1959 Pontiac Catalina Safari

[dmw56]

I thought I should start a build thread on the Wagon. I'ved had this one about 4 years and really haven't done anything.
This car had been parked at least 25 years.

 

[Torchie]

I'm in.[cl [cl
I've been a wagon fan for Since I bought my first one back in 1975.
There is one of these for sale sort of near me but it looks like the current state of the Titanic. Yours looks great.
[P [P [P [P
Torchie

 

[dmw56]

Prepped the engine with oil in the cylinders, turned it over. Put plugs, wires, cap, had line in a gas can and here we go.

https://youtu.be/g5GZfxR38QY

 

[Torchie]

Got to love a wide track Pontiac.
Torchie

 

[Bamamav]

Your water pump belt broke or jumped off....[ddd

 

[Dr Crankenstein]

I'm impressed with the overall condition. (If you could find one in these parts, it would be sunk to the axles and missing most of the glass. )

.

 

[earthman]

Well the engine sounds fine, how is the trans?

 

[dutch]

Looks great as is...

 

[dmw56]

Your water pump belt broke or jumped off....[ddd

I still need to fill the radiator and see if it holds water. Hope the block hold water too!
Baby steps!

 

[dmw56]

Well the engine sounds fine, how is the trans?

It's up on blocks right now but I put it in gear and the back wheels turned! So there's hope. The fluid was nice red and clean!

 

[lazarat]

Nice! Got a wagon thing going here lately. I remember the Safari being similar to the Nomad until 1958.

I love those first after many year starts. Its like discovering your blind date is hot and curious about the cargo area....[ddd

 

[dmw56]

Now that I know it runs and transmission engages and spins the bake tires there is hope for the beast. Ok now is the list of things to get it back on the road:
Brakes are a good thing! I thought the right rear wheel cylinder was leaking but it was the axle.
Strange thing is all the shoes are oily. I might have pulled them up 4 years ago when I moved this to free them up.

Right rear axle is leaking. Needs seald (o-ring).

Needs parking brake cable.

Tires and maybe wheels bigger than 14"!

Replace right front floor pan.

Seat cover cause the springs hurt.

 

[dmw56]

They had such beautiful dashes and steering wheels back in the fifties. Look at all that room back there!

 

[Torchie]

[cl
14" wheels are a PITA. Almost no one stocks them anymore. And to my eye that look really small on a car this big.
My daughters 60 Chevy had 14's and if she had kept it I was going to swap over to 15".
[P [P [P
Torchie

 

[dmw56]

I was going to redo the rear brakes but they look good. Going to see if the rear seal really leaks or they over filled the rear??

 

[dmw56]

The Old Pontiac 9.3 differential! Strength between a Dana 60 and 9" Ford. Drag racers loved them!

 

[dmw56]

Put some belts on the 389. Everything seems to working OK but I ordered hoses, water pump and stuff. I'm going to use the 389 since its running so well instead of the Caddy 500 for now.

 

[dmw56]

I checked all the brakes and bleed them. I need to take it on a test drive but I need new 15" tires. I need new 15" wheels so I bought these to replace the 14" wheels.

 

[dmw56]

Oh what the hell!

 

[bruno]

Geeeez, nice parts and wheels. Always liked those 389s.[P[P