Projects 1956 Pontiac Wagon Build Thread

Well I guess since everyone has one, this will be mine. I bought this beauty about a year ago. Fairly unmolested, mostly rust free and cheap! Unlike most wagon hunters I wanted a 4 door not a 2 door because I plan on driving it everyday and hauling the wife and kids to creation and back because that's what wagons do best!

 

After stripping out all the interior and inspecting the whole car the only rust issues were the floor pans (which I already knew) and a spot on the rear driver door. Body work commenced!

 

After I sprayed a nice thick coat of primer/surfacer it was time to remove the boat anchor and prep the firewall.

 

With that old 316 out of the way I started the hand sanding

 

Looking good...but please tell me where 'creation' is...I might want to visit there...!!!

PS, your kid's tuff, pulled that all by himself, eh...???

R-

 

Now the question of the hour, save the 316 and dual range hydro or scrap them for a better combo

Its kind of hard to tell in these photos but the baked on sludge was about a quarter inch thick. Looked to me like she was driven to death.


The previous owners had most likely run pure water for years and the bottom of the water jacket was an inch deep in rust scale. Time for a new engine!

 

No way man, I was there... beer in hand telling him he was doing it all wrong!

 

After about 2 or 3 months of looking I found a worn out 400 out of a 74 Firebird. After a trip to the local machine shop (and enough money to start wondering if I should open my own machine shop) I got it back for final assembly

 

awww geez... don't stop there, things were just gettin' good! I like the Pontiac motor choice for a Pontiac. More pics/story, por favor...

 

Nice! I love Pontiac wagons. I'm interested in seeing you how you mount that 400. Been thinking about doing the same with my '55

 

I agree - great story, and I too am glad you opted for a Pontiac in a Pontiac.
I 'm sure your kid already has figured out how to get the 400 mounted in the existing frame.

cheers, Ray

 

Well that has been the most current hold up for me as well but I think I got it all figured out. I took some quarter inch flat stock and made some plates to bolt up to the engine and sandwich the frame rails, then I went online and found some high misalignment threaded rod ends(left and right hand thread) and made some tabs. I plan on mocking up the engine exactly where I want it and then its as simple as welding the tabs to the plates and using inside thread radius rod to connect the rod ends on the engine and frame. Bam! Fully adjustable motor mounts! At least in theory.

 

Anything but a Pontiac in a Pontiac is sacrilege.. and he let me come up with it on my own.... such a good boy!

 

Looks like you started with a good one. Nice work keep it up.

 

Very Cool Looks great

 

I like it, I can't wait to see it in the car. Are you keeping the Hydra-Matic?

 

Great family wagon. VERY glad you are keeping it all PONTIAC. subscribed.

 

Great build, keep the updates coming.

 

No, as far as I can tell the two aren't compatible. I picked up a new TH400 to compliment the 400 and my power goals. I am still trying to figure out how to keep the column shifter but worst case scenario I will just pick up a floor shifter from Lokar.

 

I just found this thread and really like the direction its going. Those mid-50s Poncho's are pretty cool!
Many moons ago I had a chance to buy a '55 of '56 Safari but passed because I was told there were no parts available for it. Still regret that day. Subscribed.

 

I love those Safaris, I will get one when the kids are all gone and its just me and the wife!

 

Ok so I finished up the front motor mounts so now I just need to finish the trans mount and its off to paint. Here I am just mocking up where they go

 

I had raise the engine up a little so that the ram air exhaust manifold on the drivers side would clear the steering gear box. This caused a little clearance issue with the trans hitting the tunnel, nothing a cut off wheel cant solve though. In hind sight thought it was just the pinch flange that I needed to get rid of.

 

Nice work, i've had my engines mounted in a few ways, built side mounts to frame and also both styles of the Hurst mount. Now using the later style Hurst that uses the side mount holes and extends to the front with biscuit type mounts. Keep in mind the angle of the engine to rear pinion so they match and not have vibration issues.
Lokar makes a column mount cable shifter kit, may want to look into that. Not much room for a floor shifter in front of the seat, almost hardly room between dash when in park.

That flange at the firewall I bent flat on mine.

 

After I got the engine to sit where I wanted it I welded up the passenger side engine plate and then used some tie rod tubes to position the bottom tabs and weld them up

 

Thanks for the advise, I had to shift the engine around a bit but I was able to keep the 5 degree tilt back and the trans tail shaft looks to be about the same. Like I mentioned earlier I am running a TH400 so its not in the same "exact " spot.

 

The bottom mounts are welded in and now I just have to spend some quality time with the grinder to clean them up.

 

I ordered some swedged radius rod tubes, to replace my temporary tie rod tubes. Next thing its to pop the engine and trans back in the car and finish up my trans mount

 

Interesting build. The solid mounted engine may transfer engine vibration to the car...I don't know as I've never done it.
My last 55-57 Pontiac [have had 11 of them through the years] was a 55, 4 door wagon. When I got it someone had already installed a later 301 Pontiac with a 350 turbo. The new motor/trans were so light compared to the original 316/hydro that I ended up trimming off 3 complete loops of each front coil springs to get it as low as i wanted it.
Great cars! Have you picked your colors yet? The dark green on mine was an AMC color and I forget what the mint green was.

 

I love that wagon! Your right the solid mounts will transfer all the motion to the frame but that's what I like. I love rocking the whole car with my right foot Just a big kid I guess. Do you have any pics of the 301 in the car? That is very unique! I have picked out a lime green for the body and a pearl white for the roof.