[marks73ta]

Adam thanks for all the nice comments. It is much appreciated. I noticed that you have been gathering info on the '59 block etc. I would usually reply but I've been too busy in the garage and Bruce is as good or better at pointing out the ups and downs of the block. So you are in good hands with him. I will say that due to the extensive work I had done to the '60 block in my car, I could probably have had an aftermarket block for the same money, or very close to it. I'm a very big advocate of the early blocks but at a really extensive prep cost, the aftermarket has much more potential. Bigger bores, BOP and Chevy rear mounting patterns, starter bolt up location, etc, all things the '59/'60 block lacks. But if you're going to be using the '59 block closer to original, then it is the way to go for stock block strength. Plus turbos seem to make their power "softer" , easier on parts. Good luck on your build and I'm looking forward to seeing how you do. By the way. You were asking about going to 4 bolt mains on your thread. The 2 bolt main caps on those blocks are bigger and beefier than the later blocks, and Pontiacs with the locating dowels are very strong main cap blocks. I made over 1000 HP on my turbo'd 455 block with studded 2 bolt stock cap block. That '59 2 bolt will be much stronger than the 455 with the bigger mains. It can take a lot of HP in my oppinion. I did all that to mine because I want to push it a lot farther, at least to 1500 or more, so I wanted all the ducks in a row to take it. Oh, as far as th egarage goes. I've learned from many, many years of laying in dirt and metal grindings to keep the garage clean. Just being able to find your tools in the rubble actually saves time in the long run. Being retired allows the time crunch to not be a factor, unless it is self imposed, LOL.
I did get your pics and replied Troy. You can make it work, just gotta do it (Nike???) heh. Love that GP. I'm actually adapting rear drag shocks made for mid 60's A bodies, 13.5 compressed, 23.5 extended, and around 18 at setting height. The "upside down" shock mounts are the normal mounts turned up side down. I still have to turn them back around and probably redrill them for the 5/8ths mounting bolts once I have the shocks in my grubby little hands. Then I can position the mounts exactly where they need to be.
Funny. I was outside with my bench grinder with a wire wheel attached cleaning off all the old rust from the rear springs that I installed yesterday. I had cleand and painted the original rear springs but they just were not stiff enough for me. I had this set of station wagon springs I got from Steve Barcak at Pontiac Heaven but they needed wire brushing. I had gotten all the way through both springs and just about to finish when the bench grinder started to act funny, and big snap and pop, sparks flew out of it, and smoke came out of the housing. Then it just stopped. I guess I over worked it. I've had that thing since the early '80's and it had been my Father in Laws for years before that. So I guess it's time to lay it to rest. Mark L