1950 1951 - I know the pontiac frames are longer in the front? - I've been told that the chevy patch panels are the same - Ive heard that the windsheild is interchangable. My questions are: Are the pontiac bodys wider? Can a pontaic body be bolted to a chevy frame and use a chevy nose? Thanks, Cory
Are the pontiac bodys wider? yes, i believe they are Can a pontaic body be bolted to a chevy frame and use a chevy nose? no why would you want to? the chevy frame is junk compare to the pontiac frame, the pontiac frame has a really nice x that goes from the front to the back, higher kick up on the back. open drivetrain etc hope this helps the cowl is different on the pontiac also so i doubt the chevy fenders and hood would line up
Shell is the same from the cowl back except for dash, trim, taillight treatment. Rockers, lower quarter patches will work, front fender patch is too short; gl***, doors, deck lids interchange. Noses are interchangable, but floorpans are different and frames are not directly interchangable, different mounts. Before anyone argues with me, I've done it, I had a Pontiac nose bolted right on a Chevrolet body shell in an aborted frame transplant many years ago. Same rearends that fit Chevy will fit Pontiac, spring spacing is the same, except the Pontiac is open drive and has wider springs, so no kits or changes are needed Additional length of the Pontiac makes V8 swaps easier; the frame can be adapted to take a Saginaw 605 steering box, and there are disc brake kits for the stock front end. No reason to change the frame. Pontiac used that same frame through '57. I will further add that my current 1950 Fleetline has about 3/4 of the gl*** in it from a '50 Pontiac Streamliner - 1/2 the windshield, right vent and door, both quarter windows and the rear window. Fully interchangable. Olds 76 (6-cyl) and 88 49-51 also interchange the same parts, but have the longer nose. It should be noted there are FOUR different gl*** sets for 49-52 Chevy and Pontiac: Hardtop/convertible Styline (notch back) coupe, sedan, and sedan delivery Fleetline (fastback) Station wagon They do not interchange across body styles. Same goes for doors - in fact, coupe doors and sedan delivery doors are unique, although the latter you can get away with sedan doors on.
Was in Rodders Digest years ago as a conversion on their '55 project and has always been a tech for 55-57 cars - but 49-54 are the same frame and more or less the same suspension, so I don't know why it wouldn't work on them. Basically it will bolt to one existing frame hole and to the drag link, you need to drill two new holes, and they put a piece of tube through them and welded that in so the frame couldn't compress down where the box was bolted.
what about the Olds body, I'm just curious as I had a 49 olds fastback and a 49 pontiac f/b and the rear skirts wouldn't interchange, are the pontiacand the chevy the same in the rear 1/4s? I would also definately stick with the stock Pontiac front end with mods-thats one strong suspension-D
My friend frank has a Canadian 51 Pontiac and it is the same size as my 50 Chevy. Looks like a regular Pontiac only Chevy size.
Canadian cars were built on the Chevy Top Hat frame... Does anybody sell floor pans for the Pontiacs?
They have been made and discontinued for the tri-5 years, I believe there is someone on eBay offering them for the 49-54 cars now, but I'm not sure how the quality or fit is. Seems like they're being sold as fitting Chevy and Pontiac, which is never a good sign.
If I'm NOT concerned about original seat mountings, under seat heater, etc. will the Chevy stuff work?
I believe the body mounts and related cross-channels are different because the frame is different. But those don't appear to be part of the floor pan, so it may not matter. Sooner or later I need to buy a full left side floor pan so I'll know more then.
I can see where it may be some work to use the Chevy stuff.... maybe the answer is to find a rust free floor pan... This outfit makes 'em for several years... the 53-54 stuff looks stamped while the earlier pans are fab'd.... http://c2cfabrication.com/store/index.php?cPath=3_47_55&sort=4a&page=2
I was looking for a 50 Chevy when I ran across a 50 Pontiac 2 dr sedan fastback and bought it. The Chevy and Pontiac frame are very different, and while I originally looked at updating the original front suspension, I decided to use an 81 Monte Carlo front clip which worked out pretty well, though I decided to move the engine back 6", which was also no big deal. Been through the gl*** issue, I found a 50 Chevy styline in a local yard and got all the gl***, which doesn't fit the 2 dr sedan. While some Chevy stuff fits, you really need to check them out without ***uming they'll fit. Even the hood hinges and springs are different.
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