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1939 pontiac 4dr sedan

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by poncho39, Oct 29, 2010.

  1. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    Does anybody out there know what the difference is between 39 pontiac 4 dr sedan canadian built vs US built? My car doesn't have a vin plate so I don't know which one it is. My car has a 115 inch wheelbase. My engine that came with it is an inline 6 with valves on top. Sorry I don't know more but I got a deal on it I could not refuse. Seeking any help possible.
     
  2. 55chieftain
    Joined: May 29, 2007
    Posts: 2,188

    55chieftain
    Member

    Looks like the 39 Chevys use a 112" wheelbase where the Pontiacs(us) were 115 or 120" . I use the Chevy for referance because whenever they started the canadian ponchos, they were on the shorter Chevy frames,chevy engines etc with the smaller version of a Pontiac body...

    http://www.carnut.com/specs/gen/pont30.html
     
  3. toddc
    Joined: Nov 25, 2007
    Posts: 976

    toddc
    Member

    My 39 Poncho was Aussie built. It came on a 115" wheelbase with a flathead six. Is yours a Pontiac engine?
     
  4. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    I don't know if it is a pontiac engine or chev. How can I tell the difference? Is there anything on the motor to tell me?
     

  5. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    As soon as I figure out how to upload pics, I will post a couple.
     
  6. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    From what I have been able to figure out, the XCanadian built Pontiacs were different from the U.S. built units. Anybody know different?
     
  7. little skeet
    Joined: Jan 27, 2008
    Posts: 310

    little skeet
    Member
    from huston

    I Chevrolet engine will have overhead valves...the Pontiac will be a flathead.
    That is how you can tell.
     
  8. Canadian '39 Pontiac is the same size as a '39 Chev. U.S. Pontiac is a bigger car. My Father built a 39 Pontiac when I was a kid (Canadian car) we retrieved a set of doors for it from a 39 Chev in a Manitoba field.
     
  9. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

    Interesting info on the Canadian Pontiac vs American built. There is a 39 Pontiac hot rod in Omaha that is awesome, certainly not one you see very often. Good luck with your car, what I see it looks in great shape. ~Sololobo~
     
  10. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    Sorry for the deception, that is not my car on my avatar. Pics of mine to come.Thanks littleskeet, my car has overhead valves.
     
  11. Granger Perry
    Joined: Jul 12, 2009
    Posts: 134

    Granger Perry
    Member
    from Albany, WI

    As far as I know, the Pontiac is the same as a Chevy from the firewall back. The front is what is different and is wider and I think longer than a Chevy and Ford. I'll see if I can find my notes and the websites I used for information.
     
  12. Ice man
    Joined: Mar 12, 2008
    Posts: 983

    Ice man
    Member

    Pontiacs were always flatheads untill they went to the V8s in 55. If yours has overhead valves its a Chevy. Iceman
     
  13. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    Pontiac front sheet metal was totally different. My hood opens on firewall mounted hinges upward from the front. Grilles were different as they used sheet metal with four rows of four slots with a cast divider down the middle from the hood. I understand 1939 was the only year for this grille.
     
  14. ems customer service
    Joined: Nov 15, 2006
    Posts: 2,634

    ems customer service
    Member

    Post some pics and maybe i can help
     
  15. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    check out the pics under my profile. These are of my car ass it sits.
     
  16. LN7 NUT
    Joined: Sep 9, 2010
    Posts: 2,165

    LN7 NUT
    Member

    If you have any photos of the engine you should upload them to your gallery.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  17. toddc
    Joined: Nov 25, 2007
    Posts: 976

    toddc
    Member


    The body might be the same from the firewall back. The Aussie version is. The chassis however is unique to the Pontiac, and realistically not as good as a Chev.
     
  18. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    My plan is to graft both front and rear frame sections from an 85 pontiac parisienne. It has heavy duty suspension and sway bars as well as lowering the front end nicely. I may look at lowering spindles if the front still isn't right. The 85 has a nice low mileage (81000 km) 305 and a 700r4 trans. Any thoughts?
     
  19. LN7 NUT
    Joined: Sep 9, 2010
    Posts: 2,165

    LN7 NUT
    Member

    Measure from the center of the wheel to the farthest forward point of that suspension to be sure it will fit under your front sheet metal without having to modify the body (the ones where people bulge the lower part of the front fenders or move the wheel wells back to make it fit look terrible)
     
  20. p15-1948
    Joined: Sep 10, 2010
    Posts: 44

    p15-1948
    Member

    I'd think that frame would have to wide of a track for a 39 Pontiac.
     
  21. fitzee
    Joined: Feb 26, 2003
    Posts: 2,862

    fitzee
    Member

    Is there any vin plate on the front frame rail? My 35 pontiac has a aluminum tag riveted to the front frame just ahead of the steering box.
     
  22. toddc
    Joined: Nov 25, 2007
    Posts: 976

    toddc
    Member


    I'll second that. Mine is on a Toyo chassis. I had to cut 6.5" off the front of the chassis to get it under the guards (fenders) and it is still tight.
     
  23. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    I calculated the 85 is roughly 5" wider in track, but with offset wheels,and the fact the 39 wheels were so desperately tucked inside the fenders, it should make for a nice look. I won't know for sure til they are both in the garage so I can get better measurements. As the old saying goes, measure twice then measure again before cutting.
     
  24. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    Both body numbers and frame vin # have been destroyed. The frame had been " smoothed" long before I got the car, and the body numbers areas were repaired without thought to keeping such silly things as tags. DUMB ASSES !!!
     
  25. ems customer service
    Joined: Nov 15, 2006
    Posts: 2,634

    ems customer service
    Member

    I looked the pics on your profile, this is a real pontiac body , not a chevrolet. There were 3 levels of pontiacs for 39 25, 26 or 27 series, the 25 series is usally a chevy body on a pontiac frame. The 26 is the most popular ponitac. What else do you need to know
     
  26. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    Everything. When you say a real pontiac body, does that mean it is different than the chev? If so , how? IS this the small body or the large?I appreciate your input and knowledge.
     
  27. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    I have heard that the pontiac frame differs from the chev frame. Can anybody tell me how it is different?
     
  28. 48 Poncho
    Joined: Jul 24, 2005
    Posts: 702

    48 Poncho
    Member
    from Tennessee

    Go to poci.org That is the site for the Pontiac Oakland Club Internatioal or just google the name. Probably be able to find some info there.

    48 Poncho
     
  29. poncho39
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 49

    poncho39
    Member

    figured out that the pontiac frame is a " c " channel whereas the chev frame is more like a top hat style, flat on the bottom and an inverted " u " channel on top. Does that sound right?
     
  30. toddc
    Joined: Nov 25, 2007
    Posts: 976

    toddc
    Member

    ^^^ Bingo!

    The Chev frame is also much narrower at the front, making it much easier to do a suspension swap.
     

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