57 Pontiac and 57 Chevy Frames

[A1957CA]

I have a 57 Pontiac Safari Wagon. Unfortunately the frame has been butchered by a previous owner and is a real mess. There are chunks gas cut out of it everywhere. It seemed like when it was built if something was in the way it just got cut it out.
I live in New Zealand and a 57 Pontiac Frame would be a hard item to find here. However I have read before that most Canadian Pontiacs were built on Chevy frames and wondered how hard it would be to put a Chevy frame under it as they are plentiful here in NZ.
Does anyone know for sure if a 57 Pontiac will fit on a 57 chevy frame? I know the Safari/Nomad were very similar and a lot of panels interchange. Any help appreciated

[Brandy]

You should had posted this main board so everyone can see it.....so you get stuck with me.:D

You're Pontiac's and Canada's Pontiac's are based on Chevrolet chassis'.
The only difference was the sheet metal. Have fun, I'm jealous.:D

[arkiehotrods]

Welcome to the HAMB. Congrats on owning a 57 Safari...hard to beat 'em for looks.

Is your Safari a Canadian Pontiac? They shared the Chevy wheelbase, which was shorter than the U.S. Pontiacs. I think there is a HAMBer who has a Canadian '57 Pontiac, and the front fender is what is shorter (between wheel well and door), if my memory is working properly tonight. If it is a Canadian Pontiac, I'd say it would swap. But if it a "regular" Pontiac, not only is the wheelbase longer than a Chevy , but the frame is completely different. But then again, being a gearhead, you can make anything work if you put your mind to it.

Good luck, and let us know how it works out. Hopefully, you'll accidentally stumble upon a Pontiac frame in great condition for little money!

[arkiehotrods]

Well, Brandy beat me to it, and knows more about it than I do!

[A1957CA]

Thank you for your help. Its actually a US Pontiac but I am sure I could make the front clip fit its the main body I was concerned about.

[mr57]

If it has the same roofline as a Nomad, then the frames do not interchange. I think even the floorpans and body mounts are different. the wheelbase is also 7" longer. The difference is in the front fenders. It would be a lot of work reworking the floorpan to fit a Chevy frame and then either trimming the fenders or findind Canadian fenders. My 2 cents worth.

[Brandy]

It's a BUTT load of work to make an American Poncho fit a Chevy. What you can do is find the dimensions of the poncho and the Chevy.......then see if they are similar.

People always fret over body mounts, personally, I could give a shit less. They're the simplest thing to re-route.

Ask Rat Bastad what the dimensions are on his 57 Chevy wagon. He's got a service manual I KNOW!