[SD455DJ]

Dan checked the plugs and it is burning much leaner now with the Q-jet vs. the dual quad set-up. With that awful get-up it would burn blue from the tailpipes just idling and puff out black taking off from a stop. It was washing down the cylinders something terrible...now it burns totally clean from the tailpipes and doesn't load-up and foul the plugs anymore.

Dennis

[Shiny]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Yeah, I'm probably living on borrowed time, so I better plan on replacing it soon. North, what is the part number of the Spectral Premium fuel pump? Thanks!

Dennis

I may replace my pump so appreciate the Spectra recommendation. There are LOTS of threads discussing mechanical fuel pumps and how the quality can be suspect. I think mine (unknown brand) may be supplying excess pressure and contributing to my historic flooding issues. I just installed a Spectra gas tank and I was happy with it, so I held a fuel-pump click festival yesterday to look for a Spectra pump.

The Spectra part number for the 3-line short can pump is SP1161MP. If you follow the link to the Spectra website, they show the finish is the modern "iridescent" chromate, which I suspect would not be "accurate" if you are trying to restore the car. For me, knowing it might work is more important.

Mine is a 70 2-bbl 350 with AC which may be different than your 69 4-bbl 350HO but I think they used the same pump, as both are 3-line short can.

The options for me locally are:

NAPA: NAPA Brand FUP B0169P ($46), Delphi DFP MF0155 ($37)
O'Reilly: Premier ??? ($23 ?) , Delphi MF0155 ($34)
Autozone: Delphi AMF0155 ($40), Spectra B1161MP ($23)

Online I also found:

Carter: M4885 ($20 to $40)

Ames doesn't seem to offer a 3-line short can pump.

I was leaning "name brand" (Delphi or Carter), but Spectra is less expensive and now has an endorsement! I don't know why Autozone lists a different PN than on the Spectra site but I assume they are the same part.

Mike

[Shiny]

So...

Autozone told me their part number B1161MP is the same as Spectra Premium SP1161MP.

That was potentially inaccurate.

I called Spectra and was informed:

1. SP1161MP is no longer sold by Spectra in the US

2. They sold their pump division in 2020 to a company I understood as "Trico" who may or may not be adhering to the same design and quality standards

3. They know of no source for that part number other than old stock, perhaps through Amazon or a Canadian auto parts retailer

Net: I don't trust Autozone and will now call Carter and Delphi before purchasing a pump. I do see Delphi has their brand name cast into the body, at least in the "representative images" online.

What a mess....

Who you gonna call? Ghost Busters!!

[SD455DJ]

Mike, Thanks for doing all that investigation! We'll try our local auto parts store to see if they can find an obsolete Spectra Premium pump. If we can't find anything we can always go to a '70 deep cannister pump and fuel line to the carb.

Dennis

[north]

Interesting, I see them still on the corporate site, no mention that they don't sell them. There are some on eBay but about $100 so maybe there are only old stock left

[SD455DJ]

North, do you have the AMA weight pages for the Tempest/Custom S/Lemans for 1969 you could post? I'd love to have a copy. Thanks!

Dennis

[north]

Dennis,

It's about 50 pages, it will be easier to email it to you,

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by north

Dennis,

It's about 50 pages, it will be easier to email it to you,

Sorry, I just meant the 1 or 2 pages that list the model curb and option weights.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Here's the '71 version as an example...

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

I finally connected with the wife of the original owner of the Custom S and she confirmed that no spare parts, like the original intake, carb, and air cleaner were saved. She mentioned that her husband probably gave them away to a friend in need, or who asked for them, as he was that kind of guy to give things away for nothing if he thought a friend needed them…and for no money. She wasn’t sure if there was any original paperwork from when they ordered it new back in the fall of ’69. I asked if they had any pictures of the car over the years and she would look in their photo albums but are still in storage and haven’t been unboxed since her husband died 3 years ago. She said if she found anything she would contact me.

She did say they special ordered the Custom S and it is the proverbial compromise car…he wanted a 4 speed GTO and she wanted a family car as she was expecting their first child, so it had to have 4-doors and an automatic transmission. So, he ordered it with the most performance he could get…the 350HO, TH400, and HD Safe-T-Track for the standard 3.55 rear end. They got the Custom S as it had an all vinyl interior (mom want for easy cleaning with kids) and carpet. She said the car was surprisingly fast and she liked to ‘squeal’ the tires at stop signs (pretty cute for an 80-year-old lady to recall those fun memories). They did drive it through the winter for several years, but he would thoroughly wash the cars in the city garage wash bay regularly as he worked in the city maintenance department.

She didn’t know if the engine was ever rebuilt, but she said he was always in the garage tinkering with it. The jury is still out on that point. He stopped driving it winters in the mid-70’s and got involved with Jeeps and old tractors, so the Custom S was relegated to the back corner of the garage most of the time. He was planning to repaint is silver (hence the gray primer everywhere), but never got around to it. She also said the Kraco 8-track player still worked when they consigned the car last fall and it came with a half dozen tapes we found in the glove box. She also said the 72,000 miles was original and didn’t go around.

Dennis

[JSuchma]

What a time capsule!!!! You don't find a jewel like that anymore. Please keep everyone updated as you turn over the stones of your hidden treasure. Thanks Dennis

[north]

Here you go…

Few comments, curb weight includes the fuel and coolant already. 350 HO includes weight of dual exhaust.

You can deduce from this that the Saginaw 3 speed was 32 pounds lighter than HD 3spd (ford) used on GTO’s.

If you adjust for equipment a GTO hardtop and the Custom S 4 dr sedan with 350HO are within ten pounds of each other.

[north]

The story from her jives exactly with what you see looking at the car

[north]

Btw, just for fun I studied the pictures and here’s what appears to be the original option load…

350 HO (includes duals)
TH400
STT 3.55
Pwr drum brakes
Pwr steering
Dlx wheel covers
AM radio
White wall tires

It may have had a clock. Nifty to see a non tint windshield and non retracting wipers.

Eight options is typical for a low end model, if it had the 350 2bbl it would have been your typical 4 dr sedan Tempest or Custom S. By the way with the options it has retail price ;not including delivery would’ve been $3,332.73 (add 15 cents if it was shipped after Jan 1st 69 ;-)

I wonder if he ordered R&H? You can tell by the sway bar, standard is 15/16” and with ride and handling it used the GTO bar (1”).

[north]

Btw, a GTO hardtop optioned the same way TH 400, STT, PDB, PS and AM radio would come in around $3,700.

[north]

Dennis, noticed on eBay two auctions that may be of interest to you, one is an NOS set of fender emblems at $125, other is a minty set of originals at $85. Those red “S’s” really pop!

[SD455DJ]

Thanks North for the weight schedule and all your other input regarding the option load and costs, I really appreciate that! I'll check out the Ebay auction for the Custom S emblems! We'll have to check that front sway bar size to see which one is there. It wasn't an expensive option, so could be...? I plan on getting the PHS next week, so that will confirm the option content.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by north

Btw, just for fun I studied the pictures and here’s what appears to be the original option load…

350 HO (includes duals)
TH400
STT 3.55
Pwr drum brakes
Pwr steering
Dlx wheel covers
AM radio
White wall tires

It may have had a clock. Nifty to see a non tint windshield and non retracting wipers.

Eight options is typical for a low end model, if it had the 350 2bbl it would have been your typical 4 dr sedan Tempest or Custom S. By the way with the options it has retail price ;not including delivery would’ve been $3,332.73 (add 15 cents if it was shipped after Jan 1st 69 ;-)

I wonder if he ordered R&H? You can tell by the sway bar, standard is 15/16” and with ride and handling it used the GTO bar (1”).

North, Right on with the visual assessment of the options. All the glass is original non-tint too. Looks like the weight is 3702 lbs. with the options...very much like a GTO of the era (3741 lbs.).

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Dan Whistled the 350HO engine today and we were surprised to see a cold compression readings of 10.1/10.2 to 1! We've seen 9.7/9.8 on original 350HO's, so we're not sure what's making the higher readings...oversize pistons? cut heads? from a rebuild? Probably so...

Dennis

[Shiny]

!!!