1962 Pontiac Bonneville

[ssinister]

Where I work we just started on a build of a 1962 Pontiac Bonneville convertible. Customer wants the car to ride and handle more like a new car, but wants airride. While this is usually isn't a big deal for most older cars, we can't seem to find any aftermarket support for this platform. At first I was thinking the front and rear suspension would be the same as the Impala, but I don't believe this is true. Mostly looking for control arms front and rear and rack and pinion conversion. Anyone on here built or worked on one of these? Anyone know of a company that makes aftermarket suspension parts for it?

Thanks for any help.

[FETorino]

Originally Posted by ssinister

Where I work we just started on a build of a 1962 Pontiac Bonneville convertible. Customer wants the car to ride and handle more like a new car, but wants airride. While this is usually isn't a big deal for most older cars, we can't seem to find any aftermarket support for this platform. At first I was thinking the front and rear suspension would be the same as the Impala, but I don't believe this is true. Mostly looking for control arms front and rear and rack and pinion conversion. Anyone on here built or worked on one of these? Anyone know of a company that makes aftermarket suspension parts for it?

Thanks for any help.

Do yourself a favor and just throw $20k the way of the RS and you'll get a chassis that will do everything you are asking for at whatever stance you want to achieve.

In the end you will be $$ ahead.

[71RS/SS396]

Contact Boris at Street Machinery in Cleveland,Oh. He probably knows early 60's GM full size cars better than anyone in the country.

[ssinister]

I didn't even think of Borris. Where I used to work we dealt with him a lot. I know what I am doing tomorrow morning.

I also threw around the idea of a roadster shop chassis with the boss, and that idea isn't completely nixed yet. We are just trying to figure out all of our options first.

[ssinister]

My decision pretty much came down to putting on a front clip or just having an entire chassis built.

The rear frame rails would have had to be modified also, so we contacted Art Morrison and are in talks to have an entire chassis built. We are going to fabricate the inner center section of the frame inhouse, but the main framerails and suspension will be done by Morrison.

LSA engine with 4L85E, Morrison frame, big Willwoods. Should make for a fun car.

[71RS/SS396]

Originally Posted by ssinister

My decision pretty much came down to putting on a front clip or just having an entire chassis built.

The rear frame rails would have had to be modified also, so we contacted Art Morrison and are in talks to have an entire chassis built. We are going to fabricate the inner center section of the frame inhouse, but the main framerails and suspension will be done by Morrison.

LSA engine with 4L85E, Morrison frame, big Willwoods. Should make for a fun car.

If you're going the full chassis route you may also consider Ironworks, Rodger already has a parameter chassis that fits under a 62 Chevy that could possibly be altered to work in your application.

[ssinister]

Email sent to Ironworks to see if I can get a drawing to match up some measurements. Anyone know of the price range of an Ironworks chassis?