1963 Grand Prix

[Wrongway]

So I bought my Grand Prix almost a year ago. When I bought her the fella told me that she hadn't been started in around 9yrs. After having her hauled home and changing fluids & plugs she cranked but still wound start. After replacing the regulator, adjusting he carb & some general tinkering she fired up. After running for a few minutes I noticed a sound in the bottom end and shut her down. I was told the engine was a 421HO and knowing nothing about Pontiacs at the time I didn't know if that was a good thing or not. I spent the next couple days researching what I thought I had and listening to all the reasons why I needed to do an LS swap from the local guys. I finally decided to just rebuild what I thought and was told was the original engine. So I pulled the motor, tore it down and took it to the machine shop. I told the owner the story and what I thought I had and asked him if he could possibly double check for me before I started ordering parts. I got a call a few days later telling me that yes I had a 421ci motor and to start ordering parts, and I did 😀. A couple weeks go by and I get a call telling me that "we've ordered the wrong piston's". I was then told that the machinist made a mistake, he didn't measure the blocks bore he just ran the block number which came back as a 421. He continued to tell me that I had a 428 and the reason for the mistake was really not their fault, that Pontiac used left over 421 blocks to make the 428 and that's why they had a 421 part number. (Totally false). After talking to the place where I ordered the pistons they agreed to exchange them with a $50.00 restocking fee. The machine shop offered to ship them for me to save me an hour drive back to their shop. Then I get a call from the piston company telling me the pistons they got back were damaged and not in the original box. After getting pictures and looking at the video they sent me (they record the opening of all returns) it was obvious there was little packing between the pistons and they got beat all to hell. 2 weeks Later I dropped off my new pistons and rings. Almost 3 months later I pick up the engine and heads. Total time, just over 4 months on an engine that I dropped off to have cleaned up, bored 30, crank redone and parts cleaned and prepped for me to build. Anyways I've got the rebuild done and the motor back in the car and she sounds great.  

[64 kiwi boni]

hay wrongway.... hows that 63 baby coming along !!!🙄???

i am sitting on my hands waiting for a gap in the traffic to get the 64 into the shed and make her run! Fitzy wetting his pants over Frostys gift to him and your doing???

Edited March 16, 2021 by 64 kiwi boni

[Fitzy]

1 hour ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

hay wrongway.... hows that 63 baby coming along !!!🙄???

i am sitting on my hands waiting for a gap in the traffic to get the 64 into the shed and make her run! Fitzy wetting his pants over Frostys gift to him and your doing???

Hey, that's not fair. It was only a little dribble of pee, and it was only once. I learnt to cross my legs a long time ago and it's one of those life skills that really comes into it's own as you get older!

Whilst I'm here, the car is getting trucked off to the mechanic on Friday so the race is on: GP vs Bonnie vs 63 GP. Who will the cops catch first? Wrongway's 428 I reckon. Mine will break down on it's inaugural trundle around the block and Kiwi's will still be on the hoist as he's underneath it pounding away at some ancient rusted part, with a hammer.

[64 kiwi boni]

hmm, a betting man you are Fitzy!!!

i like muchly !!! heehhe, 63 verse, 64 verses 65 !!!

and that wasnt a little leak man!! you popped your top over that chrome gauge!!! it was shinny when Frosty sent it too you, but by the time you posted the pictures of it after you bashed the postie to death, it was  glowing like a light sabre !!! hahaha

 i recon Wrongway has been head down arse up getting his 63 done while we are too busy chatting on forums!!! 

[Fitzy]

Popped my top? Over that crappy tacho? Well, yeah, I suppose I did. I've banned myself from looking at it in case I wear it out.

Met the mechanic today and we're all good for Friday. The following Friday it's booked in to get it's new twin exhaust. In a couple of weeks time it's booked in to the auto trimmer. Then, I guess I need to "drive it like I stole it." The race is on. Wrongway must be under the hood sorting out the last bits and pieces so he can blow us away first.

[Frosty]

3 hours ago, Fitzy said:

Popped my top? Over that crappy tacho? Well, yeah, I suppose I did. I've banned myself from looking at it in case I wear it out.

[Wrongway]

Honestly guys between the weather and the bike in the garage I haven't had time to do ANYTHING to my girl! I plan on have this guys bike in color and flake this week and playing with the GP after that. Once she's started again and running I'll determined to take her for a drive lol. Ill send a video, if I'm not pushing her. lol

[Fitzy]

20 hours ago, Frosty said:

There's something most unsettling about that Gollum pic - I actually look similar! My ears don't act as ailerons, my teeth are in better shape and, er...that's about it.

Hello my twin!

[64 kiwi boni]

On 1/15/2019 at 7:53 AM, Wrongway said:

So I bought my Grand Prix almost a year ago. When I bought her the fella told me that she hadn't been started in around 9yrs. After having her hauled home and changing fluids & plugs she cranked but still wound start. After replacing the regulator, adjusting he carb & some general tinkering she fired up. After running for a few minutes I noticed a sound in the bottom end and shut her down. I was told the engine was a 421HO and knowing nothing about Pontiacs at the time I didn't know if that was a good thing or not. I spent the next couple days researching what I thought I had and listening to all the reasons why I needed to do an LS swap from the local guys. I finally decided to just rebuild what I thought and was told was the original engine. So I pulled the motor, tore it down and took it to the machine shop. I told the owner the story and what I thought I had and asked him if he could possibly double check for me before I started ordering parts. I got a call a few days later telling me that yes I had a 421ci motor and to start ordering parts, and I did 😀. A couple weeks go by and I get a call telling me that "we've ordered the wrong piston's". I was then told that the machinist made a mistake, he didn't measure the blocks bore he just ran the block number which came back as a 421. He continued to tell me that I had a 428 and the reason for the mistake was really not their fault, that Pontiac used left over 421 blocks to make the 428 and that's why they had a 421 part number. (Totally false). After talking to the place where I ordered the pistons they agreed to exchange them with a $50.00 restocking fee. The machine shop offered to ship them for me to save me an hour drive back to their shop. Then I get a call from the piston company telling me the pistons they got back were damaged and not in the original box. After getting pictures and looking at the video they sent me (they record the opening of all returns) it was obvious there was little packing between the pistons and they got beat all to hell. 2 weeks Later I dropped off my new pistons and rings. Almost 3 months later I pick up the engine and heads. Total time, just over 4 months on an engine that I dropped off to have cleaned up, bored 30, crank redone and parts cleaned and prepped for me to build. Anyways I've got the rebuild done and the motor back in the car and she sounds great.  

hay wrongway.. have you sorted that timing yet ?

[Wrongway]

Hey bro, thanks for asking. I finally got to start her up for the first time in a few months. Nope, didn't figure it out yet and it still makes know sense. I took a couple of videos for y'all and unless y'all say not to I'm gonna take her for a drive. I'll post the videos in the other thread or post or whatever its actually called lol. Also, I seen your cool plate and didn't get a chance to send you a pic a mine, so here it is buddy. Had a buddy that worked at a local car dealership and it was hanging on there wall. I had him ask the owner if he'd sell it. Owner said no that it was the only plate that he had bought. The guy found out that I had a collection of primered and rusted out old cars. Small cars like collectable toys. So he asked if he could see them, in the collection was a 1968 VW beetle that he couldn't live without. So the trade was made. On a side note, since its getting warmer I've got those vent window frames to get in, the acrylic steering wheel rebuild and if I'm able to start driving her then I'll start the body work and get her ready for paint. I'll start reposting over here when the engine stuff is done.

[64 kiwi boni]

9 minutes ago, Wrongway said:

Hey bro, thanks for asking. I finally got to start her up for the first time in a few months. Nope, didn't figure it out yet and it still makes know sense. I took a couple of videos for y'all and unless y'all say not to I'm gonna take her for a drive. I'll post the videos in the other thread or post or whatever its actually called lol. Also, I seen your cool plate and didn't get a chance to send you a pic a mine, so here it is buddy. Had a buddy that worked at a local car dealership and it was hanging on there wall. I had him ask the owner if he'd sell it. Owner said no that it was the only plate that he had bought. The guy found out that I had a collection of primered and rusted out old cars. Small cars like collectable toys. So he asked if he could see them, in the collection was a 1968 VW beetle that he couldn't live without. So the trade was made. On a side note, since its getting warmer I've got those vent window frames to get in, the acrylic steering wheel rebuild and if I'm able to start driving her then I'll start the body work and get her ready for paint. I'll start reposting over here when the engine stuff is done.

hay now thats a cool plate !!!!

[Wrongway]

Just an update. I took her for a drive to the end of my road a couple for days ago. She still didn't feel like she wanted to shift right so I adjusted the modular on the side of the trans and she feels a lot better. Shifting between 2500-3000 RPMs. I pulled into an empty parking lot and checked the trans fluid. As I was turning around to leave I gave her some gas to see if she would kick the ass around and she popped then died. Wouldn't restart, the battery was almost dead from sitting all winter. Swapped battery's and she restarted. Came out today to look her over and put in the new vent window frame and found I had some visitors. In between the passengers side door jam was a bees nest, they chased me out and won that battled. I did however return with a can of starter fluid and won that war! A few got away and came back. I left them lay for their friends see. So I guess the vent frame will have to wait until tomorrow.

[64 kiwi boni]

ah nasty little buggers Wrongway !!!

[Frosty]

Could be murder hornets!

[Wrongway]

Don't think so Frosty , although they did call some friends and I murdered 8 of them in total over the next 3 hours! 

[JUSTA6]

9 hours ago, Wrongway said:

Don't think so Frosty , although they did call some friends and I murdered 8 of them in total over the next 3 hours! 

So you blacked out their lil grills N rims N bumpers N trim??? 😎

[Frosty]

10 hours ago, Wrongway said:

Don't think so Frosty , although they did call some friends and I murdered 8 of them in total over the next 3 hours! 

BEWARE OF THE.....

[Wrongway]

Finally had a free day today. Decided to start on a bit of the body work. Figured id take care of the LITTLE bit of bubbling behind the drivers rear tire. Turns out that one of the previous owners decided to just bondo the crap out of the rust that was there rather the fix it, lol smh. So that's where today ended. I did check the other side also. Same thing, just not nearly as much rust thankfully.

[64 kiwi boni]

wrongway!!! i wish i lived closer! i have that whole 64 shell sitting under my trees and the rear quarters are mint!!

looks like your gona have to fabricate some patch panels my friend ! 

[Frosty]

Agreed. Otherwise you will be calling classic salvage yards like Frank's Pontiac Parts for good used sheet metal.

Sorry things turn out this way bud, but now you know what you are dealing with and you can fix it the right way and not (dare I say it) the WRONGWAY! 

[Wrongway]

So am I correct looking at your pics kiwi, Does your hinge not bolt to the firewall?

So here's the conversation that Mr. Kiwi and I were having just to bring y'all up to speed.

So as you can see in the pic the back of my hood sits up. I've tried adjusting the hinges but it doesn't help. I thought maybe the hood was warped but it seems to lay flat when placed on the driveway. When I had the engine and trans out I had two buddies put the hood on with me sitting inside on the crossmember. No hinges, just hood sitting in the "channel". It still sat up in the rear. You can see the gaps and there is plenty of room in the gap by the windshield. The side gaps are off right now but not actually touching the hood. So I'm wondering if I replace the hinges would it "pull" it down and level out the rear of the hood?

[64 kiwi boni]

18 minutes ago, Wrongway said:

So am I correct looking at your pics kiwi, Does your hinge not bolt to the firewall?

no mine doesn't mate! you got to show me a picture, i am sure your 63 will be the same as mine, the hinge is attached to the fender 

[Wrongway]

Nope, I've got 2 bolts in the fender and 2 in the hood like yours but I also have 2 in the firewall bro. Check it out.

[64 kiwi boni]

wow! totally different !!.... one moment mate, i will go out and get a better picture of mine 

[Wrongway]

Yeah would have thought they would've been the same bro.