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.





How To Tell Rear-End Ratio

Ever wonder how to tell what gear ratio is actually in a Pontiac rear pumpkin, and if it is a Posi-Traction?

Check the end of the axle, or the pumpkin, for a paint daub. 

Paint daubs on the pumpkin and on the rear axle flanges. If posi, it will have a green daub in addition to a color daub that identifies the ratio. The green daub on the pumpkin is usually near the oil fill hole, and the color daub is more up on the snout near the pinion yoke.

These are the paint codes:

Gray - 2.56
Red - 2.69
Orange - 2.87
Yellow - 3.08
Brown - 3.23
White - 3.42
Blue - 3.64
None - 3.90

Green, in addition to an above, is Posi.  No Green, it's open.

The yellow daub in the center below signifies a 3.08 open rear end.  Pretty easy.

And (Slow) Progress Continues

Progress on the engine continues: new Carter fuel pump, oil filter adapter and fittings for senders, heater bypass valve, PVC, copper exhaust manifold gaskets and manifold installation, and AC compressor and brackets in place. 

Inside the car, getting the heater/AC duct work to all work has been a big issue.  The original heater box itself had been damaged (it looks like at the factory at the time of manufacturing).  The underdash vent unit was cracked and damaged, and the chrome vents were corroded beyond restoration.  Thanks to some forum members, I managed to find a  replacement heater/AC box from a '64 Grand Prix in Texas, and a vent unit out of a blue '63 Catalina from Arizona.  The box hasn't arrived, yet--I'm hoping there were not any changes from one model year to the next.  I've rehabbed the vent unit by repairing a small crack, buffing up the chrome, and painting black.  Just a lot of time-consuming, putzy stuff.
From John in Texas:

And from Mark in Arizona (extra radiator core will come in handy as a spare-my car's original was pressure tested locally and looks good):

How the vent turned out:



Under the car, I have placed new fuel supply and return lines, and new brake lines.  Haven't fitted them perfectly, yet.

Over the next month or two, hope to get the heater/AC components installed, get the distributor properly in, and put on an Edelbrock 750 cfm carburetor with linkages, etc.  Really want to get that engine in the car and off of the stand.

Concurrently, I want to finish off the lines under the car, weld the gussets for the rear sway bar and get that thing installed, and then pull the axles to replace the bearings and to get the 3.64 posi unit installed.  This unit was completely rebuilt, put into a car only to have an engine blow.  I'll have to clean it up and paint it. 

And somewhere in between, I have to get to Boston to pick up a 4-speed set-up that I bought way too long ago.  So much to do, and so little time.

Bossa Nova Grand Prix

The Bossa Nova beat of Antonio Carlos Jobim is featured in this 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix Ad:
Pretty Hip Pontiac

1963 Grand Prix Ad Featuring Cesar Romero

While we may not know it, we all know Cesar Romero who appeared in this 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix Ad: Cesar Romero Ad  Of course, Cesar is probably best remembered as The Joker in Batman.

Close to You

I have to admit that Richard Carpenter of The Carpenters singing duo never struck me as a car guy.  I was wrong.  He has a wonderful collection of great cars, including this Cordovan Brown 1963 Grand Prix with less than 20,000 miles on her: Richard Carpenter's Grand Prix  The entire inventory of his collection can be found here: Richard Carpenter Car Collection

Jeannie was a Darksider

Pontiacs and Jeannie's: What could be better?

I Dream of Jeannie in a Ponitac
And More Jeannie in a Pontiac

"The Oldsmobiles are in early this year."

What and where is the Dixie Square Mall?

From the newswire: 
Dixie Square Mall to Be Demolished, Finally

Originally opened in 1966, the Dixie Square Mall in Harvey, Illinois was a great place to shop:
http://dixiesquare.webs.com/
Pleasant Family Shopping Blog
Ghosts of Dixie Square

Of course, a famous car chase scene with Jake and Elwood immortalized the place:
Dixie Square Mall Chase Scene, Harvey Illinois

TRIVIA: What was the Blues Brothers' license plate number?:  Illinois BDR 529; Registered address 1060 West Addison.  Do the numbers have any significance?  The letters & numbers in the license plate refer to a bike club in Dan Aykroyd's home turf of Toronto, the "Black Diamond Riders".  The clubhouse was located at that city's 529 Jarvis Street

Let's Make a Deal!

While mostly 70's stuff, this compilation of Pontiacs on "Let's Make a Deal" sure brings back memories:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJ6baUjXQs&feature=youtu.be

Imagine buying a new car for $3,300? 

Beach Boys 50th Anniversary

50 Year Anniversary of the Beach Boys in 2012.  Check out this Press Release:

Beach Boys 50th

Power & 'Opportunity'

Ended up trading a short-block that I had for a rebuilt 1963 389 .30-over engine a friend purchased in Illinois.  The rebuilding of the 421 that came with the GP will have to wait for resources.  The replacement has 10/10.5:1 compression, HO rods, Mellng oil pump, mild cam, Edelbrock Performer intake, 1965 "76" heads, and timing chain cover and water pump are 1969-ish.  Told it's about 410-420 HP, and about 450-475 lbs. torque. Will require a higher octane gasoline. Was built by a reputable builder who I'm trying to get into contact with to learn a little more.  Should be plenty of power through the 3.64 posi rear-end.

With all the junk on it:



Test fit the long-branch manifolds, alternator, power steering pump, oil filter adaptor (to clear the manifolds), engine mounts, carburator, and AC bracket.  Of course, there are 'opportunities' associated with the non-stock setup.  The passenger side engine mount interferes a hair with the manifold.  Because  the 11 bolt water pump extends further forward, there is a pulley alignment issue which will need to be resolved.  It's unclear whether the NOS 421 +/- 500 CFM AFB Carb that I have will be "enough" for this powerplant.

 

Smothers Brothers & Pontiac, 1964

Picture above showing the boys in front of a '64 Bonneville and Tempest. Listen to their ad at this link: Smothers Brothers 1964

Neatness

Replaced all of the vacuum hose (picture below shows just a portion of what was removed). Organized, verified, and straightened up the wiring and vacuum lines. Cut,fit, and glued new upper firewall insulation--the previous stuff had disintegrated long ago--with the foil backed type used in racing vehicles. Coolest part was setting the dash pad in place. For the first time since I've owned the car, it looked like a real car (so long as I just stared at the dash). No luck finding a nice enough OEM steering wheel, thinking about a slotted spoke wooden wheel Grant job.

Tale of Two Consoles

Why is it that when you think swapping a clean '64 console for a pitted '63 console, that at first blush look seemingly alike, will be easy, it isn't? Notice the bases to the shifters and shift locations in the console are different, which impacts location of the shift mechanisms and a bunch of other things:

It's always something. 

Anyway, the dash and front of firewall reassembly is moving slowly but surely (the pieces of blue tape everywhere are reminders):

A New Dash

Finally, got to spend a little time putting something together.  About a year ago I removed the dash, disassembled it, acid dipped it, and repainted it.  It was not in good shape--scratched, faded, all the chrome was covered in green corrosion.  The old firewall pad underneath was rotted, so I carefully removed it.  The wiring harness, while complete and in good shape, looked like a hairball underneath.  The attached fuse block was just hanging there.  Good news underneath the pad: looks just as it did when it left the factory.  Even the unpainted metal areas looked like new.  I primed those, and painted them flat black.  I "neatened" up the wiring, and looked for potential problems.  After installing the new firewall pad (purchased at least 3 years ago), and the short sections of wind lace made special for me last Spring by a local interiors guy (the old pieces were dry rotted),  I managed to bolt the dash assembly back into place. Hope to get to the freshened up and nicely painted original tilt steering column next.  It should fit good into the Lares remanufactured steering box peeping through the firewall hole.

Tribute to My 30th High School Reunion

Autumn Summer and a 30th High School Reunion brings this flashback from 1981 (a Concert worth remembering, and I do--different location, of course):
Beyond & Back

And how about another, live on Fridays (remember Fridays?):
I'm Shakin'

And another from Fridays, November 1981:
Runaway Boys

And something from 1979, with Andy, Elvis, and Johnny:
That's When Your Heartaches Begin

Salentine All Pontiac Car Show

Spent the morning with my son checking out the Salentine All Pontiac Car Show (which took the torch from the departed Foster Pontiac) put on by the local GTO Club.  Naturally, the Show was dominated by some spectacular GTO's and, to a lesser extent, Firebirds.  Nice showing of late model GTO's, too. (But don't get me started on GM's decision to shutter the Pontiac brand).  Nonetheless, there were some very nice Darksiders including a survivor '59 Catalina Wagon, two '61 Venturas (one of which was a 425A 4-Speed Tri-Power), a '62 Bonneville, a beautiful '64 Gulfstream Aqua Catalina (which should look like the little sister of my Bonneville whenever it gets back from paint), and a '65 2+2.  Surprisingly, no '63's--some day, I kept thinking.

Song to Drive To

Just because it's still summer and a great time to drive, loved this:  Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside

... and their video: I Swear Video

Last Pile-Up

In an email recently received, it sounds like this year's 10th Annual Hunnert Car Pile Up ( http://www.hunnertcarpileup.com/ ), just a couple of months away, will be the last.  Hats off to the volunteerism and dedication to this event by all involved over the last 10 years. 

Free Beach Boys Concert

Have to give all sorts of credit to those who came up with the idea of providing free admission to the Waukesha County Fair, if you entered into the Car Show on the grounds.  The Car Show yielded at least 100 cars, including the beautiful '57 Pontiac Star Chief above.  Better yet, that admission allowed you to see the Beach Boys for free!  While Mike Love appeared to be lip syncing, it didn't seem to matter to the crowd as he and the younger band went through the set list (actual list above) of great tunes.  Really a wonderful time, and the price was right!