Projects 1956 Pontiac Gasser 389 swap (Finally Running)

Sorry it took so long to do the photoshop but here is an idea.

 

I found some longer shocks and modified them to work. It allowed the rear end to drop down further without affecting the ride, I had 15x7 cragars with 235 60 15 and could get them off easily. The replacement monroe shocks were actually shorter than the factory ones and made it worse. How wide is the GTO rear I thought the newer ones were a little wider? The 8.8 explorer rear was a little under 60" and helped some. Guess if your cutting the 1/4's doesn't really matter.

 

Much thanks......That helps with the wheel well cut to get some idea.

 

I think I was told earlier that the GTO was a little wider. It was under my friends 55 Nomad that he drag raced. (It's ready to go). I have a line on a set of Vintage 15X8 and 15X4 Cragers but I have to find the time to go get them. (about 8 hour round trip)

 

Looks good with radius wheel opening I think..

 

Nice.

 

Just do it and don't look back lol

 

But don't close your eyes when you do it...

 

Trying to get up the nerve. So nice for 60 year old wheelwells. I have to think I can get a 10 inch slick in there. Should have the rear end in place in the next couple weeks. Will measure and measure and measure again before cutting.

Frame is all welded up. Just waiting for a decent day to get it outside and degreased.

 

Just found this thread and read the whole thing. Very cool.

 

Frame cleaned....rear end out of 69 GTO about ready to go in......Just measuring out in the yard it's a 1/2 inch or so wider.

 

Great thread sir!!!!! Subscribed

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Wow, been a year........had some family issues and got delayed. Anyway, new directions and back at it. Hopefully it will roll again by the end of next week.



Found some fronts.


Different direction on the intake.

 

Looks good! Are you going to leave the front frame tubing open?

 

No, I got ahead of myself but the opportunity to do that presented itself. It still a foot too long or something like that. It will be cut off, rounded, filled and the paint touched up.

 

Great looking progress sir if you ask me!!

 

Nice job, so far.
Now I have to question who advised using the 69 GTO rear? If it's the original 8.2 , they are not very strong,
especially behind a healthy big inch Pontiac and a 4-speed.
Going to suggest keeping it in the car show area at the nostalgia drags.

 

Any updates?

 

isnt that what it was behind in the (even heavier) GTO?

 

It's got bolt in axles , it should be fine on the street. my gto had a 428, 4.56 rear and didn't break, just wheel hopped real bad lol.

 

Sorry I missed this. It is not stock. My friend had it behind his Nomad that had far more HP than my car will have. He was running 10 inch slicks and never broke it. I'm not going to be able to get that wide under mine. (at least initially) Even at that I do not have any false expectations. If I get into the 12's I'll be happy.

 

Thanks......slow going. I have the emergency brake run and the firewall ready to paint. Once painted (this week) we will start putting it back together.

It will be filled.

 

Nice to see a Pontiac for a change, looks like you had a nice solid car to start with too, carry on...


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This is a sweet build. I put a 99 explorer under my 40 in the aviator. I cut 3 inches out of the long side which made it 56 1/2 total. You can use a factory short side axle, I put Yukon axles in mine. They have 31 spline axles and disc brakes.

 

Did your friend have a 4 speed?
My concern was because of the 4 speed.
Now I even have more concern about trying to run in the 12's.
What has been done to the rear?

 

NICE Corvette