Thanks Canadian Poncho crew for your knowledge and comradery and especially Cheviac (Ken) for trimming his herd. I was able to purchase from him, the parts to facelift my 1968 2+2 with a set GP Hide a Ways. Always loved the look, very happy with how they look on mine. Adds another tick of uniqueness and especially here in Michigan. Have a great weekend!
-- Edited by Carl Stevenson on Saturday 28th of May 2016 01:10:46 PM
'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 want to do that with my 68 2+2 so bad. I'll keep looking.
Scott
Member sixtywagon had a spare complete setup, he provided it to another guy here in Calgary that has a 68 Grand Prix, to have as a spare. If you contact sixtywagon he may be able to put you in touch with the other guy to see if he'd sell.
Did you need a unique headlight switch for the doors to work properly? I know sixtywagon had problems locating one for the 68 Grande Parisienne he had.
A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a guy at cruise night who put the setup in his 2+2. They weren't operational yet but he said he was going to try and convert the vacuum to electric. And by the way the look is awesome.
-- Edited by JC2+2 on Saturday 28th of May 2016 06:11:23 PM
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'68 Parisienne 2+2 Convertible Matador Red (Resale Red but not for sale).
Congratulations Mike, looks great. That takes alot of patience to clean paint and assemble that set up from a couple of boxes full of parts. Do you remember the old Uniroyal Tiger Paw commercials ? was that a Pontiac or a Cougar ripping up the road ? Wouldn't make sense to use a Cougar to advertise "Tiger Paws" in my opinion. Anyway...Good on ya!
Job took about 8 hours, a few hiccups but nothing major. Did replace the vacuum actuator seals, dust covers and the bushings the door stops against. Plastic pivot bushings seem fine. Any future work will require the grill to come off. All parts cleaned and painted and bench tested the entire assembly with my vacuum pump. Used the vacuum lines Ken supplied but bought a new check valve (system hold vacuum). Added the CP headlight relay upgrade.
Yes, the headlight switch is different in that it has the vacuum manifold on it. Looks like still available thru Ames Performance $26 (where I bought the new actuator seals). Ran the vacuum lines thru a hole in the firewall under the master cylinder.
Next is relays for the convertible and as documented here, clock repair.
Yes, the headlight switch is different in that it has the vacuum manifold on it. Looks like still available thru Ames Performance $26 (where I bought the new actuator seals).
sixtywagon had difficulty sourcing the switch, I think the one he got had the wrong # of vacuum ports.
If you have the diagram for the convertible handy, please attach. If not, I will search it. Need to search the clock rebuild that was posted here some time back.
For all the body repair guys out there, my right eye is a bit weepy by about 3/8". prior to install, changed the rubber bumpers for the up and down stops of the covers and all the plastic bushings where tight. Left side is correct alignment. Original vacuum hoses used and did a vacuum check (held vacuum).
Weepiness happens even when at full vacuum, using a cord to hold the door up at its correct position to run around during the day.
Do I:
1. Add washers to adjust the actuators to change the door position or
2. Install new actuators, they set the position of the doors?
As a former 68 Grand Prix owner I must admit I never liked the look of the 68 hideaway front end but yours looks great, couldn't figure it out but I realize now its how you painted the grilles, the factory eggcrate look was the problem, highlighting just the horizontals made a huge difference, nice work!
1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
