Frosty

'Fraid so pal. You didn't get the memo? Oh that's right, we have to translate it into Canadian first, eh!

I just heard on Saturday that the City of Pontiac Michigan is indeed going to restore signs to the Woodward Loop with Widetrack Drive. So Woodward will be duelly marked as both Woodward and Widetrack Drive. Seems the city counsel unanimously voted for this. Now I guess it has to go to the city planning commission for funding and implementation and such. So no timing yet when the signs will go up. Hopefully it will be done in time for this year's annual Woodward Dream Cruise.

Welcome to the club. I own an '86 Trans Am and a '72 Lemans myself. So I am definitely into 3rd-gen Birds. I also have a bunch of friends who have 2nd-gen Trans Ams. Your cars look great. Do you take then out to very many car shows and cruises?

Here is the Lemans in front of the old Standard Oil station in Odell on Route 66.

This is Tim Dye's Pontiac-Oakland Museum. I have his book on early Oakland and Pontiac collector memorbillia. A member of our club is heading to the grand opening on July 21st. Another member is on the museum's advisory board. I just wish the City of Pontiac Michigan had made the offer to Tim to set up shop here instead. On a lighter note, there is a petition before the City of Pontiac to rename the Woodward Loop (the northern end of Woodward Avenue) back to Widetrack Drive. It is expected to pass without much opposition this spring or summer. I've been to Pontiac IL before. Nice town off Route 66. They have their own Route 66 museum too. It's worth a look. The old Standard Oil Gas Station in nearby Odell is way cool too.

Sounds great. One word of caution. Parts "grow" when they are chromed. So you might need to re-drill screw holes. The grills might be more snug than you remember and you might need to fineous it back on the car. Be sure to share some pictures when you get them back. Now click your Nike's together three times and repeat after me, "there is no plate like chrome"!

Nice piece. The Sloan Museum/Buick Gallery in Flint Michigan is where "The Pontiac" resides. It also has a Little, a Whiting, a Flint, a Dort, and the most valuable Chevrolet in existence. It is the 1913 Chevrolet. It is the last Chrevolet that Louis Chevrolet had anything to do with the design. The Buick Gallery officials tell me that it is one of only two in existence. This is the only one assembled. It is insured for nearly $10M! The Vintage Chevrolet Club of America (VCCA) is having it's national meet in Flint, MI from July 17-22, 2011. The VCCA has its national meet every 5 years. It is being held in Flint to commemorate the 100th annversary of Chevrolet since Chevrolet and GM were started in Flint. Their activities are outlined in their event flyer below: http://vcca.org/flint/Flint_Status_Feb2011.pdf

You can purchase new re-productions chrome bezels, center pieces, and lug nuts for your Rally IIs at most of the reputable Pontiac catalogs: YearOne.com AmesPerf.com OPGI.com NPDLink.com PerformanceYears.com Other vendors might include: WheelVintques.com

No, I was talking about John Sawruk, the late Pontiac historian. His wife Marge was at the meeting Saturday night.

"Whoa!" "Aaaaayyyyyy" Just don't call him "Skippy" - that is reserved from Grandma Nussbaum only.

I just checked, Mac turned 90 in August. With the exception of Bunkie Knudsen and John Delorean, I have met many of the Pontiac greats. Mac, John Sawruk, Paul Zarrazine, Jim Wangers, and Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick. Only Jim and Arnie are still alive. Paul died in January. John died two years ago. I have also been fortunate to work with one Buick engine legend, Denny Manner. Denny was responsible for most of Buick's V8 engine programs, including Indy racing, and Indy pace cars. He was also instrumential in the development of the turbo V6 program. Denny is now retired and I occasionally see him at local car show or two. He owns a very rare '65 Buick Riveria GS with dual quad carbs. It is a gorgeous silver car. It's been in a few magazines too.

I just received word this morning that another Pontiac legend is gone. Macolm "Mac" McKellar, the legendary Pontiac engine engineer died last night. No other details are available at this time. Mac was the guy John Z. DeLorean turned to, to put Pontiac's performance on the map. Mac was particularlly good at camshafts. Many classic Pontiac guys often refer to their engine as having a McKellar cam in it. I was fortunate to meet him once at the GM Heritage Center a few years ago. I asked him what engine program he remembers most. Figuring I was going to hear some stories about the famed Supoer Duty or Ram Air programs, I was surprised at his answer. It was the OHC "Sprint" 6 motor. The motor started out with as Chevroet six but DeLorean demanded that Pontiac have it's own. He assigned Mac to it. He said he hated it because he didn't want to do it, but he got the engine designed and built. So that is the engine program he remembers most. As soon as funeral arrangements are finalized, I will post them here.to http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2008/0..._feature15.html

I would like to hope so, but even if GM greenlighted one or two cars to be sold as a Pontiac, or as a tribute to Pontiac, it would still take a minimuim of 2-4 years for it to reach production. That is how long it takes to get a car designed, tested, certified by the government to meet safety and emissions, and into production, even if it based on an existing chassis and drivetrain - this is assuming that you have the design already completed and finalized too.

Now that's poetic justice.

They are idoits, ask them if you can use their Chevelles for that. After all, there are far more of Chevys than there are Lemans. I also love the idea of using any rice rocket in a demolition derby or as crusher fodder.

It use to be a GM Performance part but it has either been discontinued or licensed through Proform. You can purchase a GM logoed air cleaner nut online. The Pontiac arrowhead nut is scarcer than hens teeth. I found the Pontiac logo air cleaner at a swap meet with lots of these cleaners. Buick, Olds, and Pontiac are hard to find. You'd think that GM only made Chevy parts since that is the only logoed items you readily find anymore. So go to well attended swap meets like Spring/Fall/GM Nationals at Carlisle, PA, Pontiac Nationals at Norwalk, OH, POCI and GTO conventions, Pontiac Heaven in AZ, etc. You might also find someone at your local swap meets - just don't expect to get it real cheap - it is still a chrome part. Here is a small Pontiac logo air cleaner nut on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-GM-AIR-...=item439fdeccb4 Here are some other ideas too.... http://www.tinindianperformance.com/misc%2...iac%20parts.htm

Its almost 600 miles for me, one way. Plus I am sure the wife will want to run down to Nashville for a day or two of sightseeing. I drove the Lemans to Charleston WV and back to Michigan twice last year. I've taken it to Biloxi Mississippi for Cruisin' the Coast in 2003 (3000 mile round trip). So I am not afraid to drive the car. So distance is not the issue for me. However, I do understand the tightness of funds very well.

You have a 50/50 shoot on it being the part you need. Classis Industries has lots of great quality parts. It is not uncommon for GM to re-use existing parts wherever possible. So I would suggest getting it and see if it is the right size and fit. You can always return it if it doesn't fit.

Dang dude. I am truly jealous. I wish I was able to go. I hate missing this show. It's the 3rd year in a row I have had to miss it for one reason or another. Who won the Riddler Award? BTW - I notice a lot of Chevelle pictures. Did you get any ideas? Are you motivated to do some more work?

OK here is what I did. I met this guy named Mike Hagan at the 2003 GM Nationals in Carlisle PA. He takes your stock radio and refurbishs it inside and out. It is pricey at around $700+ for everything. I got a 10-disc Kenwood CD changer that is mounted in the glove box to go with it. You can add an XM radio receiver to it too. Basically all the electronics are replaced with modern components but retain the stock shape and mounting. So there is no cutting of the dash, unlike Custom Autosound. The radio puts out a true 180 watts - way more sound than it ever did from GM so you have to careful with speaker selection. Stock speakers will be die. Here is Mike's contact info from his ads in Hemmings Motor News: RADIO restorations, FM stereo conversions, 180 watts, 1946-1975; look for me at Spring Carlisle F115-117. 235 Glouster Rd, Fairless Hills, PA 19030, 215-547-7145; www.mikehaganantiqueautoradio.com Here is my radio looked like before I sent it to Mike: http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/fr...utoftheDash.jpg http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/fr...io-SideView.jpg http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/fr...ck-SideView.jpg Here is what it looked like when I got it back: http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/fr...ioCDChanger.jpg http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/fr...rkingFMDial.jpg http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/fr...HarnessView.jpg Notice the two RCA jacks on the back now. That is the input jacks for the CD changer. You can put an XM receiver between the CD changer and radio too, according to Mike. The nice thing is I get better sound to a stock looking radio. I added Custom Autosound kickpanel speakers, a dual speaker in the dash and two 9-inch speakers in the stock trunkwell locations.

Any trim or molding for that era will be hard to find just due to time. Chevs of the 40s might have some. Typically old western auto wrecking yards might have what you need. Also, you might consider joining the Vintage Chevrelot Club of America (VCCA) to link up with people who might have some of these parts. Here are my suggestions: 1. Chevs of the 40s - http://www.chevsofthe40s.com/ 2. Desert Valey Auto Parts, AZ - http://www.dvap.com 3. Memory Lane Car Parts, CA - http://www.oldautoparts.com/

Haynes or Chiltons are the two most common at most auto part stores.

Actually, I have several past "in progress" photos out on Photobucket. I have not done too much stuff that shows in the last few years. I put new shocks on it last summer along with a new 1.25" front sway bar that I got off eBay for $50 - which was off a '79 TA, it's a direct bolt in.

Thanks guys. It is almost to where I want it. I still have a lot of work to do on it. I have a lower air dam (Judge style) for it, as well as a rear spoiler. I am just reluctant to drill holes in the trunk lid. If I found another trunk lid, I might to do. I want to sandblast the wheels and re-paint them. I want to replace all the hard fuel, brake, and tranny cooler lines with stainless steel ones. I just have not purchased them because they are not high on the priorty list. I have new carpet for it. I will install that this spring once it warms up a bit here. I eventually want to get door panels to match the seats. I need to have someone go completely through the A/C system since it doesn't work. I might even switch it over to R-134. I'd like rear disc brakes and chrome wheels. I want to re-use my Cragars but they need help first and that is like the last thing I will do to it. I want to completely replace the wiring harness just because it is close to 40 years old.

I don't have any digital photos of my '73 since that was back in 1978. My dad might have one or two in a family album somewhere. Here are a few pics of the '72. It has a 462 in it (455 bored .030 over), 400TH, and a 12-bolt rear end. Outside Pontiac Illinois on Route 66 - an restored Standard Oil Gas Station http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/fr...PontiacILL2.jpg Here are the 3 steering wheels I have for it. The Formula/TA wheel I had on the '73 back in the day. It is on the car currently. http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/fr...eringWheels.jpg If you look real hard in the background, you can just make out the car, but you have to look very hard! http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/fr.../LemansGirl.jpg The interior seats are by Legendary Auto Interiors with the correct Mandrel pattern. I had a local upholstery shop take them apart and add the blue piping. The piping matches the car color. http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/fr...ns/P1010022.jpg