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:

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