[U47]

Originally Posted by Safari Larry

Thanks b-man for all you're doing with posting these photos. This is VERY interesting.

Hey Larry how are you? What did you think of the condition of those water distribution tubes! Remember the story I told you about my 59 cat and it's 420"A" 's disintegrated brass tubes.....Twice! before we switched to 60 SD heads! I have a friend who pulled apart a very low mileage 57 347 and the tubes were perfect and stainless steel!

Don

[Safari Larry]

Originally Posted by U47

Hey Larry how are you? What did you think of the condition of those water distribution tubes! Remember the story I told you about my 59 cat and it's 420"A" 's disintegrated brass tubes.....Twice! before we switched to 60 SD heads! I have a friend who pulled apart a very low mileage 57 347 and the tubes were perfect and stainless steel!

Don

Yes Don, I remember that well, as I recall you had problems with them twice before switching to a '60 engine. Your's is the only post-56 tubes I've heard of that were brass. Pontiac switched from brass to stainless tubes mid year '56. The 55-56 tubes are different (round) than the 57-59 tubes. They are often very difficult or impossible to remove without destroying them.

[BruceWilkie]

Originally Posted by Safari Larry

Yes Don, I remember that well, as I recall you had problems with them twice before switching to a '60 engine. Your's is the only post-56 tubes I've heard of that were brass. Pontiac switched from brass to stainless tubes mid year '56. The 55-56 tubes are different (round) than the 57-59 tubes. They are often very difficult or impossible to remove without destroying them.

When I first got my present 59 block it had 1960 heads on it and gusher tubes in them(stainless) same as the tubes that were in the 59 420A motor I had at the time. They were in excellent shape in terms of corrosion or damage. I believe the shape was so it would be very difficult(except for an idiot with a hammer) to install with coolant holes facing the wrong direction. Both motors had been sitting since 62 when the owner died. The 420A was still in the car and still had coolant in it(31k on odometer) the other a fresh performance build that by all indications was never run.(It was sitting on ground next to the car). (car was found about 30 miles north of Syracuse NY in a colder snowier region) The "built" 59 had the ports heavily taped including water crossover and no intake.

[U47]

Originally Posted by Safari Larry

Yes Don, I remember that well, as I recall you had problems with them twice before switching to a '60 engine. Your's is the only post-56 tubes I've heard of that were brass. Pontiac switched from brass to stainless tubes mid year '56. The 55-56 tubes are different (round) than the 57-59 tubes. They are often very difficult or impossible to remove without destroying them.

I remember telling you that the engine for my car was one of those engines hand built in the Pontiac tool room as were all NASCAR engines. I'm wondering if that had something to do with it.