Getting a 56 pontiac wagon. What to expect?

Getting my greasy hands on a 56 pontiac station wagon. New to classic pontiacs. Anything odd i need to expect? Has original motor and trans. Cant find a whole lot of information on them.

 

Rust around the headlights is probably a given. Also the front edge of the hood, and the lower tailgate.

 

whats it worth?

 

I got a 55 9 passenger and a 55 4 door. Floors need replaced in both, some other rust, not too bad. Not running but may be able to get em running in a weekend. Mice ravaged interiors. Paid a $1000 for the pair.

 

What to expect.... hmmmm.... Well, expect everyone to say it's a chevy, a nomad, or a safari. Parts are kinda tough to come by. Cool factor= HIGH. Fun factor= HIGH. Looks like yours is a 4 door. It's impossible to make 4 door '56 Pontiac wagon's cool.

 

Looks pretty decent on top but that dirt flooring could have been deadly depending how long it has sat there.In addition to floors,check around the spare wheel house and especially the body mounts.If you jack it on the frame side and you can't open the doors you might be in trouble.The obvious missing trim pieces should be the same as the sedans.
Trans could be either the Dual-Range(early)on Strato-Flight(late).Easy to tell:early doesn't have a Park position on the shift quadrant;uses Reverse as Park.Expensive to overhaul if non-functional.Replacement of the early one is hard(I looked for 3 years for one!)as it is different from the 55(larger output shaft and different U-joint).I have a 56 trans in my Safari and had to make up a driveshaft from the 55 and 56 shafts.That is the only other trans that will fit without modification.
Check other Pontiac posts on here for engine interchangeability.

 

Nice very nice,

 

here are some sweet wagons

 

Just saw a new repopped tailgate for them at the Turkey run. Seems a bit
pricey though...
http://www.classicchevy.com/chevy-tailgate-complete-station-wagon-1955-1957.html

 

I think they look great as a gasser / street machine style one, someone here..I think safarknut knows the person (maybe even is him) has a nice blue wagon, was from Boston area originally..was a sick machine

 

Big Mac I call BS,,not everybody dislikes 4 doors,,wagons are cool no matter how many doors they have.



Back to the question,,sadly you can expect a lot of rust but you can bring it back to life with some time and a lot of work.,,Good luck! HRP

 

I miss my 55 wagons! the best part of owning a Pontiac wagon is not everybody owns one!

 

HRP, you missed the sarcasm my friend. You didn't notice that MY 56 Pontiac wagon in the picture is a 4 door. Glad you approve though! lol.....

 

Does it have a good title? I would guess from looking at one picture its in the $500-1000 range.

 

Sarcasm is lost in print without the or faces,, HRP

 

This one is mine but a 57.Built in Revere in the early 1960's.Still has all the goodies except the big motor.If it don't get finished this year it's going up for sale.

 

those wagons rock!

 

Master cylinder is still under the floor.. What a pain....

 

I saw this one last month in a seldom-visited junk yard. The cars are packed so close together that it's almost impossible to take any parts off them.

 

Gasser!!!!

 

In my experidence, there is no reason to pay more for a car that has "a little rust" than one with the hole that you can let a cat through.

You can't patch a a small hole in a rocker panel.

Front fenders are always rotted out at least 8" high.

Quater panels always need 3 repair panels.

Tailgates always need a full lower panel

Engines should always be rebuilt.

Brake systems must be completly replaced.

Anything less will always come back to haunt you.

 

I've seen that picture online before. Beautiful car. 57 Safari is my favorite of all Safari's and Nomads.

 

Got it hauled home today. Thank god for chainsaws. Needs rocker work, some floor pan work and a lot of glass. Been sitting since mid sixties. Engine bay for of debris. Got everything underhood cleaned. Hooked up a battery and the motor turns over without problem!!

 

Great car! Good luck with your project.

 

thanks

 

Looks like a nice start... Look through my build, did a couple things to my 57. PM me if you get stuck looking for parts or need to be pointed in a direction.

 

Here's my old poncho. I wish I had never sold it.[/IMG]

 

Re: Getting a 56 pontiac wagon. What to expect?
<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e5e5e5; COLOR: #e5e5e5" SIZE=1>Here's my old poncho. I wish I had never sold it.[/IMG]
wow i love your old wagon, same color as mine.

 

why do they call them poncho? just short to pontiac?

 

You know, Im not realy sure.