What Color is That?

 Folks have complimented on the color, and asked what it’s called.  Pontiac called it Gulfstream Aqua in 1964.  The same color was used by 2 of GM’s other Divisions.  Chevrolet = Lagoon Aqua and Oldsmobile = Pacific Mist. (Paint Reference)

Been a Really Long Time

Been about a decade, but the Bonneville is painted and home.  She looks absolutely marvelous!  Have a few things to tinker with: 1) Installing a Cold Case aluminum radiator along with a 160F thermostat to keep her cool, 2) Installing 2 new Dynamax Superturbo mufflers (2” 17730), 3) Troubleshooting why tail lights aren’t working, and 4) fixing the damn convertible top switch to get the top down.

Bacon Fest

 

 

 

Bacon and a Road Trip.  Something to do next year for sure ....

https://twitter.com/BRBaconFest

 

Gary Numan Show Announced in Milwaukee

 

+

 

Gary Numan just announced a show at Turner Hall on April 1, 2014 in Milwaukee.  The artist behind the hit songs Cars, Are Friends Electric?, Down in the Park, and others, promises to put on a great, intimate show.  There is perhaps no song better than Cars to capture the perfect driving mood.

 

Cars then:

 

Original Cars Video

 

Cars now with NIN in London:

 

Gary Numan With Nine Inch Nails

How Fast Formula 1 Cars Really Are

 

 

 

Below is a great video comparing the speeds of GT cars with F-1's.  It's clear that there is no comparison:

GT Versus Formula 1

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

Milwaukee Mile Vintage Racing

Cool video of the recent Swiss Colony 150 Vintage Race feature at the Milwaukee Mile now on YouTube: Vintage Racing at The Mile

Indy Fest 2012 @ the MIlwaukee Mile

Just returned from Indy Fest at the historic Milwaukee Mile--America's oldest track.

Indy racing has taken a lot of crap lately.  I didn't detect anything that would suggest that that reputation was valid.  Despite the early weather that delayed the start time for about an hour and a half, the whole event went like clock-work.  It will definately be worth returning to next year.

Here's a short video of the first laps: Indy Fest 2012 Milwaukee

While Honda powered engines seemed to perform well early, Chevrolet finished with the top 6 drivers (Although a poorly timed yellow flag put Chip Ganassi's Hondas in a precarious situation at the back).

It was a great event.  Rumor has it that the Indy cars may make it up to Road America later in the summer.  I hope that's the case.  I'm in.

IndyFest 2012 is Coming to The Legendary Milwaukee Mile

Details for Indy Car Racing at the Milwaukee Mile can be found here: Milwaukee Indy Fest 2012

Milwaukee Mile

Had the opportunity to volunteer for the Swiss Colony Howie Lettow Memorial 150 at the famous Milwaukee Mile earlier this week.  The weather was perfect and the racing was great.  Based on a report from JSOnline.com , it sounds as if the ASA is planning a return to the Mile in 2013.  This is wonderful news for America's oldest track.  I look forward to going next year.

A hidden gem at the race caught my eye during the Vinatage Racing feature--check out the 1958 Pontiac that blessed the event:

Back to the Feature 150, the cars as they lined up for inspection:

Best time qualifier NASCAR driver Joe Nemechek's son, age 14 or 15, below being interviewed after qualification:

Next on tap for the Mile, IndyFest 2012 this weekend.  Can't wait.

Looks Like a Fun Drive, Except for the Road Salt

This trip in Norway looks like an adventure:

A Drive in the Norwegian Islands

How Do You Get One of Those?

Finding a shifter boot in nice condition for a '63 Pontiac Grand Prix 4-Speed ain't easy--it's impossible.  This is what mine looked like:

I had another one in just as bad, or worse shape, that I took to Perfection Auto Trim in Greenfield, WI.   I hoped would be a useful pattern.  It was.   This is what the pattern looked like:

While the exact silver vinyl is no where to be found, a close replacement was on hand.  Notice the grommet in the center?  It's a dimmer switch grommet trimmed to work.  It turned out better than I hoped for: