Projects 53 Pontiac custom build

Okay I've gotten over my 1st Shock, Horror feeling. Looking at later pix it appears you are doing a mighty fine job, and actually using some gray matter to work out the final appearance, rather than rip,bust and tear! And I like what I see.Goodonya. ps if I sound like an old fart it's probably because I am Back in the early 60's when I had a DA haircut, we dechromed like crazy I also have a 74 Firebird Ram Air which is dechromed,and looks absolutely Ballsy!
I'll keep posted on this because I like your style and your welding technique!
rodl

 

I always wanted a DA haircut when I was a kid but mom wasnt having it,but for some reason let me have a mohawk later on ? I'd have one now but the top of my head has grown into what i think Bill Cosbey referred to as a reverse mohawk ? Bald as hell !
Anyways, Im definitely going for a late fifties early sixties thing so the chrome had to go !

 

So what's the progress looking like? I like a lot of your ideas and am interested in how it's going.

 

Check out a thread on here about molasses dips - it works a treat!
RodL

 

thats a great job your doing there! i admire your dedication for getting that cool car a 2nd chance of life on the road. Just imo dont ever chop it, everything else is a-ok. will be a stunning car when finished.

 

Great work on the bodywork. I guess you´ve done this kind of thing before!
Good plan to ditch the chrome on the hood. It is ugly and doesn´t belong on a Kustom.

 

Talk about keepin yourself busy! This is a cool thread. Keep the updates comin and keep up the good work.

 

Wow,havent checked my own thread in quite a while ! The car is just sitting under a cover right now.Had opportunity to make some money doing a 58 VW panel so its been kinda sucking up my time. I did take a bunch of new pics but somehow have a shit card in the camera. Will try to get some stuff updated soon ,thanks for the compliments...

 

Very nice work!

 

Do you have any pix of the completed hood? I've often wondered about changing the look of the hood on my '41.

 

I have some buried somewhere. My camera lost a ton of stuff last fall so i'll have to dig.I plan on having it back in the garage this week ,I can get some then.

 

Great work on the Car, keep the updates coming. This site gave me inspiration for my Pontiac http://www.cadvision.com/blanchas/54pontiac/index.html and some good tips too.

 

any updates man? love the build!

 

Lovin it. i really dig ponchos of this era, bombs or customs. your metal work is very good.

 

great car man , but in the first post you say it is a 54 , why is that?

 

Im builing a 51 chev so heres a reply

 

Yes ,there is progress ! Ill post pics later on tonight. I finally got the car back in the garage,the nose is off and the eight is coming out
It has some serious valve issues and it has spun a main bearing. I had a buddy give me a good offer on the old motor and tranny so theyre going bye bye this weekend. I will be replacing it with a rebuilt 65 327 it has 202 fuelies and has been hopped up a bit.I scored a brand new T350 still in the crate in trade for some paint work. Ill be smoothing out the firewall and installing airride while its all torn apart.
Thanks for the interest,and sorry about the small block guys but to have a motor pushing damn near 400 hp for less than I can rebuild the eight for wasnt a hard decision ....

 

It was advertised as a 54 when I bought it,I than figured out quickly it was a 53.

 

Lookin great man

 

Looking good! now add some new pics!

 

Great looking car, good luck

 

Just found your thread and VERY impressive!!
Do like the mild custom look you're going for...and realize it certainly takes more than MILD body work on one of those chrome laden Ponchos !!
Whole front end effect is great looking.. good job.

 

ok , i understand , can`t wait to see the end result
i also have a 53 catalina , and it is a great car , as far as i know there are only 2 of them in the netherlands

 

Cool project. i like what youre doing so far..

and i dont blame you on the 327.. ive put up with a straight 8 for too long.. they just cant comete with modern driving conditions.

 

327`s are great engines , i had one in my 68 kingswood , they are strong.
but as far as i am concerned it has to be pretty serious before i take my straight eight out and replace it with a v8 .
i love this thing

 

Sorry,done this more than once ,but having a hell of a time with pics.
Anyway,some pics of where the car was at when i stopped in August.
Most of the body work roughed in,and a crazy idea I had for a floating grill. Will come up with something cooler for sure.
The other pics are of the car presently,nose off and motor ready to pull.
i actually pulled all the suspension and started cleaning the frame a bit.
Gotta borrow my buddies cherry picker in the next few days,pull the motor and finish cleaning things up. I'll fit the motor and build mounts after that.
i also fitted the passenger side air bag yesterday.The set up I have is an airride technologies kit for a 65 impala,the cups and averything fit perfect without any cutting.

 

Car looks good volksjunky! Are you planning on using the original bumper?

 

Thanks ! Im up in the air on bumpers. I dont have an original front. Shipping stuff like that is just aweful here. I was contemplating 49-52 chevy bumpers, I have acccess to some that I could fit,than just buy some new chrome ones down the road.

 

Lookin good !