Hello gentlemen...and ladies! Just got my '64 Pontiac Bonneville wagon running and on the road a few weeks ago after owning it for nearly 5 years. A little background on me...I was a master Jaguar technician at a dealer for about 11 years, and an avid drag racer with my '69 Pontiac Lemans (best of 9.75 at 138). in 2009, I decided I'd had enough of the flat rate world and was tired of being abused for my ability to diagnose complex problems. I left my job, went back to school, and am now an RN in a busy ER. When I left my job, I sold my race car sans motor and trans. A few months later I drove from eastern PA to Ohio to pick up the wagon. I bought it as a roller, and lowered the compression on the old race motor with different heads, swapped out the solid roller cam for a more street friendly hydraulic roller, and started putting the car together...SLOWLY. Fast forward 5 years, and it now runs and drives well. The car has 48k original miles, and has PS, PB, PW, power seat, power rear glass, and was an AC car. It is powered by a traditional pontiac 455 with aluminum heads flowing appx 320 CFM, hydraulic roller cam, Holley 850 carb, 1 7/8" primary headers to a 3" exhaust back to 2 1/2" tails, and electric return style fuel system. The motor is backed by a TH400 trans (retained the factory column shifter with some fabrication), and a 3.90 posi rear end. The car is a 10 footer, as it was painted appx. 20 years ago...it's got a ding or three, some small scuffs, and a few bubbles. The body is pretty solid, no major rust. I replaced the carpet, and front seat belts (factory) and added rear belts. It needs a headliner and some interior vinyl work, and the bumpers could stand to be rechromed. All in due time. Overall, it been fun to put it together, and I plan on enjoying it for many years!
Now that there is a great introduction. I still love that wagon. So you went from messing with cars to giving people tuneups. Big change. From what I've seen of hospitals looks like they use a lot of the same diagnostic equipment! Somewhere in my garage is a set of those MT valve covers and one of those old tiger tails.
Jagtec1. Nice intro, thanks. You've got a beautiful car there. Don't wait, get that baby into a local show and let the folks see the progress as you make the changes. The one thing we have learned around here is, enjoy your car while you can, don't wait, later may not come. Show that car...you are depriving people.
Welcome to the nuthouse we call Home. You may call her a 20 footer, I call her a first class DRIVER! She has earned those battle scars and wears them proudly! The best part of owning a car that is not quite perfect is that you can drive her without worrying about every little mark, chip, what have you. Get out there, show the old girl the open road, and enjoy! In the immortal words of Auntie Mame, "Life is a banquet and most poor sons of bitches are STARVING to death!" LIVE and enjoy.
aboard! Love the wagon... What a great looking sleeper. I've always been a fan of Pontiacs. I'm sure that 455 with the 3.90 gear motivates it quite nicely. Thanks for posting the pics. What a great find. Jack
Thanks! I was up your way yesterday with my kids...went to Crystal Cave and Cabella's. I'm near Huntingdon Valley....not far from Willow Grove.
