[DL60]

hi guys im starting to restore my first big pontiac i bought a 60 ventura 389 a.t. i got the car up and running after a lot of tinkering i was hoping to get the engine and tranny straighten out before i started the resto.i have been driving the car for about a week now and the problem im having is when the car shifts from 1st to 2nd it slips i can manually shift the car from 1st to 2nd and it doesn't slip. i was wondering if a filter change might help?? i have to admit i know nothing about the tranny other than i have been told its a slim jim. i have checked around my local parts stores and cant find anything about these trannys let alone a filter i just get a blank look from the people behind the counter so any help and info you guys could give me on this tranny would be a great help like is there a model number for this tranny,anywhere i might find a filter,and guess to what my problem might be with the slipping,if all fails is there any way a newer model tranny can be adapted to a 60 389.thanks for your time&help.

[DL60]

hi guys im starting to restore my first big pontiac i bought a 60 ventura 389 a.t. i got the car up and running after a lot of tinkering i was hoping to get the engine and tranny straighten out before i started the resto.i have been driving the car for about a week now and the problem im having is when the car shifts from 1st to 2nd it slips i can manually shift the car from 1st to 2nd and it doesn't slip. i was wondering if a filter change might help?? i have to admit i know nothing about the tranny other than i have been told its a slim jim. i have checked around my local parts stores and cant find anything about these trannys let alone a filter i just get a blank look from the people behind the counter so any help and info you guys could give me on this tranny would be a great help like is there a model number for this tranny,anywhere i might find a filter,and guess to what my problem might be with the slipping,if all fails is there any way a newer model tranny can be adapted to a 60 389.thanks for your time&help.

[Floyd Hand]

DAL60,

On this section, (61 and older) read the posts from about three weeks ago. A lot of info on the slim-jim's. Also go to the 62-66 section and do the same, read some posts of around two weeks ago.

At this time, I have a friend here in Dallas that is making a starter plate for the 61-63 trans. He's installing a T-400 in a 63 Cat. If it turns out OK, he may make up 2-3 plates to sell.

[Floyd Hand]

Your 60 came from the factory with the four-speed Hydro. trans. See my post on Classical. Like I said, read the posts here and you will find a lot of info. and how to change over to a later trans if you plan to do so.

[Steve Barcak]

The trans known as the "slim jim" was came out in '61 and was used through '64 in Catalinas and GPs. The '60 has a different bell pattern than a '61 -2. You may be able to find a filter if you keep watching ebay under 1960 Pontiac. Steve www.pontiacheaven.org

[DL60]

thanks alot guys im learning alot about the 60 just from this site.thanks again david

[stevep]

DAL60,there are several places you can get a filter,but they aren't cheap.
David Edwards:781-449-2065 in Mass.Call after 6:00 EST.
Fatsco:800-524-0485 NJ.
Northwest Trans Parts:800-327-1955 OH
If you give me a call during the day @ 617-327-2122,I can walk you through a few thing.

Steve Peluso POCI transmission tech advisor(and 60 owner)

The difference between inlaws and outlaws-outlaws are wanted

[DL60]

thanks steve i will do that.i have another subject that im sure that will have several different opinions if i decide to do a complete engine and tranny swap to a late model type set up will this kill the value of the car or help it.the car as it is now is all original minus the wheels i have installed a set of new chevy rally wheels as the original wheels were gone when i bought the car and someone has removed the steering wheel and installed a four spoke pontiac wheel and the radio has been removed but the dash has not been cut.the interior is still in real good condition and all original.i may try and sell the car and i don't want to do anything that will hurt its value.thanks david

[stevep]

Just remember,it's your car.The only way doing a late model transplant will hurt the value is if you restored the car to concourse show specs.I don't believe a later Pontiac drive train will hurt the value.But it depends what the next owner expects.
Before you do major surgery,give me a call.I'll be at work tomorrow,617-327-2122.
Steve

The difference between inlaws and outlaws-outlaws are wanted

[Steve Barcak]

How did you get chev rally wheels (4 3/4") to fit the 5" on 5" Pontiac pattern '60 has? I can't imagine a 400/400thm swap hurting value, anyone in the know is aware of the problems/short falls with the early engine/trans used in the early Pontiacs. I put a 455/400thm in my '61 and now have almost 100,000 mi on it. Steve www.pontiacheaven.org

[DL60]

steve i drove the car up to my local speed&custom shop the owner greg took the back space measurement that i needed and he measured the pattern and he hooked me up on the rally's they are the new unilug pattern and are 15x8 all around they fit great and tucked under the rear nice as the bottom edge of the quarter sets nearly halfway down the wheel giving it a semi tubbed look and i installed a set of taxi cab centers.i don't know were he ordered the wheels it took about 2 weeks to get them.as for the engine swap i may end up going that way i have been driving the car to and from work for a while now and to be honest its had for me to pull the old 389 it starts easy hasn't offered to smoke and so far hasn't used a drop of oil.if i could just get the tranny straighten out on the slipping i wouldn't even think about the change over.a little history behind the car i bought the car from the original owners son the car was tied up in an estate problem and the car sat for several years in a barn.i took a battery up and using a gas jug for the fuel tank i got the car home come to find out the tank was full of old fuel and rust so i had to remove the tank and have it vatted and treated i ran all new fuel lines added a new fuel pump&rebuilt the carb changed over to a hei distributor.the son that owned the car kept the car started and tried to drive it so it still had nice green antifreeze in it and the oil was very clean the problem he was having was the tank was so stooped up it would idle but when you gave it a lot of fuel it would die.i just got through doing a complete brake job i replaced everything from the booster,master cylinder,lines to the shoes.so now im close to starting on the body work i was hoping to get the tranny working right so i could pull the motor&tranny and get started on the body.thanks again david

[Jack Peters]

Steve,
FWIW, he could have also gotten a set of wheels that were off full size chevy's as they were optional in late 60's and early 70's.

DAL60,
Don't know how familiar you are with older Pontiacs, but if you have to change a tire on the left side of the car, REMEMBER, that you have to turn left to tighten and right to loosen. Should be a "L" in the end of the lug stud. You could break a stud if you tried to remove the lug nut the conventional way. Of course, someone may have changed them.

JLP

[Steve Barcak]

Full size chebs started the 5 on 5 (BOP and Cad)lug pattern in '71 along with 1/2" studs too. I wasn't aware that a rally wheel was offered on full size chebs 1971-1976. Steve www.pontiacheaven.org

[Jack Peters]

Steve,

I didn't realize that they (chev) were the smaller pattern until '71. Don't recall if they had special wheels after that. Hmmm. May have to go to a C site and ask. I believe that the 5 on 5 pattern was on 5 bolt pu/blazers after that date. Don't recall when 5 bolt patterns were on pu's and when 6 bolt was used. I had a blazer and van's with that pattern and the van of my son's has a buick wheel on it now. I enjoy learning this stuff.

DAL60, Can you take a pic and post it here. Would like to see what they look like.

JLP

[DL60]

jack here are some pictures and thanks for the info

[DL60]

i sent this picture because i have a question about the fog lights on the front can anyone tell me if these were a factory option or has these just been added on somewhere down the line i have searched the web for pictures but i have not seen another with these lights if they were just added on any guess on they are for.thanks david

[Floyd Hand]

DAL60, Not fog lights, parking lights from a Grand Prix, look to be 64, maybe 65.

[DL60]

thanks floyd and let me know how your friends starter plates turn out i may be interested

[Steve Barcak]

I think the 1/2 ton PUs went to the 5 on 5 lug pattern in '71 also. Before that they were 6 lug. Steve www.pontiacheaven.org

[Jack Peters]

DAL60,

Looks good with those wheels. I was 14 when that car was new. Brother had a '59 Bonne w/tripower. Hoping to find an older cat/vent to make a driver out of. Keep us posted on updates. Others will be interested.

JLP