Doing some work on the 63. I had already pulled the 350 and powerglide, and removed the inside fenders and the "shielding" around the grill and back side of the grill. Those parts have a rough high gloss finish so I thought I would clean that up and repaint it in semi gloss black, as well as paint the frame area. I removed the 605 power steering and am replacing that with the stock setup, plus removed the front swaybar, installing a 1 inch Addco, since I have a spare one. Also removed the power brakes, the setup was a hacked up weld job that stuck out a long ways and was made with welding rod and other pieces. I will use stock manual brakes for now.
I am converting the car to a 409 4 speed, so have to install a z bar bracket and new pedals. I think I found a ST10 for it (I have a saginaw now), need to check out the brake shoes and drums, I think it needs shoes, and it needs front springs, control arm bushings, and new bushings in the rear too. The body parts seem really solid and original from what I have seen so far.
The old 350 and the empty engine bay.
-- Edited by DonSSDD on Monday 21st of March 2016 05:12:48 AM
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
The Pontiac dog dish I found were not as good as I hoped, I'd like to find a better set. Maybe a later set of stainless steel work work?
Don
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
It's looking better already. He sure likes spraying everything black!
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I am looking to put power steering into my car. It seems that there are a number of options with current new boxes available. Why would you go back to a 63 power system? I am asking because I am not sure what is the best alternative. It will be nice to have the 409 in it.
I did not like the 605 at all, it was way too "twitchy". I had a 59 with original power steering, it was very light with little feel, but I much preferred it over the 63 with the 605. The issue I had was not that uncommon, and I had tried some of the suggested solutions but it was still not right. I think it had too much assist which made it too quick to react. I had a complete stock setup, pump, brackets, hoses, slave cylinder, so decided to use it.
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
I did not like the 605 at all, it was way too "twitchy". I had a 59 with original power steering, it was very light with little feel, but I much preferred it over the 63 with the 605. The issue I had was not that uncommon, and I had tried some of the suggested solutions but it was still not right. I think it had too much assist which made it too quick to react. I had a complete stock setup, pump, brackets, hoses, slave cylinder, so decided to use it.
Good choice I agree with you 100% there is absolutely nothing wrong with the stock power steering system and they will work and last forever! The 605 is a cheap box and limits the turning radius and they are leakers from the factory and do not bolt directly to the frame without an adapter plate which to me is not a great idea at all. Nice black 63 Parisienne by the way!
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
The Pontiac dog dish I found were not as good as I hoped, I'd like to find a better set. Maybe a later set of stainless steel work work?
Don
Some dude in PEI hooked me up. Anyone recognize the flooring?
They have never been on a car before.
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
I ordered a new 3/8's fuel line for the car, it came damaged in shipment. There was a bend that had pretty much collapsed and no way you could bend it back and get it to "re-open", the company I got it from gave me back my money and left the part with me. They didn't want to chance shipping another line.
I learned an old trick from a guy, fill the line with fine sand (I used blasting sand) 100% and you can carefully bend it back. I did that and the collapsed portion re-opened great.
I've sold my 62 Bel Air project in New Zealand, had some work to do to it to ship it, so the Pontiac took a back seat. Will get at it now.
I got the inner fenders and other removeable parts painted, a ST10 and Hurst shifter ready to go, cleaned out 2/3's of the front frame area for painting, removed the PS and box, and got the exhaust manifolds powder coated. Once I finish the cleaning and painitng of the frame area, it can start going back together.
-- Edited by DonSSDD on Wednesday 27th of April 2016 05:47:03 AM
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
I ordered a new 3/8's fuel line for the car, it came damaged in shipment. There was a bend that had pretty much collapsed and no way you could bend it back and get it to "re-open", the company I got it from gave me back my money and left the part with me. They didn't want to chance shipping another line.
Did you order it from here on the east coast Don?
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Ordered from Show Cars (I like dealing with them on 409 stuff). The issue is its in a carton about 5 ft long and it had no obvious damage. But is had been "shortened" during transit just enough to bend the pipe.
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
No scratches on the edge on the back where they would hook on to the wheel. And the guy that sold them to me guaranteed they were NOS................ Right Darryl?
-- Edited by DonSSDD on Friday 29th of April 2016 07:58:45 PM
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
No scratches on the edge on the back where they would hook on to the wheel. And the guy that sold them to me guaranteed they were NOS................ Right Darryl?
Right. NOS ... and I never installed them.
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I got a hood scoop for it, the kind used on a super duty in 63. This one came off a 58 ford f850 CN truck, he had it since 1966. Chrome is pitted, but all the studs are there and almost no rust. I haven't even washed it yet.
-- Edited by DonSSDD on Thursday 9th of June 2016 08:28:46 PM
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Finally got the engine compartment cleaned out, installed the stock power steering valve and box, have to get the steering column back together next. Have the 409 and super t10 ready to drop in, just need to bolt the manifolds back on. Also bought a set of pie crust DOT drag radials, 28.5 X 8 by 15. Clutch pedal is in, have a 3/8ths fuel line ready to install too.
-- Edited by DonSSDD on Monday 27th of June 2016 08:07:19 PM
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
That's a nice little project you've got going on there. Thanks for providing updates.
Question: did 409 Canadian Pontiacs ever come with those scoops? I know that some of the US Super Duty Catalinas had them, but don't recall CPs with them. Just my opinion, but it would be the one thing I'd leave off, rather than drill holes in my hood to mount it.
I've had the same thoughts on drilling holes, but since this will not be a show car, I'd like to use it if I can. It changes the whole image of the car with the pie crust?
I don't know that the scoops came factory installed on any GM car, but it was a part you could order from what I have seen. I doubt it was available in Canada, I think it was something racers installed. You see a lot of "back in the day pictures" of Tempests, US Pontiacs, and Chevies with the scoop, but all the ones I've seen were raced. I may try to find another way to attach it without drilling. The Bel Air scoop was functional, it had a triangular hole cut in the hood. I bought it from the fellow who installed it, he had it on a 409/409 62 Impala and the install looked factory.
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
The scoop will look in keeping with the pie crust slicks, for sure. Just looked up a pic of a '63 SD Cat, and it does have a mean look about it. For that matter, you could probably still find a spare hood somewhere for it if you wanted to change back.
I've had the same thoughts on drilling holes, but since this will not be a show car, I'd like to use it if I can. It changes the whole image of the car with the pie crust?
Thanks very much for the comments, as with everything, it takes more time and money that you think.
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
You need larger clips, I have used the off the shelf ones from NAPA etc., unless you are getting a parts order from the US. The line gets routed differently, it goes through the x frame tunnel (at least it did on the 62, haven't done the 63 yet) under the A arm on the passenger side, check your assembly manual.
Don
__________________
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic