My 1964 Pontiac Catalina Safari build

you're right...3/8"

 

Went and got my tires mounted. I love it!


I stopped by my buddies garage and he had the front brakes and coilovers on!



SWEEET Can't wait until it's on the ground

 

I must say that I love the wheel and tire combo. The red lines certainly add something to it. I can't wait to see it on the ground either!
This is one sweet ride. You are going to enjoy it for certain.

 

Machining rear axles to clear the disc brake brackets


Aftermarket rear sway bar installed


Rear coilovers being fabbed



Progress is slow and steady

 

re-sealing the 4 speed


Have to machine the stupid new axle bolts to fit like the originals (in pic)


Hub on the axle is 3.159 and ID of the rotor is 2.837. Have to ask if Master Power Brakes has different rotors, or if mine can be machined. Brackets are on though.

 

The car is back on the ground now. Coilovers, disc brake swap, and wheels and tires are on. The car looks amazing! I wish I could have pulled it outside to look! It will need a little clearancing in the 1/4s to make sure the tires will clear.






So, one thing I did not see while my other buddy was working on the car last year, was the inside of the engine. he said it looked good and I took his word for it. Hard to see in this pic, but its sludgey. Currently contemplating rebuilding or replacing it.

 

Dude, I lust after your car!!

 

Man, that tire & wheel combo are awesome. It's going to look great out in the daylight where you can take it all in.
I was just looking back at the beginning of this post. That thing has made quite the transformation.

 

Thanks. It might make a big one soon. I'm being told either rebuild the engine I have for $5k (Pontiacs are expensive!) or upgrade to an LS motor for just a little more and have way more power, driveability etc etc etc.

 

So last night my buddy text me and asked me how old the clutch in the car is. I said "Maybe 3 or 4 miles...why?" And he sent my these pics




Those cracks, those blue spots, are caused by so much heat its unreal. I wonder what happened with this car while it was at the body shop. I trust the painter 100%, and in no way do I think he beat the car, but he always did say the car didn't have enough gear. The saginaw in the car has a 3.11 first gear which should be MORE than enough. I'm starting to wonder if it was installed properly.

So now I need a clutch, and my buddy said that he spun the engine over by hand quite easily. Low compression, great. Now I definitely need to rebuild the engine. I call around and I'm looking at around $4500 and 4 to 6 weeks time. I do a little more searching and find this






A rebuilt 400ci pontiac, with a complete tri power setup, and a MUCH stronger Muncie 4 speed. Pulled out of a 67 GTO last December with only 200 miles on it. He put in an LS motor. Scored all this, AND a set of ceramic coated Long Tube headers for $6k! After I sell the extra shit I don't need, I'll have about $4000 into the engine and transmission. Not bad!

Dropped it all off at the garage tonight. We pulled the distributor out of my 389 to remove the Pertronix Ignition module, and this is how the rotor was in the distributor. My buddy said "All previous work on this car that I touch has been SHIT. And he never swears. he was pissed!

 

Salivate, salivate, drool, drool...................that drive train is a beauty, hope the internals are just as good!

 

Dang, That stinks. At least you were able to take your lemons and make Lemonade.

 

More updates on the car.

Drivetrain is back out again. kinda depressing. Actually, very depressing. All that lost work last year...



6 pack is off the new motor and will be for sale soon.


New intake for the 4 barrel efi


My buddy made a template for the rear upper coilover mounts. Dudes a genious.


Finished product...stronger than OEM im sure


New engine came with some long tubes for a 64-67 GTO that I will be selling

 

Suspension is 100% installed

the fronts were a bolt in affair.





The rears needed fabrication





Next up is brake lines. This car is starting to kill me.

 

Brakes are 100% done, and bled










Next is to detail the engine, assemble the serpentine setup, and install it all.