Pontiac restoration

[Ponti]

Have been thinking it over long and hard for a few weeks and have decided to strip and rebuild the Pontiac to somewhat near factory spec.
Have been reading a few magazines a few things have sunk in.  As the car is possibly rare( more than likely it's very rare) , converting it for racing won't be easy to undo if I later changed my mind, and if (god forbid) I ever crashed it racing then it would be totally lost.
 
  The somewhat near is because for the time being I'm going to keep the big engine aswell as putting a stock looking converstion radio in.

  Hopefully I can get some history on the car and hopefully some build details, but am not holding my breath seeing as the car is unusual.

  This doesn't mean that I won't race it but I think I will stick to events like the MOPAR's @ the POD and the NSRA's at SHAKY.

 I'll update here as and when I do stuff.
      First things first I need to move, as we are still here

[Jamieg285]

Spill the beans - what have you got.  I've not seen or heard(maybe forgotten ), and I'm not sure others have either.

[55starchief]

What about the cage thats already welded in then mate?

[Ponti]

Quoting: Jamieg285

Spill the beans - what have you got. I've not seen or heard(maybe forgotten ), and I'm not sure others have either.

http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/showthread.php?t=503983\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/showthread.php?t=503983

Have a look at the thread, explains alot about the car. Otherwise ask.

Quoting: 55starchief

What about the cage thats already welded in then mate?

Will be taking it out when I come to lift the body off the frame.

[Roadkill]

Probably a wise move, Mate if it's a rare model . . .

[Ponti]

Quoting: Roadkill

Probably a wise move, Mate if it's a rare model . . .

1 of 421 Pontiac's. That's total Pontiac's all models. Built in Antwerp in 1966

[Roadkill]

I read the link . . .

[Fieldy]

minus the break in that thread rocks

Love the sound of the car....however, I am into originals more than racing (personal preference) so I would keep it stock

[Ponti]

Well, let's get this thread going again, only 1 year on.

 As you may or may not have read She's here now.
http://www.mkb.cc/forum/index.php?action=vthread&topic=7823&forum=4&page=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">]http://www.mkb.cc/forum/index.php?action=vthread&topic=7823&forum=4&page=0]

As you can see from the pictures not a lot of space, and worse looks like could be a bit of rust

Will take some more pic's tomorrow.
  As I now have the back up on stands, and will be taking the front off so I can get it up to. Can do it yet as it hits the door B****y up and over doors.

Obviously the rust needs doing, but I want to get the engine running as it's not turned for god knows how long, which is why I need to get underneath. Need to finish fitting the gearbox cross member and need to install the oil pump in the engine as well as the filter housing. And torque a few bolts

[art b]

good to see updates.......

[Incursus]

 

[Gator]

been trying to find your paint code will let you know what turns up

have you got a PHS report on your car ? is it nos matching ?

i wouldnt get too wrapped up in the "Rare" thing it hardly ever means valuable  with so many options and codes about on us cars you can easily reduce the production figures for any car and would a buyer pay a premium anyway

lots of firebirds were assembled in europe mainly the inline 6s i wouldnt be surprised if a GM exec had a le mans shipped over for his own use or something along those lines

its a bloody cool car

[Gator]

what i dont get about your paint code is the fact its a 3 digit one, pontiac exterior codes from that era are denoted by 2 letters (upper & lower body colour)

pontiac interior trim colours use a 3 digit numerical code tis a mystery

have you got a pic of the body tag ?


Edit

there were 8 special order colours for 66 not all have codes but there is a ditzler no

[Ponti]

Quoting: Gator

been trying to find your paint code will let you know what turns up

have you got a PHS report on your car ? is it nos matching ?

I can't get a PHS report as it's european built, because my vin plate is missing info they need, Had told them it was european built but they didn't seam to get that
I can say it probably isn't no's matching as I've changed the engine, the old 326ci, had seen better days and needed a complete rebuild probably a bore and sleaving if not more.

Quoting: Gator

what i dont get about your paint code is the fact its a 3 digit one, pontiac exterior codes from that era are denoted by 2 letters (upper & lower body colour)

Ah Gator, You fell for the trap

 I have had no end of trouble trying to find the paint colour, eventually this nice chap in Holland found it for me:

It's an Antwerp Opel code, which corresponds with the same colors as GM USA:

Yours is:

468 M Daccargold
470 Graphitbeige
471 M Bronze
474 Casablancaweiß
475 Chromgelb  

This car has the color your car originally had.

Quoting: Gator

have you got a pic of the body tag ?

No Where is it meant to be, haven't actually looked for it

[Ponti]

Ok Todays work,

Stripped the headlight surrounds and lights from the wings, removed the black grills from the centre panel and then removed the off side wing.  Took about 1 1/2 hours, not bad in the cold and with a few stiff bolts oh and taking pictures

State of the rust on the inside of the wing is quite small, a few bits along the inside of the top edge where the inner wings would attach. The worst bit is where some W****r has tried to patch the rear edge by the door Will need to replace the area, hopefully I can get a patch panel.

[Gator]

the body tag should be on the rh side of the firewall

[Ponti]

Well, Opps. Been busy with things but have managed to do some work on the old girl

 Had the stripper and anglegrider with wirebrush out and made a start on looking at the worse of the rust area's.

The area at the base of the buttresses where the paint was blown, looks as if its only the filler that has gone, got down to useable metal

I've also had a look at the rear wing above the wheel arch


The main panel is great Very sound, shame the same can't be said about the arch It's has be hit hard before and somebody decided to repair it with filler to remake the shape, so it has rusted out underneath the filler you can see the damage lower right. Looks like i'll need to get the arch rebuilt

Will post some more pic's once I get out in the garage later.

[Roadkill]

Any progress is good progress.

[Gator]

looks a fairly big job there

what are you using to get the paint off and how long does it take

[Ponti]

Quoting: Gator

looks a fairly big job there  

what are you using to get the paint off and how long does it take

Have been using cheap auto paint stripper, have tried some others but they didn't touch the silver undercoat from the red.

 Even this seams to struggle

Any suggestions for a good stripper
Quickest way, is with the grinder and wirebrush Bit messy though The garage is turning a shade of orange.

At least the wirebrush gets through the filler which is upto 4mm in places.

[ianjpage]

looks to be going well

[Ponti]

OK it now later

Got out to the garage this morning.

 Here are the pic's of the damage/rust found so far.


 Wheel arch damage.



Rusted out section behind window



And some interesting panel joins at the base of the Buttresses

[F Body]

Looks like she's been under knife a few times before

Time to practise your welding skills

[Ponti]

Cheers F Body

Need to strip her full first, then learn how to panel beat to make the shapes, then welding Oh god what a list.

[Ponti]

Well Update I know it's been a while.

 I have ended up off work for a couple of weeks so have been having a tinker.
I hire an engine crane and have got the block out and on the stand so I could do the oil pump.  Remembered thankfully before turning it over that I had filled it with antifreeze um years ago before I moved, even better there was still loads in it even after slopping it out various times of moving her. So no problems there.

 Cleaned the bottom end of years worth of gunk, fitted oil pump after checking it worked, and sump and spun it back upright.

On to the top end today and tomorrow, see what is hidden. I did find that the valley pan was bodged on with to long a bolt so loads of washers and silicone sealent will have to check, might fit 1 of the 1's I have kicking round still.