[mindspin]

It's been a slow and winding road and I am many many miles away from where I want to be. So I decided to show my progress to date. As always I am up for suggestions and tips on what to work on next. Comments and feedback are welcome.

[mikediaz]

Looks nice. I'm not sure what it looked like before but it's lookin good now.

Is that a side-outlet esxhaust? or am I seeing things.

I like the rims - reminiscent of ralley II's but big and chrome.

is there a pontiac emblem missing off the front (i don't know my '64s too well).

The window tint is ok although I've never been a fan.
How's the engine? Maybe you could spend some money on it? 64 tripower manifolds are easy to come by.. the carbs (for any tripower) are another story tho.

[beamy45]

looks good. what a difference a nice seet of rims makes.
are those drum brakes in the front?
what about lowering it a couple inches? have the room in the wells?

other than that, it looks great! from the pics, the chrome looks brand new.
nice!

[mikediaz]

Maybe a side moulding? Just an idea. although I always loved the endless sheetmetal on these big cars.

[66bonne]

Drive it and have fun !! Love the slab side styling.
With those nice rims I'd considered 2" lowered front springs to give the stance a little of a menacing look.
Nice ride.

[Tanksta]

I dig wheels & tires man! That really made a difference in your ride. What are the specs on them....what size wheels/width and what tires? I am gonna hafta get some for may Cat.....

[63gpstanley]

Looks real good, drop it in the weeds is my only suggestion.

Dave

[Deadhead]

Looks very nice the way it is.

Stick a Superhydro or a TH400 under there & enjoy until you get ideas for mods you can't live without.

Seems like there is always so much to do or that can be done that we often don't drive 'em as much as we should.

[mikediaz]

Mindspin- a tripower would be a fun thing to add on. If you want to see a small chronicle of the work I did to rejuvinate a tripower setup I purchased check out my thread on it (i think it was called 'THE new project for the 65 bonneville: tripower' or something.. Lots of pics and info.
I hit a hiatus since 1) i'm low on cash and 2) i found out i had a 64 engine in the car so I'd need 65 heads before I could try putting on the 65 trips i redid. Feel free to ask questions! fun stuff!

Either way have fun with it- but it looks like you're alerady well onto that.

Mike

[beamy45]

for front disc brakes, try this guy. he was or is a member of this board....

http://www.xtremefabrication.com/services.htm

[mrrat1]

looks cool!! Might want to think about a pinstripe, graphic, or something to break up all the blue. Wheels go with it nice too!! Dave K.

[mindspin]

Thanks for the comments and feedback, let me try to answer some of these questions.

@ mikediaz
That is certainly side exhaust. While at the shop the exhaust guy suggested that I put side exit. I was a little unsure at first but I think they came out pretty good looking. Plus he said it would be easy to chop the tips off and relocate the exhaust out the rear it I chose so.
The body was done poorly before I received it. The body needs to be redone and repainted again someday, so all of the emblems with the exception of the G/P on the front fenders are in a box.
Currently the engine is the stock 389 4bbl, I wouldn't be against upgrading to Tri-Power but I'm not sure the steps that I'd need to do to get there.


@beamy45
Yep, 4 non-power drums. What an adventure trying to stop the car at highways speed, very easy to lock up. I tried looking into a front power disc conversion kit last summer but had no luck. Every company I tried did not make an application for a 64 Grand Prix.
As far as lowering it, doesn’t look that high in person. The rear tires are barely tucked into the fender. Compared to how it looked in the first pic. I would go over a bump and the rear would bounce up and down for days. A side shot before it was replaced the rear end sat a lot lower than the front. I have replaced all the springs and shocks, that with the combination of the new wheels the car sits higher overall. The fronts have plenty of room. The rear on the other hand you can barely get and index finger between the tire and the molding on the wheel well.


@66bonne
Do you know where I could get a 2 inch lowering spring or would the old heat the springs and sit on the front end lowering be the answer? =D


@Deadhead
It has a 4 speed, very fun to drive.

I spend most of my time wrestling on what to do next, (interior, engine, body) When I make a decision I then start wrestling on finding a reputable business.
(Anyone know of good shops that can do some of that work north of the Boston Area?) This being my 1st restoration project, I'm learning as I go. These older cars are more interesting to work with. (I'm 27). Most importantly is that it just does not take months but years to complete in some cases, and that I need to do more research than I ever thought before. Another fun thing is that I've met a lot of nice people at Car Shows/Meets, always get asked questions at the gas station, or anywhere im parked, and thumbs up while driving. It's nice to hear people reminisce about how when they were younger they had a (insert car here), it puts a smile on there face. I'm sure when this project is completed that I will find something else that I would like to drive and start the process all over again.

Thanks, again for the feedback.