Evening. Just got my first car, a '66 Grande Parisienne. Interior is in great condition. The body isn't that bad, needs some small body work. I'm just learning about cars, I'm more inclined with Harleys. Unfortunately by the time I get home from work it's pitch black out and I haven't got any good lights setup yet so I can't post pictures until the weekend.

I was just wondering about my motor. The guy I bought it from says it's a 283, but my old man says no. The motor is blue. What would this be? I'll get the numbers and everything on the weekend when I have some time. Just looking for some comments at the moment.

I will be using this thread as a journal for my project. 

I'm in Ontario, near Toronto. Anyone know where I can get some good rims and tires for this baby? What about chrome trim or parts in general?

Thanks!

You bet you're welcome!   We're a small but vocal cult dedicated to the best looking Pontiac ever built!  Hope yours is decent or better.  We need pics of it all over but especially the firewall tag and the engine.

Hey guys got some pics loaded up, about to put it in the barn now.

seventy2plus2 wrote:

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The engine is a late 70's or early 80's 305 or 350.  Certainly not the original 283 or 327.  I'm not a 66 expert, but the exhaust manifolds may be 1966, as I see the alternator mount on the drivers side manifold.

-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Saturday 9th of March 2013 11:44:10 AM

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 My friend suggests that it is a Chev 350 from the early 80s. 

Thanks for the pics. I blew them up. 

Yes, it appears to have all later model stuff on the outside, the brackets, the colour, the 2 barrel etc all appear later. Someone has updated to a dual reservoir master cylinder as well. 

I like the exterior colour, it's not so common. 

Do I see power windows?

Does it have 2 switches hanging from the top of the dash? What does it have that those do? Power antenna, rear speaker, reverb, rear defog? 

Thanks, I didn't want to make them big because I wasn't sure if it was against forum rules or not. I love the color, plan on getting something like that from House of Kolor to redo it. It's best to use lighter paints if you aren't a skilled bodyman, correct? Power windows yes, not sure on the other switches just yet.

Doesn't look too rusty really although I cringe at lifting that vinyl top.   May have shaded glass.  Non original buckets but they sure do look comfy.  Need more pictures please (including the firewall tag) to really get a chance to drool over it.  Nice colour!

I don't like the white vinyl personally. Can you stain it like you can with leather? I much prefer the black, or am just going to rip it off if possible. I'll get more pictures for y'all soon enough, a lot easier now that she's in the barn. Going to get my lighting all setup tomorrow.

Again I love the color !

So, my pap and I threw some gas down the carb and she fires right up and then stalls. Looks like the fuel filter is completely clogged at the carb. Going to inspect further. There are 2 holes in the frame that I am getting boxed in -- will get pictures for y'all tomorrow. Once boxed I am going to clean the frame up and undercoat it well.

Anyone know where I can get the driver side mirror? What about body panels for the lowers? 

Edit: Anyone have a frame for sale?

Doesn't look too rusty really although I cringe at lifting that vinyl top.   May have shaded glass.  Non original buckets but they sure do look comfy.  Need more pictures please (including the firewall tag) to really get a chance to drool over it.  Nice colour!

The main problem with vinyl tops an the reason i would cringe to take it off is that they love to trap moisture.  it is not uncommon to rip those off and find a rusted out roof.  Heres hoping yours won't be like that. 

As for a good frame how easy it will be to find depends on where you are in the country.  I think I have a good one here in northern Alberta but is that practical for you?

As for lower body parts there is no NOS stuff left and the repros I have seen are a rough approximation of panels.  You'll need to fabricate what you'll need or find better panels from parts cars in dry climates. I hope you won't need much as its a pain.

66 Grande guy wrote:

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"I'm in Ontario, near Toronto. Anyone know where I can get some good rims and tires for this baby? What about chrome trim or parts in general?"

To answer this, you are a very lucky guy as any wheel that uses the old chevy 5 hole pattern(4.75in) will fit on this car from 14  inched rims to the monstrosities they use today (20inches and bigger)   A lot of  guys (including me) seem to prefer Chev rally rims of some type (optional equipment from 1967 to about 1977) as they look pretty factory and sharp to boot. They are reproduced in pretty much any size you like.  If you want to run stock wheels they were 14 " by 5 wide with full wheel covers. The rims are easy to find, 14" tires harder and the wheel covers will surface now and then on this forum.

It looks like your car is really complete for chrome trim so you're fortunate there.  These cars had pretty minimal trim compared to some so that makes it pretty easy.  Just polish it up and stick it back on.

Running parts are super easy for these cars.  They were 66 chevy basically and with chevy interchangability you can still get a lot of stuff at the local NAPA. Just ask for 66 Impala as the guy won't usually have listings for your car.

You  have a winner here as it is quite as a quite rare (5147 made) Canadian only model, is  Canadian built,  is good looking and easy and straightforward to work on.  Also very roadable even today as it is.   If you add front discs and electronic ignition it is not really that obsolete except for lacking shoulder harnesses and air bags etc.  Emission standards for these cars are really easy to meet as well as long as yo use a same vintage engine. (I think) I'm not too conversant withe the Ontario laws, which sound kind of anal from what I read on here.

Don't be scared!  We need more of these on the road!

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 Any pics of frame? What kind of $ are you looking for? I just got back from Fairview before Christmas. I need rear suspension springs, so the Impalas would work? Thanks!

Hardtail wrote:

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 Any pics of frame? What kind of $ are you looking for? I just got back from Fairview before Christmas. I need rear suspension springs, so the Impalas would work? Thanks!

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