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Hot Rods 57 Pontiac Drag Car Build

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Todd553, Oct 21, 2017.

  1. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    I bought a 57 Chieftain. Plan is to convert it to an early M/P car. I found a really nice 57 that was restored in the late eighties. Only about 1500 miles since the restoration was completed. IMG_1857.JPG IMG_1856.JPG
     
  2. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    First thing was to change the stance and wheels and tires. Went to 15 inch wheels. Had some 15 inch 5 on 5 wheels and reversed the rears. Also put in some bigger front springs to raise the front. IMG_2502.JPG IMG_2503.JPG IMG_2505.JPG IMG_2500.JPG IMG_2501.JPG IMG_1912.JPG
     
  3. Mike VV
    Joined: Sep 28, 2010
    Posts: 3,029

    Mike VV
    Member
    from SoCal

    Simple changes...looks good.

    Mike
     
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  4. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    After these changes went to the drag strip. Car is original 347 tripower. 3.42 rear. After some very pedestrian time slips, I decided I needed more motor. DSC_2520.jpg DSC_2666.jpg
     
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  5. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    I wanted to try and keep it as authentic as possible. I found an old Hydro-Motive trans. 3 days later I found an Old B&M Hydro. I thought between the two I could make 1 good one. Thanks to the HAMB I found an NOS Ansen posi shifter for it. Oddly enough with a matching green knob and boot. IMG_2229.JPG SC Hydramatic (1).JPG IMG_2377.JPG IMG_2126.JPG
     
  6. 56sedandelivery
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 6,695

    56sedandelivery
    Member Emeritus

    I think this is one of my favorite cars on the HAMB. I like the direction you're taking it; just don't cut it up, it's too nice! What kind of times/MPH does it run "stock"? I'm guessing you drive it to the track? Looks like you've had that T-shirt a while too. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
     
  7. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    Thanks Butch I appreciate it very much. Especially from you. Ran high 15's. I changed the gear to 3.90. As you know the exhaust on these are tough. I will not cut it up, except for the hole in the floor for the shifter. Thanks again.
     
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  8. KoolKat-57
    Joined: Feb 22, 2010
    Posts: 3,073

    KoolKat-57
    Member
    from Dublin, OH

    Was that the '57 that a guy named Kennedy from Florida restored a bunch of years ago.
    I give you a lot of credit, most guys wouldn't mess with a car that nice, I like the direction you're going with it!
    Here's my '57, tripower, three speed on the column. IMG_0006.JPG Subscribed, KK
     
  9. olscrounger
    Joined: Feb 23, 2008
    Posts: 4,770

    olscrounger
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Love it! Had one in the late 50's early 60's. It ran mid/high 15's too before we started playing with it. Finally mid/low 14's with some McKellar stuff and other items.
     
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  10. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    Pulled the rear and went with 3.90. Did some math and with the new stroker moter I might step up to 4.33. Also rebuilt the slant pan hydro. Glad I had both transmissions. Needed the torus and pump from the Hydro-Motive unit. Decided on the B&M because it was in better shape overall.
    IMG_2432.JPG IMG_2433.JPG IMG_2436.JPG IMG_2429.JPG IMG_2430.JPG
     
  11. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    Pulled the motor from the Chieftain. Found a nice 1959, 389. Wanted to keep the early 60's vibe. Big advantage to using the 389 vs the later 421 is that a 55 bell housing for the hydro bolts up to the 389.
    IMG_2349.jpg IMG_2355.jpg IMG_6163 (1).jpg
     
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  12. jimdillon
    Joined: Dec 6, 2005
    Posts: 3,291

    jimdillon
    Member

    Really liking where you are going with this as well. There was a really nice black 57 in my neck of the woods in the 60s that was really the ultimate street/strip car. So many guys restore cars like this and wear out their lawn chairs at car shows. What you are doing is not diminishing the car in any way and you are most likely having a ball building and running the car competitively. Will certainly follow along and see where this goes. Good job
     
  13. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    Thanks guys. As I said earlier one of the issues was going to be the exhaust. I love the way fenderwell headers look, but I didn't want to cut the fenderwells. So, Hopefully I can explain this. 57 Pontiacs have body mounts attached to the firewall. My buddy and I decided if we cut the outer edge of the body mount and then boxed it, we could bring the headers back behind the fenderwells and then I'll run cutouts behind the front tires. IMG_2375.jpg IMG_2373.jpg
     
  14. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,216

    AHotRod
    Member

    How sweet it is to see a real Hot Rod in the making !
    Thanks for sharing the story with us.
     
  15. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    Next came paint. As long as the motor was out, good opportunity to touch up the engine compartment. IMG_2405.jpg IMG_2425.jpg IMG_2423 (3).jpg IMG_2428 (8).jpg
     
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  16. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

    This is going to be good
     
  17. bostonhemi
    Joined: Dec 1, 2011
    Posts: 695

    bostonhemi
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    subscribed. I love the look of your car.
     
  18. Have to subscribe to this one.
     
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  19. " Big advantage to using the 389 vs the later 421 is that a 55 bell housing for the hydro bolts up to the 389."

    Yeah, but wait! Did you bolt the torus to the 389 crank? Notice it didn't go on quite straight? You absolutely HAVE to clearance the edge of the 389's crank flange to bolt it to a slant pan hydro torus or the front pump of the trans will be damaged when you fire up the engine. Seriously.
    I've done this swap before. This fact was explained to be by a buddy who put a 59, 389 in his 55 safari in the early 70s. He ruined the trans when he fired the engine. Ten years later, [1982] I almost did the same thing when I bolted a 60, 389 into my 56 cheiftain with the early 56 slant pan hydro. I had to remove the trans and grind the edge of the crankshaft flange to get the engine-side of the torus to seat against the crank's flange. Worked great. A common 4 inch grinder works just fine. You don't grind enough to affect the engine's balance.
    This modification was mandatory to fit a stock hydro to the 389...don't know why anything would be any different with the B&M trans..it's just a modified slant pan hydro.
    My 56 with the 389:
    56poncho.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2017
  20. BTW...know this guy? These 2 old guys showed up at the HAMB drags in Joplin with this very nice white chieftain hardtop.....ran a 10:80 , loaded up and left! A Pontiac buddy of mine told me the other old guy also has a super fast 57. I think he said it was black.
    I wandered over to talk to one of the guys [before they ran the 10:80] and he told me the car's owner had gone to town for parts.....I think they needed a starter.
    I clicked the photo as the car ran 10:80 through the mufflers! I've heard it'll go 10:50s uncapped. Holy shit. 57ponchoatHAMBdrags.jpg
     
  21. 56sedandelivery
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 6,695

    56sedandelivery
    Member Emeritus

    A somewhat similar situation exists with Chevrolet V-8's, other than those with a completely round crankshaft flange (265/283); any 307, 327, 350, 348/409, and BBC's need to have the Hydro flywheel machined to clear the crankshaft balance pad. Sealing the crankshaft bolts, and flywheel to crankshaft flange surface also has be sealed. And off course, the Hydro's used a pilot bushing much like a manual shift transmission uses. I'm sure some of this information is covered in the Hydro Group Forum here on the HAMB. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
     
  22. BSL409
    Joined: Aug 28, 2011
    Posts: 623

    BSL409
    Member

    Very nice
     
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  23. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Man so many of you Hamber's have unbelievable Motivation and Skills wow it's something to behold good job @Todd553. You sure started with a clean template as well...Thanks for sharing the journey.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2020
  24. Todd -
    You do some super sanitary work. Smart move starting with such a nice car. Hopefully, no one will call it a '57 Chevy!
    Reversing those wheels is a perfect touch.
     
  25. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    Thank you. Car was restored by Fitzgerald. Probably the same guy you're thinking of. Car was still nice when I got it, but had not been well taken care of recently. Kind of a mess mechanically. Was for sale for over a year before I bought it. Really like your 57. Very nice.
     
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  26. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

    Hey Rocky thanks. You warned me about the flywheel issue when I PM'ed you and I also have a copy of the old B&M catalog. Also, bought a 55 cross member from 55Chieftain here on the HAMB. Hydro group has been great as well. Here is part of the Pontiac page from the catolog. I can copy it to a PDF if anyone is interested. Thanks again. IMG_2508.jpg
     
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  27. Todd553
    Joined: Feb 16, 2005
    Posts: 534

    Todd553
    Member

  28. Awesome car.....would love to own something like it one day
     
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  29. So cool. I still miss my old 57 chieftain sedan. Was a factory stick car and I swapped in a 59, 389 and a muncie 4 speed. Made such a nice driver. 57Ponchoonstreet.jpg
     
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  30. Really nice car. I like your choice of parts and engine-trans combo. She is going to be a stunning race car. Congrats and great work.
     

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