[lreGTO65]

Who makes kits for these cars to go more modern? Looking at doing one as my daily driver, but I want something that will ride better.

[Stuart]

Scarebird sells a disk brake conversion kit: http://www.scarebird.com/index.php?id=1
I believe Fatman Fabrications sells a dropped spindle for lowering the front end. http://www.fatmanfab.com
Kanter sells rebuild kits for the stock suspension: http://www.kanter.com/

Beyond that, you're looking at drastic surgery, like welding on a front clip from a newer vehicle or maybe a Mustang II suspension kit. However, a '53 Pontiac is never going to be a sports car - I'd recommend rebuilding what you have and maybe adding the disk brake upgrade, and call it done.

[lreGTO65]

i've looked into the Mustang II thing.. I don't like the suspension geometry on that stuff.. One of my customers has a Nova we did a lot of work on and as you raise the ride height in the front it gets goofy... However, it may just be who built the car..
I just want the thing to handle alright..Im sick of driving my truck everyday and I'm looking for something cool to cruise around that gets decent mileage..
So an ls1 with a 4l60e seems perfect!

[moneypit]

I went with the Fatman Stage III with a frame stub on my 37. Not on the road yet but the parts and workmanship are top notch IMO. It looks a lot better with the coilovers on and the alignment set but here's a few pics right after install.
Colt.

[lreGTO65]

That looks good. I just want something that will ride decent, I live just outside of Chicago so the roads are terrible.. It will mostly be used just to cruise to work and back everyday...
And the shop is 10 minutes from my house..
Other than that the GTO will be driven..

[moneypit]

When I got prices to rebuild the stock stuff on my car it was about $800 just in parts! I don't know if yours has the knee action shocks like mine did but that stuff ain't cheap. I thought about doing the Nova sub frame swap, but I would still have had to rebuild that frontend and fabricate mounts for the front sheet metal. They don't give away the Fatman stuff either! LOL, But now it has a pwr rack and pinion, 11" GM rotors and calipers and replacement parts available at about any parts house. Full meal deal from Fatman was about $2650.00. Core support, bumper, and sheetmetal fit just fine.
Colt.

[Bill Eveland]

Here's another option using factory parts along with some aftermarket stuff.

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ension_upgrade

I have an extra set of the 58 arms and 63 spindles w/scarebird bracket kit if your interested.

[Pontirag]

Think long and hard what path you want to take. Factory rebuilt front ends are cheapest and very durable. No they dont handle and they are not too sporty. I had a factory front end under mine (1950) and she was a little exciting on the off ramps and around corners at speed.I choose to simply drive slower so everybody'd get a good look. Brakes are good it they are serviced and maintained. The roller bearings in the hubs are a PITA to find and expensive so grab every set you see in a junk'm yard.That backwards lug nut deal caught me off guard.

I put a v8/th400 and a 9 inch rear with a 3.00/1 rear. with the six radiator and shroud it was a perfect fit and never overheated in phoenix summer time or at 90 MPH on I10.

personally I would go the extra mile and sub frame it with a 2nd gen f body. Its alot of work up front but boy oh boy is it the chit when its done. I had a 50 fast back and that would have been my next move. I rode in a 53 wagon and a 57 starchief that had it done and it was really amazing. and you can keep the 5X5 wheels on the front too. Talk about grace...saling along I10 at 90 mph in the fast lane! Everybody waved!

[Bill Eveland]

Tapered bearings are an easy deal on these. 40-54 Pontiacs use the same inner/outer bearings and seals as a 38-59 1/2 ton Chevy truck and kits are available for those. $95 for the whole kit is about the same price as 1 inner ball bearing.

http://www.dreamershotrods.com/cpp-4759rbk-u.aspx

The bearing conversion and Scarebird disc brakes would be a good deal without breaking the bank.

Huh, just noticed my 1941 post count

[Pontirag]

I never knew. balls dont endure at speed on corners for too long no matter how well serviced. and when they go its very spectacular

[cruzn52]

I am just finishing the rebuild of my front end on my 1952 pontiac. I did the same as you and looked at scarebird, front clip, etc. but chose to just rebuild the front end and in the long run has saved me quite a bit.
here is my pricing so far approx:
-Turn both front drums-$20
-original bearings were fine so just repacked them. There is that 59 chevy truck kit for 100 dollars but why replace what is working now.
-new brake shoes, wheel cylinders, hoses, brake hardware-around 100-120 dollars.
-For the actual front end they use threaded bushings that were not worn on mine, i just pulled them and cleaned them and reassembled. My left front steering knuckle support lower bushing had stripped out so I had to buy a new knuckle support.
That was $185 dollars.
-Two new lower pivot pin shafts-$90 dollars.
-seals, bound bumpers, etc-$50 dollars.
-reused kingpins since they were tight and bushings were good.
-center link rebuild kit from kanter for $75 dollars
So with grease, rags, etc I have approximately $600 dollars in rebuilding what was worn in my front end, steering, and new brakes.
When I added up the cost of a scarebird kit it would be around 650 dollars alone-that includes a duel master cylinder and new hanging pedal also.
Price of a new front end through fatman or some other aftermarket company is ridiculous and swapping a subframe could add up quite a bit also unless you can do it yourself and are skilled in that.

Warning-I purchased parts from CPR(california pontiac restoration) and I do not recommend using them. They shipped me the wrong parts and that in itself is annoying but not a big deal. THe real issue occured when a month later a 480 dollar charge showed up by them on my account and we had to get that resolved. They said it was an error in their system and it was just a hassle getting it resolved.

Sorry for the long post just wanted to give my firsthand account of what I just recently did to fix my 1952 chieftain. i was going through the same though process myself and wanted to upgrade to discs and balljoint type front end but it is just too expensive and not worth it for me. Drums and kingpins work fine. My 52 also has a 467 pontiac in it with a turbo 350 and auburn posi rearend and still stops fine.

[cruzn52]

Pictures of above vehicle.

[MOJO Catalina]

Cool Car Man.
Yeah, I know this is an old post, but I'm starting to get into these older Pontiacs.

[Pontirag]

they are cool I love the old fast backs streemliners