Thought I'd share some more recent pics of my project that I started on 16 years ago. At present, the car is awaiting body work and paint in Sheboygan, WI. I've been told it'll be delivered to me in April...not holding my breath, but you never know.
Anyway, here's some pics of the chassis, dash, and other stuff from 2015. Enjoy!
-- Edited by MattK on Sunday 19th of February 2017 12:50:29 PM
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Long Branch headers. Yep! It's cool to see the diff between the Can and US cars. Driveline is the obvious diff. Still can't wrap my head around a B-Body with a Chevy 6 under the hood. Do find the 409 cars very cool, especially the '65s...talk about rare. I've owned a 4 Chevs too...all S.B. cars.
Canadian cars do share the dash panel but not the console or the heater control, that's Chev. I did borrow a Canada only part for my car, can you spot it?
Noticed that also. Not wanting to nit pic but on a Custom Sport the vacuum gauge goes in the right side pod.
I know...to be as correct as possible, it should replace the 'delete' pod or clock, but thought it would look better and be more noticeable on the left. May switch it around, may not. Still not on the car so no big deal. I need to repaint the black too. It's too shiny.
The small vac gauge wasn't available on U.S. cars, however, some claim they had one on a GP with a bench seat. It's briefly mentioned in the U.S. '65 Shop Manual, but no pic. Also notice the gas gauge has the "low fuel warning" lamp. Not available as a separate piece but part of the speedo alert setup.
I was also questioned about the temp and oil labels. Didn't know the word 'engine' was on 65s but removed for 66. Learn something new everyday. My tach is also a 66 since it has the green/red sweep.
To be fair, I've read that late 65 cars had the green/red sweep. My car was made in late June of '65, so in my estimation, it all fits and looks correct.
The car will also have AM/FM radio, rear seat speaker switch with the rare package tray speaker grill, and rear defog.
Noticed that also. Not wanting to nit pic but on a Custom Sport the vacuum gauge goes in the right side pod.
I was also questioned about the temp and oil labels. Didn't know the word 'engine' was on 65s but removed for 66. Learn something new everyday. My tach is also a 66 since it has the green/red sweep.
To be fair, I've read that late 65 cars had the green/red sweep. My car was made in late June of '65, so in my estimation, it all fits and looks correct.
Who knows, it's not impossible that the gauge lettering also changed the same time the tach redline changed. You may well have the correct tach and gauges for a June 65 car.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
It's a horse a piece, right? Getting into the weeds on some of this stuff is fun for those of us that own one, but no one else will ever pick up on that. I'm amazed at the lack of knowledge of some so called Pontiac experts. For example, how can you tell a car has power or manual brakes without opening the hood? Or, if you converted manual to power brakes, could you re-use the existing brake pedal? Now to be fair, you probably have '65 Chev pedals on your Custom Sports etc, but the point is, there's a lot of hidden things on these cars that if overlooked can affect operation or correctness. I'm a stickler for things being original to a point, sometimes you have to take what you can get and get it close enough. I'm very pleased with how my engine turned out. But, it's not a 421, it's a 455 30 over with a '69 Q-Jet intake and a '71 Q-Jet, the block is a '75 and the heads are '76. I just got all the '65 brackets, hardware and paint to make it look like a '65 engine but with out the hassle of tracking down a '65 421.
I can understand going for complete correctness when it's a super rare and desirable car, but most cars aren't.
if you converted manual to power brakes, could you re-use the existing brake pedal?
I think the question is an interesting one though. I am sure it has been done and other than the differences that are clearly noted, I would ask the question why not? If it is an angle difference, what would the change in pedal feel be? The master cylinder mounts in the same location, so it simply is a leverage deal I would assume.
Agree with the vac pod being on the right
Agree with the redline being ok for June build (GTO states May change over to redline)
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63 Grand Prix -needs restoration, 65 Catalina Ventura 4 speed - resto almost completed, 66 Catalina Convertible - at body shop
It's a horse a piece, right? Getting into the weeds on some of this stuff is fun for those of us that own one, but no one else will ever pick up on that. I'm amazed at the lack of knowledge of some so called Pontiac experts. For example, how can you tell a car has power or manual brakes without opening the hood? Or, if you converted manual to power brakes, could you re-use the existing brake pedal? Now to be fair, you probably have '65 Chev pedals on your Custom Sports etc, but the point is, there's a lot of hidden things on these cars that if overlooked can affect operation or correctness. I'm a stickler for things being original to a point, sometimes you have to take what you can get and get it close enough. I'm very pleased with how my engine turned out. But, it's not a 421, it's a 455 30 over with a '69 Q-Jet intake and a '71 Q-Jet, the block is a '75 and the heads are '76. I just got all the '65 brackets, hardware and paint to make it look like a '65 engine but with out the hassle of tracking down a '65 421.
I can understand going for complete correctness when it's a super rare and desirable car, but most cars aren't.
You will likely enjoy your car more than the diehards!
Not to say I don't love the absolute purest of cars, they're fun to see, but as far as enjoyment? You're doing it the right way.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
The brake pedal is important. If you add a booster to a manual brake car, you'll have super sensitive brakes. Go to manual from power you'll need to use two legs to stop. So they installed a short pedal for manual and a longer one for power.
I do know what's correct but you got me on the speedo gauges. I just choose to arrange things the way I like them. Knowing that it could be different isn't a deal breaker when I know only me and a select number of people may bring it up.
The brake pedal is important. If you add a booster to a manual brake car, you'll have super sensitive brakes. Go to manual from power you'll need to use two legs to stop. So they installed a short pedal for manual and a longer one for power.
I had no idea about that! I've pulled 2-3 manual setups out of 65-66 over the years and sold them. I don't know if anyone ever asked me if they were for manual or power brakes, and I sure didn't know the difference. Interesting...
We sure never had that in Canada, as far as I've ever seen.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Go back and look at the pedal set pic in this post. It's a manual set. There's another bolt hole above where the brake pedal is located. That's where a power brake pedal would mount on a Pontiac. Not sure if the Can cars use Chev pedals or not.
'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.
