57 Pontiac "Zero Fox"

[imiceman44]

One of the reasons I bought this was because I have drivetrain options depending on what can be revived. The trans is out of the car, and was on the front seat. PO said it was either rebuilt, or needed rebuilt. A child could see it hadn't been rebuilt...but I did get it onto the workbench to see what I could see. Shifter forks were pretty froze up, so I pulled the side cover. No oil inside the trans, but no rust, or debris or anything bad. Everything moved freely...so I dunked the side cover assembly in a mix of Yama-lube and ATF. Just a pair of oils from my shelf that weren't going to be used for anything important. Didn't take long to get the shift forks moving properly again and in short order I was able to shift the trans through three forward and one reverse gear without issue. So, I suspect it may have had a clutch issue now? We'll see soon enough, but the trans is just fine IMO.

The enclosed driveline thing is weird, I have to do some research yet. I do have the 261 OHV engine, three speed trans, and rear end left over from the 57 if it comes to it...but I will see if I can just get it back together stock first. I also have a 350 sitting in the corner that could get a dingle ball rebuild.

I also need to research on the 6 volt thing a bit too. This is my first 6 volt car...

I have seen the dual shift lever thing done before at a buddy's place on a '51 Chevy 2 door hardtop. I fail to see any advantage, other than the linkage can't get stuck between the gates.

I had a French car with the enclosed driveline, it was ok and made the suspension a little more stable but I felt the shaft was a little weak compared to the driveline we are used to.
It was a 1.5" solid.
But it had a 2 liter 4 cylinder.

 

[tRustyK5]

I think overall strength will not be an issue. That flathead, if healthy, makes 85-90 hp at the crank. If the flatty is a dead dog, then the '57's old drivetrain goes in and that is plenty strong for either of the two options I might use engine wise.

 

[max 02]

All the Pontiacs…. Your new name is Chief 0 Fox Given.

 

[tRustyK5]

The 52 is getting the whole drivetrain from the '57. 148 hp 261 vs the 75-85 hp the flathead might make, better trans. Although they're both three speeds the '57 version is about 50% larger, and shifts like butter. Regular driveshaft and rear diff from the 57 with 3.55 gears. It's all here, I already own it it's only going to cost me some elbow grease...

I'm still researching T5's. If the mustang version is about identical to the 2WD S-10 version that makes things easier. Really would like closer gear spacing and overdrive. A NV3500 is kind of out due to the weird cast iron bellhousing on the 261. It's not like a standard bell with the standard Chevy pattern, and the starter bolts to the bell rather than the block itself.

 

[tRustyK5]

All the Pontiacs…. Your new name is Chief 0 Fox Given.

Coming from Chief "all the dogs"...

 

[max 02]

Not an update on the 57, but the 52 is staying at my place while the drunk with a home works on Clifford the big red new project.

 

[Bent77]

So poetic

 

[max 02]

So poetic

You guys made me laugh about that in GMOTM

 

[82355]

Bump?

Martin

 

[tRustyK5]

The 57 is just chilling.

Working on the K20, which I want to make my DD. That and a 60 hour a week job on graveyard shift...which really cuts into my project time.