Hi everyone i just bought a 57 pontiac 4 door, it is all complete and in pretty good shape, not much rust, it has a blue engine and is a inline 6, would it be a 261? i will post some pics as soon as i get approved on this site. i hope t try to fire it this week. it still has the 1970 Alberta plate on it so i think thats how long its been hiding.
Cheers to all
57 Pathfinder said
Jul 16, 2017
That'd be the 261. Where abouts in Alberta?
Pontiacanada said
Jul 17, 2017
Welcome from Canada's east coast.
Canadian Poncho said
Jul 17, 2017
Welcome aboard!
long stroke said
Jul 17, 2017
A hardy welcome aboard from Milton, Ontario. Originally your car would have been a 261 inliner that was green in colour but if it is blue someone in the past might have dropped in a Chevrolet 235. The Chevrolet 235's were painted blue and called "Blue Flame". On the passenger side of the motor just above the starter area, you will find the casting number. If the number starts with the letter W, then you have a 261. Both the 235 and 261 look alike but internally they are very different motors. We need pictures of your 57 and you will get all the help you need here on C.P. Good luck with the project. Cheers. George
norontcan said
Jul 17, 2017
Welcome aboard from another Ontarian ( is that a word? ).
Yep, we need to see and hear more about your car.
Rayce said
Jul 20, 2017
thanks for the replies, i was off getting my hand repaired and couldn't get back on here. i have a thick layer of mud to power wash off the car engine and get any numbers, i do know it has the Rochester 1bbl and the oil bath air cleaner, it dosent look like its been worked on very much. i think it was just parked and left alone, it has 84,000 miles on the odometer. i bought it out of southern Alberta Medicine hat area. valve covers and lifter covers are green ish, and the lower block is very blue. i will get some pics on here as soon as i can.
Ser # 72019601141
engine W60786
style 2019
body no 350
b.s.o. 57-616
paint 2006
trim 903
thanks Ray
-- Edited by Rayce on Thursday 20th of July 2017 12:07:29 PM
brad2v said
Aug 2, 2017
Welcome from a fellow '57 Pathfinder Deluxe sedan owner. Lot's of good help to be found on this site
427carl said
Aug 2, 2017
Welcome . we need photos .
Rayce said
Aug 2, 2017
427carl wrote:
Welcome . we need photos .
Thanks, i am trying to figure out how to get the photos from my phone to my computer, probably should just take them with my old camera instead. i have a question about the SER number, the last 5 digits are 01141 is that pretty early production ? and is that Canada only numbers?
thanks Rayce
Taylor55 said
Aug 3, 2017
Yes it is Canadian Oshawa plant production and the low number makes it a very early production. As was stated by George the 261 and 235 look the same but lots of internal parts are different and the BC carb is larger than one from a 261.
Al
57 Pathfinder said
Aug 6, 2017
261 has "Captains bars" cast into the side of the block. No bars, no 261.
Rayce said
Aug 13, 2017
here are some pics of my car, i cant do too much on it till i get the use of my right hand back. I looked and cant find the captains bars, some where on the internet (so it must be true)i read that in 1957 gm installed chev moters in the canadian pontiacs, and that mine would have come with a 235 from factory. i will try to get this cleaned up as soon as i can and find some numbers. the car hasent been on the road since 1970 and i think it sat in a dry farm area. i got 5 color matching rims with it too, no slots, they have the hubcap hubs and are welded together
should be a 261, which is stock. A 235 could have found it's way in there at some point though...these are basically 5-6-7 Chevy's with some Pontiac lipstick front and rear. Even built on the same assembly line as the Chevy's back then.
It took some serious scrubbing to find the bars on my 261.
I have a spare passenger side bumper piece if you want? Your bumper is nice and straight, I have two, and both are a little mangled on the bottom side. Too many whoops on the range roads is my guess.
73SC said
Aug 15, 2017
Here is the 261 Story, I posted this way back in 2009, its in the Library.
thanks 57 pathfinder, when i am ready i will get the bumper part from you. 73SC that info on th 261 really helped me out, for two of my vehicles, 1954 gmc hydramatic and my 57. cleaned up my points and fixed up some wiring and I got the 57 running, amazing moter, sat for 47 years and it fired up like it was running yesterday
long stroke said
Dec 26, 2017
Rayce, my 57 Pontiac was originally sold in Medicine Hat, Alberta by a dealer named AMOS. Here is the original dealer tag on my trunk lid. Does your 57 have the same tag. Cheers. George
No mine doesn't have any dealer info on it, I know some older car guys here and I will see if I can find some info on AMOS
long stroke said
Dec 26, 2017
Rayce wrote:
No mine doesn't have any dealer info on it, I know some older car guys here and I will see if I can find some info on AMOS
Thanks, i appreciate that.
glenn grady said
Dec 30, 2017
Notice the passenger side grill extension on yours has damage. Im looking for the driver side if someone has one available.Thanks from Golden B.C.
57 Pathfinder said
Dec 30, 2017
I should have a spare. It's too damn cold to go confirm right now though, but should warm up next week. I'll let you know.
CdnGMfan said
Dec 30, 2017
Welcome to Canadianponcho,Rayce! It is great to see another '57 Pontiac found and given a chance.
A friend's older brother owned a '57 Pathfinder Deluxe with a 261 3-speed. It was a nice car and it ran silently. Once he was involved in a multiple car accident in Wisconsin with that car; all that happened to the '57 was a small goose egg dent in the bumper, while the car he contacted had to be put onto a trailer as it was destroyed.
Hi everyone i just bought a 57 pontiac 4 door, it is all complete and in pretty good shape, not much rust, it has a blue engine and is a inline 6, would it be a 261? i will post some pics as soon as i get approved on this site. i hope t try to fire it this week. it still has the 1970 Alberta plate on it so i think thats how long its been hiding.
Cheers to all
Welcome from Canada's east coast.
A hardy welcome aboard from Milton, Ontario. Originally your car would have been a 261 inliner that was green in colour but if it is blue someone in the past might have dropped in a Chevrolet 235. The Chevrolet 235's were painted blue and called "Blue Flame". On the passenger side of the motor just above the starter area, you will find the casting number. If the number starts with the letter W, then you have a 261. Both the 235 and 261 look alike but internally they are very different motors. We need pictures of your 57 and you will get all the help you need here on C.P. Good luck with the project. Cheers. George
Yep, we need to see and hear more about your car.
thanks for the replies, i was off getting my hand repaired and couldn't get back on here. i have a thick layer of mud to power wash off the car engine and get any numbers, i do know it has the Rochester 1bbl and the oil bath air cleaner, it dosent look like its been worked on very much. i think it was just parked and left alone, it has 84,000 miles on the odometer. i bought it out of southern Alberta Medicine hat area. valve covers and lifter covers are green ish, and the lower block is very blue. i will get some pics on here as soon as i can.
Ser # 72019601141
engine W60786
style 2019
body no 350
b.s.o. 57-616
paint 2006
trim 903
thanks Ray
-- Edited by Rayce on Thursday 20th of July 2017 12:07:29 PM
Welcome . we need photos .
Thanks, i am trying to figure out how to get the photos from my phone to my computer, probably should just take them with my old camera instead. i have a question about the SER number, the last 5 digits are 01141 is that pretty early production ? and is that Canada only numbers?
thanks Rayce
Yes it is Canadian Oshawa plant production and the low number makes it a very early production. As was stated by George the 261 and 235 look the same but lots of internal parts are different and the BC carb is larger than one from a 261.
Al
261 has "Captains bars" cast into the side of the block. No bars, no 261.
It took some serious scrubbing to find the bars on my 261.
I have a spare passenger side bumper piece if you want? Your bumper is nice and straight, I have two, and both are a little mangled on the bottom side. Too many whoops on the range roads is my guess.
Here is the 261 Story, I posted this way back in 2009, its in the Library.
CLICK HERE
Rayce, my 57 Pontiac was originally sold in Medicine Hat, Alberta by a dealer named AMOS. Here is the original dealer tag on my trunk lid. Does your 57 have the same tag. Cheers. George
Thanks, i appreciate that.
Welcome to Canadianponcho,Rayce! It is great to see another '57 Pontiac found and given a chance.
A friend's older brother owned a '57 Pathfinder Deluxe with a 261 3-speed. It was a nice car and it ran silently. Once he was involved in a multiple car accident in Wisconsin with that car; all that happened to the '57 was a small goose egg dent in the bumper, while the car he contacted had to be put onto a trailer as it was destroyed.