Projects 1956 Pontiac 2 Door Chieftan Wagon

Hey guys need some help. I just picked up this nice wagon and looking to do some restoration on it. I don't see many places that sell what I need. I know there are some chevy parts that are interchangeable but since this is my first ever Pontiac (and wagon) I want to be sure what I buy will fit so I don't throw my money away foolishly. With that said if any of you Pontiac guru's have some contacts or valuable information you can share with me it would be greatly appreciated. Main stuff I need is seals and glass. Thanks

 

Nice score, looks like a solid car... The glass and seals are the same as the Chevrolet of the same body style.. I've bought from CPR, pontiacparts.net for my older Pontiac's. They may have some of what you need. The chassis, driveline, etc are Pontiac specific. I don't have a mid 50's Pontiac, so I'm sure someone else will chime in with more of what you can use.

 

Ames Performance Engineering will be a good resource and Danchuk will have Chevy parts that fit. I've called Danchuk and explained what I was looking for and they have always pointed me in the right direction.

 

https://www.metrommp.com/ has a lot of rubber parts for this also. Nice car to start with !!

 

I'd do some checking as those look like '55 Chevy tail light openings....maybe some one stuck a '55 Pontiac nose on it. I may very well be wrong but I don't think Pontiacs had the same openings as the Chevy

 

Same openings on the wagons but different lenses. The Safari was completely different than the wagons or Nomads.

 

Some pics do look very Chevy-esque, with some chrome lump bolted in there.

http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/526791/pontiac_station_wagon_1956_ar copie.jpg

https://www.mecum.com/lot-detail/SC0510-91050/0/1956-Pontiac-Chieftain-860--Station-Wagon/Automatic/

Ozzie and Harriet's car
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Arch...TAIN-WAGON-ONCE-OWNED-BY-OZZIE-And-HARR-21105

http://www.cars-on-line.com/photo/52600/56pont52634-1.jpg

 

I the 55 Chevrolet rear lights fit the rear, and many guys do that swap (and the other way around). The rear bumpers also swap. You already know about the glass and seals. Other than that, unless it's a Canadian Pontiac, the rest is strictly Pontiac. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Quarter panels for 55 chevy wagons and Pontiacs are the same. Doors are the same but are punched with different stainless molding holes. All glass and rubbers are the same for 55 and 56 chevy and Pontiac. Tailgates are the same. Chassis and related parts are completely different as all front sheetmetal , dashes and floors. Individual floorpans from 55-56 chevs can be used on Pontiacs with some massaging .

 

I know that a lot of the parts are the same or similar....but the tail light openings threw me I knew neither one had the quarter panel dip and that doors & tail gates would interchange

 

Really? I was under the impression that the frames were the same??

 

Chevrolet and Pontiac quarter panels are not the same, I've been through that. The front doors are the same. The frame is not the same as Chev, Pontiacs are longer forward of the front door and they have king pin front suspension.

 

i have a 55 pontiac 2dr. wgn. and they share a few things but have enough differences to be a pain!

 

Thanks guys, I knew fellow HAMBERS would pull through. I also really need a gas tank. I see some for the Safari out there for $400 but like everything else, nobody knows if it will work. I know they have different part numbers

 

The frames are completely different. Is your tank flat like most sedans or more tall and round? If the later the Safari tank may be the same.

 

The tank in there now is home made and pretty nice really. I just want to put it back to original

 

That happens to be a pretty uncommon car - they only built 6,099 two door Chieftain wagons that year.

 

Yeah Stuart, it is. The body is perfect no rust anywhere not even the tailgate area where they always had problems. The interior is new, motor is original 317 with 326 heads and dual exhaust. Just needs paint and put back together. I'm going black and silver on this one. I'll post pictures as it progresses

 

That would be interesting as the 317 is reverse flow where the 326 isn't.

 

My mistake, they are the 347 head from a 57.

 

Actually all Pont V-8s are reverse flow 55-59.......std flow started in 1960.

 

I share your pain, I have a 55' Safari too; just finished putting floors in it; hope to get her on the road in June
Cheers from Ontario

 

Welcome to Pontiac land. I happened to purchase a similar 56 Chieftain 2 door wagon earlier this year that was already restored/mildly customized 10 years ago. I have found many body and trim parts, including tailgate, are interchangeable with Chevy parts, but frame/suspension and front end sheet metal are way different than Chevy. Mine has had both 55 Chevy taillights and the present hard to find 56 Pontiac taillights...either bolt right in. It presently has a 55 Chevy wagon rear bumper. Yell if you have additional specific interchangeability questions...I may have an answer. I can send you pictures if you want.

 

All glass and associated weather striping and seals should be interchangeable with Chevy parts.