1957 Chieftain restomod Build

[64 kiwi boni]

Thanks Frosty, i have seen a prochrager in a car and wow does it take up some realestate !!

Am thinking a whipple will look way better tucked down in the vally with a throttle body out of the front.

its justA the injection/ blower manifold thats the issue, but i think one could be made 

[64 kiwi boni]

I had my first meeting with my engineer mate on Friday night .

i introduced him  to the 57 and my plan …

we spent over 2 hours just talking about the best way to build a really good frame and suspension system for the 57 that would make it ride like a modern car and handle like a slot car . But be super fun to drive without shaking your spin out of your  skin !

The direction he pointed me in is not to use a nerds rod Frame . We will have issues with it being compliant here in nz and it’s still not a frame that is designed for a 57 Pontiac .

we are going to use the c4 front and rear suspension but utilise the original frame as well. 
I need to do a whole bunch of home work for him and I will update you on that when I get time .

it will involve a pre certification plan . That 

nz lvva will approve BEFORE  we even start chopping up the frame to fit the c4 parts . That way we only have to do things once … which is common sense in my opinion .
watch this space for more detail  

[64 kiwi boni]

Foot note to the above . I maybe looking at going all late  model engine and trans to get my 6 speed transmission AND blower 

[KiwiStarChief]

Chris, sounds like a great plan to me, but hope the certifiers feel the same way. My '57 has the front end off a '78 Chev Malibu, and although the certifier wasn't happy about it, he passed it provided I got the joints fishplated.

Good luck with yours when you get started.

[64 kiwi boni]

Yes hence the plan to provide the certifier with a detailed plan of attack well and truely before I start .

kinda like a building consent ! Haha 

[64 kiwi boni]

A BIG thank you to Frosty for arranging a super good guy by the name of Chuck in Stillwater Minnesota who last year kindly went and inspected the 57 before i bought it and provided me with a very comprehensive report !! Chuck just sent me a christmas card, which was so nice! considering i am a complete stranger on the other side of the planet to my new friend Chuck who has a 56 wagon!

What legends you Pontaic guys truely are !!

Edited December 13, 2022 by 64 kiwi boni

[Frosty]

10 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

A BIG thank you to Frosty for arranging a super good guy by the name of Chuck in Stillwater Minnesota who last year kindly went and inspected the 57 before i bought it and provided me with a very comprehensive report !! Chuck just sent me a christmas card, which was so nice! considering i am a complete stranger on the other side of the planet to my new friend Chuck who has a 56 wagon!

What legends you Pontaic guys truely are !!

You're welcome mate! I'm all too happy to share the love and wealth of Pontiacs with you. 

[64 kiwi boni]

On 12/14/2022 at 4:32 AM, Frosty said:

You're welcome mate! I'm all too happy to share the love and wealth of Pontiacs with you. 

Glad you said that Frosty..... i am looking to go Ls for the 57 !

i can buy  a whole engine/trans/ loom ecu package for way less than rebuilding the 389 and a overdrive trans ! go figure !

Matter of fact i can buy a whole ve commodore= g8 pontiac for 12 k that has only done 100kms 

 yeah yeah ! i really wanted to use the 389 that Dwight kindly gave me. but. !

To rebuild the 389 to go into the 57 , remember i want to super charge it... whipple none the less will add another 3 years to my budget !

Sooo watch this space. because i have found another Pontiac i want to buy .... dont tell the boss ok !!!

 

Edited December 18, 2022 by 64 kiwi boni

[KiwiStarChief]

14 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

Sooo watch this space. because i have found another Pontiac i want to buy .... dont tell the boss ok !!!

 

Come on Chris, don't keep us hanging here in suspense! 🤷‍♀️

[Fitzy]

Kiwi, drop a Bex and have a little lie down. You've got Pontiac fever - a debillitating condition that will empty what's left of your wallet and bank accounts and will have you laying awake at 3am wondering how you're going to make this bit fit with that one. Weirdo. 😁

[64 kiwi boni]

2 hours ago, KiwiStarChief said:

Come on Chris, don't keep us hanging here in suspense! 🤷‍♀️

I can’t ! The deal isn’t locked in yet. ! 
as soon as it is you will see it ! 

41 minutes ago, Fitzy said:

Kiwi, drop a Bex and have a little lie down. You've got Pontiac fever - a debillitating condition that will empty what's left of your wallet and bank accounts and will have you laying awake at 3am wondering how you're going to make this bit fit with that one. Weirdo. 😁

Pontiac fever ? Do you get that after having covid ? Haha 

it’s not going to be my car … it’s the boss who wants it ! 
but like I said to Russel , the fat lady hasn’t   Sung yet ! 

[64 kiwi boni]

Check this out . i looked up the paint code for the 57, the tags says bkk = chevron blue and sheffield Gray

[64 kiwi boni]

A few months ago 

my mate who is rebuilding a 57 chev four door was short of a j trim to the kick Panrl that holds the wind lace,so I said try one off my Pontiac … well note to any one looking for this part .. Chev and Pontiac are identical ! 
he provided me with a replacement which I got yesterday 

and for now is safest back on the car 

Christmas Eve, and a few hours up my sleeve before we get into some drinks so I might just throw another set of wheels on the 57 so the temporary ones I have used can go back on the rolling 64 frame 👍

Edited December 23, 2022 by 64 kiwi boni

[64 kiwi boni]

This is cool 57 sales Brochure

https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/1957-Pontiac.pdf

[64 kiwi boni]

I think I will have some fun ! 

[64 kiwi boni]

Way better !!! 

[64 kiwi boni]

Sounds much better now !!

And some much better hold up wheels 

with custom rattle can black paint 

[64 kiwi boni]

So it was also a chance to take it out in the paddock , put the wheels back on the dead chassis and do some skids 

Louie approved of the new wheels too 

Edited December 24, 2022 by 64 kiwi boni

[Fitzy]

Holy cow...next to a holey car, and a whole lotta money going out the door pretty soon. I like how the trunk lid on old cars opens up above the bumper - tremendous access. It's certainly a stylish old thing.

[64 kiwi boni]

2 hours ago, Fitzy said:

Holy cow...next to a holey car, and a whole lotta money going out the door pretty soon. I like how the trunk lid on old cars opens up above the bumper - tremendous access. It's certainly a stylish old thing.

They have a great sized trunk for carting wheels and a trolly jack ! Haha 

merry Christmas mate 

[Fitzy]

Ho ho ho, and all that bollocks. I'm not very festive, even when I AM festive, but yes, many cheerios to the Pontiac family.

My GP is sitting there, like an inanimate lump patiently waiting for it's carb to come home. I guess I'll get to drive it again one day.

Hey - I got a new job. The idiots I have been working for, for the last 7 years on and off screwed up my pay once again and I tendered my resignation on the spot. How can a pay office screw up every single pay here in the 21st century when the software takes care of the fundamentals and the trained monkeys just have to punch the right keys to make everything work? The company is a major global player and I find it incredible that such a shoddy operation stays in business.

Anyway, I signed up with a labour hire contracting company and scored a job as a storeman. Better money, better hours and the chance of a fulltime gig with the Mine operator which means very decent money potentially in the future. I'll be sure to let y'all know.

[Frosty]

Fitzy - best of luck on the new job mate! I hope it is everything you hope it to be! 

[Ringo64]

5 hours ago, Fitzy said:

How can a pay office screw up every single pay here in the 21st century when the software takes care of the fundamentals and the trained monkeys just have to punch the right keys to make everything work? The company is a major global player and I find it incredible that such a shoddy operation stays in business.

PEBKAC - Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair. Been developing software for 20 years and how some users manage to break things or just not read the instructions still kills me.

Congrats on the new job!

[Frosty]

Ringo - you've been in IT long enough. You know damn well it is the dreaded ID-10-T error!

Guys if you don't get the joke - look at it more closely - ID10T or IDIOT!

Justa because a computer is faster, it means that more mistakes can be made in a shorter amount of time.

 

[Fitzy]

This company is so hopeless...we have to forensically inspect each payslip and find the errors - a bit like Where's Wally? I am convinced that there are deliberate embedded errors in the software that produce 'random' mistakes (they are always in the company's favour) and that we all play a game where if you find the errors, you get a cash prize. Anyway, at the tender age of 60, I'll be the 'new guy.' You know what it's like when someone new starts. Nobody knows what they're gonna be like - good bloke, psychotic maniac, hopelessly incompetent, out to rape, pillage and take the boss's job, and of course someone has to show them what to do. The adventure begins January 16. Deep breath now...