Projects Pontiac torpedo

Guy dropped this off at school. I emphatically informed him we’re not restoring the car. Fix the brakes. Make it go. Clean it up.
It’s a roller. No engine or trans. I’ve got a good 250 amd th350. Also could go 3 speed manual.

 

Questions are from the owner. He asked about power steering and discs.
I’m telling him unless there is something bolt on we’re going to use what’s there.
The drums and manual steering.
The goal is brakes, new wiring, install an engine and trans, fix the worst of the floor, clean it up.
Wondering if anyone knows the stock gear ratio
What newer rears work with the stock wheels.

 

Sounds like the owner thought you were a restoration shop ( NOT!) . However, as you’re going to give it a mechanical upgrade he’s in the right place. The youngsters you teach will appreciate the experience and opportunity later on in life.

 

Car has a tissue holder, gm spot light, driving lights and a reverse light.
Didn’t realize these cars had a rear wiper. Was that standard?
I texted the owner about skirts. If he doesn’t have em, I’ll find him some.
Needs a visor
I’ll probably drop the front a little and the rear a little more.
I’ll surprise him

 

We’re not set up for resto work. You don’t want students removing hard to find trim either.
The other reason is our school is slated to close in the next year as they are building a new one.
My shop was on the plans so I hope it stays that way
The mechanics class will handle the brakes amd wiring my guys will build the engine mounts and figure out the drive line. Patch the floor and clean it up

 

most cars of that era had rear gears around 4 or so. And the bigger GMs usually had 5 on 5 wheels. Sometimes with LH lug nuts or bolts on the left side of the car, so look before you remove them.

Neat looking car.

 

Haven’t got under the car yet.
I thought they were open
the pics online are open

 

Open drive, 4.30 axle on 6 cyl 3 speed. That car was a 8 cyl. 3 speed - probably 4.10 area axle. The '50 Olds guys would stick the 4.30 punkins in their loaded up 303 - 324 Rockets & carry the right front wheel at stoplights.

 

Guy said skirts are missing.
Definitely got to get some.

 

Good choice on the 250 engine. Open driveline, steep rearend gears. A 56’ish Oldsmobile pumpkin with highway gears bolts in. Disk brake conversion is spendy, does not work with factory 16” rims.

 

Thanks.

 

A neat project for someone would be to mould some resin around that steering wheel.

 

Like 302 GMC said, good punkin (or ring and pinion) for a '50 Olds. I found out by mistake. Thought it was 4.33. A lot of the 5 lug Chevy pickups used 5 on 5 pattern. Here's a list some guy compiled.
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=234769

 

I wish my auto shop was like your's @anthony myrick...it would have been a heckuva lot cooler...

Yeah the rear wiper is a neat option...what does the switch look like? That might give a clue...it seems like it belongs...must have been a short blade.

 

Not sure yet.
I’ll get a pic

 

Guy don’t know about the 250 yet.

It’s one of those you get what you get kinda things.

he wants it to go and stop. That’s what I have and it will fit easier than a v8.

hope to sell him on keeping thr 3 on the tree.

 

With the Power Pack option.

 

Shift linkage on those cars will make you scratch your head in wonder ... selector trans & cable linkage pieces when new. '49 -'54 Chev H box is near bolt-in.

 

OHC Pontiac 6

 

I’ve only ever seen one slant 6 with that option package and it was an OT Dodge Dart.

 

If you go with a /6 as @Moriarity says I’ll donate the shift linkage I removed from my cheap Dart. Everything except the column is removed and I’d have to see what I need to do to get ya the column. Slant 6s are sexy cool. Yes the Hyper pak would be hard to find and spendy.
Dan

 

I should’ve clarified the linkage is for a 904 auto. Thinking (dangerous for me and nearby innocent bystanders) you could easily modify any column shifter to work with an any auto using a cable instead of linkage. I’m guessing @302GMC was talking manual transmission linkage.

Dan

 

The cable is installed thru shift tube, activates the low/reverse selector on trans.

 

Another beyond cool project for the new school year. I know the emotions a Chevy in a Ford unleashes, what rath would ensue with a Chrysler in a Pontiac.

 

steering not a bolt in https://www.pontiacsafari.com/L1Garage/SteeringUpgradeGM605.pdf pontiacparts.net has discs

 

A slant 6 is a very hard engine to swap into a car that had a straight 6 or 8 originally. The head usually hits the passenger side of the firewall or the heater box, as the indent in the firewall is centered for the inline engine it originally came with.