Fitzy

Do female Asian drivers have the same reputation Stateside as they do here?

HA! That jerk wouldn't ship to Australia either. Do not use him - most unhelpful.

Yes, I do remember you saying that. I haven't checked because I assumed that the MC you & I now both have is correct in that regard. On another note, I'm going to check the alternator & regulator outputs tomorrow - apparently using a multimeter on the battery terminals and deciphering the results is the way to go. Ames sells a stock looking totally electronic modern regulator. I'm sure there are others - does anyone have experience with converting to a modern regulator? I thought all modern alternators were self regulating. Because the car's history is unknown, who knows how old my alternator is. It's the last thing to be replaced in the engine bay so I might as well just go for replacement components and then it's done for the next 20 years.

No problem - I'm very glad of the information. I hope your booster & mine are the same! Mine appears to be the Delco-Moraine one. Our master cylinders look identical so I'm guessing yours is also a DM.

Got it - thanks Kiwi.

Yep - I agree. One more question: I read that when connecting brake lines, the front reservoir is for the rear brakes & vice versa. Sound right?

I hope Frosty & Kiwi like prison food! Yes JustA - have another one on me. 566!

Finally took car for a test drive. Speedo needle kept clicking but after a few minutes it all settled down and now the needle is steady and the odometer has come back to life. An easy fix for once. BUT, of course it's never going to be all roses, is it? As I was driving home I noticed that the voltmeter had dropped to just under 12V - it's normally just a little over. The alternator is the only thing in the engine bay that hasn't been replaced. I figure that the volts should be just over 14 as the car is running, so it could be the ancient original regulator. I'll take it to a sparky and see what they say. Booked it in for it's brake upgrade today. The first thing the mechanic asked me is whether they supplied a proportioning valve with the new master cylinder. Well, no they didn't. A question for the FP Brains Trust: will I need a P valve? I checked the factory workshop manual and there is no mention of one factory fitted. Will the dual master require that valve? I know front disc braked cars have one in order to modulate pressure to the rears, but only the master is getting swapped out: it's factory drums all round.

I like this one - I think I need to find out who makes them and order a lifetime supply. Who else wants one?

You have a red car with red interior! I'd get a headache if I was swaddled in red as I drove. Give me Old Skool black vinyl any day...just a bit hot & sticky in summer. Remember when you were a kid hopping into the family wagon wearing only bathers or shorts and the black vinyl would sear any remaining skin that the sun hadn't already burnt? Fun times. Anyway, your kick panels look nice. Have you got a nice healthy 12V getting to the lighter with the engine running?

I'm too stupid to see how many votes you're up to, but I chucked another in anyway. Did I read something about beer & pizza? I don't want to whinge about it, but by the time it gets here the beer will be warm & the pizza cold.

It wouldn't surprise me if he blocked me - I can be irritating. So, Kiwi - you bought another car? What, were you running low? Well...what is it? What rusting piece of automotive archeology have you dragged out of the mud now?

Hey Kiwi - I tried to send you a message but it says that you 'cannot receive messages.' I was just wondering if you (and/or) Ringo were aware.

Today our local waste transfer station had a 'Free Green Waste Day.' I had been planning for this, so took 3 ute & trailer loads of greenery. We've had so much rain that when I parked the ute & trailer in my backyard, I had to use 4WD to get out! After all that, I looked at the GP and thought I'd have a go at the speedo cable. I undid the knurled knob at the back of the speedo and simply pulled the entire cable & housing into the engine bay - easy. I could then pull the actual cable out of the housing. It was absolutely clean. I wouldn't say it was dry, but I ran a rag over it and inspected the rag - spotless. I then inserted a length of fencing wire into the housing and pulled it out expecting it to be gunked up. Nada. I lightly greased the cable whilst inserting it back into the housing and buttoned everything up again. I'll test drive it tomorrow - I'm hoping that was all that was needed. I really need the odometer to work: every 100 miles, I chuck 25 litres into it. Then I know I'll have enough until it ticks over to the next 100 increment. Not just a pretty face, you know. Okay - reasonably good looking...how about not quite as horribly disfigured that I scare small children when in public.

Excellent! I like the Irish sunblock one - 100% true, although actually seeing the sun in Ireland is a pretty rare occurrence. When we were there a few years ago, we climbed into the airport shuttle bus and I asked the driver if the sun was coming out today (it was cold, wet & windy.) He said they'd be turning it on for 10 mins at 3 o'clock. Gold. Turns out someone must have forgotten to flick the switch - I don't recall seeing it for 7 days.

Nothing Pontiac related (see the recurring theme here?) but I took my mountain bike into the shop for some long overdue repairs. Then I jacked up the back of the Yaris and readjusted the rear drum brakes. Whilst there I checked the oil & coolant. Bloody Toyotas - nothing to fiddle with! Next, I added some engine flush to the ute and took it for a decent run, changed the oil & filter expecting molasses to blob out - nowhere near as bad as I imagined. Ute runs so well with functioning thermostat. Looked at GP each time I passed it on my way to do something else. Will take her for a spin over the weekend and will book it in for it's brake upgrade sometime in September. Then I suppose I'd better put it on stands and have a go at the speedo cable. I'm sure the clack clack clack of the cable is the reason why the odometer has stopped. Do I really have to pull the dash apart again and dismantle the speedo? Stay tuned!

Great responses - thanks. Because of my small acreage, there will always be something to do, but also because we live out in the sticks, social interactions are largely absent. Believe me, I can do without humans but in order to maintain functionality, one must mix on occasion. This is where working part time not only provides a trickle of income but allows me to maintain some form of social contact. I intend to keep working either part time or as a casual and thereby I will be happy that I 'earnt' my leisure time. I guess we all have to find our own path. Also, the global economic outlook is looking pretty grim these days, so a little extra income might be handy. I'd better bite the bullet and join a local car club so I can get the GP out and about more often too. There is an All American Car Club, but I've been told they're a bunch of wankers! As a bona fide wanker, I'll make my own judgement. Speaking of the GP, the speedo cable is making a racket and now the odometer has stopped working - it's my only reliable indicator of tank range since the fuel gauge is WAY out. Looks like I'll be rolling under the car pretty soon...once it gets a bit warmer.

I noticed that and wondered if I was seeing things. How do you balance the weight of the entire hood on one pivot? Anyway, great pics.

Have another one! The leader must have more friends than you, JustA. Just sayin'...

Flew home today. After we unpacked and did a few domestics, I immediately chucked on my work clothes and got out into the 'garden ' aka uncontrolled bush and went to town trimming & pulling out weeds and cleaning up. In short - I couldn't wait to get out and actually DO something. This doesn't bode well for the spectre they call 'retirement.' I can now admit it - I'm not ready. So, I have a question for the greater FP audience: is anybody reading this actually retired? I mean, has actively withdrawn completely from paid employment? It's a scenario which I never thought I'd struggle with, but here we are. I'm not sure if I mentioned this already, but just the other day I had a minor epiphany re you have to earn your time off. You need to have earnt a cold beer, or a holiday or a vanilla slice. You can't just saunter through life having whatever you want. You know how mega wealthy rock stars top themselves? They do it because they can have whatever they want - there's nothing life can offer them that they can't have...except for purpose & fulfillment, I guess. Much to consider. Too many brain cells still functioning - where's my drink? THERE it is! Cheers. Damn you brain cells - take that!

Another vote - she's so hot... What? Are we still voting for your car? Oh, here you go then. Ringo keeps sending me all this soft porn - I thought we were voting for that. Soz.

I also fitted new carpet liners along the bottom of my door trims. From memory, the chrome strip above them holds the top in place and they are actually screwed at the bottom, along with good quality adhesive. I used new screws and CAREFULLY painted them black after installation. I like your fuel funnel idea. My car has a central filler at the rear behind the licence plate flap - I have no issue with blowback but wish I could say the same with my ute, which I have to trickle in otherwise most of it goes on the ground. I know this is obvious, but the vent tube I see in the pics is nice & clear of any obstruction, isn't it? I modified the venting arrangement in my car because I could smell fumes as I drove. The factory vent is insufficient for the task I felt, so I added some fuel line and extended the venting to just behind the rear wheel and covered the end with insect mesh. That way, as the car moves forward, it effectively draws the vapours out of the tank and into the atmosphere...sorry Greta.

These are screenshots from the Ames Fullsize Pontiac catalogue (that I always keep on my tablet, in case I have too much money and need to spend some on trinkets.) You'll see trim rings and what they refer to as 'poverty wheel caps.' I was also going to do what you're considering but when I did a mockup of what Torq Thrusts would look like, I couldn't resist - they transformed the look, I feel. We all talked about Cragars which are still the sexiest looking wheel for a 60s car, but they are expensive and apparently the quality isn't there anymore. They (& the Torq Thrusts) are made in China these days.

Thanks Everyone - 61 now. When do I have to start acting like an adult - is it anytime soon? I hope not. Weather is pretty grim - a few showers, bit gloomy but not too cold. Took the hire car up through the mountains just south of Brisbane today. Am now sitting with a pint of Guinness to keep me company and am contemplating what we'll have for dinner this time. What a treat it is to be surrounded by a selection of cuisines all within walking distance - one of the few benefits to city life.

We had a tremendous meal at a Middle Eastern restaurant - just fabulous. Anyway, whilst walking back to our hotel, I saw this sign. Now, I don't care what sort of trouble Wrongway has gotten himself into, but don't listen to them, mate. You stay right where you are - we're all behind you and shall stand with you. You're not going anywhere. Your friends at FP will fight to keep you where you are.