[Peepaw]

Hey guys, obviously a newb around here, and had a question for you Tri Five experts.
I picked up a '55 Pontiac Chieftain (USA version with teh 122" wheelbase) for my family cruiser a couple years ago. Just started to get some work done...yanked the original 287"/3 speed manual, yanked front suspension,interior, etc...

ANYWAYS, Im doing a restomod on teh car, and bought a set of Mustang II 2" drop spindles, GM disc brake setup, airbags, etc...

My question is: Is teh 55 Chevy suspension/frame/crossmember teh same as on my Chieftain?

 

[Rick_L]

It is not the same. All the parts are different.

 

[Peepaw]

It is not the same. All the parts are different.

So, if I bought a set of control arms for a 55 Chevy, they would not bolt up?

I gues I should have asked that, so let me try and not confuse anyone:

I am having basically an IMPOSSIBLE time finding control arms for a 55 Pontiac, and figure that since teh Pontiac and Chevy DO share some parts, that maybe if I bought a set of control arms for teh 55 Chevy, they would bolt up on teh 55 Pontiac frame.

So, that being my question, will THAT work?

I kind of knew that the ACTUAL suspension parts, like control arms were different, just thought maybe used same bolt hole/pattern and could interchange.
That make sense?

Thanks guys

 

[Rick_L]

No, that won't work either. Sorry.

I would think you could buy service parts for the Pontiac somewhere.

 

[Peepaw]

Well shoot, that's not good. Guess the cutting torch/welding machine is getting fired up.
Thanks

 

[Peepaw]

Rick L, not that I doubt you, but did run into something yesterday that made me want to question again.

I ran into a catalog for front control arms/spindles, etc...and it listed the parts for:

1955-1957 GM Passenger cars.

Well, obviously the 55 Chevy, and my 55 Pontiac fall into that classification, so.....

Now, I know it would seem easy to call that place up, talk to them, but I fear that (with how people are anymore, which is a shame) that they may just want to "sell" me anything, and tell me what I want to hear.

As opposed to this website, where there is no hidden agenda.

So, JUST to make sure, if that was listed in the catalog, why do you think that is?

I guess the reason I am hounding this is, yes, would be nice if it DID work, and #2, it just seems that since both of these cars share so much, that these cars would share alot of the suspension components as well.

I realize that I maybe dead wrong, and thats fine....just wanted to make it a100% know for sure.

And this is NOT trying to disrespect you in any way.

 

[D.S.]

Here are some 55 Poncho part numbers from a 1935 - 1966 Pontiac parts book, maybe they will cross to Chevy...

Steering knuckle
518873 RH
518874 LH

Lower control arm
522442 RH
522443 LH

Lower control arm shaft bushing
518870

Upper control arm
518291 RH & LH

Upper control arm shaft bushing
533844

 

[Rick_L]

Just for grins, I looked up steering and front suspension parts for a 55 Pontiac at rockauto.com.

They show a king pin set, Raybestos 5301024, for about $80.

They also had tie rod ends and some other parts.

 

[USA1]

King pins, I dont think you will find those on a 55 Chevy pass. car. Rick is right in the 50s each Division of GM did their own thing for the most part. A buddy of mine recently had a 55 OLds, & Buick on the rack, They might as well been a Ford & Chevy. The Buick had a torque tube driveshaft.

 

[D.S.]

My parts book showed king pins too, I didn't look at the diagram to see what part they were caling the kingpin...

 

[Peepaw]

Yeah guys, thanks for that.....I know there are STOCK parts available for teh 55 Pontiac.

I have Mustang II 2" lowering spindle's/GM disc brakes, and I know there are companies that make control arms for teh 55 Chevy using these same spindles.
That is why I was askign about the mounting points, if they were the same.

Sorry if I am confusing anyone, but again, I no longer have teh kingpinsetup/drum brakes.

Does that make more sense??

 

[56owner]

chassis holes

I'm kind of wonderin can you look up the chassis drawing for 55-57 Chevy on the web and try to match a -arm bolt holes on your chieftan frame ? see if you can actually drill the holes to put chevy front parts on your frame
:bowtier:

 

[Peepaw]

I'm kind of wonderin can you look up the chassis drawing for 55-57 Chevy on the web and try to match a -arm bolt holes on your chieftan frame ? see if you can actually drill the holes to put chevy front parts on your frame
:bowtier:

Well, I was actually able to get a diagram of both, and seem to be "off".

Soooooooo, what I have gona ahead and done is:

Make my own frame. Yep, going complete overboard now. Picked up some 2x3" .188 wall rect. tubing, and started on frame last week. So far, have teh rails made up on my jig and have the base rails laid out, and doing teh front "Z" right now. Stock height is 4 1/2", and I did a 4" "Z", and am at 8 1/2". I figure with teh 2" drop spindles, along with bags, should be able to get the look I want...