Projects Putting together my second 64 tempest sedan

I originally went to look at this car as a parts car for my other 64 sedan, as this one had no title and hadn't been on the road since 76. I was surprised to find that the car was in quite a bit better shape than my other sedan and I ended up buying it. That was august last year, and since then I've managed to go through the paperwork process and get a title for it. The plan now is to make it a budget cruiser using parts I had collected over the last couple of years. This car has the 215 Pontiac (it's a Chevy 230 with a smaller bore) inline 6 with the Pontiac super turbine 300 two speed air cooled transmission. I am pulling both out and saving them for my other car in case the current 215 in that one ever quits on me. Going in will be (here comes the hate) a warmed up Chevy 283 and a first design Borg Warner st-10. The 283 I got out of a Chevy Impala parts car I had years back, and it had been rebuilt with .030 flat top pistons, a stock grind 327 cam, Holley intake/carb and a pentronix flamethrower distributor. Now before the purists trash on me for putting in a Chevy motor - the factory 'pontiac 215' is a Chevy inline 6, complete with the Chevy bell housing pattern. It's also a 4dr not a GTO so I can't imagine I'm hurting much value lol. The st-10 I found cheap on marketplace and ended up having rebuilt. All in all doing all the installation and exhaust myself I estimate to be into this car for about $4500. The wheels were Craigslist specials off a yellow GTO and those will be painted. Also if anybody has any tips on measuring to cut the hole for the shifter I'd appreciate it!

 

My vote is "go for it!" Back in 79, I had a 64 Tempest coupe convertible. It was beat on every corner, the top sort of worked (it could be made to open and close with some effort) and a 283 with a power glide. That car was so much fun and is one of the cars I really wouldn't mind having today. Of course I could see a 421 and a some other upgrades, but more old Pontiacs had Chevy donor engines and transmissions than you can count back in the day.

 

That's cool, I had one of these and I like them. I still have a '65 Tempest 2 door hardtop but I don't have the '64 4 door anymore, but I would totally drive one if I had one in good shape.

 

Love the Pontiac blue! I'd get some Canadian Pontiac valve covers that fit sbc and paint them blue too.

.bjb

 

Bout time I see your car on here. Let me know when you want help putting that thing in it.

 

Not bad. Now all ya gotta do is turn it on, wind it up and blow it out. Hehe.

 

I've

This coming weekend lmao

 

Still trying to figure out how to use this site lol, I've been looking! For the time being I have some plain covers I'm going to paint blue and I ordered two of these stickers for em.

 

Turn it on.
Wind it up!
Blow it up!
GTO!
Wa wa a wa wa wa wa wa !

 

I like it a ton, nice to do something without selling a kidney to get there.

I just picked up an OT '66 Belair with a 283 and PG and have been working on that. Also a 4 door sedan. I've been looking for one for a while.

 

I love the four door Chevy's. I really like having the four doors in general, it's nice when everyone can hop in comfortably and cruise around. Good luck with it!

 

This is it, got it insured and registered, runs quite well. Does need some work.

 

Some progress over the weekend. A few friends helped me pull the 215 and get the small block in place. I've since spent some time yesterday persuading the headers to fit. Drivers side required me to remove the steering column, oil filter, valve cover, unbolt and move the master cyl to the side, and lift the engine back up a few inches lol but it ended up fitting in place. Next step is I'd like to throw on some wires and a carb to fire the thing up for a few seconds and make sure it's still healthy. It was healthy when I pulled it a few years back, still clean inside, but just to be sure. To get it diving I've got to locate another set of brackets for the power steering and alternator, as the impala mounts from the parts car would put the ps pump well into the steering box. Couple of small issues like that to tackle and I should be able to at least get it moving.

 

My first car was a 64 Tempest. My father bought it new in 1964 and gave it to me in 1976. I drove the wheels off that car and never had to do anything to it but change the oil and spark plugs. Trade it in on a 70 Le Mans Sport. Should have kept both of those cars!

 

My other 64 with the inline 6 has been the same way. Aside from update to a HEI distributor and new radiator, all I've had to do is regular maintenance. Hopefully this one will be just as reliable once I get it all dialed in love these old pontiacs

 

If you're going to put in a shift porch, they're designed so they fit the transmission hump in one place so it will show you where to cut the hole. Reproductions are available from Ames Performance for $49.00.
https://www.amesperf.com/parts/24505/

 

Still lots to do on this thing, but since we swapped the V8 in a little over a week ago I've been working on it nights and weekends. Have to thank @Duellym for helping out often too. We have made a ton of progress. In the last update I mentioned that the exhaust headers are installed (lots of swear words were mumbled while working on the drivers side). Since then we've finished up mounting the trans, cross member, driveshaft, Removed the drivers side fender and welded on the tab for the zbar, installed all of the clutch linkage, reinstalled the drivers side fender (thanks duellym), installed the radiator and finally we threw on some old wires and a carb and got the thing to light off. The small block sounds HEALTHY and I'm stoked. I still have to figure out hoses, and I have to get some nice new battery cables and maybe even go the professional route and buy a battery that'll actually fit the battery tray. Overall there's a ton of work left to be done. With that said, I have the next 5 days off of work (and a big parts load coming in today) so by the end of this holiday break this thing will hopefully be pretty damn close to roadworthy.

 

Nice, I'm deep into the Belair and parts are coming in daily. The seats are out for recovering, I had a couple of minor rust holes in an odd spot on the floor to fix. Now I'm replacing the rain gutter caulk... fun.

 

much rather be putting a fender on one of these than another junk Nissan lol.

 

Cool project, and local too. Keep at it and keep us updated!

 

Making more progress after a months long break to hide from the July heat. A few nights of work and the interior is in, accessory drive is done, new fuel pump is hooked up and working, and it's running/driving/staying cool up and down the street. I wish I could upload a video because with the longtubes and dual Glasspacks it sounds mean. EDIT- uploaded one to youtube

https://youtube.com/shorts/btB7RFjuwP0?feature=shared

I still have to button a few things up, and I still plan on doing all new brake and fuel lines, along with front end. The next big hurtle for me is rear gears. The 6cyl slipNslide power glide combo came with 2.56 rear gears and it's annoying to say the least. I have to ride the clutch until almost 10 mph to take off. The car has the BOP 8.2" 10 bolt currently. Hoping to find a bop or Chevy a body 10 bolt for sale with something around 3.42 or preferably 3.55 gears. With that said, does anybody know anyone in the new England area who does reasonably priced rear end work? I'm not exactly made of money - so I've done everything myself so far, but I don't have the equipment or experience to feel great about doing a gear swap. If I could find someone capable I'd defiantly be willing to sub this one out and have it done right.

 

Just remember, I think the carrier break is 2.73’s, so you’ll have to run a 3 series carrier with the new gears.
They honestly aren’t that hard to set up. I’ve done quite a few, and they’ve taken lots of street and strip abuse, and run dead quiet. I passed this knowledge on to my sons also. Now they’re doing set ups. Try it!
BTW, great thread, I subscribed when you started it as I’m a Pontiac guy.

 

I have been dodging the heat myself, working either early or late in the day. By 10 my driveway is an inferno.

I'm now lining up parts like springs, shocks, some front end parts and everything to change the fluid and filter in the PG. Good news is despite no shroud, it doesn't get past 190 on the temp gauge.

 

Thank you! Happy to hear from another Pontiac guy! I ended up changing course a bit last night. I was doom scrolling the local Facebook marketplace and came across a Chevy rear that I went to check out after work. Ended up buying a Chevy 10 bolt with 3.08s out of a 64 Chevelle for $75! The housing is in great shape and the internals look alot better than expected. The guy did tell me it had a slight hum when he took it out to swap in a 12 bolt posi. I'm going to see if I can figure out the cause and correct that so I can run this Chevy axle until I have some better money to throw at the Pontiac rear. I figure for the $75 it's worth it just to see if I like the 3.08s or if I want to go with something closer to 3.42s. Even with the 3.08s it should be a little bit easier on my clutch than the 2.56s.

 

Yeah the heat has been a real killer. I'm working out of a big tent garage and that thing is like an oven, if it's 90° outside it's about 100-110° inside. The car is finally off jack stands so now I just pull it out front in the shade so it's been better. That's good on the running cool! I'm hoping mine continues to do the same. I also don't have a shroud, but If need be I'll track one down.

 

I will second the suggestion to buy the necessary tools to DIY, and, armed with a factory service manual, it can be done properly. Once you have the tools, the next rearend rebuild/gear swap (and there WILL be another, trust me) will be far less daunting, and the tools are already on hand, as well as some experience on you part. Not sure what a gear swap install would cost at a shop (guessing $400+), but you should be able to buy a dial caliper, dial indicator, magnetic stand, etc. for less than that.

 

You're making good progress, a friend of mine has a 63 Tempest

 

My garage inside tends to be cooler than the outside. The driveway gets great shade in the afternoon. I moved the cars around (too late) yesterday and I tackled some of the mess in the garage, by noon I was drenched with sweat... hit the pool and called it a day.

 

Devil's in the details, so I freshened up a shift knob I had buried in my toolbox.

 

If it’s anything like setting up a Ford 8.8, don’t forget a dial type inch pound torque wrench.

I walked both of my boys through a gear change when they were 16 or so. I doubt if they ever did another, but setting up a rear was a confidence building experience for both of them.