Reviving a 1962 Strato Chief for a drive home - Edmonton to Toronto

Morty · Veteran Member

RE: Reviving a 1962 Strato Chief for a drive home - Edmonton to Toronto

67Poncho · Uber Guru

1st things 1st! The ignition key was bothering me.... sooooo..... I could only do the ignition blank due to the trunk key was discontinued from GM. (I don't have any)

2ndly, I snapped a pic of the data tag.

Style 7169- 261ci Strato Chief 4-dr Sedan

Paint T- Autumn Gold Metallic

Trim 860- Fawn

Then placed her near to some of her kin.

timbuk · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

it appears you have grass now vince!

Morty · Veteran Member

Hi Guys lil update here - so Vince was kind enough to send me a couple of videos of the car up on the hoist. It turns out she is pretty bad under there. I think 3/4 body mounts are gone, hole in the floor some rust on the tail end of the frame and the rockers are pretty trash. Not a tone of metal there. My question is how far gone is too far gone and what are my options for restoring it. Vince is going to try to give me an idea of if there is enough good metal around to weld to. Kinda of a bummer, I wanted to spruce this thing up without spending all of my money on it.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

From my experience, while this might be rusty for an Alberta car, it's probably a gem in Ontario.

Morty · Veteran Member

Reposting some better pictures that Vincent sent me. She's bad underneath for sure. Beyond my ability to be honest but I guess rusty cars breed good welders. I'm looking for any advice here. Places I can get mounts, maybe a new floor entirely, ideas around what this might cost to get done and if anyone wants the work! I do love the car but you know I also have to eat food daily.

-- Edited by Morty on Tuesday 24th of May 2022 11:28:33 AM

Morty · Veteran Member

A buddy of mine sent me this - feelin better about the hill I have to climb with this car. He cut out and re did his Jeep XJ floor and rockers, I think we might try to at least tackle some of this ourselves. If anyone has any tips on where to get mounts or what parts might be compatible from other cars please do share. Thanks again guys.

www.youtube.com/watch

Prefectca · Poncho Master!

If you need some inspiration and information, look at this thread.

https://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t67278149/glenns-62-parisienne-rebuild/

Captain Fear · Veteran Member

It all depends how handy and how much you want to do with the car as it can be an endless process. New floor will run about $1200. Most items can be bought or created but it all comes down to time and dollars.

Good luck!

Morty · Veteran Member

Its funny the ride you go on with something like this, that thread you posted shows the work that it takes to do it right. Great job, he did it justice. Im short on space and so I think the car is likely trash and my best bet is to make it a donor car for another car /sell it/ give it to someone who wants it. It's my mistake frankly, I trusted the guy who sold it to me that it was in the shape he said it was in. I messaged him to let him know that its rusted out, no response obviously. A**hole. In all my dealings with sellers, mechanics, buyers etc I've never come across someone who is into classics who is trying to do you dirty like that. Sure a bit of puffery is expected but dang this car is beat and he had to of known it. Anyway its on Kijiji in Ontario for what I paid, Ill let ya know if anyone bites. In this case I think you just take your lumps, even a guy from the big city can be a bit naive. I do appreciate all the help and consideration I've gotten from this community. I'm looking around for a way to get a Strato Chief that I can use this car as a parts car for. Guy has a runner for sale in Spalding SK but its pricey. Talked to him says the frame and floor are in good shape. Missing a couple cross braces but the metal is good. Hard to know what to do. Keep ya posted though.

oshawacliff · Poncho Master!

Sign into Impalas.net and post up that you need a frame.

Check about 62 model year in the search line at the top.

Station wagon frame may work as well.

The station wagon frame gives you the two link rear axle?

There is a lot of help there as well. Worthwhile viewing the different categories. A little different format than CP

A few Canadians on there.

My login is Blu 67

Cliff

-- Edited by oshawacliff on Tuesday 24th of May 2022 11:58:04 PM

-- Edited by oshawacliff on Wednesday 25th of May 2022 12:08:13 AM

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Cliff , all the 62 x frames are the same, except convertible which has extra strengthening and more body mounts. None have a 2 link rear end. Other years of x frame can be made to fit.

Morty, did you see any before pics of Glenns 62? Looked better than your 62 but was likely worse underneath.

Chaulk this car experience up to education, you now know what to ask question wise before buying an old car, plus look at all the nice Canadian Poncho people you met along the way. Another car will come along, you should be able to find a solid 4 door for $5-10,000. The body and frame being solid is what I look for first. Put an ad in the wanted section on the forum.

Remain an optimist, its worth a lot.

Don

-- Edited by DonSSDD on Wednesday 25th of May 2022 04:58:17 AM

Morty · Veteran Member

Thanks Don! I will do. And ya its true this is has been a good experience, I've met some great folks and learned a ton. There is an apparently solid 62 Chief in Spalding SK, waiting for the guy to send me pics. Its a runner for around 4500

I did ask the guy how the floor, frame and rockers were and he told me they were solid. My mistake was trusting him. I mean a bit of rust is fine but this guy screwed me.

-- Edited by Morty on Wednesday 25th of May 2022 09:18:42 AM

Morty · Veteran Member

Just talked to the good people at MK picture cars in Toronto and the said they would give me $4k for her as long as a person wouldn't "fall through the floor". So maybe this old girl will get a second life in the movies if I can get her home.

pontiax · Poncho Master!

Sounds like a rainbow awaiting for you at the end of this trip. Lets hope car number 2 is in respectable shape.

Morty · Veteran Member

Yah lets hope. Waiting on pics. Fingers crossed.

Morty · Veteran Member

Here is car #2 - wheels dont come with it sadly. windshield is cracked but it comes with a new one. Guy drives it and says compression is good. Needs a cross brace or two But looks like there is metal to weld too. Lemme know your thoughts.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Ask for pictures of the 2 body mounts behind the back tires, the inside of the door bottoms, the inside lip of the trunk and hood, the inside of the trunk, especially the inside of the area above the bumper. Also, the dogleg in front of the back tires and the front end of the rocker behind the bottom of the front fenders.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

This is from a good 62 BelAir

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Morty · Veteran Member

I will do right now

Morty · Veteran Member

So I got more pictures. looks like it needs some metal work for sure.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

If it were me I'd let that one go too. There's several hours of metal repair work needed there and this is only what you can see.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Canadian Poncho wrote:
If it were me I'd let that one go too. There's several hours of metal repair work needed there and this is only what you can see.

A lot of rust work there and you havent seen everything there is to see. Interior is toast, a lot of expensive things to replace and work on and Id say you can do better.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

$8500.
www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/edmonton/1960-pontiac-laurentian/1611464215