1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 Convertible Barn find - But this one a 4-speed

davepl · Poncho Master!

1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 Convertible Barn find - But this one a 4-speed

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

On the Cdn cars there's a large brace that runs from the rear bumper up to the roof through the C pillar, and it's interesting cutting through the C pillar. I don't think the US cars have the same brace as I didn't see it in your photo of the drivers side.

You'll be able to see it in the trunk of your black car, on both the drivers & passenger sides.

-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Sunday 15th of April 2018 12:57:57 PM

davepl · Poncho Master!

Yes, you wind up sawing through most of it and then pulling the quarter panel back and cutting a small tab off, if I recall. But the brace is there! Or least =a= brace is there. YOu can see the saw kick back when he hits it in the video.

-- Edited by davepl on Monday 16th of April 2018 02:08:47 PM

Elroy · Poncho Master!

Dave, maybe you should restore my old 67 car ? I need to push John your way !! You are doing a great job on this car.

davepl · Poncho Master!

Here's my cluster. I used as much of my original as I could, which mostly meant the plastics because it flash-rusted all the metal. So it's a bit of a hybrid between Catalina parts and 2+2 stuff, but I've confirmed from the parts book that they use the same base speedo.

This is with white LED illumination. I might go back to 194/168s just to keep it original but my night vision isn't what it was in 1984 either!

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I really like it with the LED's, the numbers really glow unlike incandescent. Does it have a good range of bright/dim with the factory light switch rheostat?

davepl · Poncho Master!

I don't know about with the factory rheostat, but with the variable voltage digital-controlled power supply it dims quite progressively and nicely. Remains to be seen with a headlight switch but they DO dim, that's the main thing.

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I like!

davepl · Poncho Master!

Thanks! I used the old "bulbs" for everything else for a couple of reasons:

1) I wasn't sure if the resistance of the ALT light bulb matters for that circuit. Thinking it might, I used a bulb there, so did for the other idiot lights as well
2) The turn indicators should "wink" off and on because they're a heated element bulb, whereas an LED would just flash ON/OFF

You could use an LED for the high beam indicator likely. I'd certainly use bulbs for things like the low fuel circuit that comes on dim initially. When in doubt, use a bulb I guess!

davepl · Poncho Master!

Here's my NOS dash cluster with the restored speedo, restored top switch, and NOS heater controls! The switch is a touch crooked int this pic (no clip on the back), but it's straight in real life!

-- Edited by davepl on Friday 27th of April 2018 09:17:57 AM

davepl · Poncho Master!

Here's my "NOS and new" pile of stuff I've bought and subassemblies (like pedals) that I've restored. Time to move it to a more organized location, it's grown!

davepl · Poncho Master!

Shipped the car off to the bodyshop yesterday! That's the fourth 1969 Pontiac to come and go this year (gold Brougham, black 2+2 coupe, red 2+2 conv, silver Catalina)... neighbors are going to start to wonder what I'm doing.

65Camino · Uber Guru

Any updates?

davepl · Poncho Master!

Well, it's been in body jail for about 6 months at least. They are working on the "not available" metal work like under the cowl was rusty and so on. Here's a few pics of what they sent me!

North · Guru

Lots of chopping! Looks good so far, hate to see the bill!

davepl · Poncho Master!

It's not too bad so far, but I imagine this one won't be a "wise investment" either

Howmac · Guru

Dave , regardless if it is a " wise" investment or not , you have a documented "1 of 1 " . You will have the pleasure of telling curious people.... " go find one" , knowing they will not be able to .

I too question myself on why I spend the $'s on my projects (which is 69 Big Block 4 spd B bodies) . But then I think of the other hobbies friends I have , partake in , such as airplanes , helicopters , going all out on fishing ( big boats) or other expensive toys etc..... Those also cost $ as well . In the end I enjoy this hobby and will spend my $ on it . It's what I like to do . Actually , I think it is the "hunt" for the parts that gives me the greatest pleasure , especially the rare 4 spd parts for these big cars .

I have known a lot of people who out of boredom, drink themselves to death , or play the machines and gamble all their savings away. My hobby pales in comparison to theirs .

-- Edited by Howmac on Saturday 5th of January 2019 06:12:11 PM

-- Edited by Howmac on Saturday 5th of January 2019 08:09:37 PM

CdnGMfan · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

There has to be satisfaction in knowing that through your commitment there will be one left. Without completing this project there probably isn't any other 1969 2+2 convertible 427 4-speed left in the world.

Future generations will be able to see a real live one because of your efforts. Hopefully they won't all be brainwashed into incorrectly thinking that electric is the only way.

66 327 sd · Guru

This is going to be a great Feature Car for the ages!!

davepl · Poncho Master!

I went out to the bodyshop today to meet with the metal guy and show him my prizes (two trunk lids that Clint brought back from an expedition up North) and see what's up. Not a lot of progress, seems to be only one "metal guy" for a lot of cars.

Long story short, floor repair is close to done, cowl repairs are done, working on trunk. Body back on frame, about to mount doors. Here are some pics!

Here is the rust through on the old trunk:

Proper repair of an area that had a paint can lid for a patch or something

Bend in behind-seat panel:

Rust pit holes under seat, this gets replaced too, fortunately, available for Imapal he says:

This is another previous repair I'll have cut out and redone:

-- Edited by davepl on Saturday 12th of January 2019 08:03:09 AM

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Yup, lots of swiss cheese. Judging by the amount of rust and a handful of repairs (and the bent rear bulkhead), the car must have lead a long life before it was parked. Hopefully the trunk lids sent your way are decent replacements.

davepl · Poncho Master!

Yes, there have been at least two attempts at "restoring" this car, really more repair than restoration. I think this car was a battle wagon of sorts at some point! Trunk lids look pretty good, glad we got both!

davepl · Poncho Master!

Some more updated photos!

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I know it's expensive but this is the only way to go if you are trying to preserve a rare and interesting car. I'm doing the same for my relatively rare Canadian 68 SS427 Impala convertible.

Congratulations on the progress to date. This is going to be beautiful as well as rare.

davepl · Poncho Master!

Greetings! It's been a long time so I thought I should update everyone on the "progress".

Hundreds of hours in, it was time to pull the plug at the local shop. The work was quality enough, more or less, but just too slow. So I ultimately pulled the car and pulled everything together and shipped it all off to Musclecar Restorations in WI, who did my black '69 coupe as well.

MCR was fairly adamant that even though previous shops had each media blasted it, they wanted to dip it, so they did, and likely a good thing. A fair bit of swiss cheese, but now all corrected.

About a million more photos here:

musclecarrestorations.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/Projects/EiJVsTk7kHJJmDtqJkPJawcByf235qcniWtQQV9OGpoZfg