KiwiStarChief

No I haven't seen this before. Mine was obviously swapped out in the US for a top hinged pedal when the LS was installed, as the original looks to be a bottom hinged one. I just got a reply back from Desert Valley Auto Parts, and they have one, but want US$125 for it, so by the time I convert to NZ$ and add freight I'm looking at probably NZ$250. I don't want one that much! On another subject, I just found out that we know somebody famous on this forum, who got published in the latest NZ Hot Rod magazine. Perhaps we could get signed copies of this from him?

Chris, thanks for that pic, it looks so cool. I will try and track something down, but at the moment there is nothing showing on ebay. I have contacted a couple of specialists in the US, namely California Pontiac Restoration and Pontiac Heaven, so will see if they come back. There is still rare stuff out there, as I managed to source a couple of years ago the cast chrome armrest base from Desert Valley Auto Parts (I think) as the Star Chief only had a drivers armrest. A couple have since come up on ebay as well.

Damn, I missed out on that one Chris. I'll have to track one down so that I know which pedal to push when I want to do a skid!

Good luck with the LVVTA! You sure are going to need it.

Welcome to the site. Great looking '56 you have there, and the combo look great together. I can't answer your question about more power, as mine is LS engined, but I'm sure somebody else will respond.

Chris, it's a section of Carjam, and from the look of it there are no '63 Safaris' in the country.

I also used Steele door weatherstrips on the '57, and they are a great product, after experiencing cheap junk "exactly same as original" ones from ebay.

Well Chris, I imagine you could add at least one zero to that value now!

The Ellerslie Classic Car Show is the only Concours judged show in New Zealand, and was held in Auckland last Sunday. Along with the judged cars, are displays from various car clubs and Marques. My club, the American Classic Car Club Auckland had a small display, along with a number of other American sourced clubs, namely the Cobra Club, Mustang Club, and the American Muscle Car Club, as well as a large number of European source clubs. That's my Star Chief, the rose between two thorns! However, I thought you might be interested in this Diamond T Texaco Tanker that was on display, which in my opinion was the standout vehicle of the show. My photos don't do it justice, as this was absolutely stunning, and probably the best restored vehicle I have seen locally. Especially when you see what the project looked like before it started. Hemmings did an article on the truck and it's restoration, which if you are interested can be viewed here:- https://www.hemmings.com/stories/last-texaco-diamond-t-restored/

Chris, you are a glutton for punishment for sure. I would have thought you had enough on your plate with the '57, but obviously not. I also hadn't seen this, as I was at the Ellerslie Car Show on Sunday displaying with the club, so it's great to catch up with the news. Re the conversion for the speedo to the 4L60E, I used a Cable X unit I got from the US, and although it works well, it was somewhat difficult to calibrate. I have it so it reads the standard '57 Pontiac speedo in Kms, which is real handy when there are so many speed cameras around and you don't have to do a conversion in your head. I've read that there are others now on the market which are easier to calibrate, such as the one from Dakota Digital, and you can also change the tailshaft housing on the back of the 4L60E to one from a non electronic 700R4, but this is pricier that a digital converter.

Aprils Fools joke?

Great looking cousins, although I know which one of the two I prefer (but then I am slightly biased).

Speaking of the '57, how is everything coming along. Hw about an update?

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

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.

Chris, my first thought on hearing the news this morning was about you and your family, so good news to hear all OK. Will keep fingers crossed that no more big aftershocks. 🤞

Doesn't look too wet in some of the photos, so fingers crossed for you. The red '64 GTO vert in the second picture is one of our club members. He has had it for yonks, and also has an Allard that he hand built from scraps, so a very clever cookie.

Wheels look cool! Now why don't I find stuff like that, as I could do with a new set of carpets.

Chris, I can't believe the wreck the '64 Poncho was! It's a credit to you, for sure.

Chris, we had to cancel our planned run down to the Stragglers Show at Lake Karapiro yesterday because of all the rain. Mind you, to be fair it hasn't rained here in Auckland since we came back from Aus 3 weeks ago. And yes, those whitewalls sure do look super cool.

Welcome. Will certainly keep an eye on this project, and along with Chris' Chieftan, will keep me occupied for some time I hope. I love these mid 50's restomods.

Just wait till you head up to Auckland and see what you think about courteous drivers! Have a great holiday. We are just off on a 4 week cruise up the East coast of Australia, otherwise I would have offered you a blast in the '57.

Beautiful car you have there, for sure.

Even this Super Chief which is the model between your Chieftain and my Star Chief doesn't have the rear stainless rockets, so yours must have been well optioned.