Timing Cover

I've had some issues on the '63 re-built 389.  Because an 11 bolt water pump and timing cover was used on it, I have not been able to find a pulley that will work with the original accessories on the engine.  I decided that I would put an original '63 389 4-bolt water pump timing cover on it.  The one that I had came off of a 389 that was pretty sludged up, but purportedly low mileage.  The cover, made out of aluminum, was chemically dipped while some other loose stuff I dropped off was acid dipped.   The progression on the water cover looks something like this:

Shifter Rehab Update

Couple of pictures of the shifter, below.  Handle is being sent out for rechroming.

Transmission Rehabilitation Begins

The nasty worn flywheel pictured in a post below was resurfaced.  The surface was worse than it looked.  Looks great now. 

The shifter was sent off to Manchester Muncies for fixing up.  Hurst recommended Atlantic Speed for rebuilding.  Atlantic Speed recommended Manchester because it wasn't a Hurst.  Both places are extremely helpful, and knowledgeable.

Dropped off the transmission support at the acid dipper today with a bunch of other stuff.  That'll make it look like new.

We Have a Transmission

With much help from my friend Greg, the Grand Prix's transmission and assorted other parts has made it home from Boston. Much thanks is extended to the seller and his friend who had rebuilt the transmission for me.  Purchased over 3 years ago, logistics, kids, and time made actually getting the thing more complicated than I ever expected.  The fly wheel will have to be surfaced. The shifter will have to be rehabilitated.  (It has a reverse lock-out which is interesting, and apparently discontinued by Pontiac for the 1964 model year)  I've already painted the transmission and bell housing.  The Z-Bar and Pedals need to be spruced up.  The console has requires a good cleaning. But, hey, it's FINALLY here.

Pontiac Police Cars

Pontiac and law enforcement go way back. Pontiacsonline.com has a great visual history of Pontiac Cop Cars through time: Pontiac Police Cars  Trivia: Why are they called "Cops"?  Historically, police officers had copper badges.  Hence, "Cop."

While the Pontiac brand has now departed, the genetic makeup of the great Pontiac G8 lives on in the reintroduction of the Chevy Caprice PPV, which is not available to the general public: 2012 Chevy Caprice PPV  We'll have to wait a few years while these fleet vehicles are gradually retired, auctioned to the public, and replaced before we can get one.

Service at Tom Ray Pontiac

Before I pitched the old dash, I removed the clock for the heck of it.  Somebody had written "Tom Ray Pontiac" on it with what appeared to be a Sharpie.  These clocks, though "jeweled", were not great examples of relaibility.  There was no doubt: The clock in the Grand Prix had been replaced.  It got me wondering.  Was the clock from a Swap meet with the seller's name on it?  Was Tom Ray a dealer?  Using Google and Bing, I did a couple searches.  There was not a lot of information out there.  Turns out Tom Ray Pontiac was located in Glendale, California and had "dissolved" in or about 1982.  The corporate records disclosed the following:

Last statement filed on: 9/7/1982 Corporation

TOM RAY PONTIAC CO.
Number: C0210812 Incorporation Date:10/21/1946 Status:Dissolved
Jurisdiction: CA Type: Domestic Stock
Address
800 S. BRAND BLVD.,
GLENDALE, CA  91204
Agent For Service Of Process
TOM RAY JR
800 S BRAND BLVD, 
GLENDALE, CA  91204

Seems that Tom Ray Pontiac gave it a run for almost 40 years.  What happened to the old dealership?  Did it fall into ruin?  Was it vacant and abandoned? Good news is that the old neighborhood on Brand Blvd. looks to be thriving; and the old Pontiac dealership property itself is now home to Pacific BMW:   Former Home of Tom Ray Pontiac  Footnote: Pacific BMW employees were in the news relatively recently for joyriding a BMW 1M at high speeds-Here's the story: Pacific BMW Joy Ride & One Unhappy Owner  Have to wonder whether Tom Ray, Jr. would have approved of  employees taking liberties with the GTO's, Catalina's, and Trans Ams back in the day.

Every Dealer had it's own Code number at the factory, by Zone.  The Code was found on the build sheet.  Tom Ray Pontiac's was Zone 24 (Los Angeles), Code 271.  UltimateGTO.com has a rolling list of Codes as they are discoverable:  Pontiac Dealer Codes  The shear number of Pontiac Dealers, and the disappearance of them all today, brings a certain amount of sadness.

Paint Trivia: Gulfstream Aqua

The color formulation for Pontiac Gulfstream Aqua (Paint Code Q), also known as Lagoon Aqua for Chevrolet models, and Aqua Mist for Oldsmobiles, was unique to 1964.  Near as I can tell it was a one year wonder.  Source (paintref.com) : http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/paintdetail.cgi?paint=1964%7CPontiac%7CGulfstream%20Aqua

Ford also had a Gulfstream Aqua (Paint Code F), but it had blue aqua overtones as opposed to the green/teal of GM's version.

News of the Bonneville

The Bonneville, in the header above, is getting her paint.  Below are pictures of her wearing her old original clothing, and one of the jambs in new color (Gulfstream Aqua):

El Paso to LA in a Catalina

From Hot Rod magazine, a trip from El Paso, Texas to Los Angeles, California on $1,500--including the Car, a Pontiac Catalina:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NOYlloxcRZA

Axels Are Out, Posi Is In

After jacking up the back-end and putting the car on car stands, removing the brake drums and the four bolts holding on the backing plate, I pulled the axles.  The driver's side required only a couple of slight taps outward--which is fortunate because there is little clearance to tap outward..  The passenger side required the use of a sliding hammer to break the 31 spline axle loose from the differential.  Came out pretty slick.  I took the axles to a friend to remove the old bearings, and press on new ones. 

With the Axles out, I removed the open 3.08 diff..  It looked like new inside.  These Pontiac rear-ends are heavy.  One can see why they were so popular for racing and dragging.    They are super simple to swap out, once you know what you're doing.

I cleaned up all of the surfaces where future gaskets (supplied by Fabcraft) will go.  I hoisted the rebuilt Posi 3.64 up, with new gasket and RTV already in place--almost dropping it--and got it installed.  A true sense of accomplishment.  Next step: replace the axle bearing seals, get the axles back and popped in, and reinstall the brakes still assembled on the backing plates. 

Rear Sway Bar On, Now Time for the Axles & Posi

Work on the front of the car has reached an impasse (need to find rubber sheeting to pattern replacement splash gaskets).  Moved to the back of the car.  Jacked up and removed the rear tires, drilled holes for and installed the carriage bolts (3 1/2" X 3/8" Grade 5) previously mocked up for the rear sway bar upper brackets, and started to work my way towards removing the rear axles to replace the Open 3.08 with the replacement 3.64 Posi-Traction unit (shown painted above with some red POR 15 I had laying around).  Need to get a slide hammer to get the axles out.  I'll replace the rear bearings, though the 50 year old ones seem to have held up well.  Also have to look at new wheel studs--to be safe, they need to be about 1/2" longer for the steel Cadillac rims that adorn the rear. 

Also time to start throwing all stuff out.  As soon as I remove the old speedometer and knobs, I'll be tossing out the old corroded dash shown above.

Great Show at the Pabst

Hairlines change, but great songs never do.  Below is a video from Peter Frampton's recent show at the Historic Pabst Theater.  Great concert by an incredibly tight band.  Thanks to Peter for allowing autographs back stage after the show, bringing the waiting fans in from the cold outside.  He's really a good guy, and an incredible guitar player: Frampton at the Pabst

A Painted Piece, On the Car

A painted piece, on the car.  Pure exilaration and sense of accomplishment:

Pontiac Body & Chassis Torque

Recently picked up a 1964 Pontiac Inspector's Guide (Printed 12-19-63).  This 56 page pocket-sized Guide contains a wealth of information difficult to find elsewhere.  Ever wonder about Body and Chassis Torque specifications?  It has them:

Suggestion:  Ever see one of these for your car at a swap meet or online, pick one up.

Dwight & Buck in A Big Pontiac Singing a Cash Tune-Does it get any better?

Taking a clue from Roy Rogers '63 Bonneville, here's Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens in a Big Ol' Pontiac:  Folsom Prison Blues

Spring's Coming--Let's Drive & Groove

Ten Hours Worth of Driving Music as Recommended by My 9 Year Old Son Right Here:

Ten Hours of Music to Drive To

Two Great Names and Great News Concerning Indy Racing at the Milwaukee Mile

As reported on JSOnline this evening, it sounds as if Indy Racing WILL return to the Milwaukee Mile this summer:

By Dave Kallmann of the Journal Sentinel

Feb. 10, 2012 5:02 p.m. | A Michael Andretti-backed group led by a former AirTran official will promote the return of IndyCar racing to the Milwaukee Mile this year.
Andretti Sports Management announced its entree into race promotion Friday, saying the race would be held on the Saturday of Father's Day weekend, June 16.
Kevin Healy, who was senior vice president of marketing and planning for AirTran, will serve as managing director of Milwaukee IndyFest.
The Friday-Saturday weekend is to include entertainment beyond the race itself on the grounds of State Fair Park.

This is GREAT news!

UPDATE: It seems like it's a done deal, but maybe isn't: SpeedTV  Can only hope.

Be On The Lookout for Pabst Vandalism

Tagger spotted at Pabst: Pabst Vandal

It's In, Finally

The Heating/AC stuff is finally in.  Turned out fantastic, once I got the new heater box from John in Texas.

Before box:

After heater box:

With duct work in:

Installed engine monitoring system (AKA the gauges that came with the car):



Finally, the Sway Bar is Mocked Up

The rear sway bar is finally mocked up into place.  It required the welding of some adapter plates, which, like everything, took over a year to accomplish.  Many thanks to Aaron for stopping by and helping.

After a little grinding, cleaned right up

Drilled, mounted and mocked up

Next step is to drill the frame rails, get some Grade 5 carriage bolts, and finish installation.  Will have to paint the bar, too.

Speaking of Aaron, he shared a couple pictures of a car he inherited not so long ago--a '49 Straight 8 Pontiac Silver Streak Streamliner (Streamliners were fastbacks; Chieftains were notchbacks).  Below is how he found it, and after dusting it off.  He tells me that he changed the fluids, replaced the fuel and brake lines, and some other consumables, and she fired right up.  Clearly, a tribute to the power of the Darkside.  Beautiful car designed under the legendary Harley Earl, the car also boasted 106 or so horsepower.