Well I just started on my wife's car this weekend now that the A is on the road. It is a 60 Pontiac Wagon. I have a donor car with a good 389 and front clip. The wagon is a little rusty. Does anyone know who if anyone makes rockers, 1/4's and floor pans for these or if Chev wagon stuff my work? Thanks.
check out http://www.amesperf.com/ and http://performanceyears.com/newsite/index.html One of these sites may have something listed.
I have a '60 also. Last I knew no one makes the outher sheetmetal for these cars, but I think Ames had floorpans. Ames will send you a catalog free. They can be a little pricey, though. Chevy rockers should adapt, that part of the car is just about identical, but the rest is tough to find. The wagons are all the shorter wheelbase, so if you round up a solid sedan you might be able to come up with some quarter skins for it. Used to be you could find a drivable '60 4-door for around $1000 or so, I passed up a couple in this area. If you get desperate, it might be possible to make a '59 Chevy quarter work for a wheel lip and the bottom 6" or so below the character line on the bottom of the '60 quarter. That, or watch eBay and Hemmings for some NO$$$$ pieces I suppose. If you can convert these to tapered front bearings (and there is a way, a guy I talked to with a '58 did it), spend the money. I couldn't find bearings anywhere when I was driving mine and it got to where I went to the junkyard, got a couple used sets, and put all the best balls into my cars' races to drive with. Radial tires play hell with the suspension because they move the stress points around - it might help to rebuild the front end with polyurethane bushings and so forth.
Has anyone EVER ordered the JC Whitney rocker panels? I know it doesn't sound like a good idea but ya never know.
There is a guy in Arizona that sells mostly old Pontiac stuff including sheetmetal: http://www.pontiacheaven.org/ Wasn't too long ago that I sold a set of tapered bearings from a '64 Catalina to a guy who was going to use them in his '59 Catalina. Seemed new ones were about $100 per side.
I bought a set of rockers from Ames. They fit good. Make sure to order the more expensive option. Quarters seem impossible to find. I just found a set of new 4-door quarters and there may be another set available (NOS). I have a two door and it will take quite a bit of work to fit. They aren't close to the wagon quarters. The tail lights and size are different.
That is Steve Barcak. I have nothing but good things to say about him. Has helped me with my 62 GP and my father has bought stuff from him for his 66 Catalina 421 HO 4 speed car....(YES it is cool to drive) Larry
Thanks for the replies. I will try them for the rockers. I tore into it some more tonight and removed the tailgate. Looks like I may as well start with repairing the rust in the bottom of it. Another problem is the bracket in the tailgate that holds the motor is rusted out on the bottom so I will need to rebuild it or get a new one or get a different tailgate damn I hate Minnesota cars.