Register now to get rid of these ads!

Camero frame in a pontiac question

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by juuraslahti, Jun 16, 2013.

  1. I am looking at getting a 55 Pontiac star chief. Its a project, mostly in pieces but all there. The car is on a Camero frame and rear end. My question is will any Pontiac engines bolt to that or am I destined to get a chevy engine, be it small or big block.

    Thanks for any input.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. raidmagic
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,440

    raidmagic
    Member

    Yes you can put a Pontiac in it. Side note it's CamAro. Just a useless pet peeve of mine. :D


    Cool looking car btw, should make a nice project
     
  3. Thanks for the info and spelling lesson :) Now to figure out what Pontiac engine to put in there.
     
  4. mashed
    Joined: Oct 15, 2011
    Posts: 1,474

    mashed
    Member
    from 4077th

    Can't be a Camaro frame. They're unibody meaning it has subframes bolted to the body.

    Meaning it's a Camaro subframe welded to the front of the stock Pontiac frame.
     
  5. Ahh ok I ***umed it was a whole different frame as the car sits lower in the front and back than the stock version. Ill have to take another look.
     
  6. raidmagic
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,440

    raidmagic
    Member

    to be honest I hated to do it, not big on spelling cops but that one just really bugs me for some reason. Put any one in there you like. There are multiple holes in the crossmember to bolt whatever mounts you'd like and if needed you could drill what you need.
     
  7. stuart in mn
    Joined: Nov 22, 2007
    Posts: 2,803

    stuart in mn
    Member

    Camaro and Firebird subframes are the same, you just need the proper engine mounts for a Pontiac engine. It does need to be spliced into the original frame; I don't know if there are any threads here specifically about how to do it with a '55 Pontiac but there are a number of them showing how it's done on other cars - if you use the search function you should be able to find some good information.
     
  8. Grumbler
    Joined: Mar 2, 2009
    Posts: 358

    Grumbler
    Member

    I installed an Olds 455 on one of those subframes in an OT car, straight bolt in using factory mounts, they will take anything
     
  9. I give up. What does your avatar mean and what in the hell is a rocket applicance??????????????
     
  10. metalman
    Joined: Dec 30, 2006
    Posts: 3,299

    metalman
    Member

    I've used a bunch of Camaro subframes in various 50's cars back in the 90's, this Pontiac would work out fine. FWIW forget factory mounts, fab up new ones. Factory mounts in a 50's car almost always put the motor too far foward and too low to look right. I even saw one where the builder went thru hell with fan to radiator clearance ( custom built support to move rad foward) yet his engine was 8" ahead of the firewall. Simple though, factory mounts!
     
  11. oltruckag
    Joined: Aug 13, 2009
    Posts: 118

    oltruckag
    Member

    With a welder and torch anything will fit. The question is - do you have the skills and tools to do it correctly? Or have friends that do?

    Now, if the answer to either or both of those questions is no, you may want to consider how much it will cost to have someone to get the drivetrain installed correctly. Otherwise, go get some steel and get fitting.
     
  12. Grumbler
    Joined: Mar 2, 2009
    Posts: 358

    Grumbler
    Member

    Ha Ha Ha, Canadian humour my friend. Thats Ricky from Trailer Park Boys, a tv show your kids would NOT be allowed to watch. Check out the uncensored version if you want to die laughing!!

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Mike51Merc
    Joined: Dec 5, 2008
    Posts: 3,855

    Mike51Merc
    Member

    Yeah, gotta love them CamEros.
     
  14. Thanks for all the info so far. With a resource like you guys around it certainly would make putting it back together alot easier.

    As to Oltruckag reply, unfortunately I do not weld, was hoping for some kind of engine drive train combo that would bolt in easy, haha ya i am naive i guess. Here are a few more pics of the frame, perhaps it might give you any more of an idea what would work . Any more info on drive train, ******, engine combos that would work easier much appreciated.

    If it is going to require some fabricating to get in there, there is a shop around here i can trust.
     

    Attached Files:

    • 182.jpg
      182.jpg
      File size:
      182.4 KB
      Views:
      238
    • 190.jpg
      190.jpg
      File size:
      246.8 KB
      Views:
      203
    • 193.jpg
      193.jpg
      File size:
      206.2 KB
      Views:
      224
    • 195.jpg
      195.jpg
      File size:
      215.4 KB
      Views:
      220
  15. raidmagic
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,440

    raidmagic
    Member

    Looks like it was put together well. I wouldn't be afraid of that.
     
  16. oltruckag
    Joined: Aug 13, 2009
    Posts: 118

    oltruckag
    Member

    Well, don't let my comment stop you - I couldn't weld when I got my first frame up project. If you've got the space to work on it and the desire to learn, it definitely looks like a good base to start with... Just don't get a cheap welder - you'll hate using it.

    Tyson
     
  17. 55 dude
    Joined: Jun 19, 2006
    Posts: 9,357

    55 dude
    Member

    Contact Lono here on the Hamb he is out of Vernon and could probably help. Did you get the front end of old frame to mount bumper?
     
  18. A Camaro/Firebird rear end bolts right into a 49-57 Pontiac, as far as that goes; I'd love to see more pictures of where the stub's welded in as I have one I was thinking of doing that with.

    Your car is an American Pontiac, for what it's worth, the big X crossmember gives it away. Canadian Pontiacs had the same frame as a Chevy, and some body parts won't swap between the two because of the difference in wheelbase.
     
  19. stuart in mn
    Joined: Nov 22, 2007
    Posts: 2,803

    stuart in mn
    Member

    Another option is simply upgrading what you already have - rebuild the front suspension and add disk brakes, there are several options for doing that and no welding is required. However, if you want to go with a newer (1960s or 1970s) Pontiac engine there will be some fabrication for engine mounts to the 1955 frame since it used different style mounts.
     
  20. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,408

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Yes, plus Canadian Pontiac's had Chevy power plant's as well. As mentioned in this forum http://www.pontiacsonline.com/SAFARI.htm .
    Quoted from it is this.............. "Canadian Pontiacs in this era were based on Chevrolet platforms and used Chevrolet engines, but had Pontiac styling cues and often had model names unique to the Canadian market."
     
  21. I had a 54 Canadian 4 door pontiac before. I sold it but always liked 50s pontiacs, guess thats why i am back.
    The guy selling it is offering a strong running 327 for 500 bucks and a R3 transmission as well i believe.
    I do want something beefier but maybe i should throw that in there till i get the cash to get something bigger and badder.
     
  22. roddinron
    Joined: May 24, 2006
    Posts: 2,676

    roddinron
    Member

    It's on Netflix, and can also be watched free on the net, funny doesn't even begin to describe it, but be warned, it's addicting, and you'll feel dirty when it's over!LOL!
    Oh, and "rocket appliances" is a Rickyism, check it out
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfq3c4Cf1Fs
     
  23. I see. I suppose I wouldn't want my younger grandkids to watch it.
    BTW, I think the word you're looking for is "appliance", not "applicance"
     
  24. raidmagic
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,440

    raidmagic
    Member

    He is looking at buying a car that already has the subframe attached. Doesn't anyone actually read the threads anymore or just post based on the ***le?
     
  25. Just forget everything oltruckag said.
    You can simply bolt in just about any Pontiac engine you want.
    Since your subframe is a Camaro, the exact same as Pontiac firebird, just collect the parts and mounts used for firebirds. They bolt right in.
    Firebird vs bonneville will have different bits and brackets but the engines will be the same.
     
  26. Grumbler
    Joined: Mar 2, 2009
    Posts: 358

    Grumbler
    Member

    Exactly. Chev, Pontiac or Oldsmobile (77-79 T/A's had Olds 403's as an option) bolts right in
     
  27. mashed
    Joined: Oct 15, 2011
    Posts: 1,474

    mashed
    Member
    from 4077th

    Look at the first post pic. Somebody did a bang-up job stubbing the old frame horns and crossmember on the Camaro clip.

    Bumper brackets should bolt right on.
     
  28. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 24,959

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    I'd never buy a subframed car that does not have the front sheetmetal on it. at the very least find out the original wheelbase and see if it is right... be sure to check both sides. one side could easly be ahead of the other.

    I'd also be wondering what part of the original car goes where the steering box is now located.
     
  29. need louvers ?
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 12,901

    need louvers ?
    Member

    49 ratfink just said what I was thinking as I read the rest of the thread. I hate to be negative, but I find that damn near every time I deal with a subframed car without the sheet metal attached, it's going to get ugly...
     
  30. My question is will any Pontiac engines bolt to that or am I destined to get a chevy engine, be it small or big block.


    Now personally I prefer a relationship with a brunette, they just seem to be a bit more stable. Blondes really are a lot of fun but you need to talk them thru almost everything.
    Redheads are great for a short time, once you get tired of sleeping with one eye open it gets old.
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.