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#1
03-25-2017, 09:10 AM
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Front subframe/steering questions
Can someone verify if Pontiac used two different subframes depending on which engine the car had?
How(where) do these bolt in, and how many bolts hold it to the unibody? The Buick Special and Olds F-85 were similar platform cars, but used rear steer. Corvair as also similar setup. How much interchangeability is there between these cars? Thanks in advance. I guess I might as well tell what I'm trying to do. I had a 63 Tempest at one time with plans of a SD tribute. Sold it to another member who took the ball and ran( Born Too Late Kip) I want to build a Buick version, but space is severely limited due to the rear steer and gearbox. Trying to see if I could bolt a Pontiac sub under the Buick, get the steering up front, and make some room for exhaust exit, starter, etc.
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Past Poncho's..... 1958 Pontiac Chieftain/ old stock class drag car 71 T-37 400 4spd Nordic Silver 71 GTO 455HO Nordic Silver 71 GTO 400 4SPD Tropical Lime 70 GTO Convert 400 4spd 3.90 rear 70 LeMans Sport 400 69 Firebird 350HO Carousel Red Tom Miller "Just because it hasn't been done, doesn't mean that it can't be done!!!" |
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#2
03-25-2017, 01:43 PM
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subframes
The tempest subframes were the same with the exception of engine mount pads. V8's mounted differently than the 4 cylinders. The subframe bolts onto the tempest's frame rails with 6 bolts, but since the tempest frame fails are very different than the F85 and Skylark, they can't be interchanged.
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#3
03-25-2017, 02:05 PM
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Can you elaborate on how different they are? I'm having a hard time thinking GM made these cars so similar, and made major changes to the subframe stampings?
It just seems that everything else GM built had quite a bit of interchangeability??
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Past Poncho's..... 1958 Pontiac Chieftain/ old stock class drag car 71 T-37 400 4spd Nordic Silver 71 GTO 455HO Nordic Silver 71 GTO 400 4SPD Tropical Lime 70 GTO Convert 400 4spd 3.90 rear 70 LeMans Sport 400 69 Firebird 350HO Carousel Red Tom Miller "Just because it hasn't been done, doesn't mean that it can't be done!!!" |
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#4
03-25-2017, 02:23 PM
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frame rails
The frame rails on the tempest are flat and run horizontal from the firewall to the radiator. The F85 frame rails have a big high arch over the spindles. There is no where to bolt the tempest subframe to. You would have to cut the frame rails from the tempest unibody and weld them on to the olds/buick. A friend wanted to do the same switch on a 1963 F85 until he saw the frame rail difference. The Pontiac design was very different, but much better than the olds and buick. If you could find examples look look at to compare the car's frames it is obvious.
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#5
03-25-2017, 06:22 PM
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What about spindle interchangeability? Thinking front steer Pontiac spindles, and a manual rack and pinion set up?
BTW- thanks for your input, I appreciate it.
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Past Poncho's..... 1958 Pontiac Chieftain/ old stock class drag car 71 T-37 400 4spd Nordic Silver 71 GTO 455HO Nordic Silver 71 GTO 400 4SPD Tropical Lime 70 GTO Convert 400 4spd 3.90 rear 70 LeMans Sport 400 69 Firebird 350HO Carousel Red Tom Miller "Just because it hasn't been done, doesn't mean that it can't be done!!!" |
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#6
03-26-2017, 11:21 AM
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spindle
I haven't delt with the spindle interchange, but it would be worth a try. The steering linkage spindle brackets bolt to the spindles on the tempest so maybe they can be adapted to the Olds/Buick spindles.
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#7
03-26-2017, 05:01 PM
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Thank you, will look into it further. Also going to look at corvair hubs with 4 3/4 bolt circle.
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Past Poncho's..... 1958 Pontiac Chieftain/ old stock class drag car 71 T-37 400 4spd Nordic Silver 71 GTO 455HO Nordic Silver 71 GTO 400 4SPD Tropical Lime 70 GTO Convert 400 4spd 3.90 rear 70 LeMans Sport 400 69 Firebird 350HO Carousel Red Tom Miller "Just because it hasn't been done, doesn't mean that it can't be done!!!" |
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