Projects My 1948 Pontiac Build (A little bit custom and a whole lot faster)

Lots of progress! The 9" is a 3.0 gear set

Built the c notch on welding table


My welding is getting better


Ford's welding looks much worse - this is on the 9"


Here is everything that came off the 9"


In order to clear the leaf springs Pontiac had curled the frame up


I brought it back down so I could box that section


In the middle of welding in the notch


Almost done


I had to add these because of the front extension


Flipped and welded underneath


Mock up


Playing with lasers


Top plate welded on one side and the rest just tacked in place (I used a scrap piece to hold the axle in place to nothing would move while I set up the 4 link)


Getting closer

 

Shock mounts are next




This will clean up and look a lot better

 

C Notch worked out pretty good!!! All of it looks cool!!!

 

Thanks! I set it up so with all the air out the frame should be about .5" off the ground and all the way aired up I should be 8.5" off the ground

 

lookin good!!! SLAM IT!!!

 

Please reinforce that notch a little more, it needs triangulation. Better boxing maybe, a fish-plate type. Stresses on shapes like that are weird.

 

I did not post the good pictures of reinforcement trust me there is a ton! I also have fish plates to add to the front extensions. There is a 3/16 plate boxing the area from the crossover to the notch on inside of the frame. The notch is also 100% welding inside and out. Where it joins the frame it is welded inside and outside. It is crazy beefy compared to before

 

I picked up the rear shocks yesterday and I should be able to get them in place tonight. Alex @ Gambino Kustoms suggested I go with Monroe 37078 which are off of a Nissan Frontier. They are upper and lower loop mounted

Collapsed Length:12.63 in.
Extended Length:20 in.

 

The column and box were nasty but they cleaned up great! Blast and then some wire wheel


Now I need to find a rebuild kit anyone know where to find one?

 

i cant wait to see this done.

 

How long are your bars for the four link?

 

You and me both

I have never measured them to be honest. This is the Gambino Kustoms taildragger kit Alex sells

I was able to finish up the rear shock intall last night. I came up with a nice trick when I mounted the shock. Since my air bags are not all the way inflated or flattened out I needed to hold the shock at a certain length for install purposes. I used 4 long zip ties to adjust the shock to the length I needed. Worked great








Sorry for the cell phone pics. I dropped my 18-55 lens and now the autofocus doesn't work

 

Here is my latest photoshop of where I am headed. What do you think? Only differences are I would be running a full hub cap, no fog lights and no bumper wings

 

That looks good man! Keep at it!

 

look fimiliar??? lol!!!

 

and again...

 

Christmas madness is over so time for an update

The Saturday before last I hung out with Slammedf100, 100%Matt and the guys from NE Speed&Custom. We ended the day a local junk yard and I scored some killer hub caps to add to the collection










A great group of guys and a great day!

The next day I reorganized all my parts and took all the upholstery off my seat frames. One of the nastiest things I have done in a while. Monster nests in every seat. Took them to get blasted and put in epoxy primer






Yesterday I modified the lower control arms

Started with some 10"x10"x 3/16" plate and cut to shape


welded the plates on top


my welds are getting better


flipped them over and marked the center of the old stamped spring seat before removing them. Then I added the lower bag hole pattern using my loose top mount plates as a template


finally I added a front and rear cross support and welded it all solid


Next it is on to the front top bag cups as soon as I can find some tubing

ON TO CHRISTMAS


My family is amazing....Kugel Komponents 90 degree under dash brakes, summit gas pedal, distributor cap, spark plug wires, 6 blade fan, fan clutch, gauges, Edelbrock carbs and linkage, carb studs, rocker panel sheet metal, door bottom sheet metal and body mount sheet metal and an amazing steering wheel

 

Nice photoshop and I think you're on the right track. This car is gonna be badass!

 

Keep on keepin on......that car is gonna rock when your done !!

 

Thanks guys! I think my new goal is to have the car done and drive it to Baltimore Sept. 27th for the Rodders Journal show. And if I miss that date it will be ready for the Hot Rod Fallout in October

 

Glad I saw this build when I did. I'm about to notch my 53 Pontiac which likely has the same frame issues. Thanks for posting. I'll be following your lead.

 

Subscribed!!!

 

Where did you pick up the steering wheel and sheet metal?

 

Also subscribed! I have a 51 poncho tin woody wagon Im going to 4 corner bag as well. Great postings and pictures. Wish I would have done some of the things youre doing on my 55 when I built it.

 

Let me know if you have any questions I would be glad to help

Thanks

Steering wheel was a eBay find. Sheet metal is all EMS stuff for the Chevy some will fit as is and some will need rework

Thanks. I hope the pictures help some people

 

I have been playing with some of my new toys


Linkage installed


Fan, fan clutch and breathers


Still haven't decided on scoops / air cleaner


A arms look good after final blast


Turns out the Chevy EMS rocker extensions look nothing like the Pontiac ones so I tried to clean up my old ones. Here one is looking like swiss cheese. I need help finding another set or I will have to attempt to make a set.

 

Maybe OTB fins

 

made some bag cups


painted them up


Put together the spindles


started mocking up the front end




compressed


putting it together




I am going to shorten the bag cups because I do not have enough suspension travel. The caliper bracket will need to be modified to clear the steering arm once I bend the steering arm to compensate for the dropped upright


It is a good thing I did a mock-up! The spring cup in the frame will need to be widened a bit just so it does not rub on the bag when it is all the way aired down.

Threw on some steering stuff to see how it looks. Now I can bring the motor over and build some mounts

 

That looks really good with the fresh coat of paint. Did you make the dropped spindles or pick them up somewhere?

 

The drop spindles are from FatMan Fabrications