Bonne61

Hey there @Frosty @JUSTA6@64 kiwi boni@Fitzy@Wrongway Sorry it's been a while since my last post, but I've been kinda busy & the car is grounded anyway. The final diagnosis on the random tuning issues was...it shit itself, thank fully in my own garage🤨 I think I'd posted I had been chasing issues with apparent hesitation/breaking down under load. I'd done everything I could tuning wise (replaced all the usual offenders, adjusted dwell, timing, etc, set AFB mixtures as best I could. Car would start first time, idle like a dream, but as you opened the throttle it would carry on a treat. I finally gave up & booked it in with my mechanic to give it a thorough going over, as I suspected either the electric fuel pump or further carby issues. Scratching my head I started it one more time & an awful mechanical rattle began🙄 Since then we've discovered it appears to have had a Mexican rebuild at some time prior to being imported (2013), & whoever built it should really not give up their day job as a @#$%ing butcher! They had fitted some kind of dodgy helper spring on the inlet valves, behind the valve head on the combustion chamber side. They really weren't even seated firmly, just seem to have been moving around in there doing #$% all, when one finally let go completely, destroying a piston, but thankfully not a lot else (other than a scratch in #6 bore & a bent rod). Also most probably causing the preignition problems that I didn't realise I had🤷‍♂️ After having it completely stripped and checked, it seems the '59 block (produced November '58) isn't in too bad a condition, but has already been bored .030". The crank is quite good & will be machined, but almost all other consumables aren't much good. Cam stuffed too. So...it is being rebuilt .060" over - most parts (ex-US) accessible, but finding valve train gear for the '60 heads has proven almost impossible. Waiting on an answer from the (very experienced) machinist on whether we will be able to simply sleeve the guides & re-use what we have, as the costs are building & there are limits to my budget😬 If anyone happens to have a set of old stock new valves, retainers & springs (Valve length 5.3175", angle 20 degrees, head casting #536109 (1960), B170, X2 freeze plugs) they are willing to part with that would be awesome, although I'm not holding out too much hope. Chuck at Butler Performance even wished us luck, but was happy to provide all of the part numbers for what we need. Enough for now, don't want to bore you all. I guess this could have gone in the Performance Discussion Forum, as anything I do from right now will increase it's performance🤣

Hey there, To keep a long story short, I am interested if anyone (preferably in Australia, hopefully Queensland) would have a 389 in very good running condition, or alternatively another engine that would bolt straight into my car (& onto the existing Hydramatic transmission). I don't need a performance motor as this car is a cruiser for us however we intend to do plenty of miles in it, so it needs to be solid & reliable. Big ask I know, but it appears as if mine has spun a bearing & I'm just casting about for options before I get mine rebuilt. Thanxx

Hey there, I thought I'd put up a few shots of my new ride. There have been a few teething issues for me, but this is my first classic car so it's a learning curve I guess. Thanks to all of you who have already been so helpful during my short time on this forum. Love this car 😍 IMG_5174.mov

Hello again, This one is a little tricky for me, so I'm asking for some advice from any experts out there? Trying to accurately identify the engine in my '61 Bonneville, I've followed the Hagerty "how to identify" article, and referenced both the PontiacPower.net and Wallace Racing lists. If I have the information correct, it is a 1959 block (code #: 532000) fitted with 1960 heads (casting #: 536109). It is mated to a Hydra-matic - tag reads P-60-200684, & a Carter 4BBL - tag reads 4242S, with L6 PD underneath (Carter's list says it's from a '67 400?). PCV is at rear, it has 2x welch plugs each side of the block, starter is fitted to bell housing. If this is the case, there won't really be any (easy) away to ascertain the actual output of the engine I presume? For practical purposes I guess I would tune it as a '60? Tune up specs that I've found don't seem to vary at all (points .019", dwell 30, timing 6º BTDC). Any info or guidance you may be able to provide will be helpful, thanxx.

Hey everyone, especially @Frosty @JUSTA6 & @64 kiwi boni , My Bonneville is finally on the road, thanks so much for all of your advice. The spindles & steering arms arrived at my door from Frank's in record time. The wheel cylinders arrived too, but in the end weren't correct however my brake guru (shout out to Adam from Quik Speed Brake & Mechanical) who rebuilt my old ones using the insides of the new ones overnight. Which means, we have spent the last 2 days cruising' around, & are driving the car to it's first show tomorrow. Absolutely stoked to finally be driving it 😃 Will upload some more photos soon, I promise. Thanks so much again you guys 🙏

Hi again, My original clock isn't working on my '61 Bonneville, & it appears as if my speedo has shit itself (thought it was the cable - pulled it out & greased it, ran for 100kms perfectly, then made a heap of noise & the needle no longer moves. However the odometer is still rolling, so I suspect the speedo drive unit itself?) Any suggestions where in Australia (preferable SE Queensland) I should look for assistance with these? Or...Are they usually not repairable? Your suggestions will be appreciated. Thankxx 🙏

Hey there, The lights on my '61 Bonneville aren't the brightest, & I have been thinking about upgrading them. My questions are...is it worth upgrading them whilst still running a generator (rather than an alternator)? If so, does anyone have any recommendations or experience with sourcing some (I'm in Australia FYI)? Thanks in advance 🙏

Thanks @Frosty, that'll do great for now 😀

Hey @Frosty, If you happen to have some advice for me, that would be great 🙏🏼 Thanks, Paul

Hey again, I am trying to track down some history on my new car - can anyone give me some direction as to where/how to start looking>? It's a '61 Bonneville hardtop, US made (Pontiac, Michigan). Thank you

Thanks @Frosty, @JUSTA6 & @64 kiwi boni. Frank's has come back to confirm that all '61-'64 backing plates should fit, providing they're US & not Aus or Canadian as I've mentioned earlier. And @64 kiwi boni, the stubs are definitely different which is why I've had tp replace stubs when I've bought the '63/'64 hubs. All a learning curve I guess? Thanks again for all of your advice.

Hello again, In my excitement to find & order the front hubs for my Bonneville from Franks, I have overlooked a significant detail. The parts arrived, however they did not include the spindles, etc I was expecting (my @#$% up, totally). So can anyone answer the following questions for me... 1. will '63/'64 spindles fit onto '61 steering arms? 2. will '61 backing plates fit onto '63/'64 spindles? When (if?) I have a definite answer for the above, I will then beg any Australians on this site for the parts I need, which will hopefully save me another 3-4 week wait for parts from California. Yes, it hurts to be so stupid!!!

Thank you @Last Indian and @64 kiwi boni 🙌🏼 I'll have to wait until the parts arrive from Frank's, to see which style they are (as I had one of each when I got it 😬) The parts I've ordered are off a '63/'64, but apparently will fit as I'm changing spindles & all. I presume these will be tapered, which is what I'm used to. Will pick up my new tyres when I get home - I managed to find some Maxxis 215/70 x 14 at a great price ($265 ea, everything else I found was $440 - $600 ea). I've never paid that much for high performance tyres on bike or car, can't see the sense in spending that on low tech tyres just because they're painted white on one side 🤷🏼‍♂️ And, my rear brakes should be bonded & radius ground by then too. Finally I'll be off to a good (re) start! Many thanks again.

To be clear, when I set bearing preload on a hub I usually tighten the castellated nut until it is firm (ie: hub doesn’t freely spin), then alternatively loosen & tighten the nut progressively until the hub spins freely but with some resistance. Then the nut gets tightened until it aligns with the next split pin hole. My question- is this method correct for both styles of bearing (I am referring to the front hubs on my ‘61 Bonneville)?

Hey there, Is anyone able to tell me…are ball bearing style front hubs usually preloaded on installation in the same way needle roller bearing style are? Regards, Paul

Hehe, it’s even before my time which is something I don’t get to say much these days. 🤣 Hopefully I won’t need too many major parts in future, but I say that with 🤞🏼So I don’t jinx myself 😬

That makes sense, it certainly doesn't fit with how everything else seems to have been made. Thanks you. Hey, I've just noticed you're from Pontiac, Michigan. According to the numbers on our Bonne, it was manufactured in the Pontiac factory there.

Oh, and here are the pics I've been promising of my car 😃 Again, sorry I've been so damn slow.

Hey @64KiwiBoni, Please see photos of devastation below. My apologies for being so slow... You can see that both hubs are different, too.

Hey everyone, Thank you for all of your help and advice. Dave from Ponti-World has also been very helpful with this problem of mine. I've managed to source a complete set of left and right hand spindles, hubs, brakes etc from Frank's Pontiac Parts in Cali. Paid for, now just awaiting delivery. FYI, these are '63-'64 items, but apparently can be fitted providing everything (from spindles out) are changed at same time. A costly exercise, but at least they should bolt straight on and be serviceable and safe. And remove an awful lot of guesswork for someone so new at this...

Dave from Ponti World tells me that only US made Ponti & Buick parts will suit. Apparently Chev won’t, & neither will Aus or Canadian-made Ponti parts🤷🏼‍♂️

Hey @64 kiwi boni, from what I can tell we should be compatible, as we're both 3rd gen cars?

Hey there, I can do that once I get back home - currently on site working atm. Thanks again, will get that to you asap.

Hey there, Is anyone able to tell me for sure what model Chev parts may fit my model? These may be easier to source? Also, compatibility with @64 kiwi boni parts? Still searching'... Found a guy who was selling a '61 wreck over here but he wants to sell it whole, and I have nowhere to put another Bonneville that doesn't go (plus I'm pretty sure I can get the parts I want cheaper than $7500!),