I am probably gonna have to sell off a few things, I wont post them here...I do have a question about a few things though, ROCKY or other pontiac fanatics, ever done a late rear swap into a '56? I am lookin for one to put under mine, furthermore, does anyone make an adapter kit to mate a late******* to the old ponitac? Now for the TN stuff...this fellow h.a.m.b.'r is lookin to relocate to the area....I need to get hold of someone that knows the area and more importantly knows an area that would be H.A.M.B.'r friendly...e-mail me if ya know of anything...
I've never changed a 56 Poncho rear axle to anything newer than a 57 axle because the 57 is about 30% stronger and it's a bolt-in. The original 56 axle is about as strong as a 10 bolt G.M. axle, comes in several ratios, 3rd member interchanges back to about '37 and will absorb an amazing amount of abuse before doing the chicken. Highest gear that came in the 37-56-style pumpkin was 3.07 ratio. I hate to say it but the 9" ford is a great axle to use under a 56 Poncho if you can't find an old 57 Pontiac rear. Naturally, you'll need to change bolt pattern, rear U-joint, possibly change driveshaft length, weld on new spring pads and maybe narrow the housing/axleshafts. I'd try to find something in the same width, possibly a rear outa a 351 Granada, a 57-59 ford car or pickup...gotta measure. Here's a photo of the 57 Pontiac rear axle I'm using under my chevy pickup. BTW, a 57-58 Olds rear is a bolt in too if you torch-off the olds coil spring mount brackets and weld on leaf spring pads.
Oh, the******* adapter! There's a guy that hits the big rod runs and sells just such an adapter to use a 350 turbo, 400 turbo and 700-r4 behind the 55-64 Poncho engines. I got his brocure at BTT50s this year and will have to go through my archives to find his name and number. The cost for this******* and starter adapter is in the $565 range. If you wanna spend that kinda money, let me know and I'll dig out his info to pass along.
I swapped the rear under my '57. I measured wheel flange to wheel flange and, if I remember correctly, it was 61in. I have a '68-69 mid size GM (Nova/Camaro/Ventura/Omega...). I transferred the leaf spring perches and pinion angle and from the old rear to the new. The drive shaft had to longer because of the size of the ham. Parts availability and good grease seals are a huge plus. A trans adapt I have no info for. I had to go the whole eng/trans to get away from the @#*! Jetaway. The Hydramatics don't seem too bad in my '55 & '56. Between the eng/trans & rear swap the original drive shaft was re-used. A longer new trans and shorter new rear only needed new universal joints. I didn't do everything at the same time. I have a bunch of driveshafts standing in the corner of the garage. Bil
Don't know about your Pontiac question.... But as for TN. It seems that the Maryville ( south of Knoxville) area is pretty HAMB friendly. That is where most of the Greazy Hubcapz are from. East TN. I think we have a few HAMBers from around the Nashville area as well as a few others, but the Greazies definitely have it going on......IMHO. Later, Bad-O
if you wind up in jackson, TN, my brother is there with his family. as far as the rear end swap goes, i put a 93 buick roadmaster rear end and suspension into my 50 pontiac frame, so it's 4 bar and modern handling now. the new rear will be just a hair wider than the front end, but i doubt it'll matter that much. it'll probably make those sponson fenders look even better with a wide**** end. scored the rear end and suspnsion for 300$ at a yard around here.
If you come to Tennessee, I would highly recommend east Tennessee. Lots of shows and runs. The Greasy Hubcaps are centered in Maryvillle just south of Knoxville. I know many of those guys and trust me, they believe in driving the***** out of their primered hot rods. Ratster on here is the king Greasy I believe. -JH
I'd say East Tennessee - Knoxville area. Seems to be a pretty good hot rod culture there. Not so much so down here.
Heck yeah, Rock! I've got the whole '57 drivetrain stashed in different places around the garage. I wuz gonna stuff it all under my '55. I still may, if I can ever finish one thing at a time. If you need anything... just ask, I prolly have an spare. I know some great folks in Blountville,TN (near Bristol). The whole area seems streetrod, but these guys are true custom and hotrod... like an oasis among tweed. Life is beautiful down there near Reedy Creek. There's some awesome steel rolling thru those mountains. Bil
thanks y'all! I couldnt find this post til I went on my preferences to change my location, lol...my friend back in Arkansas that bought my house is looking for a ford 9 for me...I really like it here and cant wait to get my car out here so I can have my daily therapy of dual exhaust and tunes from the am radio...this lil '93 tracer aint cuttin it I have met a lot of great people here, looking forward to gettin aquainted with them hubcaps people too... later!
hillbilly, Knoxville area is OK. Little big for me though, even though I did move here from Denver a few years ago. Are you gonna move to LaFollette? There's a little car show coming up the first part of Oct. I think a few of the Greazy will be out. Your more then welcome to hang out with the Greazy if ya like, we might be able steer ya in the right direction or not. I'm still lost.
yep, I'm livin in LaFollette, workin in Lake City painting frames and stuff for Trailmanor. Knoxville has a lot of stuff goin on..and not too far a drive from here, although I DO work here, I am lookin for better pay or at least a place where they will let ya wear a respirator when ya paint . I cherish what's left of my lungs....enamel and the toluol they use to thin it leaves a bad aftertaste...Knoxville has a few possibilities from what I can find on the internet classifieds... I will be lookin for that show in OCT, and look forward to meetin the Greazy...just wish I had the '56 out here to cruise on down with...here is a pic of it a while back...
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