IFS for '57 Pontiac Safari

[lnirenberg]

I have a 1957 9 passenger Pontiac Chieftain Safari which I have had restored and mildly modified over the last 1 1/2 years. It's purpose is to tow my car to the track and to haul around family with grandson, dogs and various flotsam and jetsom. I have been driving the car for the last month and like everything about it except for the rebuilt OEM front end. The bad news is it drives just like the day it left the showroom floor and that is not a good thing in the 21st century and was downright scary in a downpour on the mass pike last week.

Being a Pontiac, there are no model specific kit based solutions that I am aware of so the shop proposed we weld in the front frame rails from a 57 Chevy chassis they have and go catalogue shopping for a tri-five IFS. No aspirations for a G-machine just a bit of steering precision and ability to drive and stop in a straight line w/o constant adjustments.

Comments, suggestions and wildeyed ideas would be most welcome as well as vendors with a shopping list for me.

[astroracer]

Hey Larry,
Head over to this site and ask the same question.
http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114148&highlight=pontiac+frame
I know there isn't much that interchanges between the car lines from these years but maybe steering boxes do.
Just to give you some info. I bought a '56 Chevy Wagon earlier this year that had a power steering/605 Saginaw box conversion. The 605 was shot so I picked up a new CPP500 box and swapped them. With a fresh alignment and the new box the car is a one handed driver. Prior to the work it was a white knuckled lane changer...
During the alignment we put 3 deg positive caster into the front end which seemed to help a lot.
Mark

[pitts64]

Check out HAMB, look up ElPolacko... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/

I look into the second generation Firebird or Camaro....

[dontlifttoshift]

2nd gen will be too wide I think and the steering box will try to occupy the same space as the radiator.

Low buck. Stock First gen clip with Ridetech parts. Next up would be a universal clip from DSE, Morrison, etc

Mark, 3 degrees negative camber? Did you mean positive caster?

ElPolacko is this guy http://www.industrialchassisinc.com/

[astroracer]

Yes, 3 degrees POSITIVE CASTER... I thought it looked funny when I typed it but didn't catch it. Thanks Donny!
Mark

[79-TA]

Upgrading to front disc brakes would make the car a lot more driveable as it would lose the tendency to dive to one side or the other when the brakes are engaged.

Replacing all of the worn steering components (maybe including the steering box itself) will help tighten things up.

[lnirenberg]

Thanks for all the input. I already have front disk brakes using a scare bird bracket kit and stock GM pieces so stopping isn't a problem. Pontiac didn't start using ball joint until 58 and even though I complete rebuilt the kingpins they have little to no caster adjustment. I have a friend at SEMA this week and he is checking DSE, Roadster Shop and Chris alston as they all make universal cross members with modern suspensions in varying widths. It does seem a bit like overkill when I'm just trying to pick up some caster adjustment so I can drive in a straight line but at this point I'm into the car deep enough that I may just have to close my eyes and swipe the credit card.

[grendel]

I think I need to see a build thread on this.

How wide it the track now? What bolt pattern is the rear?

I swapped a Chevy C10 front suspension, complete with cradle into a AMC wagon. I have one of those left, along with the subframe coming off my 73 Camaro if you want to borrow either, I am in NH.