Projects 1956 Pontiac Gasser 389 swap (Finally Running)

Engine painted and almost ready to put into place.

 

I would have preferred a dual 4 tunnel ram but it's not in the budget new right now and no one is giving them away.


I do need a set of fenderwell headers. I will buy a set of small block headers to adapt to Pontiac flanges.

 

I'm talking to myself but any suggestions are always appreciated. Put together for fitment. (no clutch etc installed).



Sitting in appx place. Will sit a little higher which is good for header clearance. Passenger side is no problem as far as motor mount. I'll be using a stock mount and make a bracket. On drivers side..........not quite enough room so I'm thinking using a Hurst type thing except I only need a few inches forward. Steel flat bar attacked to factory mount run a little forward to a bracket on this side.


The wire mess and firewall will be cleaned up after fabrication. I'm thinking I'm just going to have to buy a generic set of fenderwell headers, a Pontiac flange and cut to fit. I should have enough room with the engine raised to clear the steering box. Around the column might be a little interesting.

 

I had to shift my engine back and raised it a little and I was able to fit some ram air manifolds right in there. It's a little tight but it works.

 

So, here are the motor mounts. Tomorrow hopefully we will get a crossmember mocked up for them to mount to. Skipped trying to use the factory type rear mounts and just bought a Muncie mount and we are going to make a small crossmember to mount it to also.

It should go 4 inches or so higher for more header clearance around the steering box.

 

killer!

 

Contact Mad Dog Headers. He makes several headers for Pontiacs.

 

Thanks. I'll check them out.

 

You can always shift the engine toward the passenger side for clearance. The car will not care about 1-1½" offset and since you are fabricating most other stuff it should not be an issue.
Just be sure that the engine and trans package move together, and don't worry about an angle to the pinion.

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Rear mount made up. This will mount right in front of the X of the frame right behind the holes for the exhaust. Transmission will mount to it for a rear mount.

 

Crappy cell phone pic, but painted and installed. Hopefully will have the front done later this week.

 

I haven't updated lately. Front crossmember fabbed up.

 

Any recommendations, I'm listening. I don't really know for sure what I'm doing. Working on the front suspension I figured it better to have the lift in the springs as opposed to perches and shackles so decided to have a go at re-arching the springs.


I'm going to make a front crossmember to mount the radiator and front spring mount but I didn't like how far it would be to the front spring.


Hopefully get the other side finished and maybe start on rear mounts tomorrow. Front of spring will actually be a little higher.



I'm pretty much settled on moving the heater and installing hanging pedals. Just not enough room otherwise as I'm thinking I'm going to have to route the rear header pipe out through under the steering shaft.

 

I'd take it off the jack stands, put the motor back in and simulate the "loaded" ride height before hanging the front springs. Also check wheel placement in front fender by dropping the front clip in position. You want to be able to check for possible interferences and eliminate all the "oops" you can before going too far.

 

Always watching out for your thread and I always read your progress. I think you're doing great! I'd be doing about what you're doing if it was my car. I might possibly go with a rear steer camaro/firebird clip on a hardtop like yours and an axle on a tudor sedan or maybe not!
The 55 front sheetmetal looks nice on the 56 car IMHO. Keep posting! The photos are helpful too.
My old 57 tudor....389/4 speed with 3.63 gears.

 

Just getting a basic idea. I know I'll need to take into consideration the added weight for the front end. We were wanting to get an idea about making mounting brackets for the suspension. The more we go forward the further behind I get looking at taking it further than I had originally planned.

My Buddy: "Come on, let's go ahead and do a tilt front end since we are this far". Arching the springs wasn't a daunting as I first thought.

I'm thinking I'll go with the 55 Upper bumpers and center section like 55Chieftain did. That's open to change.

 

Been awhile since an update here. We made rear brackets for the springs.


And then brackets to mount to the frame.


We got them tacked in today.


Hopefully will get one welded to the other tomorrow.

 

Put engine back in the get weight on springs to double check measurements for front mount. Now weight on them in these pics. Rear mounts tacked in.

 

I was stalled over the summer but finally got back to this. The wheels are just place holders.

 

It rolls and almost steers.

 

Just found your thread. Great drivetrain! Rowing a stick at wide open throttle beats a boring old automatic any day! Your car is gonna look badass! Subscribed.
Hmm, might even have to throw a little Photoshop action at one of those last two pictures. Lotsa potential there...

 

I would like to know how you reached your springs? Thinking of doing this my self if it aint too bad.

 

Go for the photoshop.....the wheel and tire combo is just temporary.......

We re arched the springs in a press. Took them apart, marked them every few inches and pressed them. In the end while it worked I had to add a spring to get them to not flatten back out too far.

 

Springs turned out good, I had a set of f1 springs I did but they were still a little long even after arcing them. Best advice to those who try to do it is to lay the spring down before and after and trace it out on a sheet of cardboard for referance to keep the springs the same angle.
But I ended up using the Speedway springs.

 

Just posting to have some place to document progress. If anyone does read this.....going to go pick up a rear end out of a 69 GTO (actually I lie, it's being brought to me). I've changed directions many times but I hate to cut the wheel wells. (yeah, go big or........) I understand.......

Anyway, I suppose I could look it up but I'm lazy.....the rear came out of a Nomad so I'm guessing I should be able to make it fit O.K. and still get slicks, even if not super wide ones to fit?

 

What is the new direction? Gasser still correct?

 

Yeah, mostly talking about cutting the wheel wells.....I hate to but...................

 

Just think how much easier it will be to get the tires on and off ;^)

 

I know, right? LOL We had to unbolt the shocks just to get the whitewalls off.