So im finally back working on my 1963 Acadian, going gasser style. Going late 60's early 70's period correct build. I've had this car for around 3 years now, did the rear quarter 3 years ago and let the car sit for a while since I have my 52 chev 2dr to drive. BUT last month I ordered a speedway bolt on gasser front clip and ripped down to the boarder last week to pick it up. This kit is awesome for fit so far. Unbolted the original clip in 20 minutes and had the new subframe and strut bars on with in 10 minutes later. Just amazed that the holes all line up so far. Just bolting it all together to make sure it all fits then going to rotisserie the body and give her a heavy metal flake forest green paint with some gold flake lettering on the sides SNOT ROCKET. I've been building a 1971 454 with a 427 steel crank, still not sure if I'm going to run a tunnel or a satin finish 6-71 blower. This car was an ex race car from the 70's and already had this knuckle buster cage in it as well as a 1960's posi 9" rearend. Body was in decent shape just someone did a horrible job opening up the rear fenders, part of the reason for new quarters. More pictures coming soon as I progress, might be a few days between updates since I'm also trying to get my 1979 rear engine dragster together. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Spent a couple hours today bolting more of the front end together. Speedway makes some great stuff but they sure don't supply the right bolts or even enough. I'm missing a pile load. Anyhow here is more progress Here's a shot of my 1979 240" dragster as well, trying to get the motor together to get it out on the track. In 2001 it did the 1/4 @ 7.79 , 193mph. I'm shooting for the 200mph but I'm also running another 400 more hp then the car had back in 01 Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Don't hesitate to call Speedway about replacing missing bolts! I had my axle for almost 6 months before I installed it, and found a few missing pieces. Called them up and they sent everything out quickly, plus a few extra pieces! Love the Acadian gasser build! That frontend setup is way cleaner than what you started with! But if you can move that drag link to the top side it will sit flatter and eliminate bump steer.
I was thinking the same thing about the drag link, right now I'm just mocking things up. Improvements will be made of course. As for speedway, for the $7 it cost me for the proper bolts its not a big deal. Kinda funny they sent me 2 sets of brake pads, it'll most likely never use both sets. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I made some more good progress today, my tires showed up as well. I had the rocket wheels for a couple years already just sitting there. Next step will be the steering linkage, not sure if I'm just going to mod the original column or pick up a flaming river. Most likely use the original though. More pictures of progress coming soon, full cage rebuild and rear suspension soon Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
This is how the car looked the day I bought it 4 years ago. Here's the cage I shake my head about, not sure why the cross bar unless he was circle tracking it. He also installed the dash bar right in the path of your knuckles, literally a knuckle buster. I've got a chassis engineering 10 point cage just waiting to go in. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
You've got my interest, I need some glass and front headlight parts. Have you got such parts? I was going to run lexan windows but I'm tinting them green so it would be better in glass. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Started looking at what I'm going to do for the rear now. I've got some old 70's centrelines solid satin finish and an old pair of 32x14x15 slicks sitting for mock ups. Just wondering if I should go wider or stick with the 14" wides. The rims are 10" wide, I might even change the rims since I should only run a 12" max tire on the 10" rim. Anyhow just wondering if I should go wider on the rubber or narrower ? Need to figure this out so I can cut up the 9" I'm going with a ladder bar suspension and coil overs. I've got most of the parts just laying around. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Also keep in mind I will be running between 650-800hp on the street, so a 10" tire isn't going to cut it. 427bbc with a blower on it. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Here is another pair of tires I've got sitting around 18.5" wide. I'm thinking these are a little over kill though. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
WOAH NOW - prior to 1972 NO! Acadian was it's own division sold in dealerships that also sold Pontiacs & Buicks & Vauxhalls I've had my Acadian apart & have parted out 3-4 more and the word "Pontiac" is not in or on the car anywhere. I have the owners manuals & shop manuals again - nothing. Very common misconception and as you can tell a pet peeve of mine To me a "Pontiac Acadian" is a re-badged Chevette! and now back to Snotruck's build .
That cross down bar in the cage is perfect. I wouldn't cut that out and put a new one in for anything. In fact I just put one like that in my 31 chevy. If you do some looking at old pictures you will see that style bar in lots of cars. Not a circle track deal just an early drag car deal. Meltdown Drags 2013 July 19-21
Both, I'm changing the hime joints to greasable tie rod ends to make it a little more streetable. I just got some more parts in from speedway this week, a steering column, some universals, a metallic green steering wheel and a 5 gallon spun aluminum tank to mount on the front. New rear frame rails are arriving this week as well as the chassis engineering ladder set up. I made a little progress in the past couple weeks but had some other work pop up to make some extra bucks. Also trying to get my motor together for the rail, it all gets done in time. All I can say about speedway motors is holy shit they ship quick to Canada. Ordered on a Tuesday at noon and it arrived here on Friday at 4pm. Now that's quick for shipping across the boarder. Making another order next week for some garages, $199 for a 6 gauge set. Also have a few other parts as well as a t-bucket kit (frame and body). Prices are awesome. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!