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

This 1949 Chevy fleetline deluxe has been in the same family since bought brand new by the seller's grandpa, and was last registered on the road in 1970. This car is totally original with some period correct upgrades, but still maintains its original 6v wiring system. In today's video, we showcase the car coming out of the barn for the first time in many years, trying to fire it up after sitting idle for all that time, and finally we head to the junkyard in search of a new back glass for this awesome Chevy!
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[melmcclure]

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

[finfan]

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 !

[normaninsandiego]

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.

[EdwardDean-zf]

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😂

[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.

[roberthaynes]

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.

[bozodog]

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.

[russC]

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!

[SJS-wqwg]

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

[donaldhalls]

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

[ratt]

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

[kennethreiver]

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 .

[daryl]

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

[jeremyconway]

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

[kencarney]

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

[YenaS-lg]

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

[danepoling]

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

[jeffpoplin]

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.

[stevefarley]

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.

[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.