Winter boredom project

4onthefloor

4onthefloor

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Supporting Member 1
Ok its not my 64 which is resting comfortably on the lift for winter. I have had this beater for about 5 years now. Underhood was a mess. Original engine long gone but california car with a 350 Pontiac installed by previous owner. He wanted to hear some rumpety rump so he put a Ram Air IV cam in the little 350. It had 7” vacuum. Ran like dog crap and had to have a vacuum pump for the brakes to work. Finally got tired of it and replaced the cam . Since I have nothing but time and no brains I figured it was time to freshen under the hood now that it runs like an honest to God real car now. The difference in driveability isnight and day. Its my hot dog stand driver all summer. Since I got off Faceplant I really miss my old 61 Pontiac group buddies so you loons will just have to put up with a Pontiac for a few minutes !!!634DCDD4-72B2-48B7-AF64-11C74CDED4F6.jpeg9F74CD95-5AC7-4D2E-8E02-FBD73C3D368C.jpegBF107837-5F52-4D54-9CE4-EB851A6AC802.jpegD0D2ACA2-0C2E-4924-903C-50003EDF41E0.jpeg342AD0B7-BC74-4B64-92F1-9E17162DB9FF.jpeg634DCDD4-72B2-48B7-AF64-11C74CDED4F6.jpeg9F74CD95-5AC7-4D2E-8E02-FBD73C3D368C.jpegBF107837-5F52-4D54-9CE4-EB851A6AC802.jpegD0D2ACA2-0C2E-4924-903C-50003EDF41E0.jpeg342AD0B7-BC74-4B64-92F1-9E17162DB9FF.jpeg2DC8B3D5-D530-4AFD-9ABF-6AD701C17730.jpeg
 
4onthefloor

4onthefloor

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Supporting Member 1
rsavage said:
Great job, That wagon looks super solid. How is the interior?
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Interior is bad. Front seat has neen reupholstered in some kind of fabric younwould see on a sofa. I installed a new headliner and it came out near perfect but you cant buy seatcovers for these Pontiacs so its not ever going to be right. Haaving seat covers made would not be worth the cost to me.
 
4onthefloor

4onthefloor

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Supporting Member 1
Don Jacks said:
What's in it for a trans? Nice 61 there Chris.
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Its a turbo 400. The 1969 350 probably has about thensame horsepowers as the priginal 389 had but less torque . Original was a super hydramatic with that low 1st gear which is what this beast needs. I think its damn close to 4500 lbs with a 2:87 gear out back. Always had a soft spot for 61 GM anything.
 
55Brodie

55Brodie

Well Known Member
My buddy had a metallic green 61 Catalina wagon with a warmed over 389 and a 4 speed Muncie. He gave up trying to find nos quarters and sold it about 6 years ago along with a set of 8 lug wheels.
 
4onthefloor

4onthefloor

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Supporting Member 1
La Hot Rods said:
Doesn't Ames have anything for it?
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There are quite a few things available from Ames but no interior stuff. I bought a set of gold BONNEVILLE leters for the door and fender trim and they were 189 bucks ! Have to buy material from SMS and have it sewn. I figure at least 5-7k to do it. Not gonna happen. 61 is a tough year but dont need any body parts thankfully. I just made it run good finally so the freshen up under the hood Made sense . I may put a windshield in and then thats it.
 
4onthefloor

4onthefloor

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Supporting Member 1
55Brodie said:
My buddy had a metallic green 61 Catalina wagon with a warmed over 389 and a 4 speed Muncie. He gave up trying to find nos quarters and sold it about 6 years ago along with a set of 8 lug wheels.
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This car came with 8 lugs. Previous owner sold them rather than reline. Bad move. 3k + or so for a done set.
 
1964SuperStocker

1964SuperStocker

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Supporting Member 3
Whatever you do. Don't let that back tailgate window break. Those things are impossible to get. Most people don't understand those have just a slight curve to them and they don't reproduce them so you have to find a factory piece. My 64 wagon has the same glass and they are worth a ton. Found one for sale and almost bought it just to keep it on hand. Mine has the electric up and down but the mechanical would be so much better. The electrics are known for not wanting to work and I ran into that. Took a long time/effort to get it to come back to life. Yours is electric correct?
 
4onthefloor

4onthefloor

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Supporting Member 1
Nope mine is manual and I found an NOS crank mechanism for it. The operation of that window has some crazy safety mechanism inside that you have to defeat to get the window up when the gate is down to replace the crank. Quirky little Pontiac deal is the Bonneville Custom Safari was not available in 9 passenger. Only the Catalina from what I read.
 
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