Projects 1956 Pontiac Gasser 389 swap (Finally Running)

Not sure what you're referring to.

 

I can do the fabrication to use the 64 engine mount location so that option isn't a problem. Here is what I was wondering.

Could one drill these two locations or are they bolt holes that line up with nothing at all? I have to use the 64 389 that I have. (as long as it's not full of termites or something)

 

I'm confused. Do you have the 61 stick bellhousing to go along with your pedals and trans from the 61? If not I would think the 61-64 bellhousing woud be a lot easier to find than the 58-60 version. I was originally thinking this was the case which was why I suggested the 60 front timing cover in order to use your 56 front center mount. I thought maybe you could fab something to work as mounts off the 61-64 bellhousing and function similar to the 56 original setup. Guess I missed something.

 

Me too. LOL

I have my 56 complete. I have a 64 389 with 4 speed and bellhousing. I have pedals out of the 61 unless I sell it complete first. Sounds like finding early pedals work better though. The 64 389 came out of the 61.

 

More moving.



Now for some off topic Hot Rod porn. I bought the Pontiac off my friend so he would have money to start on this.

 

Instead of messing with changing the cover and having to make rear side mounts maybe try to mount like mine with the later style hurst mounts that bolt to the side of the block and come forward and weld a support for biscuit mounts. Or find some of the 55 chevy hurst frame mounts they should be close enough to try to make work.



I removed my engine crossmember but this style mount is very strong, There are seperate straps that bolt from the backside of the mount to the head. here's mine



As far as the clutch goes, manual trans pedals are hard to come by, i'd consider adding a seperate aftermarket extra pedal and a hydraulic throwout bearing set up .

With the engine mounted higher and off to the passenger side you have a few more options for exhaust. I've ran 3 tube headers this way(no master cylinder in the way, on firewall) or rear exit log manifolds. someone posted on here the early 64-65 gto ram air manifolds also.

 

Thanks for the pictures.....and explanation. As I noted your thread was the inspiration to get working on mine.

 

Thanks, i'm running in the 11's with this set up and no problems to date. I made a simple rear bracket that bolts to the x frame for the rear trans mount. Glad to see your taking the car up a notch. My car shows are at the dragstrip....

 

Here's a photo of those ram-air manifolds installed backwards...and a 59 bell housing.

 

Hi wvenfield. The hydrostick was easy. I originally had a '57 Pontiac manual shift setup in my '56. That old clutch linkage was a pain. As they say, you have plenty of options. By the way, I used '55 Chevy throttle linkage.

 

Did you see the other 56 Pontiac thread, he used the GTO RA manifolds.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1956-pontiac-wagon-build-thread.937687/
The manifolds on your 389 wont work because of the center outlet on the driver side and the 316 manifolds the ports are too small.

 

Interesting.....yes, I realize the stock manifolds aren't going to work. I'll have 100 questions I'm sure. Honestly I've never swapped where it was anything but unbolt, bolt back in. LOL

I'm going to have to re-do the entire front suspension and I will probably go disc brakes and will most certainly upgrade to dual m/c.

I do wonder how the solid mounts worked out in a family cruiser.

 

Those certainly look far less restrictive than the stock ones.

 

The Hurst aren't solid mounted, they take a rubber biscuit in between, if your talking the wagon I linked to not sure. But race cars do it as long as the rear trans is rubber mounted it should be ok.

 

Having to work for a living sucks......I was finally able to go get my car. (it was at another buddies house). Follow along because I have some questions further down. Anyway, finally got the car.



In it's new winter home.



Looking at the 4 speed. Do I have this right? 1973 M21?





I am no expert......as I noted above all my previous experience is unbolt, remove, bolt back. I can't recall what rear my 56 has (I can check tomorrow) BUT with my plans I imagine I'll be just over 300hp/400Tq on this engine......I can't imagine my rear end is a good fit in any measure. I might have a line on a 69 GTO rear.... It was being run the Nomad shown above. He was last running that as an 1/8 mile car and I think he said it had 4.7something gears. (he was running pretty tall tires)

 

What gears are in the 61 rear end? I know your trying to sell the car but if it's a posi it's worth quite a bit of money and could fund some stuff on your car. It's a little wider than the 56 rear , maybe too wide to work but plenty strong. A 57 Pontiac housing with 60 Olds 31 spline axles and a later 31 spline center section would work but not a cheap setup. Something in the 3:23 to 3:73 with the manual trans would be good, it may have a 3:08 now if a factory, my manual trans car had 3:64's. The Chevelle if it's the earlier 64-66 67ish about 60" wide would be a close fit and probably work. The later ones are over 62" and too wide.

 

The guy I got the Bonneville from was pretty sure it wasn't a posi rear. Besides I believe to use it I would need to cut it down. (too wide)

If I'm not misremembering the 56 does have 3:08.

 

You could always radius the wheelwells . Your 56 rear may be just fine depending if your just cruising I wouldn't worry about it. Street tires won't get too much traction anyway to start breaking parts. I'm using a drum brake ford explorer 3:73 posi under mine and is a little narrower than stock and they can be bought pretty cheap and strong as or stronger than any chevy 12 bolt.

 

Things change.........I'm still at the point that I hate to cut it. LOL

I'll have it apart shortly and go step by step from there.

 

Just kidding, i'd probably just leave them alone if your not going for a gasser look.

 

I've beat on those old 55-56 Pontiac rear axles and even with a warmed over 389, I've never broken one. I have loosened up the pinion nut of a few [especially 56s] but the only one I had any problem with was a 57. Snapped the left axle shaft with a 389, muncie 4 speed.
Bad news is a posi was never offered for the 37-56 rear axle.
If yor Pontiac has the slant-pan hydro, it probably has the 3.23 gears in it. Every one I had had 3.23s in it.

 

I'll probably have to start off with the original rear end. I'm glad to hear they are more robust that what I might have originally thought.

 

Initially appears to not be any termites. I haven't heard this things run for 4-5 years but all appears to be O.K.



This should clean up fine.



I think I am going to try and fit with these manifolds. I'm still thinking two passenger side manifolds should work.

 

Oddest thing. Everything inside looks almost brand new. Lifters have no wear at all. Timing gear is new. Someone put some money into this engine, stuck it in the Pontiac and then pretty much allowed the Pontiac to rot around it.

 

congrats on the almost new parts.

 

...do you have the lifters marked so that they will go back onto the original lobes??

.

 

Everything lined up just as they came out.

 

Better to be lucky than good is what I've always heard. A motto I live by!

 

Just keeping track of progress but a question at the end.



Can anyone give me any info on this cam based upon these numbers? This came out of the 389.

 

Nothing to really update. I've been stripping the 61 as what is left of the body is going to San Diego California. (anyone need anything from this car before it goes off)? The guy is after the roof, glass and roof trim. I would have liked to have kept the rear end but I don't have one to replace it. It's not a posi unit so I didn't see any advantage in taking the guts.

As you probably can tell I've never done anything like this so I am noting what my plans are so far and any suggestions of a better way. Some of this might not be the most "traditional" but I'm also trying to make this as least complicated as possible.

I'm thinking I should just buy the Speedway straight axle kit? I'm also looking at buying their dual frame mount brake kit. I'm planning on using the frame as it is outside of boxing in the front of the frame.

I would like to find a stock clutch pedal and linkage but no luck there so far. (what years are the same? anything outside of 55-57?) Speedway also makes a frame mounted hydraulic floor pedal. This would seem to me to be easier than trying to hang pedals with associated linkage?

I want to get my parts lined up but I also don't want to be buying something and then find out it doesn't work or there is a better way. All suggestions appreciated.