1955 Pontiac LS upgrade

[markinnaples]

It's like Christmas morning over there...

[kwhizz]

Getting ready for the Engine install soon.….

[Xplantdad]

Great stuff, Ken!

[kwhizz]

So.… The Pontiac has a "X" frame unlike Chevy's.... and with this conversion with the 4L70E being longer I had to make a new trans crossmember...….. The existing one was just a piece of 3/8" thick flat steel...…… Didn't like that so I wanted to make one out of "C" channel to resist the bowing from the weight...… I searched around the shop and couldn't find what I needed and didn't want to wait for a piece to be delivered so I found a piece of 2 1/2" 1/4" wall square tubing and ended up with what I wanted ….. LOL......Pic's will show the process...… Got it done and transferred the holes thru to the "X" member and Bingo...…. Finished.....Made a quick sketch of where I wanted to end up

[Bill Pritchard]

That homemade C-channel will be a whole bunch more rigid than the flat stock. Nice work Ken!

[kwhizz]

Swapped put the pans today...…. If you are doing a LS swap into a 55-57 Buick, Olds, or Pontiac the 302-1 Pan is the one you need...…. Fits perfect.....

[kwhizz]

The pieces are falling together...…. After getting the Exhaust manifold issue resolved (hopefully)………. The next thing that could have become an issue was the power brake booster positioning...…. Was thinking of changing to a Hydra-Boost to get more room between the Coils and the vacuum booster...… But.... After taking some time to think about it I took the last coil off and the coils and bracket assy fit right on...…. So... I have to add some clearance in the booster mounting bracket and make a offset mount for the last coil...… Just saved Jeff and Judy a lot of $$$$…… And..... Another concern was the positioning of the upper control arms on the Pontiac suspension in relation to the front drive assy...…. I got all the dimensions from Donnie at Frame-up and made a cardboard template of the power steering pump position...…. Bingo.... Looks like a winner...…. (those famous last words)…..LOL.....Tomorrow the steering column will be permanently mounted to the firewall and the cable shifter will be installed in addition to getting the last coil repositioned.....

[kwhizz]

So.…… Jeff and Judy decided to go with a Hydra-Boost braking system ….. Good Choice !!!!!...… Ordered...… The exhaust on the drivers side was going to be a problem...… We ordered a set of Holley S-10 manifolds and when they came in.... I test fit them and due to the #605 steering box placement and the actual shape of the manifold it just wasn't going to work......I ended up trying the stock manifold again and noticed that if I ground of a portion of the steering box it would work...… we will be returning the Holley units as this odd combination just didn't work...….Spent the morning today pulling the steering box in and out grinding and fitting.....Also I received the Hydra-Boost system, and while the person who installed the Swinging pedal assy did a great job....Guess what...…. It mounts with completely bolt pattern..... LOL...…. I removed the old stuff and will be making a new mounting plate and reworking the firewall to suit.....It never ends...…. LOL

[kwhizz]

Got the firewall patched and sealed around the Hydra-Boost...….. Got the ECM and Trans modules mounted along with the GM connect and Cruise Fuse panel...…. Waiting for more parts to show up ………. Still waiting for the Rick's Tank assy that was supposed to ship on Jan 29th.......... Time to figure out what A/C system to get that will fit this application also...….

[mrtimstik]

Looking good buddy. You have a skill and heart that more people need in this world.