ONE Family Owned 1949 Chevy Fleetline! | Will It Run Again After 54 Years Off the Road??

[@normaninsandiego7061]

I think it is impressive it started considering it's age and how long it's been sitting. Those wonderful old Chevy sixes. I would keep it as original as you can. Nice looking old Chevy.

[@IowaClassicCars]

Especially with a 6volt!

[@normaninsandiego7061]

I think all the 6 volt cars crank slow.

[@ratt727]

Really nice original car, still amazed that these cars are still around

[@IowaClassicCars]

lots still out there to be found!

[@EdwardDean-z4f]

Back in the 70s a friend of mine had a 4door 50 with a Powerglide.It was supposed to be the first PG sold in Cincinnati. He would drive it up the street, turn the ignition off, get back on and blow the muffler off😂

[@russC13]

Russ C Here, when I was born we had this car, except pale green, when I was older we would slide down the back, great car, do not make them like this anymore!

[@IowaClassicCars]

You got that right!

[@jonhboleware3409]

Stop flooding it

[@jonhboleware3409]

You keep flooding it .

[@donaldhalls2189]

​@@jonhboleware3409😅😂

[@bozodog428]

My Ma drove me around in one of these way back when. Same year make and model and had the windshield visor too. I remember the shift linkage getting hung up in gear sometimes, but my Ma would get out under the hood and get it working again. She finally traded it on a new 55 Belair sport coup V8 powerglide.

[@IowaClassicCars]

awesome!

[@donaldhalls2189]

Great looking car, lot's of style, thanks for sharing, all the best to you and your loved ones

[@melmcclure3710]

That car is in amazing shape for the year. I can’t believe you got it running.

[@SJS-wq5wg]

Keep it stock....but I'm partial to 49 Fleetlines. I also came home from the hospital as a newborn in a 49 Fleetline Deluxe - ours was a 4 door equipped w/ the skirts, running board, visor in the really dark blue. Dad bought it when it was little over a yr old - was a car the dealer drove in '49. Cool find

[@grabasandwich]

RIP Starter. I'd have dug into it more before cranking on it so much. Check for stuck valves, rusted rockers, etc. It shouldn't take that long to start.

[@IowaClassicCars]

Starter is fine lol it starts pretty quick now had it running yesterday for a few min, bumps right over now

[@roberthaynes8467]

Pretty cool. I had a '49 sedan in high school. Kingpins were shot though and you got the death wobble when you hit a pot hole.

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! 🍩☕️😎👀👍. Very cool ! I saw these vehicle as kid 50’s & 60’s as used cars . I think the owner will regret selling it ! Ryan hope it’s runner 👀😎👍

[@IowaClassicCars]

thanks man!

[@daryl3723]

What a nice car if you can you should keep this one and give it to your kids.

[@finfan83]

Really nice Fleetline, looks like it's maybe 20 years old, not 75 ! Lovely preserved survivor ! It sure will be satisfied to See The USA again, not only sleep in a barn. 7:18 - all the guides from the era said to do it by the hand, no fancy dedicated cleaners 24:07 - definitely makes engine sounds. But it jumps all around engine bay in there 25:52 - hi, lights !

[@haroldphipps3457]

Very nice car! Love the visor!

[@joycemusgrave161]

Pop's here. That old starter is on its last legs.

[@IowaClassicCars]

Actually its doing good now, car fires right up

[@jeremyconway5793]

Definitely keep it stock brother.greetings from sth Australia 🇦🇺 👍

[@YenaS-l7g]

Fill up the float bowel and it's going to run longer

[@IowaClassicCars]

Cant when it leaks right out the bottom lol idk if you can see that in the video or not

[@billywird]

This guy does not understand how a carburetor works so there is no point in telling him.

[@kennethreiver985]

Before you fire the parts cannon at the engine , check for a stuck valve . That is probably what is causing the miss. Also when you try and crank an engine with a stuck valve you can bend a push rod. You should also oil the cylinders of an engine that has been sitting for a long time so you don't scuff the cylinder walls .

[@billywird]

In the first place a six volt system cranks slower and of course the battery cables have to be the proper gauge wire. This part he got right. When he cranked the engine over (you know to see if it "spins") there was at least one cylinder that was weak and you can hear that when the cranking speed goes up as that weak cylinder comes up on compression (we call this a valve spin to verify that we have cylinder load on all cylinders). When he pulled the spark plugs there were two plugs that were gas fouled (number three and number five). There is a company called Vixen that manufactures a hand held spark plug blaster (and of course they sell the proper media) where spark plugs can be cleaned (of course it works on air pressure). The worst thing he did was to continually pour gas down in the carburetor to the point where the base was wet (this is called flooding and the way you start a flooded engine is to hold the gas pedal down to the floor in order to clear out the extreme rich condition until the engine starts and runs. Of course once he got it running the engine is running rough due to the gas fouled spark plugs. You are right about this though, just about all of these "will it run" videos do not check for any stuck valves and of course there is no way to determine if the engine was in good shape when it was last ran. I would at least pull the valve cover and to be safe back off the valve adjustments (in this case just remove the rocker arm assembly and also check for bent pushrods) remove the spark plugs and then crank or just roll the engine over and also check for stuck valves (tapping on the valves with a hammer with reveal the ones that are stuck and a stuck valve can be obvious upon inspection). And you are right it is a good idea to oil (not drown) the cylinders. I know this is involved but if one just checks things out one can avoid a lot of problems. Of course one must know what one is doing to begin with. I know I am not telling you anything you do not already know but watching this video is like hearing a cat howl.

[@kennethreiver985]

@@billywird Yep it is , its all about getting views. That's why my favorite KZbinr to watch is Coldwarmotors. I just went through all of this reviving a 38 Plymouth after a 50 year slumber.

[@danepoling4503]

Leave it all stock Ryan. Great car. Great content. That paint should clean up decently. Definitely a cool find.

[@jeremyconway5793]

Love the sloping ass end...greetings from sth Australia 🇦🇺 👍 🐨🐪🦘🪃

[@jeffpoplin558]

The way the engine "galloped" when starting was telling. Low compression in more than one cylinder. Stuck and/or gummed up valves, rockers and rings probably the culprit. The longer you cranked it, the more oil pressure you built up and maybe that coated a couple of cylinders enough to fire. Or loosened up other parts. I would have given each cylinder a generous squirt of oil and spun engine first. Then use some two cycle fuel to start it. That would help to lube top end. Get a heat cycle into the block then fresh oil change. Got a nice one there! Keep it fairly stock.

[@IowaClassicCars]

Never heard it called galloping but makes sense! Thanks!

[@billywird]

The galloping you refer is the engine clearing out all of that fuel that was poured down the carburetor creating an extremely rich condition. In other words, the engine was flooded. The way to start a flooded engine is to crank the engine while holding the gas pedal all the way down so that the engine can draw in enough air to correct the flooded condition. In order to get the engine started you have to crank it until it fires up and runs on its own and of course it will run rough until the air fuel ratio returns to normal. Of course, this extra fuel does have a tendency to wash the cylinders, but we can't have everything. Us folks who have experienced engine flooding knows this but these youngsters who have no idea of how a carburetor works and just pour gasoline down the throat of a carburetor until it runs out of the base don't get it. I worked in a junkyard and when we would see if an engine would run we would hang it off of the forks of our forklift hook a battery to it and crank it over either spraying in some starter fluid or just brake clean into the air intake and if it popped off we knew it would run. Then we would strap it to a pallet wrap it up and ship it out. The galloping as you describe it is the cylinders trying to fire as the flooded condition was clearing up.

[@stevefarley510]

Being that it's an all original car I would leave it stock. Don't forget to put a little oil in the generator because of the car sitting so long.

[@IowaClassicCars]

good call didnt even think of that!

[@kencarney6667]

Hi Ryan! Long time no see! Had a '49 4-door sedan and I can tell you first hand that the starter in these cars always turned over slow and made you think the battery was low. Sounds like the starter gear may be worn down some. That or the armature shaft is bent slightly causing the starter to drag. Check your starter brushes and the ground wire for wear too. Pull the breather and hand choke it if you can to draw more gas into your carb. Check the diaphragm in the fuel pump too as a hole In that can cause it not to work right. Check and clean the sediment bowl at the bottom of the carb to insure you have enough gas coming through the fuel line. And when you redo the carb, check the gasket for the base of it. Gotta go! See ya' later! battery was low

[@billywird]

After one checks all of the usual suspects and goes to actually crank up the engine, there will be a need for some gasoline and pouring some down in the throat of the carburetor is OK in order to richen the mixture, but you don't drown the damn thing as this guy is doing. What he has done with this constant poring of raw gasoline down in the engine is what we call flooding the engine and it also introduces too much raw gasoline which washes the cylinders> Granted you need more gas on an engine that has not been run in many years but you don't drown it either. Those carburetors are easy to disassemble right there on the engine (removing the top and hopefully saving the gasket). This will enable the mechanic to check the float assembly and to make sure it is not cracked and also that the needle and seat is not stuck. Then one can fill the carburetor bowl and if available run a nurse tank down to the fuel pump inlet and quite possibly it will soak the diaphragm enough to get the fuel pump working.

[@Mercmad]

When they kick over like that,recheck your points and adjust the distributor or give it 12 volts. You won't hurt the starter as 6 volt electrics are a lot heavier than 12 volt systems. PS, block the vacuum wiper hose. false air can make it damn hard to start ,and there's at least one valve stuck open.

[@IowaClassicCars]

Wont hurt the starter but would fry all the other wiring

[@billywird]

Yes sir you can put 12 volts on a six volt starter but it cannot be for an extended amount of time as it can burn up the six volt starter. Actually that starter was cranking at the right speed for a six volt starter and believe it or not an engine in good shape and in good tune will start fairly easy. I had a 56 Chevrolet (of course 12v system) and when I was broke (back when I was going to school) and could not afford a new battery I would park the car on a slight incline. In the mornings when I needed a good cranking battery (and had none) I would simply turn on the key and push the car back enough to get it rolling and pop the clutch and off she goes. Of course the trick is first it helps to have a standard shift you put the transmission in reverse (obviously you push it backwards) and finally you have to be young enough and have enough leg strength to get the car rolling with one leg while you have the clutch pushed in with the other leg. Get's kind of tricky doesn't it. But I got it started that way for a while until I saved up enough money to buy a new battery.

[@66skate]

Bad brake light switch may be keeping the tail lights lit.

[@johnjenderseck9152]

Great find, I would do a modest makeover not a full restoration but just making it look really cool, nice wheels and tires, spruce up the interior! The motor just needs to run good don’t need anything high performance, can’t go wrong with whatever you choose, you saved it. 👍

[@patcarbone1753]

Leave it stock. Clean it buff it and enjoy the car.

[@YenaS-l7g]

Ooh that's sweet dream 😍 car

[@Ron-io3vu]

Nice 1 Ryan, that would look nice here in 🇬🇧

[@jeremyconway5793]

Mr J here Ryan great your back..love the 49 bye the way nice time capsule wow..greetings from sth Australia 🇦🇺 👍 🐨🐪🦘🪃

[@IowaClassicCars]

Thanks 👍

[@randysinger2673]

I would leave it pretty much stock, Maybe consider a 12 Volt Conversion ?

[@allenkranawetter9482]

Beautiful

[@shipdit8627]

I have the same car,except mine's a '50

[@brianhayes7618]

They spin faster if converted to 12v worth the work

[@IowaClassicCars]

Yeah i think ill do that once running smooth

[@billywird]

A 12v conversion was common back in the day. The usual conversion was to install a 12v starter and install a voltage drop transformer for the feed to the car dropping the voltage down to 6v. Of course you had a 12v battery. I cannot remember if folks would convert the generator to 12v or not but the idea was to have 12v for cranking the engine or spinning it if that is what you want to call it. The other method is to convert the whole system to 12v and that includes the lights and of course the gauges have to be either converted to 12v or a voltage divider installed to keep the operating voltage to them at 6v although I have read some comments as to where it did not make any difference to the gauges. On these older cars the only gauges that would be affected would be the fuel gauge or any electrically operated gauge and I do not believe that it would really make any difference if one understands how they work. Also the wiring in a 6v system is most likely a heavier gauge wire as opposed to a 12v system so there should not be any problem with that (battery cables on a 6v system are generally a heavier gauge wire as the 6v starters draw more current.

[@jonlennon3348]

I think you have a couple stuck valves. A nice 283 would make it a nice daily.

[@IowaClassicCars]

a v8 swap would be sweet but not on something this original

[@mh9835]

Great find noce old car just needs a sbc now and ot would make a cool olf cruser

[@bw6378]

Flooded beyond belief....but it finally went... sorta. lol

[@IowaClassicCars]

Actually believe it or not it was not flooded. Took plugs out and they were dry

[@JohnWhite-Iowa-City]

That was a lot of gas down the old yap

[@tickie1]

check brake light switch ,might have stuck if you pushed brake pedal. it a lever type on the firewall

[@danielulz1640]

The car is too good of a surviver to modify. Keep it stock and repair/restore as little as is necessary.

[@Ron-io3vu]

Needs to be left as is just get it running right and buffed out and interior done ,She is a beauty

[@richardatkinson500]

Hi Ryan, so what are your plans for this old lady? Would like to listen to a follow-up video of what you're thinking you might like to do with the car. Cheers

[@IowaClassicCars]

Il have a follow up once title comes in!

[@brianhayes7618]

I had a 49 4 door. It was 3 on the tree with same engine. Wasn't a speed demon but fun to drive. Isn't that engine babbited?

[@IowaClassicCars]

Yes it is

[@davidhollinghurst5572]

No you don't sand a rotor rub it on a tyre don't wear it out but cleans it.

[@IowaClassicCars]

I have never heard of that before lol ill have to try it out

[@richardatkinson500]

​@@IowaClassicCarsdo it all the time with old cars in the 🇬🇧 far less harsh on the points and a little temporary shine on the side wall of the tire 😊

[@billywird]

Yes sir sanding items like that can put just enough clearance to cause them to fail. Same goes for the contacts in the distributor cap

[@mechanic72]

@@billywird sanding the rotor will not make it fail. It could actually help. The farther the fire jumps the hotter it is but it can only jump so far.

[@YenaS-l7g]

I always put the bad plug in the best cilender and a spray for each cilender because they are really dry and clean points and rotor check the cap get spark gas ⛽️ and run for a little while to get heat back into your rings

[@IowaClassicCars]

Great tip!

[@GMCTIM]

Better Believe that. Beauty will run again I'd say pretty easy also ! Can kill the Old Cars ! 😁👍

[@OzzmanzzONE]

ID love a car like this I live in New Zealand North island Taranaki the body shape and lines on this beast are wickedly cool I used to work in Clayton Australia for Nissan in the early 90s employed as a rectified yes driving the twin turbo skyline butt this car to me has much more character and style I really want to own one

[@IowaClassicCars]

Its for sale please email me

[@TheMAHfilms]

Great car!!

[@AndrewHCann]

Excellent video Ryan :).funny part my late grandparents on my late mom side had green one in bought 1949 new at Chevrolet dealer and was next door guy owner had same area of farm too ! Then in 1960 in local paper dealer owner came to pick up his meat from Cow and Pick.at my grandparents famillies Slaughter barn house talk to my grandfather who head Butcher buy new 1960 Chevrolet Impala car and what offer in options! So grandfather trade the 1949 and got 1960 Blue Chevrolet Impala 4 door for $800.00 at Chev GM Dealer in and paid only $300.00 for year insurance ! In 1964 next time grandparents bought new car again Lol! Those prices are Ontario Canada too! that 1949 need new motor mount on left side maybe right too do both Ryan and yes Wire gremlins be wild also seen my share too !

[@IowaClassicCars]

thanks man!

[@gregdiamond6023]

What are your plans for it?

[@robertvance1873]

I'm surprised after you got it running you didn't hook up some kind of tank to it

[@IowaClassicCars]

Its leaking bad ; gona rebuild carb then i will

[@christophereiden1260]

I would keep it stock if it was mine.

[@BillyJ57]

I never saw use the choke. I would of disconnected fuel line. You don't know what is in the tank.

[@IowaClassicCars]

Tank is plugged according to seller

[@thecapedgremlin0001]

Budget reverbish of repair or remove all rust, with paint detailing under hood and basic reupholstery of interior...etc?

[@petercavanaugh6510]

Ryan bad idea putting gasoline in a water bottle! I can easily envision taking a slug of gas thinking it's water!

[@IowaClassicCars]

I keep this bottle with my fuel tanks, and it has a small pin hole in the top, but my buddy did that once with old gas in a modelo bottle 🤣🤣

[@BillBAILEY-gv1no]

Restore it keep it original I like them like that I have 40 plymouth like that

[@justdale1966]

Dude that was painful I was waiting for you to tap on the carburetor a few times hook a gas can up to it see if the fuel pump is pumping carburetor was obviously leaking gas

[@IowaClassicCars]

Fuel pump is working yes, the fuel tank is plugged at the sender according to the seller

[@MrJwglaze]

You are flooding it. Its a wondered its not hydro locked. When flooded hold gas to floor and crank it til it starts. Dont keep adding gas. Once its running add gas

[@IowaClassicCars]

Actually plugs were still dry when i pulled them. Like uncle tonys garage said, they sit so long, they need a huge shot of gas to get started again compared to once they r running and driving fine

[@No1Bigbear]

I didn't hear how long since it ran...but you didn't put any lube into the cylinders...that's taking a big chance of breaking rings and stuff...on rust and debris...your car.. your choice.. your channel..maybe you will actually restore it to it's classic status.. or not.. alot of car channels just make run and park it in a corner... never really finishing it.. what are your plans for it? I'm only at 12 minutes in...

[@jimluscomb530]

Three words… REST O MOD!!!

[@Jstme303]

Keep it original.

[@jeremyconway5793]

Ryan are you just getting over covid or flu my friend..greetings from sth Australia 🇦🇺 👍

[@williamlovely450]

flooded with all the gas your dumping in

[@IowaClassicCars]

Was not flooded at all actually

[@joycemusgrave161]

😢 pop's here you need someone to feed it fuel when finally fires to keep it running.

[@robbierobson3251]

The motor mount does not need "replaced". It needs REPLACING, or it needs to BE REPLACED! What has happened to the English language?

[@YenaS-l7g]

Did you disconnect the gas dirty gas will make it run rough

[@IowaClassicCars]

Sender is plugged at the tank according to the seller, he had the tank droppex

[@brianhayes7618]

How was the passenger door on the one you pulled the glass from?

[@IowaClassicCars]

Rotten on the bottom

[@YenaS-l7g]

Yeah that's a runner clean up the carb and get some fuel hook up

[@mechanic72]

A short course in mechanics would really help. If you don't know how a gasoline engine works you cannot fix it.

[@IowaClassicCars]

Lol

[@DonaldAfano]

The brake light switch is stuck on by the brake pedal. It's not the light switch.

[@mechanic72]

Plugs are gas fouled,wires crossed or struck valve.

[@burt66669999]

6Volt cars always turned over slow...btw,pumping the pedal does no good when float bowl is empty.Just floor it.

[@IowaClassicCars]

Filling the vent fills the float bowl am i right?

[@josejimenez-yc6ou]

Nice fleet line is that for sale Ryan

[@IowaClassicCars]

It will be yes, please email me

[@robertvance1873]

Only original once bring her back.

[@robertvance1873]

It was needing new points to

[@craigwalker4211]

Jesus the 2 middle cylinders in that engine must be full of gas the amount you were pouring down it then pushing the throttle wide open I'm surprised you don't hydrolock these things when your trying to start them.

[@IowaClassicCars]

All plugs were dry actually

[@GustiRaden-f4f]

More more more gas

[@tpe690]

Would you be interested in selling it?

[@IowaClassicCars]

Yes pls email me

[@ronbunker5778]

My brother had the exact model and year when I was 5 years old. That is a nice car! This car would be a cool hotrod and probably worth more than restored.

[@IowaClassicCars]

Sweet!

[@rogerhadley2763]

LEAVE IT ALONE IT'S SUPER ORIGANOL

[@brianhayes7618]

Is it easy to find the rear window?

[@IowaClassicCars]

Yes we know of a local yard that had one

[@glenbo2464]

Personally i prefer a stock older car with no modifications and it ruins them to change stuff

[@howardthompson4844]

You're flooding it.