new here with a 57 pathfinder

Rayce · Member

new here with a 57 pathfinder

57 Pathfinder · Guru

That'd be the 261. Where abouts in Alberta?

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

Welcome from Canada's east coast.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Welcome aboard!

long stroke · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Welcome aboard from another Ontarian ( is that a word? ).
Yep, we need to see and hear more about your car.

Rayce · Member

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 · Addicted!

Welcome from a fellow '57 Pathfinder Deluxe sedan owner. Lot's of good help to be found on this site

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Welcome . we need photos .

Rayce · Member

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 · Poncho Master!

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 · Guru

261 has "Captains bars" cast into the side of the block. No bars, no 261.

Rayce · Member

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

57 Pathfinder · Guru

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 · A Poncho Legend!

Here is the 261 Story, I posted this way back in 2009, its in the Library.

CLICK HERE

Rayce · Member

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 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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

Rayce · Member

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 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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 · Member

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 · Guru

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 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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.