Projects Building a 56 Pontiac 4 door

So 1st up was to start rebuilding the brake system on her. I ordered all new wheel cylinders and lines and steel braided flex hoses. My Girlfriend has been really wanting to help so I but her to work on using the wirebrush on a rotary airtool to start removing surface rust and dirt from the front clip. She worked pretty hard at it and did a great job! And After

 

I got the rear rebuilt and pulled the right front backing plate off and cleaned it up and shot it black. Gonna reassemble it this week after a bit more frame cleaning and then pull the left side and knock it out.

 

Heater cores:
There is a late model import core that is aluminum, fits & is MUCH cheaper.
If I can find my notes, I will chime back in.
You guys know if a '56 Chebby front sway bar will fit these cars? There is a good selection of them in the aftermarket.

 

My Dad actually got a 56 Chevy after I got my 56 Pontiac so we would have matching year model cars. So I will check and get back to you on that

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How is that Poncho coming?

 

It's coming along I have been needing to update my build thread. But currently I have finished installing the new wiring harness and cranked it to get oil pressure on actually to get her to start the fuel pump was leaking so I am getting an exchange. Brakes are done floors are done. As soon as she starts I need to come up with a new throttle bracket.

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Here are some pics of the Finished Frame.

 

Wow! That looks awesome! Any chance you could post some pics of where the front fenders attach in the rear? I have some alignment issues with the hood on mine and not 100% sure what all holds the fender in place!

 

Stripped the firewall down and after sanding and sanding I primered and began painting the firewall!

 

Heres where things got interesting... So with the help of some member of the HAMB (Yall are bad ass btw) I used a rough idea of the 2nd design Hurst Mounts. My Dad not long after I got my '56 Pontiac got himself a '56 Chevy so we would have matching year model cars. SO that also allowed me to be there and get my hands on the Chevy engine modern engine brackets. SO I ordered a set after finding that the original plan of 2nd gen Fbody frame mounts would hit on the 1958 Exhausts I had bought as they port matched my 6X heads.

 

Bought a Tri-5 Convertible rear Transmission Mount and did a few mods and got it to fit nice. All in All Really Really Happy with how the swap turned out.

 

I really like the way this build is going

What are the ft mounts that bolt to the crossover from?

Did you mount the trans by the tail shaft? Do you have any picks?

 

Omg it just dawned on me that I hadn't posted any updates in a while. I have actually driven her now. So Poncho I will find more pics but the basic engine mount is a tri-5 350 engine mount kit with a Hurst inspired custom made engine bracket that I then welded to the tri 5 engine gussets. I then bought a tri 5 convertible transmission mount that works but I think I am gonna modify what I originally did.

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Following all this Pontiac info with great interest. My partner owns a '57 Star Chief convertible, has owned it for 44 years ,bought from original family. First Pontiac Iv'e laid hands on, so I'm still learnin'.

 

Think it is odd that the white portion has surface rust but the chrome is in surprisingly good shape.

 

More of us will be looking forward to pics as well

 

So ALOT has happened since I last posted a major update. I bought a new jegs wiring harness as I have had good experience with those. I bought exterior lamp lenses form California Pontiac and could lamp harness from Ron Francis Wiring.

 

Got some Terminal blocks from Lowes and mounted them in the factory location and wired up everything

 

Pic of her coming alive along with a pic of her sister when they got snow on them. Hey it doesn't really snow here in Texas

 

So when it came time to Mount the Radiator in place I found that the engine was mounted to far forward to mount the factory engine fan. Also the water pump is longer than the 56 Pump which further changes the location. I Bought a deraile 2400cfm single electric fan. Which thus far has done really well.

 

So on November 2nd 2018 I drove her powered for the 1st time heres a link to my YouTube of the 1st drive

 

And finally to current, I had been driving her farther and farther and working out bugs along the way. Had several Saturdays of short trial runs with my 1/4 Kobalt Box set and making tweaks on the side of the road. But after 3 years of work my Dad and I took my Grandma in our 56's out as our 1st ever Sonic Date. My Dad and I had never taken them anywhere together up till this point. Now I just have to get a replacement Radiator which 55chieftain and Wvenfield gave me pointers on.

 

Oldsmobile had a 4-door hardtop in 1955....just sayin.

 

Question to yall fellas, So a few weeks back i saw a post on instagram from California Pontiac Restorations that they have a Master Cylinder and Power Booster upgrade kit for our cars. I am planning to get one very very soon, has anyone else here got one?

 

Not me...mine have all been manual brakes.

 

Mine up until now is the original manual master cylinder that I rebuilt. But the single reservoir makes me nervous in stop and go traffic

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Interesting. Lots of issues with these cars to upgrade, tight steering clearance, under floor master is a pain, heater system is kind of goofy, etc etc. Looks like you managed anyways.

Supposedly an 860 steering box can be made to fit these cars with minimal effort, one of the magazines did this in a 55 ages ago, and give you power steering and a late model column if you want it. The 860 box comes out of 77-86 midsize GM cars. It bolts up to the pitman arm but needs some holes drilled and sleeved in the frame.

I have a '57 4-door that has sat idle because were I to do it I'd put a Trans Am clip in it and resolve all those issues in one shot. If only I had been smart enough to save the clip I had.

 

The article was a 605 box. There is a copy of it on pontiacsafari.com under the garage section than to upgrades.

 

SO i got a power boost dual circuit master cylinder setup from California Pontiac and have been having nothing but issues with it on my system. Has anyone else tried to install it? If so does anyone know if you need to run drum brake residual pressure lines

 

Question to all, I am trying to sort out an interior, I am not opposed to getting a chevy interior kit for the sake of availability, But was wondering if anyone else has tried going this route before? As I understand the doors are the same, the rear seats should be the same but the front bench is not the same. Anyone have any advice outside of having front seat upholstery custom made.