[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 455HOGT37

I have never seen any rear suspension braces on this car. If they are not there now, they were not there in '88.

Hi Mike! I hope all is going well with you.

I believe that as we didn't see any witness marks to suggest otherwise.

Dennis

['ol Pinion head]

The lack of factory installed frame braces on Mikes prev 455HO HD 3spd GT-37 does follow a small trend. As mentioned previously, have yet to run across a '71 233 series M13 factory build that had them but nearly all of those were 350 2bbl M13 builds. The factory '71 Pontiac A-body Assembly Manual notes the frame braces were used with the L78 & LS5 engines without M40, but there is no notation of thwithout being installed with the L78 & LS5 with the HD 3spd M13. Not the first instance of how these '71's were actually built versus what many could infer from the Assembly Manual.

[Mister Pontiac]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

Results from under factory Muncie 3spd built '70-72's cars have been hit or miss. Have examined original braces under two '70 WT 3spd GTO's & one '72 400 M13 car. Of the half dozen 350 3spd '71 GT-37's & '72 LeMans GT's that I've parted to the ground, none had the frame braces.

To OPH's comment, another case in point. My original 72 LeMans GT 350/3spd/3.23 peg leg did not have the braces either. No witness marks to indicate they were ever there.

I too will be adding them when the 8.5 3.23 Posi goes under it (soon!).

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

The lack of factory installed frame braces on Mikes prev 455HO HD 3spd GT-37 does follow a small trend. As mentioned previously, have yet to run across a '71 233 series M13 factory build that had them but nearly all of those were 350 2bbl M13 builds. The factory '71 Pontiac A-body Assembly Manual notes the frame braces were used with the L78 & LS5 engines without M40, but there is no notation of thwithout being installed with the L78 & LS5 with the HD 3spd M13. Not the first instance of how these '71's were actually built versus what many could infer from the Assembly Manual.

My guess is if the assembly line ran out of brackets they moved the car on down the line...or since they saw the GT-37 was equipped with the M-13 3-speed trans they assumed it didn't need them like any plain old 350 2-bbl car.

Dennis

[GT Gerry]

I own a '71-1/2 GT-37 (build date 4-26-71) with the original 400 engine and the original 3 speed tranny. I just checked and my car has these braces.

I also owned a '71-1/2 GT-37 that I bought new in June, 1971 that was a 350, 3 speed but I have no idea if it had the braces or not. My guess is that it did not have the braces because I had an issue one time when the passenger side lower control arm developed a crack that had to be repaired.

[SD455DJ]

Thanks Gerry for adding that about your GT-37 M-13 cars (love to see some pics of your 400 and original 350 GT-37's!). I think they just overlooked them on my GT-37 and assumed it was another 350 car.

My car is a Fremont, CA car and I wonder if there is any significance to that versus other assembly plants...?

Dennis

[GT Gerry]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Thanks Gerry for adding that about your GT-37 M-13 cars (love to see some pics of your 400 and original 350 GT-37's!). I think they just overlooked them on my GT-37 and assumed it was another 350 car.

My car is a Fremont, CA car and I wonder if there is any significance to that versus other assembly plants...?

Dennis

Dennis,

My car was built at the Pontiac Plant. We met at the Co-Vention in Dayton in 2013 and talked briefly. Both GT-37's I've owned are Lucerne blue cars with white/silver side stripes.

Let me work on posting a couple of pictures.

Gerry

[Judge273]

I remember Gerry car. I think I saw it a couple times. Very nice Lucy Blue 400 sword car.
That was a great Covention in 2013. Dan Jensen dragged my GT-37 there.

[SD455DJ]

The 2013 Co-Vention was a great time...I may have driven the SD TA down? I'll have to look at some old pics (if I have any)...seems like only a year or two ago, not going on 8 already!!!

Mike, was your GT-37 at MCACN that November as well?

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by carguy66cars

Dennis I should have a nice '72 unit I will look tomorrow and email you some picture's if you want!!!

Lyn.

Lyn came to our rescue again and had a nice pump for us. Dan isolated the leak and it is from the pump we installed, not the steering box, so that's a big relief. We will rebuild the new pump and restore it before it gets swapped in.

Thanks Lyn!

Dennis

[1965gp]

Maybe this is a dumb question but why is it called a GT-37? Is the 37 for the body style?

[Judge273]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

The 2013 Co-Vention was a great time...I may have driven the SD TA down? I'll have to look at some old pics (if I have any)...seems like only a year or two ago, not going on 8 already!!!

Mike, was your GT-37 at MCACN that November as well?

Dennis

Yes, Mcacn with you guys in November was also very fun! Time flys! That show I was able to drive in and drive home...

Maybe we need to recreate that Mcacn show with all three CC GT/T-37s 71s lined up?

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by 1965gp

Maybe this is a dumb question but why is it called a GT-37? Is the 37 for the body style?

1965gp, The GT-37 was introduced in 1970 as a budget A-body with a performance image, mainly as an insurance beater to offer an alternative to the GTO buyer that couldn't swing the higher car insurance premiums on musclecars. The GT-37 was originally to be offered only on the budget hardtop Tempest that was recently introduced (T-37 - 23337), but was offered on the coupe (23327) as well. Since there weren't the bullet shaped sport mirrors until 1971, the GT-37 package worked on both body styles. In 1971, the sport mirrors were standard on the GT-37 package and interfered with the door vent window operation, so wasn't offered on the 23327 post coupe. I'm sure there is other history that I forgot, but that's it in a nutshell.

So, yes, you are correct about the '37' reference in the name.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Yes, Mcacn with you guys in November was also very fun! Time flys! That show I was able to drive in and drive home...

Maybe we need to recreate that Mcacn show with all three CC GT/T-37s 71s lined up?

Good idea! There is even a '71 CC Formula that could sneak into the picture I know of...

Dennis

[1965gp]

Thanks Dennis- I figured that was it. I’ve always love these cars. Almost cloned my 70 LeMans into one and still may clone my 72 Luxury LeMans into one.

[Scarebird]

Just finished reading this up - should be a fun car when finished.

That tach hose fitting would make an excellent candidate for 3D printing.

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

Just finished reading this up - should be a fun car when finished.

That tach hose fitting would make an excellent candidate for 3D printing.

Scarebird, Below is a link to the recent PY thread by 'gpguy' in this section about the hood tach hose fitting (nipple).

Dennis

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...d.php?t=847789

[Scarebird]

Excellent, thank you.

[GT Gerry]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

The lack of factory installed frame braces on Mikes prev 455HO HD 3spd GT-37 does follow a small trend. As mentioned previously, have yet to run across a '71 233 series M13 factory build that had them but nearly all of those were 350 2bbl M13 builds. The factory '71 Pontiac A-body Assembly Manual notes the frame braces were used with the L78 & LS5 engines without M40, but there is no notation of thwithout being installed with the L78 & LS5 with the HD 3spd M13. Not the first instance of how these '71's were actually built versus what many could infer from the Assembly Manual.

Roger,
I received your private reply and tried to reply to you but I don't believe my reply got through. Yes, I would like to get together with you when you visit Bentonville. I live in Fayettevile, about 30 miles from Bentonville. Could you please let me know what your email address is so we don't have to communicate through the forum, which I find very difficult to use.
Thanks,
Gery

[SD455DJ]

The correct power steering pump is rebuilt and painted up pretty like and working like it should. It looks proper now sitting in front of the valve cover instead of leaning way over ready to dump the fluid out. Thanks again carguy66cars (Lyn).

Dennis