New project for the winter. Coming out of a VA barn and using the H.A.M.B. O-DEX for transporter. Here's the plan; 3" chop, no fenders, keep the original split head 6 and figure out how to loose the wood wheels. Info tough on the old Pontiacs. Ordered an old service manual to see what the options are. I think I'll keep the cloth top and paint the body silver. Anybody done a 29-31 Pontiac or Oakland coupe?
Not exactly what you asked for but it might be close enough. 27 Oakland sedan. Went with a ford style front end nothing against parallel leaf springs just like the look.
And here I am. Saw that auction on your 30 coupe and seriously thought about bidding on it but I have toooo many projects already and one of them is an original running 30 Pontiac Coupe. But, there's been several threads already where we've talked about these early Oakland built Pontiacs I love so much. Search '1930 Pontiacs' and '1929 Pontiacs' A few other guys here on the HAMB also building similar Pontiac projects. Me, I've got three 1931 Pontiacs and three 1930 Pontiacs at this time. Any help I can give I would love to help! Let me know. Here's some photoshopping that one of the resident Hambers did a while back on a 1930 Pontiac that still gets me to thinking about cuttin' up my 30 coupe but I'm still holdin off on it for now. The first pic is the original car and the next two are what it could look like.
Shock, If you got them, I would be interested in those fenders as the ones on one of my 30 projects are toast. Send me a PM on anything that you don't plan on using as I plan to restore my 30 coupe at this time. Congrats on a cool project and like I said I'm glad to help any way I can. Here's my 30 coupe also a barn find this one from Mich. and my 31 coupe that I rodded a few years ago. My other are in various degrees of disassembly
Good to see another early Pontiac on here. I am working on a '31 coupe (like rarerodder's) and would also like to offer my help and support in your project.
Wow! Great score, and you surely have a good source of info in RareRodder! A 389-Tri or 428 w. Turbo would be KEEN in that car (just my two bits; YOUR project! ENJOY!).
Thanks for all the support with my new project. I like the photo shop pic's with or without the fenders. I would like to keep a very traditional look. The wood to wire or old school mags is my main concern. I don't have the coupe or the parts books yet but after some internet searches, it's looks like an entire hub/brake swap is needed at each wheel. Any body got info on that?
Shock, I've never come across anyone who has converted the stock spindles but someone with some machinist resources might could accomplish that. You definitely want to replace those mechanical brakes with juice type. If you plan on driving in more than parades, you are probably gonna want to bolt new front and rear axle assemblies under those parrallel springs. This is not a difficult task. That original 200 cubic inch L-head six put out a whopping 60 hp at 3000 rpm and I've never seen any type of speed equipment available for it. Engine is highly restricted on flow so not gonna get much more out of it. But, for cruising the rod show it could be a cool conversation piece. The non-synchronized 3 speed manual trans was a bit of a dog for driving, too. Think about what you want to be able to do with the car. If it includes highway driving, you will wanna think about complete engine/drivetrain swap. Good news is the engine compartment is a bit longer than the Fords and Chevy's of the day and will hold a small v8 and probably even a Chevy or GMC inline 6 pretty easily. That would give you much better transmission choices, too. Since early GMC's used Pontiac motors from that era, doesn't seems like a bad idea to use a GMC in that Pontiac.
i say DAMN THE BAD LUCK!!! low on cash, got tons of pontiac steel, but nothing of this vintage.. im stuck with building a 30 olds with a 389 and a 30 ford 4 door with a 32 pontiac flat 6. anyone wanna trade a clean 4 door murray body for some vintage poncho/oakland steel???
Still waiting for the transporter. When I get it I want to take some time and absorb the overall car before I get started. The body is supposedly rust free with all new wood. I know these split head 6 cylinder's are low on power. I have a 331 hemi with a 4 deuce manifold and several Stromberg 97's. I can back that up with a 4 speed and I'm always looking for a quick change rear [at the right price]. The parrel leaf front springs may have to be replaced with a 40's ford axle and split bones that I have in hand. I want to build a traditional rod with the look an feel of one built in the fifties. I want to actually paint this one and have an interior installed. Like every one else I'v had too many rods in primer with junk yard seats and no headliner or door panels. Pictures and the game plan will be posted when it gets to it new home.
here is some pictures of your cousin my chevy 33 - 3 window. let me know if you want advice nobody else will take it. jim
Nice. that will make a cool rod, Does it still have the crank for the windshield riser? And when you chop it try to maintain the integrity of that rear window Cuz that is one of the things that is cool about the pontiacs...john
It's here, it's raining, it's late and I just got in from a 14hr day and a bad ride home. Pictures tomorrow, I'm going to bed and dream.
I have a 31 chopped coupe from the 60's w / gto tri power we are getting together. I need a grill and headlights, then it is on the road. wil www.sakowskimotors.com
31 B'ville Shock733 33mopower Since I have no progress to show I sure would like to hear and especially see some progress on those Pontiacs rods (and rod with Pontiac parts).
Guess I'm 1st to check in, rarerodder! Wish I had more progress to report, but between 12 hr workdays, holidays, occasionally bad weather, spending too much time enjoying the HAMB, and a general lack of enough disposable income, advances have not kept pace with my aspirations for the '31. That being said, here are several photos of our '31 Pontiac coupe before I took it apart and in its current condition. Thanks for asking and good luck with your projects!
I'm working with a friend in Smithfield, VA (HAM Capital of the world) on a 29 Pontiac Coupe. The body is disassembled and the frame is about 75% complete. We are in the early stages on this project. The car will be full fendered and the top will get chopped. We are even considering doing a removable Carson style top. Will try and post pictures as the project progresses.
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