Projects My Pontiac project.....I might need some help

Ok guys. Im Ryan, Here is my current project, it's a 1960 Pontiac Ventura 389 4speed Saginaw. The story about this car is I bought it for a daily driver but it ended up being in alot worse shape then I thought. Every panel on this car needed replacing or alot of work and some still does But live and learn.

Well iv been working on this car for years now. After talking some junk back and forth with my dad I desided to build this car to beat my dads project car (68 olds cutlass) in a 1/4 mile race. So now the car now has a ladder bar setup and a 8.8 reared with 4.11 gears disc brakes in the rear all that good stuff dad helped me with everything. So here's where the story takes a turn on April 29 I got a phone call in the middle of the night, it was my sister telling me that dad had suddenly passed away..... This has totally torn my life to pieces. My dad was my best friend, my mentor, just everything to me. But now I just have to be strong and take things one day at a time. I want to get my car done so I can get started on his dream car that was left to me. My dad fought me alot but there was still sooooo much more I wanted to learn. This is were I might need help from the fellow h.a.m.b.ers here. I'm going to try to update this once a week if I can for you guys. Anyways questions? Comments? I'm going to need help keeping motivated

Thanks for reading
Ryan

 

Do your Dad proud. Build the car. finish it for him. He believed in you,now believe in yourself and finish the car; because he's watching. people wil think of him as you grow into manhood and finish the car. It will be a monument to him and the times you shared. God Bless

 

Thanks for the kind words anteek. Well iv always tried to do one thing in my life and that was to make him proud. And I know I did iv never got into drinking or drugs it just alway been all about the cars. Even thou hes gone I'm still going to do everything I can to make him proud.

Ruan

 

Ryan
Your Dad is right by your side, in spirit. Just remember when your working on your ride and that part, screw, bolt you thought you lost it just shows up. Well, that just wasn't luck, it was your father that help. Good luck and stay strong. If we lived closer I would like to help out. I have 2 boys and they are not motorheads like me.
God Bless
Tony

 

I know my dad is by my side all the time. He has given me plenty of signs. He was a huge oldsmobile guy. It's funny how much the number "442" has been piping up everywhere, btw I dig the impala Tony.

 

Not to nitpick your spelling, but can I assume you meant "taught" and not fought? That would make a huge, huge difference in your otherwise touching story. I certainly hope so.

Either way, I'm sorry for your loss and I do hope you can do both of those projects proud. Share that experience with the rest of your family as well.

 

Ryan,
I'm about two-thirds through my project car build. My friend of 44 years was building it with me. He passed in June and it's hard for me to work on it now. S-I-L to be has been involved since we started the build and he's still prodding me to finish it up.

Your dad would have wanted you to finish them both up, like my friend would have wanted my project car finished. When finished, it will be a tribute to your dad.

In time things will be in perspective, it's hard to realize this right now. There will always be an empty spot in you, but you will move forward. It's not easy, been there more times than I want to remember. Full of empty spots so to speak.

Best of wishes to you and again be strong. He would want that.

 

Sorry bout the spelling errors I'm using an I phone and it's a bit touchy. Sorry to here about your friend passing shovelhead. It's never easy and never really get easier just more bareable. This car of course will be a tribute to our hard work, but the car I build after this one is a true tribute to him, because it's his car. I will always call it his car no matter how long I own it.

Ryan

 

sorry 'bout your dad dude, my father also got me into cars. I would definitely channel your energy towards the car build. On the same note if your mind isn't in it, take a vacation or a break till your ready. Everyone wants to get there car build as quickly as they planned but sometimes life gets in the way. looks like a cool project- good luck

 

Sorry to hear about your Dad.Gathering from your attitude and priorities he did an excellent job of raising you.You know hes proud of you so keep your chin up and you"ll always have him beside you.

 

Sounds like a great story that will give both of these cars a great history. Sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad, but I lost my Dad and I have to tell you, it becomes apparent that he will be right beside you working on them.

Also, not to nitpick, might think about posting a true intro in the proper spot, before the Hamb police show up and start blasting you...

 

What do you mean a true intro?

 

Nice Pontiac!

Always nice to see another Poncho on HAMB....

 

Thanks pitts! Not many of these cars around anymore. I fell in love with the lines on this car had to have it.

Ryan

 

Lot of rich Pontiac history in the 60!

There's a guy here named Troy who races one, I think he's into the 10s with it now...

You might want to checkout Performance Years 61 down section.. Lots of good info there..
http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=426

 

Ohh yeah the 60 was a big deal in racing with the wide track suspension and all that. I'd love to get mine into the 13s. The race is still on with my dads 68, I gave it to my brother in law and he is goin to finish it. And I will race him in it

 

What kinda Pontiac do you have Pitts?

 

What kind of wheels does your car have on the front.. They look like Cragar SS but a little different.. They are sharp!

 

Good car for a build! Sorry about your loss. I've been though it and it's not easy. Im not much of a mechanic, but any questions about sheet metal I'll be happy to help. Do him proud and keep at it!!!

 

Good eye Pitts, they are western wheels. Dad bought these from a swap meet for just the tires and told me to take the wheels. Then I put the biggest tire I could on the rear ones. And somehow they fit haha

 

Thanks niceguyede. I'm a metal man myself iv been doing it for bout 9 years. But I still have questions and try to get some new tips and tricks! My dad was the mechanic, he worked in an olds dealership for 25 years or so. Wasn't anything he couldn't fix. But I ended up being a pretty good metal man, I taught him bout metal and he taught me bout mechanics... He got pretty good at metal work but his eyes wernt good enuff to weld anymore so I did it. That's how I started he made me weld for him and I ran with it

Ryan

 

Here ya go....

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=18

 

I'm really sorry to hear that you lost your Dad... I wish I was closer so I could come lend a hand. But I'll be lending all the encouragement I can from here! Do your Pop proud and get that big Poncho on the road!

 

Thanks bob yeah too bad your so far away I could use a hand. If there is any hambers near by that wanna lend a hand that would be awesome! Keep an eye on this thread I'm hoping to do alot of updates. Im going to try to work on it Friday even if it's just move it up and clean up under and around it. I'll post some better pics either way

Ryan

 

Well didn't really get much done today. Managed to get it pulled forward and cleaned up under it but thought I'd take a few more pics to share with you guys

This what I did last weekend

 

Dropped it 2 inches by taking a coil and a half out.


Some pics of the 8.8 with ladder bars still need to fab up a panhard bar.



Some random pics




I still gotta weld in the front quarter and rocker on the driver side but it'll get there thanks for looking

Ryan

 

Well didn't get a lot done on the Pontiac today. My truck broke down and I spent the day trying to fix it. I did get under it this morning and do some welding I need to get some seam sealer and seal up the bottom part of the quarters and the under coat everything. After all the that the gas tank can go back in and I can hear that motor run again!! I'm working a bit in baby steps I guess but ever little thing counts. Thanks for looking guys

Ryan

 

Hurricane or not in going to work on my car! We are getting some rain and 30+mph winds. I managed to crawl under my car for a wile anyways.

Gotta love the air jack!

Did all the seam sealing and under coating under the trunk. I made the whole trunk pan around 4 years ago.

 

Hey Man, where in NC are you? I'm in the process of buying a '60 wagon. I also have a '60 Catalina with 51K original miles. I think I may have talked to you via E-mail last week. Let me know if you come to Charlotte for the Good Guys event at the end of the month..

 

1960 Ventura???? It doesn't get any cooler! My '60 is the one my dad owned when I was 3 years old, and sold long ago. It showed up again 4 years ago, and we got it back!