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Projects 1956 Pontiac Gasser 389 swap (Finally Running)

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by wvenfield, Oct 29, 2014.

  1. Oh yeah! Lookin good. My brother made up a tilt front for his [my old] 57 but it didn't come forward first. Made it necessary to have a buddy on the bottom of the fenders to pull them apart to clear the doors when operating the tilt. 57pontscotty.jpg
     
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  2. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    Right. We wanted it so one person could operate it.
     
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  3. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    Finally got the plugs welded in and headers and pipes painted. IMG_20200205_164252.jpg IMG_20200205_164313.jpg IMG_20200205_164330.jpg IMG_20200205_164352.jpg IMG_20200205_164406.jpg
     
  4. Onemansjunk
    Joined: Nov 30, 2008
    Posts: 318

    Onemansjunk
    Member
    from Modesto,CA

    Excellent craftsmanship! Watching the progress of your vision over the years brings inspiration to us all. I personally am glad you kept the quarter panels


    Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  5. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

  6. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    Bought one of these. Works slick as snot. Will use for roll bar also.

    pfr-p-t125_ie_xl.jpg

    I thought about making one out of spaghetti and a paper towel roll but then thought better of that. LOL

    -96424295693361274.jpg
     
  7. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    Radiator is fully mounted. Working on shock mounts. Distributor rebuilt and ready to go back in. If valve cover gaskets get here, maybe we will get it started this next week.

    IMG_20200221_133959.jpg
     
  8. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    I have shocks. Engine full of oil and primed. Oil flowing as it should.

    IMG_20200225_163153.jpg
     
  9. Rusty Heaps
    Joined: May 19, 2011
    Posts: 949

    Rusty Heaps
    Member

    Looking good Wvenfield, I notice your header configuration, that may be the route I have to pursue when shoving a 400 Pontiac down in my '55 Pontiac unless stock manifolds would fit without clearance issues at the steering box. Also concerned about clearances with the oil pan and steering components. That's going to be a very sharp car when you get it all put together.
     
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  10. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    Steering boxes are a pain on these. We had to make custom motor mount brackets because of the steering box also. It's in the pics somewhere.
     
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  11. Rusty Heaps
    Joined: May 19, 2011
    Posts: 949

    Rusty Heaps
    Member

    I found an article on pontiacsafari.com that addresses some of the exhaust issues. According to the article, it may be feasible to swap right and left exhaust manifolds and run the exhaust from the front end instead of the rear, or the three holed center exhaust manifolds.We'll have to wait and see, I don't have exhaust manifolds for it, just the pair of headers that came with the engine when I purchased it which definitely won't work.
     
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  12. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    I have my factory manifolds if you need them. It should work if you are willing to dump the exhaust at the front. You'll need to decide on engine mounts still.
     
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  13. Rusty Heaps
    Joined: May 19, 2011
    Posts: 949

    Rusty Heaps
    Member

    Thanks, I'll keep them in mind. I'm trying to convince a friend of mine to buy the Pontiac from me because I have too many irons in the fire. I also know the quality of his work and know he'd let me come over and help him, so it wouldn't be like it's not where I couldn't be a part of it's resurrection (it's a rescue car). Plus he'd let me ride in it when finished, maybe even a short drive around town so I could feel the experience of a mid '50s Pontiac. i'm already familiar with mid '50s Chevrolets.
     
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  14. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    Got the lower shock brackets made. Mostly posting to keep a record of progress if this thing ever gets done. LOL

    shocks.jpg shocks2.jpg
     
  15. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    Kinda over the top but my buddy Rob (guy in the movie) said he had a dream about a tilt front end where we didn't have to cut the fenders and one person could operate it. It works.

     
  16. Thor1
    Joined: Jun 6, 2005
    Posts: 1,664

    Thor1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Dang WV! That tilt front end looks awesome! I love the dual stage motion. Looks like an excellent design and great execution. Well done!
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2020
  17. Wow! That is slick!
     
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  18. Mitchell Rish
    Joined: Jun 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,884

    Mitchell Rish
    Member
    from Houston MS

    That tilt front end is sharp as a 3 edged razor . Wow is a Understatement
     
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  19. A buddy of mine used to make tilt fronts for 53-56 F-100's using mid-late 80'sBuick LeSabre front opening hood hardware. Super slick with wheels that rode a rail back to a Buick latch on the center top cowl. . Yours is lookin good! Love this build.
     
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  20. pmdguy
    Joined: Dec 4, 2011
    Posts: 60

    pmdguy
    Member

    Very nice! What a cool nostalgia car! Hope to see it in person someday.
     
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  21. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    Just documenting progress.

    Pontiac Gasser 1.jpg Pontiac Gasser 2.jpg Pontiac Gasser 3.jpg Pontiac Gasser 4.jpg Pontiac Gasser 5.jpg Pontiac Gasser 6.jpg Pontiac Gasser 7.jpg Pontiac Gasser 8.jpg
     
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  22. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

  23. OLSKOOL57
    Joined: Feb 14, 2019
    Posts: 477

    OLSKOOL57
    Member

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  24. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

    Damn that is a great looking engine.
     
  25. Nice work!
     
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  26. Japper
    Joined: Apr 14, 2019
    Posts: 18

    Japper

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  27. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    We have a clutch. 1/2 factory (thanks again oldwolf) and half custom brackets. We need to add a gusset trim a bit and get it adjusted a little better but it works.

    IMG_20200401_165854.jpg IMG_20200401_165159.jpg
     
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  28. KoolKat-57
    Joined: Feb 22, 2010
    Posts: 3,073

    KoolKat-57
    Member
    from Dublin, OH

    That cantilevered mid mount is very interesting.
    A lot of outside the box thinking in this build!
    KK
     
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  29. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    Maybe not that interesting but I thought it interesting. I'm taking the radio out to see about putting gauges there........someone hollowed out the factory radio and stuck the new radio in it.

    IMG_20200406_162150.jpg
     
  30. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    Sometimes "outside the box" doesn't work. Our bracket was flexing and not releasing the clutch. New design. Maybe not a big deal for many but this is the first time I've ever done something like this so I'm surprised every time something works. LOL

     

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