[gtoquick]

I have my 57 Chieftain back on the road. Last time it was really on the road was 1986! Car was painted in 1975, '65 389 and TH400 from a Bonneville were swapped in in the early 70's by the previous owner.

All new brakes, radiator rebuild, added a tripower set up, new tires and shocks, plus a ton of other work including a complete new interior kit from Ciadella interiors. Very happy with the interior kit - it went on great, no issues other than the seat shells were missing from my seats, so they are missing in the photos. I have since found a set of upper seat shells. It was my first headliner installation, and it took some time, but came out pretty good.

This Chieftain really goes down the road nice. As always, there is a little sorting out to do, but I am enjoying the car.

[gtoquick]

And a few more photos

[Stuart]

Sharp car! I like this photo a lot.



Was the interior kit from Ciadella for a Pontiac? I thought they only did Chevy stuff.

[gtoquick]

Thank you! My wife snapped that photo as I was heading out for the first test drive - I think it really captures the lines and stance of the car well.

So, yes, Ciadella specializes in Chevy interiors, mainly tri-five chevys, but also full size from the 40's to the 60's is my understanding.

After many months of searching for a local interior shop, and talking to more generic interior providers, I talked to Gina Ciadella. Gina was outstanding, and exceeded my customer service expectations from the start, to texting me photos from their shop when I had questions during my install.

So my interior kit is really a "custom" 57 chevy kit. The door panels (fully assembled), carpet, headliner/visors, package tray, seat foam are all for a 57 Chevy. The seat covers are also 57 Chevy spec, but I picked the material and the pattern. Everything fits like a glove. The only minor exception is that the area where the upper seat shells attach is different Pontiac vs. Chevy. If my seat shells were not missing, I would not have paid it much attention. Since I needed seat shells, I checked out a buddys 55 and 57 Chevy, and the shells are certainly different. I bought a set of Pontiac upper seat shells, and since they are longer and wider than the Chevy ones, they cover the exposed area with no issue. I have asked and heard opinions that 55-57 Chevy and Pontiac seats are different, and they are slightly, but only in the seat shell and seat stops from what I found on my car. The dimensions are identical.

Since I didn't have lower seat shells, I drilled a few extra holes in the seat frame so I could hog ring the covers on the bottom versus the side, so the fabric wraps around smooth on the sides.

I wasn't sure about the seat foam I got from them at at first, I was expecting it to be molded, I had to trim to fit some, but with the covers on the seats are firm and perfect.

Here are photos of the before and after of the seats, you can see the pattern better, and of the seat shell area.

Happy to answer any questions I can on the interior, as I am happy with it. I also have all the part numbers for all the brake system parts I installed if someone if concerned about what wheel cylinders are an exact fit for example.

Ciadella says they can make custom covers for any seat they have a pattern for, so that should cover most full size Pontiac's 55 to 65....

[Stuart]

The seats look real nice, they did a good job. That's good to hear about their customer service as well. It would have been cool to have been able to get exact reproductions with that snazzy cloth, but that wouldn't have been cheap.

[KiwiStarChief]

Those seat covers look really nice, and I must say you did a great job fitting them and the hoodlining. Well done!

[Tim john]

Such a beautiful car, it has held up nicely while in hibernation.

Tim john---

[Jack Gifford]

I admire your ability to learn headliner installation (and of course all the other skills involved).
Very nice!

[694.1]

Very hansom car & color combo.

[Todd553]

Very nice!

[Drag Star Le Mans]

That is a great looking car!

[U47]

Originally Posted by gtoquick

I have my 57 Chieftain back on the road. Last time it was really on the road was 1986! Car was painted in 1975, '65 389 and TH400 from a Bonneville were swapped in in the early 70's by the previous owner.

All new brakes, radiator rebuild, added a tripower set up, new tires and shocks, plus a ton of other work including a complete new interior kit from Ciadella interiors. Very happy with the interior kit - it went on great, no issues other than the seat shells were missing from my seats, so they are missing in the photos. I have since found a set of upper seat shells. It was my first headliner installation, and it took some time, but came out pretty good.

This Chieftain really goes down the road nice. As always, there is a little sorting out to do, but I am enjoying the car.

Short wheelbase/short deck Chieftain Catalina's look great. I can tell you are proud of your car and you should be. I'm glad you changed the 347 to a 389 instead of making it another Chevy. Pontiac engines in Pontiac cars!

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by gtoquick

'65 389 and TH400 from a Bonneville were swapped in in the early 70's by the previous owner.

I'm curious how the drivetrain was installed - did they weld in engine mounts on the side to match the later engine, or somehow adapt the newer engine to the old style front mounts?

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by Stuart

... old style front mounts?...

There was only one early front mount, bolted to the timing cover lower ears. Engine torque was reacted via two wide mounts back at the bellhousing. Most swaps like this one used the later scheme- two wide mounts at the front and a single mount at rear of transmission.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

There was only one early front mount, bolted to the timing cover lower ears. Engine torque was reacted via two wide mounts back at the bellhousing. Most swaps like this one used the later scheme- two wide mounts at the front and a single mount at rear of transmission.

Yes, that's what I was wondering. Maybe I should have been more clear, I know how the early cars had the engine mounted from the timing cover and bell housing. I'm curious if they welded in the later style engine mounts that go to the side of the engine block, or if they somehow used the original mounting points.

[OCMDGTO]

Great looking car and congrats on getting back on the road!

[Safari Larry]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Yes, that's what I was wondering. Maybe I should have been more clear, I know how the early cars had the engine mounted from the timing cover and bell housing. I'm curious if they welded in the later style engine mounts that go to the side of the engine block, or if they somehow used the original mounting points.

They had to weld in the later engine mounts, there were no original mounts there. LOVE the car, AWESOME in my opinion!!!

[Rocky 389]

Wow....I love those cars. I've had 4 of 'em.....3 chieftains and one super chief.
'59, 389/muncie 4 speed. Yours is nice than any of mine were.