Just picked up a 40 Pontiac Coupe, very solid last time registered was in the late 40's. I want to upgrade suspension and power , but not touch the body and /or interior keeping stock. I got a 9" Ford rear sitting in my garage, its set up now with a coil over setup and ladder bars I want to install it with a 3 or 4 link air bag system, so I can adjust ride height, does anyone know which is stronger, rides better etc. and whats a good width for my frame ? What are my front suspension options ?. Steering columns anything tilt/ power from another ride fit somewhat easy ? Big block Chevy, I had one before in a 39 Chevy, with headers, pretty much same frame and body, but never payed too much attention how the previous owner did the install, any ideas on mounts, headers etc. ? And last but not least I notice the stock frame has a big *** X in it, whats my options for getting exhaust thru that mess, and I want to sit real low , so any help on that would be appreciated. Here's some pics. [/URL][/IMG]
You hit my hot ****on tonight with your coupe. My first hot rod I built (1962) received a '52 Oldsmobile 303" swap. That or a 331 or 390 Caddy would be logical. Everything else should fall into place easily if you go with the proper front clip to loose the rotten brakes and cheesy front suspension the Pontiac is saddled with.
I hear ya, I looked for a long time to find a Pontiac Coupe, I was finding 1 for every 50 Chevy's, I was always a Pontiac guy, built a few GTO's pushing over 600 hp with pure Poncho power, but this time I got a fresh 427 BB Chevy sitting in my garage with some serious work done to it and it's paid for, so this time that the route I'm gonna go. I really want to keep as much of the car original as I can so the clip is out, I want to keep he original frame intact but add some sort of IFS to it.
I put a Heidts M2 setup in my 48. I got dor a-arms spindles etc from pick and pull and just bought the weld in crossmember. There are some bolt in kits out there. I am thinking about using the trailing arm set up out of a 63 chevy pickup for the rear. I just googled nascar susp. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I'm liking the trailing arm set up any pros cons beteween that and othet IFS, also I got tha BOP X frame and built in front spring pockets making it difficult if not impossible to do any updated IFS. Anyone have any experience with the front ? I found an article on how to install a 58 Pontiac upper and lower control arms bolt on , dont know how difficult it would be to find them though and how good it would work ? Here's a link I found to using 58 Poncho A arms without hacking frame maybe I can adapt a rack set up to it http://www.pontiacsafari.com/L1Garage/BallJointConversion.pdf
Was trying to keep my rails, kinda shy away from clips, or is the Fatman not a whole clip, really wanting to save my original frame.
I fell asleep on this for a while, a year geez, I pulled the nose and want to mock up my front suspension and engine mounts. The problem with my front suspension is the frame on these are not flat like a Chevy and I don't think a Heidts or Fatman setup will work where the mounts need to be welded, I came across an article in Crankshaft Coalition that addressses the issues http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/19371957_Buick_Oldsmobile_Pontiac_suspension_upgrade just don't know if it will sit low enough and I can retro bags to it ?? Anyone run into this issue ? Also what to do with the X member and any thoughts on sand blasting the entire frame or wire brushing, sand and doing rust bullet ? Is it worth blasting ??
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