Fitzy

Yeah, right. I like advertising to the world that I have 2 functioning pipes. Once upon a time, your V8 was the only engine type to earn the privilege of a twin exhaust - now, every 3 cylinder hybrid shopping trolley comes with twin pipes. My GP has a factory twin exhaust and like your Bonnie, they curl down at the end just short of the bumper. It caused me some angst but as you may recall, I cut two neat apertures for my impending new twin exhaust in the bumper. I just gotta have those pipes showing. God, I sound like such a bogan! For any Stateside members, our 'bogan' is your 'redneck,' except worse! Hey All, I have another question. I installed a plug into a rocker cover that used to feed fumes into the air cleaner (CA smog spec.) The engine's PCV valve looks after the fumes on the passenger side. With the factory blanking plug in place, do ya reckon there's enough 'breathing' happening? I'm considering one of those vented push in caps to assist. I imagine that if Pontiac fitted the blanking plug in the first place, then it's gonna be okay.

Yeah, right. I like advertising to the world that I have 2 functioning pipes. Once upon a time, your V8 was the only engine type to earn the privilege of a twin exhaust - now, every 3 cylinder hybrid shopping trolley comes with twin pipes. My GP has a factory twin exhaust and like your Bonnie, they curl down at the end just short of the bumper. It caused me some angst but as you may recall, I cut two neat apertures for my impending new twin exhaust in the bumper. I just gotta have those pipes showing. God, I sound like such a bogan! For any Stateside members, our 'bogan' is your 'redneck,' except worse!

Absolute GOLD! Doesn't it make your blood boil when some jerk is behind you and just can't go fast enough? Australia is awash with speed cameras so these days I cruise at the limit or a little beyond just to help the flow of traffic, but there's always someone (normally in a 4 x 4) who has to parade his overpriced blingy piece of junk and show everyone why he paid so much for it. Whatever, dickhead. Where can I buy bowling balls in bulk?

I love the depth of discussion we get into here! They are great photos and all those wheels look really good. It's clearly a passionate topic because wheels have a tendency to draw the eye. I have a problem with wildly inconsistent rims on a car that just doesn't suit. Yes, of course we can all do what we want but we can also have opinions. My opinion is that factory 'styled' wheels (think Rallyes) are designed by car designers to compliment that car. Again, I like Chev Rallyes on a 69 Stingray because I reckon they just look right. I also reckon Pontac Rallye 2s look superb on any mid 60s Poncho because they just seem to be cohesive with that bold stacked headlight front and those sharp lbody lines. Spinner full wheel covers and 3" whitewalls on a 50s Caddy also look great, but a set of stylish big inch chrome 5 spokes are also gonna suit. I'll be taking your advice to go my own way. Now...who wants to start a new topic on dual exhaust tips? I'll start off: I'm deciding between angle cut 2.5" chrome, or straight round, with a rolled tip. Kinda leaning toward straight round, with like a 1" protrusion beyond the bumper. Or, like this photo:

So, regarding wheels. Finding ANYTHING in 14 x 6 is nigh impossible. Finding anything Pontiac Rallye 2 is either impossible to actually find, hideously expensive or you run the risk of buying secondhand flogged out rims. I think I'll go the Original Torq Thrust 15 x 7s IF they fit. There are plenty available, not too expensive and look just as good as a Rallye 2. Ames can't supply Rallye 2s but at least they are finally sending me MOST of my order, so I'm getting excited. Doug's headers, new exhaust and a set of wheels: I just need to be able to push it up & down the driveway then whilst trying to look cool.

Yeah Wrongway - they just look like something that was 60s muscle inspired. Oh well, I'll keep looking. I'm still not totally convinced the 15 x 7s won't fit. I need to get a regular 15" steel rim, chuck any old tyre on it and fit it and check for clearance. The wheels available to me here are a bit of a bargain-if I have to get them from the US, I might as well attach a car to them in order to make the shipping viable.

Hi Kiwi, I had a look and they would have been perfect but I need 5" (that's 127mm) PCD. That's the size for B bodies and I don't even know if they were available to suit fullsize Ponchos in the first place. So, thanx for the heads up but I'll keep looking.

I'm just being proactive and apologising in advance, no particular reason - I'm always upsetting someone! Anyway, moving along, I had set myself up to purchase a set of 15 x 7 Rallye 2s, but wanted to measure for clearance prior to committing. I had a look under the car and they'll fit at the back but there's bugger all clearance between the steering knuckle and inside edge of the tyre at the front. So, it looks like I'll hold off for a set of 14 x 6s. They seem to be a bit rare (especially Down Under) so I may have to procure a set of brand new ones from Ames. Here's the thing: fullsize B bodies use a 5" PCD. Someone told me this and I didn't believe them until I got home and actually measured it for myself with a pair of calipers. Yet another friggin' drama involving parts suitability for that 65 GP. It's already been a journey getting this far, so I guess it's just another instalment in the never ending saga of an owner INSISTENT on certain mods to make his hardtop look even cooler than Pontiac managed in the first place. So, like I said before: if anyone Stateside has a set of 14 x 6s they want to sell, drop me a line. I faffed around with one of those online 'wheel simulators' and screenshotted a Tempest (no GP image was available, surprise, surprise) with Rallye 1s & 2s. The Type 1s are really nice, but the Type 2s just look the biz. The simulator even allowed me to choose what lowered stance I wanted and what size wheels. The search continues.

Your classic 5 spoke design looks good on almost anything. Don't get me started on deep dish stuff either. I like factory offset: once again, they pay car designers to create a cohesive design that includes the wheels. Think Impala or StingRay with Rallyes - just perfect. Fortunately, all sorts of humans are created differently, and that gives us the kaleidoscope of design ideas, colour choices and engineering deviations that keep life interesting in all respects: clothes, food, structures and vehicles amongst others. But...putting 19" deep dish wire wheels on a Corolla, well, I dunno. And to the myriad of folks who did that-I'm sorry again.

Hey Frosty, I KNEW my off the cuff comment about 20" wheels would ruffle feathers. There's just something odd looking about monster size see through rims with a licorice strap attached to it. My personal thoughts on wheel selection are that car designers spend a lot of time coming up with factory designs that match - that's why factory styled wheels just look right. They pay people to get it right. Admittedly, if customising is your thing, some 'tasteful' big wheels can look really good. Plonking the biggest outlandish rims you can find onto something that was never supposed to look like that-well, you're messing with the fluidity of the car's initial design. Happy? Damn straight I'm happy. Whilst my partner is running around the house picking up car parts that get dropped en route to the Pontiac room, I'm having a beer and thinking of new & exciting ways of spending even more money on 'the car.' She's a lucky woman.

Hey Guys, I've been doing more overtime and will be home again shortly, so nothing has changed since the lowered springs went in. It's funny: I had the back of the car pulled apart and couldn't do anything until I got the trunk lock sorted. Once that was done, I could reassemble everything. I'm still waiting on Ames to assemble and send my substantial order that I placed in May - I'm not going to complain because the US is doing it pretty tough right now (amongst plenty of other places,) so I'll be grateful to receive ANYTHING once it's ready. Amongst the items in that order are seat covers and padding, and a fuel tank sender. I can't replace the fuel tank without the sender, so unless I go to some trouble, starting the engine and performing some maintenance on it will just have to wait. Similarly, I obviously can't even move the car without a driver's seat, so 'test' driving it is also out of bounds. I can't replace my door trims until the outside mirrors and new door locks arrive, and I can't get the car to the upholsterer and exhaust place until all the other crap turns up. I have PLENTY of electrical gremlins to sort for now, but once I have determined that there's room for my Rallye wheels, I'll order them, chuck some tyres on, fit them and will take some pics. Once all my stuff turns up, it'll be like making a cake from a packet of mix: add all the ingredients and there you are: instant classic! Yummy.

So, now I know why nobody responded to the DUB comment. I looked it up - what a ridiculous concept. Rest assured I will NOT be fitting 20 inchers to my poor Olde Girle. I found a set of new 15 x 7 Rallye 2's in Oz, so once I measure for clearance, they'll be fitted. Ka-ching! Just money, right?

Ah, yes. If anyone was gonna step up and be naughty, it'd be a Kiwi - Land of the Wrong White Crowd!

I just had another look at one of my latest photos and those rear spats are REAL close to the tyre. I wonder if an inch will make that much of a difference? You can keep those naughty thoughts to yourselves, too!

Okay - here are a couple of questions: As you know GP is now lowered 1.5" rear & 2" front. I found some 15 x 7 Rallye 2 wheels, car has 14 x 6 as originals. I'm not home for 3 weeks, so cannot physically measure car but does anyone have experience fitting 1 inch larger & wider to a moderately lowered car? I know that disc brakes need the larger wheel, but mine are all drums. The other question: my car is auto & no aircon but car is fitted with the 7 blade (I think) fan, that only aircon cars had. Car has never been touched (as far as I can tell) and I'm wondering if the larger displacement fan was an option or dealer fitment at the customer's request if car resided in a hot area. Do any former Pontiac plant workers or dealer employees remember such an instance?

Thanks Frosty. Um... what does DUB mean? I'll let you guys know if I go ahead with the wheels.

Uh, well the current pics have the car sitting on it's original steelies, so you're looking at the 'stolen car' look, but I am tempted to fit some Rallyes. The type 2 Rallyes (5 spoke) would suit it I reckon, but the type 1's have always been a favourite of mine because they look understated. I'd appreciate any opinions. The best thing is that both are available here in Oz and are almost reasonably priced. What to do...it's only money, right?

Thanks Guys. That's good news about the photos Kiwi - computers & me only just get along at the best of times, so am pleased that it's a site problem and not my ineptitude. Am now wondering if I stick with the steel wheels for that 'stolen car' look or should I go for a set of secondhand Rallyes? Whaddyareckon?

Try that. I cropped the pics and computer won't rotate them as directed, because it's being a prick.

Hey, it's been a bit of a week and I have news to report. You may have or have not seen my posts on my trunk lock problem finally sorted (it's a good story - look it up) and I finally have closure on the dramatic lowered rear spring dynasty of misinformation and bungled deliveries from 2 US major supply houses. The trunk lock on a 65 GP is a rare beast. My housing was intact but the barrel was shot, so I ordered a similar vintage Cadillac barrel and got a locksmith to make it work. This doesn't sound like a big deal, but after many months of finally working out how to fix the problem, it was joy incarnate to close the trunk and then open it with a key. More to the point, it now allowed me to reattach the rear fascia, rear light top trim pieces, rear light assemblies and then adjust and retighten the rear bumper so the back of the car is once again almost complete. Now, lowered rear coil springs. CarID and Summit Racing both sent me the wrong product. After many emails and me repeatedly pointing out that the GP is a B body and not an A body both suppliers refunded me fully including international postage. In the end, because I was fussy, I got a set of 2" lowered front coils from ESPO Springs & Things and a set of custom made 1.5" lowered rear coils from LLC Coil Spring Specialties who were the ONLY company I could find who knew what they were doing. Now, I have learnt that A body Ponchos seem to be the most popular and most revered amongst the models. The spares support market seem to favour those models but they mistakenly include the GP amongst those A body models. Personally, I think the fullsize models are more carefully sculpted and are therefore the more stylish of Pontiacs but I can understand why a performance oriented owner would go for a GTO or similar. I'm obviously late to the party, but if you are also restoring a B body, be 100% aware of what you are ordering because it seems that Joe Six Pack who works in a parts house thinks that all Pontiacs are GTOs and yeah, these'll fit. Take it from me, they bloody won't! Anyway, take a look at the latest photos. I took out the ancient Montgomery Ward rear shocks, finally got the old springs out and installed my new lowered ones and some fresh Monroe gas shocks. Want a fullsize hardtop to look even cooler - drop it! Sorry about the photos. I'm too stupid to work out how to correctly orientate them.

Hey, take a look at the photo. These are the rear shocks out of my 65 GP. Not residing Stateside, I don't know how old these are. In other words, does anyone recognise the brand and are they still around or did they disappear years ago? As an aside, getting the bottom mounting rod nut undone was something that God Himself couldn't have loosened. I eventually resorted to vicegrips on the rod, and a piece of pipe over my ratchet handle and after drenching the rod with penetrant, I undid that sucker one tenth of a turn at a time, not having much room under the car to get any more of a turn. Beer will erase that memory quick smart!

Hey Y'all, I gladly give this information freely to any other Grand Prix owners out there who know about the scarcity of the trunk lock assembly for the 65 model. As we all know, the 65 model GP had unique trim and that includes the rear fascia that contains the trunk lock. That damn lock is now a rarity. I found ONE on eBay and the dude wanted $US300 plus shipping for it, so he knows too. I was fortunate that my lock assembly is intact but the car came to me without a trunk key and upon inspection of the lock itself, the rear of it where the actuating rod slots in was mangled and was never going to work. I scoured all online sites and eventually found the only thing that looked even close, a Cadillac trunk lock of similar vintage, so I bought it for about 30 bucks. Upon it's arrival, I inspected it and the 'ears' which enable it to be screwed into the fascia weren't wide enough and any modification would have compromised it's integrity to the point of being unusable. However, upon further inspection I noted that the lock cylinder looked identical to my original one. I took it to a competent locksmith and $35 later, I now have a functioning trunk lock that works exactly like the original. The lock was supplied by PY Classic Locks and part # is PY115A. Obviously, I was lucky that I actually had the original assembly, but you could fabricate one with some patience, an angle grinder and drill and then somehow ream the replacement cylinder in. I'm finding a lot of 65 GP parts simply aren't available and am fixing what I can and fabricating and substituting, so if you are also restoring a 65, drop me a line. We gotta work together! The attached photos show the end result. The other happy result is me sitting back with a beer having finally fixed that FU@#&%/ lock!!! 10 months I've been looking at it and scratching my head!

Yeah, don't worry. I WON'T be going down that particular garden path. I selectively painted some parts of the trunk area in grey, to lighten it up and shall decide what to do in order to introduce some sort of speckle finish.

As usual, I'm going to go my own way and try something different. I have some ideas and shall post any success stories, but shall also regale you with horror fails! A spray painter mate told me that if you use car paint with a spray gun without thinning it at all, it'll naturally spray erratically-homemade spatter! I think he needs to lay off the gear. I'll try my own way.

There's a lot of discussion regarding trunk spatter paint. Because it contains both water & oil based components (hence the spatter effect) it can 'run' if you don't clearcoat it. Anyone got a story on how they did theirs? It's a great look when done properly but I'm going to look for alternatives.