Hi iam new to this site and also new to this computer I have read some of the posting on this site and found a lot of interesting topics which i enjoy very much ! purchased this 1956 pontiac laurention from an older gentle man it is a2door all leather interior new carpet new headliner also has fenderskirts and a continental kit It has the orig. motor a 261 with a3 speed standard also has a overdrive knob mounted under the dash that you pull when you reach 30 mph Im not sure how it works but im looking for some info. the car runs very well my wife loves it .the color is powder blue and white. Also if someone could help me find 2complete taillight housings it would help i notice mine are starting to corode and mine are not making proper ground.my number is 705 9697661 i live in hanmer ontario . or leave mssg.thank you canadian poncho
Welcome from PEI Gerry. I'm sure someone can help you. Do you have any pictures of your car?
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Hi Gerry and welcome to the best website for canadian pontiacs. Post the info off the data tag and we will decipher it. The tailight housings you require are quite expensive when found nos or rust free used. They have a hood or cap moulded into the housing if the car is a Laurentian which would have also be used on the Americian Starchief.
Hey, gerry welcome from S Ont in the 905. You will likely be able to have your housing replated by a "good" chrome shop, that can handle "POT METAL] Camebridge Chrome comes to mind but sure there are others, but I have had some "pot" metal work done there & was Quite pleased with the final outcome. Expensive,yes but the part was "not available" pitted badly,but came out perfect. This is LABOUR intensive work,all the pits have to be drilled out by hand, brfore any plating can start + the buffing etc. On your O/D, that is usually "engaged" when you reach Hwy. speed in 3rd.gear [ 30mph in O/D is a little slow] it acts like a 4th. gear but is under the 1 to 1 ratio you have in in 3rd. Pretty sure you have to clutch to engage it when you pull the knob out [cable actuated] but could be wrong as it's been awhile since I drove one of these w/O/D
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
Welcome from another 56 owner (although mine is a lowly Pathfinder ).
The guys are right, finding those housing without pits is all but impossible, and replating will be expensive. You should be able to resurrect functioning though, a little sanding with emory cloth wrapped around a pencil, spray some Corrosion Block in there, check the wire connections, hopefully that will do it.
Last car I had with OD was a 56 Mercury, that was in the early 60's, the knob is to lock it out or let it work, if you lock it out it will drive just like any 3-speed stick shift, if you let it work the OD will not engage in 1st or 2nd gear, and will only engage over 30 mph in 3rd gear, all you have to do once you get up to cruising speed is let off on the gas and it will engage, then use a light foot to keep it in OD. Stomp on the throttle and it will disengage, sort of like a 'passing gear'. No need for clutch to engage or disengage OD in 3rd gear. At least that what my memory tells me is how my OD used to work.
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod