Pontiac Versus Ferrari: 1965

Been a while since the Journal has been visited.  No real progress on the Grand Prix to report.  This article from Wild About Cars got the blood going again: March 1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 vs. Ferrari  It's time to get out in the garage again.

'64 Catalina versus '67 Chevy

Just love to see Pontiacs beat Chevys:

Hemmings 64 Catalina Vs. '67 Chevrolet

Pedals and Plate

Things keep moving along slowly, but there are finally three pedals in the Grand Prix.  With help from others, got a template for the firewall plate hole (for the rod from the pedal to the Z-Bar) and found a clutch rod boot replacement (apparently a Ford Mustang one will work-ordered, but have yet to receive).  Also seem to have all, or most, of the parts for the center console and shifter.  It is starting to finally look like a 4-Speed:

 

Most exciting, however, is the new license plate on the front bumper: 

 



Seen from another angle, however, it is pretty clear that there is more to do:

World of Wheels-Milwaukee 2013

Almost the equivilent of Ground Hog Day, the World of Wheels Car Show at Wisconsin State Fair Park is the first hint that Spring is coming.  I'm glad I went this year, if nothing more than to see what have to be two of the most beautiful 1961 Pontiac Bubbletops (one a Catalina, one a Ventura) in existence.   Both cars were engine coded 425A 389's and Tri-Powers.  Each was impeccable.  One had a trailer hitch and 15" chrome rims, and regular Wisconsin plates.  It was clearly built to be driven, although by looking at it, one would have to wonder if it ever was.  The other looked amazing stock.  As the song goes "If I had a million dollars ... ".   I'd replace the line referencing the K-Car and macaroni & cheese and insert these:

In July, Another Fest at the Milwaukee Mile



It wonderful to see that there will be a return of the Howie Lettow 150 to the Milwaukee Mile July 8th and 9th.  While things haven't been completely firmed up, more information can be found here:

ARCAFEST, July 2013

 

One can't help but notice a positive trend. Milwaukee, which has gained a reputation for Summer Fest, and Polish Fest, and German Fest, and a whole lot more fests, is going to be hosting Indy Fest and now ARCA Fest in 2013.  This is a good thing for America's oldest racetrack.

Lyrics That Aren't

At one point in every car lover's life, one of these lyrics that aren't has been "sung" while driving:

A History of Lyrics that Aren't

Check out more at: http://www.cdzamusic.com/

California is Better than Wisconsin in January

Irrespective of Stanford's win over my alma mater Wisconsin in this year's Rose Bowl, it is apparent that California is better than Wisconsin in January.  While temperatures hover near ZERO degrees in the original Dairy State, in California the Grand National Roadster Show is about to open:

Grand National Roadster Show

Cool Little Poster For $9

Cool Pontiac posters come along very seldom.  While only 11 X 17, this one is cool.  It can be purchased from: AutoWorldStore.com

Sway Bar is On, Axle is Spruced Up

Found a can of Hammered Finish paint at Lowes on clearance for about $4.  Decided to paint the rear axle and sway bar.  Permanently put the sway bar in place.  Looks good.

Milwaukee Indy Fest 2013

 

Indy Racing returns returns to the Milwaukee Mile in June 2013.  Click below for your personal invitation from the great Mario Andretti:

Mario Andretti personally invites you to Milwaukee Indy Fest 2013

A Chopped '64 Grand Prix

A new meaning to a chopped car.

Fun in the Sun

A little 10.5 Catalina fun in the sun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=jzV7RlhJc_I

Ahh, Florida in winter.

Wheel Stud

For reference, replacing the wheel studs with longer ones on the rear axels of a '63 Grand Prix should have been easy to figure out, right?  Just go to a catalog or a forum, and someone knows, one would think. 

Much thanks to my mechanic friend Chris who figured it out and installed the proper studs manufactured by Dorman:

Together Again

The engine with new, correct timing cover is together.  The original accessories line up:

Mongo Passing

Mongo just pawn in game of life.

RIP Buddy.

Now That a 4-Speed is Close, How Does a Stick Actually Work?

From Chevrolet, this video explains how a manual shift actually works:

How a Manual Transmission Works

Timing Cover is On

In a quest that seemed to take months, and did, the timing cover, harmonic balancer, and fuel pump is mounted to the engine.  Next step, pick up a water pump (now that we think we know what we need).   After that, install the pedal assembly for the 4-speed, cut the hole in the tunnel for the shifter, get the engine in the air to attach the bell housing, clutch, and transmission then get it in the car.

Almost Got It

I've been working it seems for ever to get the original engine accessories to line up on the built-up 389 (that came with an 11 bolt water pump timing cover), shown below:

The problem was that there is no pulley available that fits on the 11 bolt pump hub that will work.  After going through the exercise of trying to find a pulley that didn't exist for months, it was time to try something new.  I had an original '63 timing cover with a 4 bolt water pump from a sludge engine.  In previous posts I described how I cleaned that up.  To get it on, the 11 bolt had to come off.  It looked nice under there:

I dry fit the new cover:



And then fit the old four bolt water pump, using the sludge motor one.  They're all the same, right? Wrong.  Turns our the sludge motors water pump had been fixed with a Tempest four bolt water pump (which has shallower fins internally, and has a different dimensional depth).  Of course, I knew none of this.  The belts still didn't line up as they should.  For grins, I took the four bolt water pump off of the 421.  It needed to be replaced as the bearing was going, but it would help with the dry fit.  Fortunately, it was the right one.  (Good discussions on Pontiac 4 bolt water pumps can be found here HAMB 4 Bolt Discussion and here Performance Years 4 Bolt Discussion & Links; thanks mechanickeith for the help). Accessories lined up as they should!

So, now I just need to find a correct four bolt water pump.  Should be easy right?  Wrong. The discussion links above address some of the problems finding a correct one.  Even still, I think I found a guy on EBay that knows what he's doing and may have a new or rebuilt one.  I purchased the Fel-Pro seal kit from RockAuto (Part No. TCS-12681-2)  The timing cover can go on permanently now (using the spec'd 20-35 lbs. of torque).

Shifter Complete and Beautiful

Hats off to Bruce at Manchester Muncies for a great job rehabilitating the pretty rare original T-10 shifter with the reverse lock-out.  Some before pictures:

The returned product is like new--and check out the chrome plating (it's perfect):

The beautiful shifter will be protruding through the now identified location in the floor.  Hope to cut the hole soon:

Next up, replacing the timing cover on the engine with the proper '63 4-bolt water pump variety (to get all of the accessories to line up as they should), borrow an engine lift (to get the engine off the stand to attach the bell housing, clutch, and transmission), and get the engine/tranny into the car.  May notice below that the axles are back in with new pressed bearings and seals.  The car can finally be rolled again.

Pontiac-Oakland Club International 40th Anniversary Convention

Pontiac Convention, St. Charles, Illinois