New to the group but have been enjoying the knowledgeable posts and resources. Just acquired a 1964 Strato Chief from the US (bringing it home). Runs and drives well.
While certainly not original I will be working (for some time) in changing some things out to try and bring it back closer to original and I'm sure I'll have questions.
For example, at one point a former owner removed the three on the tree and converted it to the floor - which should be interesting... and the door panels seem to be home made :)
Guess my first question is... Sourcing Parts for engine and interior - any suggestions? I've been told, thanks to this site, that the Strato Chief parts, other than trim - but all the chassis and driveline parts are shared with the 65-66 Chevrolet Impala/Bel Air/Biscayne. Body parts, the 66 Parisienne, Laurentian. Is that correct?
Great to be part of the group and thanks for any advice.
Interior panels; I think 64 Strato chief are a design unique to that car. If it was Laurentian, then Catalina wold likely work. 63-64 experts will surely chime in.
Your car would make a good monthly feature BTW.
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
I appreciate the insight your thoughts on interiors that might be compatible.
On the suggestion the Strato might be a good monthly feature, I'm flattered - was lucky to find it for sale in Idaho and bought it sight unseen so I'm sure I'll be in for some surprises - but given what I paid, whatever might be wrong can be fixed. :)
My two teenagers are over the moon - last fall I gave them a choice - a week vacation on a beach or we buy the Strato Chief and restore it - they both chose the car immediately - and I actually saved money. Nice to have the next generation interested. They helped me restore a 1962 Crestliner Del Rio Imperial classic motor boat five years ago - now I guess we have a matching era car
No idea what US model parts work, they have completely different chassis and drivetrains. 59-64 Cdn Pontiac share parts with us and Cdn Chevies, drivetrain and x frame. 65 up Cdn Pontiac and Chevies did not have the x frame.
Mostly if you are buying things like brakes, shocks, you name it, order Chevy.
Welcome, that looks like a solid car.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
No idea what US model parts work, they have completely different chassis and drivetrains. 59-64 Cdn Pontiac share parts with us and Cdn Chevies, drivetrain and x frame. 65 up Cdn Pontiac and Chevies did not have the x frame.
Mostly if you are buying things like brakes, shocks, you name it, order Chevy.
Welcome, that looks like a solid car.
Thanks Don, that's really helpful - seems I'll have to have some custom interior work done so I'll look for original examples to help guide them - the current door panels look like a bad armchair someone recovered :)
Also trying to figure out if the cloth benches are original - will also need to find floor carpets...
Quick question on the restore options for the gaps in the steering wheel and cracks in the dash - I've been searching for a string on that...
Thanks very much for the welcome and the positive comment on the car. Cheers.
Your upholstery isn't original. I'm pretty sure the Stratochief for 64 matched Biscayne. If so your seats would have looked like this:
Yes, thanks for confirming - Fantastic example of an interior - I've seen this kind of interior on stock Strato Chiefs online and they look almost identical... Seems I have some interior work to do. Now to find a good interior upholsterer :) - and now apparently a replacement starter motor that just died.
Yes, thanks for confirming - Fantastic example of an interior - I've seen this kind of interior on stock Strato Chiefs online and they look almost identical... Seems I have some interior work to do. Now to find a good interior upholsterer :) - and now apparently a replacement starter motor that just died.
Welcome to Canadian Poncho. You've sure come to the right site for the car you bought.
As for your starter, how mechanical are you? Those starters are not complicated to rebuild. On the other hand it's an easy one to find used because it fits tons of 6 cylinders, 283, 307, some 327 and 350 for many years. Does it not crank? Is it possibly just needing a solenoid?
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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
Man, I'm feeling the love on this site - I've got Poncho Superstars and Legends weighing in - thanks everyone!
I'm not a pro but I know my way around and don't hesitate to take things on - what could go wrong :) - so short answer, I find my way through things quite capably. It's mounted to a V8 283
Good advice on the Starter and options for replacements - just heard from the shipper that his jump box was almost dead so it might not be the starter - when it hits Toronto and they try to offload it we will find out - fingers crossed :)
Welcome to the site! That Strato Chief is funky! Good call by Todd on the Biscayne interior, as it is accurate. 1964 they made carpeting & rear arm rests standard. As for the chassis it is pure Chevy X-frame, and shares the Chevy deep well trunk. The gas tank is behind the axle but I'm not sure if they are 100% the same as the Chevy part. Somebody knows.
Do you ever plan on attending any of the so-called cruises in the area?
If you could find a set of Trendsetter covers for those sidepipes it would be neat. Over a chambered system, quite a crackle.
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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
I fell in love with Pontiacs as my father owned a 60's era (not sure of which exact date) Pontiac Parisienne that I used to drive on the farm roads when underage - which is forever ago - and recently I've been trying to relive my childhood lol.
Yes Todd seems to have nailed the interior connection to the Biscayne and thanks for the Chevy X frame info - these trunks look like they will hold a lot of bodies... It would be great if you could point me in the direction for some information on area cruises - that would be fantastic to see other Canadian Ponchos in person...
I'll look up the trendsetter covers for the sidepipes as you suggest.
For parts, just keep asking here when you need something. Rockauto is a good site for figuring out parts available and a good place to buy if shipping is not too high. They give brands and part numbers and many times with that info, you can find it locally at Cdn tire, Napa, etc.
Buy a Cdn Pontiac shop manual which is the 1961 shop manual and the 1964 supplement, try Kijiji or eBay.
The 64 Cdn Pontiac and Chevy gas tank are the same, buy spectra premium brand if you need one.
Starters are easy to find if you need one. You may have just a bad ground or connection.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
If you ever come across a nice 1965 Steering wheel and horn ring from a Strat, Laurentian, Biscayne or Bel Air, it'll fit your 64, as it's identical. The center cap badge styles are all that differ.
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
For parts, just keep asking here when you need something. Rockauto is a good site for figuring out parts available and a good place to buy if shipping is not too high. They give brands and part numbers and many times with that info, you can find it locally at Cdn tire, Napa, etc.
Buy a Cdn Pontiac shop manual which is the 1961 shop manual and the 1964 supplement, try Kijiji or eBay.
The 64 Cdn Pontiac and Chevy gas tank are the same, buy spectra premium brand if you need one.
Starters are easy to find if you need one. You may have just a bad ground or connection.
Thanks Don,
Great to know I can keep asking questinos :) and for suggestion about RockAuto - will connect with them. Thanks a well for the shop manual suggestions - just bought a mint 1961 Pontiac Shop Manual and 1964 Supplement found on eBay. They arrive week after next. Great stuff.
If you ever come across a nice 1965 Steering wheel and horn ring from a Strat, Laurentian, Biscayne or Bel Air, it'll fit your 64, as it's identical. The center cap badge styles are all that differ.
Thanks! That's great to know there are options - searching now :)
Welcome to the group. Work has me busy these days and little online time. I am travelling in the USA at the moment and limited to my phone. Actually we are at an international wagon show with our 64 Safari.
Have a look at my post on the 64 Parisienne I restored for my wife. (Perhaps someone with a real computer can post a link) I can point you to several resources to get your interior back to stock if wanted. We used multiple sources to completely replace ours. I am not far from Toronto. We can connect if you needs help with parts and contacts. I have a fairly good knowledge of what combination of USA Pontiac, Canadian Pontiac, and Chevy parts it to bring you back.
Welcome to the group. Work has me busy these days and little online time. I am travelling in the USA at the moment and limited to my phone. Actually we are at an international wagon show with our 64 Safari.
Have a look at my post on the 64 Parisienne I restored for my wife. (Perhaps someone with a real computer can post a link) I can point you to several resources to get your interior back to stock if wanted. We used multiple sources to completely replace ours. I am not far from Toronto. We can connect if you needs help with parts and contacts. I have a fairly good knowledge of what combination of USA Pontiac, Canadian Pontiac, and Chevy parts it to bring you back.
Cheers! Mike
Mike, thanks for the welcome and, for your kind offer of assistance - that's a sweet looking wagon and it's really good to see (on this forum) all the people saving these old beauties. Canadian Poncho, thanks for hunting down the link.
Your offer to help me navigate the interior given you have gone through this is fantastic - I'll send you a DM to follow up on that given you suggest we are reasonably close. Enjoy the international wagon show with your 64 Safari - the detail and progress in your 18 pages of posts is amazing -what a transformation and such detailed work - wow,
-- Edited by 64 Strato on Saturday 15th of July 2023 08:42:17 AM
