[tremo]

Great thread! Was happy to see A '68-69 LeMans/Tempest thread for us "others" to post.

Here's my story and some before and after pics...

Back in '04 I looked for 6 months for a LeMans or Tempest because GTO prices were (and still are) outrageous. Kept running into this Custom S during my search (the Pontiac Gods were telling me something!) and when I saw it pop-up on eBay, I contacted the owner.

Everything fell into place. He provided plenty of pics and was an honest person to deal with. He even pulled the listing off eBay with an agreement over the phone that I would buy it if was "as advertised".

Flew up to Portland, Oregon in January 2005 with the intention of driving her home, but after a "check-up" the poor old girl was just too tired. The odometer stopped at 183,000 and while she was still running realtively well, I decided to have her hauled home. The safe choice. She arrived two days later and I've been working on her since.

Despite having 4 owners, PHS documentation showed she more than likely spent her entire life in or near Portland. They don't use salt so she has very little rust (driver's rear quarter only) and an inspection with a magnet revealed only one small section that has bondo. Basically, she's an intact original that was garage kept and a daily driver for all of the owners.

Interior was re-done by the previous owner (needs a new headliner - that black duct tape will only hold for so long!), as was the Sony CD stereo & 100 watt amp. Basically, this left the motor...

I pulled the original numbers matching engine (and have it in storage) and began working on a RAIV-spec 400. After completion, she still had the original 2:56 gears and was a real dog off the line. But with the Posi 3:90s she really scoots now. I'll have it dyno'ed one of these days once I get the carb dialed-in (Holley 750). Still got tons of other things left to do (love the ideas I see reading this thread), but that's what it's all about. I love that it's an "endless project" for me to work on. My 7 year old daughter keeps asking when it'll be "done" and I tell her that's not the point!

Funny thing is, a '69 Custom S was my first car in High School and is the reason I got back into cars again later in life.....as soon as I hit 40!

Seee-ya,

Jim.

Pic #1: Original motor in all its glory
Pic #2: Just got 'er home. My daughter was excited, my wife (back then) said "Oh. That's it???" (sigh) (BTW, that's road grime not weathered paint)
Pic #3: The junkyard 400 out of a '69 Cat
Pic #4: New 410 and reconditioned engine bay - Fresh and Clean!
Pic #5: Spring '05 with the Colorado Rockies as a back-drop