I may be borrowing trouble here, but I took a look at previous owner's "patches" and down the road, I think I will need to redo them on my Pontiac Chieftain. Will I be able to use Chevy Floor pans from a 56 to repair/replace the ones on my 56 Pontiac Chieftain?
not if you want them to fit right...the floor is different. Hump is smaller, frame is different, etc.
Thinking aloud... maybe?... if yours is a Canadian built chieftain. I'm to understand the Canadian built Pontiacs of that time used alot of Chevy parts throughout... so... maybe the floor pan? I know the canadian built pontiacs have the chevy's 115" wheelbase instead of the USA built 122" (chieftain) or 124" (starchief) wheelbases. Someone with Canadian trifive Chevy & Pontiac knowledge should be along shortly to set me straight... Gotta56forme/Scott
OP is new to the forum, and does not have a location in his profile...so I didn't include the Canada info, which you spelled out pretty well.
My hunch is it will still be a Pontiac specific part, different from the Chev. I can't remember if I have ever seen anyone mention replacement floor pans being available for the trifive Pontiacs. Also I think all of the wheel base differences on the Pontiacs are only material to the items in front of the firewall. From the firewall back, they may be all the same car, largely (trim differences aside).
Then, you may have an advantage with your location, Clint. You may be able to find a junkyard floorpan from a dry texas car which will likely be superior to any new, available stamping you might find... food for thought. How much floorpan repair does your Chieftain need?
Clint,,There is a guy in Marshall,Tex that could possibly answer your question,,Old Pontiac man.call 903-935-2514 ask for Jimmy...He is not a HAMB member.He is an old rebuilder..May have some old Ponchos laying around
55-57 Chevy and Pontiac share nothing below the beltline except door shells, trunk lid shell on some models, and station wagons 55-56 use the same quarter panels. The frames are completely different. Canadian Pontiacs use a Chevrolet ch***is and running gear, but since OP is in the deep south it's highly unlikely his car was sold in Canada. It's as much work to make a Chevy floorpan patch panel work as it is to just make up new ones from scratch. That I know of no one is currently offering panels, but a search may reveal something. At one time they were being sold.
You might try "ems automotive".They don't have anything listed on there website but I would send them an e-mail and ask. Also do a search in the cl***ifieds for " '40PlyCoupe" He's parting out a car, or would probably sell you what's left.
if you cant find a premade panel and i dont think you will ,you need a bead roller and some steel sheet you can make your own. not trying to be a smart *** but over the last 50 years ive done this alot ,mostly because i didnt build the popular cars. so you do what you have to do.
Fumbling around looking for 56 info, came across this post. Leaving this info. on this old thread for the next person who happens by. Front Floors = amesperf.com and California Pontiac restoration. DOn't cobble up Chevy patch panels.
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