Technical 1960 Pontiac Catalina manual trans swap

Anyone know what pedals/linkages would work? I know 59-60 Pontiac definitely, but not sure if anyone knows anything else close that just needs a little tweaking to make work before I have to go fab happy.

I've had this car for a little while and my sons decided they wanted to build it. I am bringing it to the house tomorrow. It is a 389 automatic car of unknown condition. I will probably just drive it as is if the engine runs ok, but if the engine needs work I am going to put one of my 400s and ST-10s into it. Just wondering where I might be able to get the pedal and linkages to make it work. I know I'll have to do some fab work, but just wondering how much.

 

Put out the word that you are looking for a '60 Pontiac pedal setup, here on the HAMB and on other related sites. Not that rare back in the day so you should be able to scare up a bolt-in OEM setup. Just be patient...

 

You should try your best to find a complete factory stick parts car. Expect to pay a pretty good amount for it. It'll be worth every cent. Good luck !!!

 

I saw this on the Pontiac site. I remarked on it. Anyway, someone here will know. I have pedals out of a 61 Catalina. (sort of). I think they are the same. Anyway, if it is and interested............ I have NO linkage.

 

Try these guys......
https://fabcraftmetalworks.com/
KK

 

Pontiac Heaven has it..

 

Possibly the pedals and linkage from a 60 Chevrolet could be used? Yes put a wanted add on the HAMB. I sold wvenfield a set of pedals from a 56 for his Pontiac. I have a 60 Pontiac mine like yours is a automatic.

 

I may be wrong but doesn't the '60 have an X frame and '61 a perimeter frame???
Would that even make a difference?

 

Yes. Most likely why the fab craft metal kit won't work. I think the o/p answered his own question...59-60 only

 

I gather that similar bodied GM pedals would be close and work in your application:-

• Chevrolet Biscayne;
• Oldsmobile 88; and
  
• Buick LeSabre

 

Maybe Olds /Buick (even rarer over here) Chevrolet tended to have more conventional looking stuff.

 

Am I wrong or don't both have hanging pedals?

 

They only have 61+. I'll fab up my own before I drop that much on a pedal and some linkage.

Thanks, just sent them a message.

 

Yep $725 is pretty steep for clutch pedal .

 

Yes, they do.

 

I think you could make Chevy pedals work, they both hang and the master is in the same place. The under-dash part is similar with the column attachment and the pedal bracket and all. Linkage, you may have to fabricate, but here again I'd start with Chevy stuff. Not that the Pontiac specific is not out there but it's pretty scarce. I presume you'd go floor shift, the factory column shift for the manual is kind of weak and of course only came on a 3-speed.

You may be able to bolt the 400 to the dual coupling Hydro, which is not a bad trans for an auto. The bolt pattern is close. Getting the starter meshed up may be an issue. Usually guys want to go the other way, late trans to early motor, which requires an adapter because the 1960 starter mounts on the trans and the 1965-up block mounts it on an ear on the block.

 

I'm kind of thinking I can make a Chevy pedal work. I might go with a hydraulic clutch setup too. If that is the case I can go through my stash of hanging clutch pedals in my attic from random cars and see what might work. If I have to chop and weld some things onto the pedal or whatever, no big deal.

 

I have 61 Pontiac pedals. I'll get a pic later.

 

Thanks. I found a couple diagrams of the 59 vs 58 pedal setup and they don't look THAT dissimilar. I think we are going to end up going with a hydraulic clutch setup though just for ease of installation and finding linkage parts.

 

I was going to do the same until old wolf dragged the parts I needed out of some weeds.

 

Actually it was a scrapper who drug the remains of a 56 Pontiac out. not too much there. front part of a frame. cowl,hood ,316 engine and trans. I seen it was a stick bell & trans. So I bought it from that scrapper and saved it from being recycled. And was able to sell the pedals and linkage and recoup part of my money. the parts you need are setting someplace just waiting to be found. I never liked hyd clutch releases. I like mechanical release. ive drove some 60 thru 62 GMC & chevy that had hyd clutch. I always converted them using 63 thru 66 mechanical linkage.

 

Anyway, this is what I have. Came out of a 61. Not all original obviously.

 

I don't mind hydraulic clutches, I'm used to driving my 98 Trans Am so the feel will be about the same. Granted, I've driven both but hydraulic doesn't bother me.

 

57-back have under floor mount pedals, 58 I think is the transition year to hanging pedals.

They may be exactly the same as a Chevy given the body shell is the same.

61 is an entirely different body shell.

 

I run a hydraulic clutch in my Ford and it was the way to go. I have about 12k miles on it and have yet to touch it.

 

Probably. That way you just need to find/make the z-bar

Sent from my SM-G965U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

You guys are forgetting the overcenter spring mechanism that decreases pedal pressure … there's a whole lot of parts in a Pontiac clutch setup not used in a Chevrolet. When the Pontiac is set up as delivered from the factory, it requires far less effort to operate, and is as smooth a setup as ever built.

 

Here's the 1961 parts catalog illustration of the brake/clutch pedal assembly for 1961 cars.

 

This is a 60 Pontiac clutch brake pedal assembly setup. The bad part about the Pontiac is the bellcrank is a piece of flat bar that can twist, not near as strong as the Chev. I think you could make a 59-60 Chevrolet pedal assembly and bellcrank work with not a lot of effort. I do have a set of Chevrolet 59-60 pedal assembly if interested.

 

I took the engine/trans out of a 59 ambulance. Interestingly enough, the car had floor-mount pedals like a 55-57 Pontiac. It also came with the heavy duty Borg Warner T-85 transmission. Sold off the engine and trans but I kept the entire clutch, bell housing, flywheel and core clutch. Used it in my 34