May be in over my head?

Never thought I would find a sight dedicated to 59 Pontiacs. I love it!
Just purchased a 59 Catalina, 2 door. Wow, a lot more rust than I expected. But there are many cool originals on this car. I have never restored a car before and not sure where to start. Always looking for advice, guidance, and tips to get me through a project. I hope to give this car to my dad, because of the stories I remember of him racing his uncle Vernon's as a young man, and tearing it up pretty bad once. Anyway, I would love to make this an awesome gift that he can show off a little.
I look forward to any responses and reading about other 59's.
Will check back periodically.
Thanks

I start with the mechanicals because I'm not a body guy. I know some guys strip the cars first and then do body work and then mechanicals. I guess it doesn't really matter

Show us some pics!!!!

I'm not either so I just started with the interior. I don't have a very solid plan yet, but the rust underneath is killing me. It looks as though I will need to replace the entire floor pan and the trunk pan. a little discouraged although I ain't throwin in the towel!!! As for the motor, it will need much work but I believe it's the original. So we'll eventually pull it and have a pro work on it. Unless I learn a bunch real quick.lol
I would post some photos but I couldn't figure it out this evening, I'll try another day.
Take care !

I would advise to start with the rust, and then leave the mechanics to start with. It sounds like that could take a while.
Then once you know the body is fixed it is much more inspirering to start on the engine - oh well that depends of your preferences ofcourse.
I would also guess that the rust work is cheaper in terms of materials, so you could save the bigger investments at first, and there would be no need to have your newly build engine sitting for too long.

Wish you luck !

Christian

If mine were rusty I might have started with the rust also. If it's too bad you might need to find another. Mechanicals can always be fixed

Finding an entire floor pan has been quite a task so far. I'm not sure of the alternatives but will keep at it. Like I said earlier, there are some great things about this car. Learning where to get those hard to find parts, salvage yards, ebay, and other hidden sources will make easier as I go. At least I'm hoping!!!

Aren't Chevy pans the same? Maybe not identical but I'm pretty sure they work just fine.

dads59.....starchief_59 is correct. Reproduction 1959 Chevrolet floor pans are available, and are an exact duplicate of our pans. Thank God for good old GM parts interchangability! There are 6 pans being reproduced. The driver and passenger front pans extend from the inner rockers to about an inch up the transmission hump, and from just in front of where the seat tracks bolt to about an inch up the toe board. The rear foot wells each extend about an inch up at the sides and rear, and a couple inches up toward the backs of the seat tracks. There are also 2 pans that extend from the rockers to the driveshaft tunnel under the rear seat. In most cases, the vertical sheetmetal doesn't rust because the water runs off so they are not reproduced. Some of the braces under the floor are also available such as the plates that have the nuts welded on to support the area under the seat tracks. When you get to the trunk, that is reproduced in three pieces. The left and center for 1959 Chevrolets is correct for our cars, and the right piece for 1960 Chevrolets is correct for us. 1959 Chevys had a spare tire well on the right side. All this is available from most of the Chevy hobby supliers. I'm sure that Ames also has them. Hope this helps......John

Good to know! Thanks for posting that

Catbird, Thank you. I will check with Ames on that. The more I research the more I find some things compatible, like you said, thanks to GM.

CORRECTION.....Ames doesn't sell the trunk pans as they are not a perfect fit. Those you would have to get from one of the Chevrolet hobby suppliers. Although they have the exact bends and ribs and fit front to back, they are a little short on either side, requiring small patch pieces from the edges to the trunk dropoffs. Remember, Pontiacs were a little wider than Chevys. As far as exterior sheet metal is concerned, outer rockers can usually be found on E-bay. There is also a guy there selling lower quarter, lower front fender, and upper fender patch panels. Full NOS panels seem to be made of unobtanium, and little demand means that it's unlikely anyone will ever reproduce them......John

Thanks again! I'll check it all out later this week. will let you know what we find.

Good luck!