1931 Pontiac 5 window coupe hot rod
 

Here is another project I have going on it is a 31 pontiac 5 window coupe. I have wanted to do a pontiac street rod for 20+ years but could never find a suitable car, most of the cars i looked at were real basket cases. One of the problems with 20's 30's gm cars is that the body if framed in wood so what happens is the wood rots out and the body falls apart, the steel parts of the body are actually nailed to the wood body framework. I foind this car on the local craigs list the seller had bought it last fall off ebay and now didnt have the funds to build the car. It is originally from california and had been off the road since 1950 and was stored inside.Even with inside storage it still had the grill exposed so the nickle plating is gone and the steel slightly pitted, not realy a problem as I will be painting it body color. The rest of the car is basically rust free and complete.

My plans for the car are a traditional style hot rod no fenders chopped 4" and channeled aprox 2.5. front end will be a ford style transverse leafe dropped I beam rear sospension will be traditional ladder bars with coil overs. the frame will be boxed and have an x member installed ad the brake and clutch will be underfloor mounted. drivetrain will concist of a 1969 pontiac OHC-6 tripple webber side drafts with a clifford long tube headder.trans is a m-20 that will use a hydraulic throwout bearing and the rear is a 70's fbody. brakes will be disc on the front drum rear. wheels old style Torq thrust with redline tires

pic of photochop 3"

I dig the mini spare on the front. Did that thing have 6 bolt wheels back then, or does it have another rear end in it? The OHC will be cool. A T5 5speed mated to it will be cooler. Good luck with the project.

I want to do a '55-'59 Chevy Truck kind ratty with a OHC-6 and a T5, and lowered suspension. I want a fully detailed chassis/engine compartment, a nice interior, and a seriously patina'd exterior.

Someday.

this has 4 different tires and rims on it when I got it one spacesaver spare one original spoked wheel one trailer wheel and one early chevy truck. The original bolt pattern on these cars is 6 bolt

pics from its arrival

no fenders body off mock up for ride height

Looks like it was just pulled out of a barn, mind if I ask where it came from?

came from california by way of endicott NY was in a barn in cali from 1950-2011

That thing is AWSOME! Nice score.

I almost bought a 34 Pontiac coupe many years ago, but someone had thrown the front fenders away and this was long before the internet and I couldn't locate any 33-34 front fenders so I passed on it. PA at the time required full front fenders so it wouldn't have done me any good at the time.

Someone had already transplanted a 56 317 with dual quads on a factory intake. They had also replaced the front axle with a 50 dodge PU front end, can't recall what rear axle was under it. Was around 1973 and they wanted $400 for it.

Very nice car, I'm sure you'll do it proud.

That is a very cool ride. The wood can be a pain, I got lucky when I bought my 37. I had no Idea that 37 was the first year that gm made an all metal car. Good luck with the project, can't have too many 30's pontiacs on the road!

some polished parts for the OHC-6

Great car G.W. keep the pics coming love these old ponchos. The OHC is a great idea. Makes me want to start on my 33 real bad.

Nice project. I've also thought of an OHC6 in a small roadster or coupe.

Finally been starting on my '37

Also have an eye on a couple 32s in a barn for several decades.

Ahhh.... the familiar Pontiac split-grille styling!

Great thing about the Pontiac is not having such engine space issues like those with my '31 Ford build. Also, the Pontiac already has a nice curve to the lower body line. Want to trade?

Great looking car. I'd be putting the fenders back on it. To me they make the car and look like a hack when left off.


MIke

real hot rods don't have fenders. back in the 40's when hot rodding started the cheapest way to go faster was to lighten the car so remove everything not nessary starting with fenders. street rods usally have fenders I personally think fenders make the car look clunky

Nice Progect!!!! Also Nice score on the 66 only Aluminum OHC-6 Timing Belt Covers!!!!! They are hard to come by, I have a set on my 69 Bird, but I do not have the Aluminum lower cover with the timing marks.

Keep us informed on the progress, a good friend of mine has a 37 Pontiac 2 door sedan he is working on with a Vintage Hot Rod theme. I would be to scared of the wood framed body myself, glad to see others are braver than I am!!!!!!!

I will be replacing the wood with square tube in all the structural areas will probably leave the wood around back window and some in the doors