]

“I keep getting electrocuted and I like it!” Love your humor! Made me laugh. Good attitude and fun to watch.

[@route40rust]

Glad you enjoyed it, gotta admit, he kept me going on a cold night hahah

[@jeffcolmus4900]

I think that Pontiac you bought very nice car I worked in a junkyard a while back a guy pulled up with a car like that he open that hood what a sight straight 8 so cool enjoying watching your videos 🇺🇲

[@route40rust]

I've always wanted to work on and drive a straight 8. I may end up disappointed but at least I've done it

[@sammyboy8760]

Awesome that it will crank and run after sitting so long!

[@BillFlitcraft-fy6om]

249 cubic inch displacement. 107 hp.

[@LarryDeSilva64]

That's a pretty sweet old Pontiac. Always fun when they run. My current project is a U S Army 1952 Dodge 3/4 Ton 4x4 M37 cargo carrier. I have been working on my Channel LuckyLarry. I subscribed to your channel. Thanks for the video

[@garymccord4277]

Liked the teaser, warmer weather and fuel hooked up she should be a runner, You may need to clean the points again trying to start without a voltage resistor make have arced the points Thanks for sharing you videos

[@route40rust]

We appreciate ya watching and appreciate ya dropping a comment as well! I agree with what you said about the ballast. I'll probably tape one to the side of the coil I've been using to test with and do better than alligator clip jumper wires, too much room for errors for what I'm doing, that's why I kept rechecking things with the test light. It became a little obnoxious really. We'll get back at it once this weather breaks, or take a breather and mess with another vehicle, never can tell. Thanks again!

[@tracyrenko4171]

Your welcome glad I could help

[@davidadkison4702]

The front end has knee action shocks and you can fill them with brake fluid. I had a 1947 Chevrolet that had those and they worked great after I filled them up with brake fluid.

[@route40rust]

I might be pulling wheels and taking a gander at that this weekend, thanks!

[@sammyboy8760]

Yes, the one I had you periodically refilled shocks and it’d do great until fluid low.

[@BillFlitcraft-fy6om]

A couple more things you might be interested in once you get the Pontiac running. At a little over 3200 pounds it takes a while to get it up to the speed limit and you need to plan ahead when you want to stop as a body in motion tends to stay in motion.

[@route40rust]

I've got a plan 😎

[@Dxegoose]

That was awesome

[@jimmcdonald9618]

I'm working on a 38 olds with the inline 8.. It had been sitting a while as well.. Here's the steps i did. Pull all the plugs and see if you can see the valves thru the plug holes. While the plugs are out you crank over the motor with the starter& watch to see the the valves that you can see, are moving at all. Any valve not moving soak with PB blaster or any penetrating oil. I'm using fresh RJ12s' plugs. Don't use any plug with a YC they're long & hit the valves& you'll have to start over. Gap em at .030to .035 should work better for that coil. It will run for shure just having valves that close is a good start. On mine i had one exhaust stay stuck open. It ran on 7 but bad. I soak & then coaxed it to move with a hammer & hard wood dowel. The oil in these guides run down into the motor when they sit a long time. As far as i know she's a negative ground 6 volt girl. Ford does the positive ground thing. Best of luck,dude .

[@route40rust]

I plumbed in an electric fuel pump, cleaned up my ign wiring mess and got it idling well but had to shut it down. I need to button up cooling system and work out my gm one-wire alternator. I need to toss on some temporary water and oil gauges then I'll let it idle as long as she likes. Plugs and wires are on order... So far going well. When I pull plugs again I'll check valves like you mentioned, I might have an exhaust valve hanging up... Hope your project goes well, these straight 8's are fun to mess with. Thanks for watching and dropping me a comment, I appreciate ya!!!!

[@jimmcdonald9618]

Very coool . This 38 Olds is part of a collection of 32 cars i've to work on. The car was taken out used in a movie & stored for 2 years.In that short time one exhaust valve on #5 cylinder stuck in the open position & when i got back to the motor i had it it running on 7 cylinders. Very scary ( out of balance bad ) when you know how an 8 sounds. After that I was doing what you were doing holding down the starter lever but watching the valves thru the plug holes. that's how i knew to soak it & get going. Once i had the valve freed up i knew to fire it up get heat into the oil the oil climbs up the valve stem & you're back on all 8 again.. Right next to it is a 49 olds & i've to sort the power windows. They are hydraulic windows & a challenge to get right. Deeper in the building there' are 2 1954 cars. A vette which is still 6 volt & a 54 Buick which is 12 volt..Often when these cars come in, some idiot has peeled the stickers off the batteries & i've testing to do & be very carefull about voltage & not damage anything. It's not a fun job. I'd rather do what you are doing. Make it run and go enjoy the thing. I've to make a car perfect knowing it will sit there for another 2 years or more.. When you get yours smooth you'll hear a sound most people don't get to hear. Straight 8's are very cool. enjoy. @@route40rust

[@gecko7107]

Mighty good video. Better weather this week may be able to do some thangs and stuff

[@route40rust]

I hope so

[@jonnieters2306]

It was close to running it sounds like she wants to run

[@Telephony954]

hurry up, I wanna go for a rip... Be well.

[@sammyboy8760]

Out of gas my friend.

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

Is this your second video? I think I have to do some catching up. Today is March 11. Tell me if you had another after this one. Liking them so far!

[@route40rust]

There is another Pontiac video after this called "Project Pontiac - This engine runs GREAT!" And the picture says "back from the dead". It's a great video but buckle up, it's over an hour long!

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

@@route40rust - Okay, I'll look for it.

[@dennisthurston727]

Pontiacs rock

[@route40rust]

They really do! Beautiful cars

[@mikewilliams2072]

If anybody every needed a trouble light it would be you, get yourself a trouble light, please!

[@route40rust]

I know it.... Lol

[@randyames992]

You'd do better to check the distributor and a carburetor job first

[@route40rust]

Whatcha mean?

[@randyames992]

Points are probably corroded and the carb is most likely needs a good cleaning..new spark plugs and wires. I just see you heating up your starter.

[@route40rust]

Gotcha, yea this is an older video, she's purring like a kitten with a belly full of sweet tea

[@randyames992]

@@route40rust excellent

[@Uriahheep1975]

Don't say I don't know. It's a turned off for a new viewer. Your channel just showed from my screen, and I'm an old car enthusiast, and there you are meeting me with the word "I don't know". On that spot I would stop watching.