64 LeMans

[Andy H]

21 hours ago, Andy H said:

I believe this is on a really nice 62 GP. 4 SPD and bucket seats, no wonder I could not find anything on this just thought it looked really cool, so much better then a normal tunnel ram. Thanks Frosty 😊here is the car

Talked to the owner of this car this morning and of course it's not a original car with that engine and the intake is a replica, his story was that there was no factory cars with this manifold, think i believe Frostys story more.

Apparently they are going to remake this manifold and need to order 50 and they already had 36 preorders, molds already made. For the right car in my opinion i think this is even cooler than a tripower set up.

Was a really nice 61 Ventura next to it

[Frosty]

Who is going to re-produce these manifolds Andy? I will definitely want to let Dmitri know.

They are definitely a cut above average looking manifold.

As far as I know, these manifolds were given to a very select small group of racers before the whole racing ban came down. There were definitely no production engines that got this manifold.

[Andy H]

On 9/13/2021 at 5:04 AM, Frosty said:

Who is going to re-produce these manifolds Andy? I will definitely want to let Dmitri know.

They are definitely a cut above average looking manifold.

As far as I know, these manifolds were given to a very select small group of racers before the whole racing ban came down. There were definitely no production engines that got this manifold.

This is not someone i know, he shows up at the donut shop in Huntington Beach on Saturday mornings and i just had a short chat with him, in fact he was there this last Saturday also and another 62 GP also nice parked next to him,

If you want i could try to get some more info if i see him next time I'm down there if he shows up?

Would be interesting to know how much they are going to cost.

[Frosty]

That would be good to have. If they aren't ridiculously prices, I might even buy one. I am sure Dmitri would be interested in having this information.

[Andy H]

1 hour ago, Frosty said:

That would be good to have. If they aren't ridiculously prices, I might even buy one. I am sure Dmitri would be interested in having this information.

I'll se what I can do, i make a trip down there most weekends. I'm sure they aren't sheap. 

[Andy H]

Left trunk floor panel done, took a long time to make it fit they way I wanted, on to the center panel.

Used weld through primer and I think i put it on to thick did not want to weld real nice but turned out ok after some grinding.

[64 kiwi boni]

looks good mate 

Welding new to old is always going to be fun, at the end of the day you know its good.👍

and thats all that matters. because your driving her down the road and know its right.

[64 kiwi boni]

i really enjoy sheet metal work... if something doesn't fit you get to bash it into want you want it to be !!!

 and if that doesn't work! you start again !

that might sound kind of metaphorical 

 

[Andy H]

the center panel fitted and screwed down, I'll fire up the welder tomorrow if I have time.

[Andy H]

So it took a week before I had a chance to continue, had to go to Minnesota to look at some electric buses for a good part of the week.

Trunk is almost done just need to put on some seamsealer in a couple of places and one more coat of paint.

Wasn't going to change the rear brake shoes but one was cracked.

Believe we have had this discussion before, the short lining in the front but the new ones are both the same but one is thicker.

Asked the interwebs and apparently this is not uncommon, thicker lining in the rear supposedly,. Anyone run in to this? 

Frosty got the info from the guy with the dual quad intake, check your PM

[64 kiwi boni]

i am about to take my brake linings to my brake guy Andy i will ask him 

[Andy H]

Have been working on the under side of the car wire brushing everything as much as possible, removed the body to frame bushings on one side and lifted the body up as much as possible to get in with the air tools, ill see if i can gets some pics during next weekend.

Sprayed the areas that has been wire brushed with Eastwood rust converter and let it sit for a week to completely dry and then sprayed with chassis black, have the back end done and more than half of the left side, hopefully i get time to finish at least the left side next weekend.

Started to assemble the engine, to dark to be out side after work during the week.

Have to decide on a camshaft, choosing between two comp cams grinds, any thoughts?

According to comp cams one should be used with a slight higher stall converter but for now that is not happening, would like to get a TH200R4 eventually and that would be the time to buy a suitable converter so for now stock but should i get he slight bigger one anyway or stick with the other one?

https://www.compcams.com/xtreme-energy-212-218-hydraulic-flat-cam-for-pontiac-265-455.html

https://www.compcams.com/xtreme-energy-230-236-hydraulic-flat-cam-for-pontiac-265-455.html

Another issue i ran in to, i screwed up when i ordered the oil pump the description said come with high pressure spring so i figured it would come with standard and high pressure spring but no only high pressure spring and before i figured that out its to late to return it, so any issues with running the high pressure pump? checking the internet its all over the place with opinions.

Got a little time on Sunday to wash the pistons and rods and let them dry in the sun so i can install them during the week.

[64 kiwi boni]

28 minutes ago, Andy H said:

Have been working on the under side of the car wire brushing everything as much as possible, removed the body to frame bushings on one side and lifted the body up as much as possible to get in with the air tools, ill see if i can gets some pics during next weekend.

Sprayed the areas that has been wire brushed with Eastwood rust converter and let it sit for a week to completely dry and then sprayed with chassis black, have the back end done and more than half of the left side, hopefully i get time to finish at least the left side next weekend.

Started to assemble the engine, to dark to be out side after work during the week.

Have to decide on a camshaft, choosing between two comp cams grinds, any thoughts?

According to comp cams one should be used with a slight higher stall converter but for now that is not happening, would like to get a TH200R4 eventually and that would be the time to buy a suitable converter so for now stock but should i get he slight bigger one anyway or stick with the other one?

https://www.compcams.com/xtreme-energy-212-218-hydraulic-flat-cam-for-pontiac-265-455.html

https://www.compcams.com/xtreme-energy-230-236-hydraulic-flat-cam-for-pontiac-265-455.html

Another issue i ran in to, i screwed up when i ordered the oil pump the description said come with high pressure spring so i figured it would come with standard and high pressure spring but no only high pressure spring and before i figured that out its to late to return it, so any issues with running the high pressure pump? checking the internet its all over the place with opinions.

Got a little time on Sunday to wash the pistons and rods and let them dry in the sun so i can install them during the week.

two lane black top would be the man to ask about the cam Andy, not sure what one Fitzys using, you could ask him too, if he has got his computer working again !!!

to me its like a recipe, you have to have the right ingredients to make it right ! cam+ valve springs + rocker ratio+ +heads+carb+compression

what trans is that sittng on the floor ? looks like a ponti  turbo 400 

 

Edited November 2, 2021 by 64 kiwi boni

[JUSTA6]

Great progress.  Thankz for keeping us up on your build.  The info and pic's may be inspiring someone else to work and learn more about their rides.  Ask a 100 peeps about the ol volume VS pressure question and get 100 different answers.

[Andy H]

9 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

two lane black top would be the man to ask about the cam Andy, not sure what one Fitzys using, you could ask him too, if he has got his computer working again !!!

to me its like a recipe, you have to have the right ingredients to make it right ! cam+ valve springs + rocker ratio+ +heads+carb+compression

what trans is that sittng on the floor ? looks like a ponti  turbo 400 

 

The trans is the stock st300 2speed, have a TH350 that I'm going to use for now, 4 speed auto is on the Wish list 🙂

Yes you are right, i see to many cars they put to big of a cam in them with especially to low compression, that's why I replaced my heads to get it up a bit, both of these cams are pretty mild but for now i think I'm leaning to the smaller of the two.

[Frosty]

Andy - what is your goal(s) with the refreshed motor?

If you are looking for a simple street cruising motor with some pep, the first cam will work fine with either the TH350 or 200 4R.

If you want a bit more of a street warrior with reasonable idle manners, than the second cam is more appropriate. However, power will move to the middle part of the RPM range rather than at the low end like the other cam. Free(er) flowing exhausts would do you well - a set of Doug's or Hooker headers or some factory headers would help you here.

As for the question on oil pumps, Lucy has a high volume/high pressure pump from Melling in her from my old engine builder. She runs 60-80 psi (according to the gauge)  most of the time except at low idle. When I see the gauge reading bouncing around, it is usually an indication that I am low on oil. While I was never asked what I wanted, that's what I know I have in her.

Justa is correct - ask 100 people and you will get 100 opinions.

Edited November 2, 2021 by Frosty

[Andy H]

12 hours ago, Frosty said:

Andy - what is your goal(s) with the refreshed motor?

If you are looking for a simple street cruising motor with some pep, the first cam will work fine with either the TH350 or 200 4R.

If you want a bit more of a street warrior with reasonable idle manners, than the second cam is more appropriate. However, power will move to the middle part of the RPM range rather than at the low end like the other cam. Free(er) flowing exhausts would do you well - a set of Doug's or Hooker headers or some factory headers would help you here.

As for the question on oil pumps, Lucy has a high volume/high pressure pump from Melling in her from my old engine builder. She runs 60-80 psi (according to the gauge)  most of the time except at low idle. When I see the gauge reading bouncing around, it is usually an indication that I am low on oil. While I was never asked what I wanted, that's what I know I have in her.

Justa is correct - ask 100 people and you will get 100 opinions.

 the idea is more of a driver so i think the smaller of the two i probably the right choice but the inside hot rodder of course doubts that and would like to have "more" with a bit more of a exhaust note, i now from other projects i had that a bigger cam is fun but it sure is nice with good bottom end torque  and makes it more fun to drive around town. probably going to put 2.5" exhaust on but no headers, Pontiacs are a bit tight with way they have the exhaust ports oriented and being a near stock engine i should be OK.

As far as the oil pump if you see pressure upwards of 80psi and its OK then i am just going to use the one i have, i have had high volume pumps on other cars and the main difference i saw on that one was higher psi at a lower rpm, this one is supposed to only be higher pressure= stiffer relief spring i assume , apparently Pontiac used 40 psi, 60psi and 80 psi pumps on different types of engines (low to high performance) so i will try the one i have.

 

[64 kiwi boni]

1 hour ago, Andy H said:

Pontiacs are a bit tight with way they have the exhaust ports oriented and being a near stock engine i should be OK.

Completely agree with you Andy  thats why i went down the long branch cast iron header way... no issues with clearances and its justA street car... very hard to justA-fy headers  when you wont notice the difference .👍

kiss !

!

 

[Andy H]

8 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

Completely agree with you Andy  thats why i went down the long branch cast iron header way... no issues with clearances and its justA street car... very hard to justA-fy headers  when you wont notice the difference .👍

kiss !

!

 

And those cast iron ones cool and actually not as expensive as a thought

[Frosty]

I have a set of Ram Air Restoration HO/RA exhaust manifolds on Lucy. I love 'em. I have a 2.5" mandrel bent Pypes dual exhaust system with an "X" pipe out behind them. I have the quietest performance mufflers from them I could get because I still want to hear the radio.

[Andy H]

Got some time after work today to do some painting, removed all the bolts for the body mounts except for two on the opposite side from the one that I'm working on and jacked the body up and put some wood blocks in between the body and frame, wire brushed everything that is surface rusty the best i could then sprayed with rust converter  and let it sit for a week and today painting.

Still got the right side to do but the rear part is done.

[JUSTA6]

Fantastic work, thankz for sharing.

[64 kiwi boni]

6 hours ago, JUSTA6 said:

Fantastic work, thankz for sharing.

Andy, justA6 knows all about lifting  a pontiac body off its frame!!! would you like to tell Andy your encounter mate ??? 

[JUSTA6]

7 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

Andy, justA6 knows all about lifting  a pontiac body off its frame!!! would you like to tell Andy your encounter mate ??? 

Nuff said.....   Don't use cinder blocks with chip's in them.  Justa got my new frame out from under it when I heard PING   PING   PING   and the block exploded and of course the body hit the ground.  Sending my family in a tizzy that I was smashed flat and also bringing the neighbors running to help.  Earlier.... Busting the rusted body mounts loose,  the breaker bar with about 3 ft of pipe on it hit me in the face, when the bolt broke.  Quick patch job with DUCT tape,  but still a facefull N down into my shirt in blood.  After Justa throwing myself backwards away from falling body, I was layin there staring at the sky thinkin I GOT LUCKY that time IDIOT!!!  The sight my wife N daughter saw was a LIL overwhelming. 

[Andy H]

On 11/6/2021 at 8:18 AM, JUSTA6 said:

Nuff said.....   Don't use cinder blocks with chip's in them.  Justa got my new frame out from under it when I heard PING   PING   PING   and the block exploded and of course the body hit the ground.  Sending my family in a tizzy that I was smashed flat and also bringing the neighbors running to help.  Earlier.... Busting the rusted body mounts loose,  the breaker bar with about 3 ft of pipe on it hit me in the face, when the bolt broke.  Quick patch job with DUCT tape,  but still a facefull N down into my shirt in blood.  After Justa throwing myself backwards away from falling body, I was layin there staring at the sky thinkin I GOT LUCKY that time IDIOT!!!  The sight my wife N daughter saw was a LIL overwhelming. 

wow,Yes you got lucky, goes to show how easy it is that some thing happens, i have had cars upon jack stands many times and it would not take much for it to go wrong especially if you starting to remove heavy components. In the "early" days of being a mechanic i worked on the "floor" meaning removing a trans or replacing a clutch was done on jack stands.

Did not want to do a complete frame off on mine, don't have the space and equipment but when you start at one end and work on a car it is hard to stop, had to step back a few times and rethink how far do i really want to go? what was the plan again now?  I am pretty happy how it is turning out so far but it goes so slow there is always some thing else that you need to take care of kids sports that you need to attend, friends that need help and oh yes you need to collect enough points with the wife.

We had a city bus fall of the lift when a the guy was removing the diff and did not support it the right way, knocked another bus of the lift and crushed a few toolboxes but no one got hurt.

So don't use cinder blocks?