I have a chance to buy a '59 389 still running and complete, in the car. But the rear end is now gone. It's a ways from me so transporting the whole car is more realistic. Wondering what others might bolt in, to maybe look for in the area of the car. All the choices are probably too exotic to find in a pinch, but I am trying...I know nothing on the pontiacs is as simple as a chevy...but I still keep finding them!
'59 -'64 Catalina are the same also '59-'64 Olds. The suspension brackets may vary but the housings and third members are all interchangeable . Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
All true, but he's looking for something to bolt in to transport the car ,first of all. I'm quite sure a perimeter frame car rear (1961) won't bolt into a 59 X - frame car.
To simply move the car I would think lots of things would fit. I put a 69 GTO rear in my 56 Pontiac. Straight swap.
Where is the car? There is a yard here with a 59 Pontiac and it has the rear end. It also has the engine.
I would just get something the correct with .And temporary put it under the car jury rigged with wood blocks and ratchet straps just enough to be able make it a roller and to load it on a trailer. I wouldn't mind having a 59 389 engine.
Ive got a complete 62 olds 4 door hardtop. Rolling ch***is 394 auto. Only the horn ring and one dymamic 88 emblem missing from the fender. I would trade it for a running 1959 -389
How would a trailing arm / coil spring rear ,into a parallel leaf spring car, be considered a straight swap?
You take a fire wrench and cut all the coil spring hardware off the rear end. then cut the spring pads off the leaf spring rear and weld them on. Simple easy peasy swap.
1958, 1959, and 1960 Pontiac axels have the horse shoe shaped upper control arm. This was changed in 1961 to conventional upper control arms. A 60 housing will bolt in a 59. Not sure if a 58 housing will fit a 59, though.
Straight swap? Let's review: The o/p wants to buy a 59 Pontiac, with no rear end. He wants to bring a rear end housing to the seller's place and bolt it in , so he can load the car. He wants it to bolt in, with minimal issues. He wants to know exactly what rear end housing will bolt in. Carry on...
I knew someone would make it complicated. LOL. yes we cut off the spring brackets but the point is, he is simply wanting to move the car. Many axle would work to do that. Heck you could probably find a mobile home axle to put under it.
Yes ., but I would imagine he'll need the correct rear eventually. So, might as well get it now. Maybe you can tell him what width the trailer axle needs to be, so he can bring one that will fit the tires in the wheel wells. I'd hate to see him have to bring a welder, torch ,and generator on site.
He will but as he will find out, these rear ends are not laying around everywhere and unless you get lucky they are not cheap. I was just trying to make a suggestion to get the car home.
Well its going to be a coil spring car so a coil spring rear is a must. If it is just for transport the only thing that is real important is that the coil pads are in the right place everything else can be done with ***alongs. My best guess is that it is going to need to be an X frame car, maybe full size Chebby will have the spring cups in the right place. But that would be just by guess and by golly.
Thanks for all the replies! First complete, running pre-'60 389 I have found. Can't believe how hard to find they are, when you want one to put in a 55-57. The guy started parting the car, a sedan. Unfortunately someone grabbed the rear end first thing. Of course. Now he realizes the car's parts are not in high demand and will let the whole shell and drive train go together...but it''s a p.i.t.a. to move. I am Trying to scrounge up something before someone else does.
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