[Greg Reid]

What color is that car surfnuke9? Looks like code K Meridian Turquoise.
Good looking car.

[surfnuke9]

thanks. not sure it is even the original color though i suspect it is from the areas I have found under/behind the dash and in th trunk area that match.

I havent researched the color code to tell and probably wont. I am thinking something darker like techteachers burgundy or a deep sapphire blue to go with the white top and parchment interior.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by surfnuke9

I havent researched the color code to tell and probably wont. I am thinking something darker like techteachers burgundy or a deep sapphire blue to go with the white top and parchment interior.

There should be a letter next to PAINT on the data plate underneath the hood. You don't have to research it, just tell us what it is.

[techteacher5561]

Surfnuke9,
I wish my top looked that fresh. How hard was it to put on?

Mine is pretty stained, not sure if its original- might be- but it sure wasn't replaced in 1984 when they did the paint, too much wear compared to the paint, makes me think its older. All the rubber underneath is getting pretty checked and cracked, OK for now I guess, it works and I don't plan on getting wet in it.

I'm also surprised to see what looks to be tar paper on the floor. Thats what is under my carpets, I just figured the guy cheesed out on the right stuff when redoing the car before I got it. Plus there were alot less aftermarket parts back in 84.

Anybody know if there was normally something that looked like tar paper under the carpet???

Howard

[yakker]

Here is mine after paint. The before pics are posted earlier in this thread. Lots more work to do!

[surfnuke9]

Installing the top itself wasnt complicated, just a PITA to get the rear tack strips installed after stapling the rear curtain and side curtain portions in place, checking for ripples, unbolting, restapling, etc all while laying on your back in the trunk with your head resting on the seat back and hydraulic pump. By the way, the jack holder in the front of the trunk passenger side really causes a fair amount of pain after you lay on it for an hour.

Not fun, but not overly difficult. just VERY frustrating getting those rear tack strips in place.

The weathersrtipping along the side rails and the front can be replced without disturbing your top. the side pieces are held on by a small amount of adhesive and between 2 and 3 screws which hold them to the side rail.

Weathstripping is not hard to replace at all.

The "tar paper" is original sound deadener and is about 1/8 inch thick. Alot stouter than it looks.

Yakker, that is the exact color I had in mind for mine. What color is it?

I still havent looked at my plate for my paint code, I know I could just look it up, but havent bothered. maybe research was the wrong word to use.

[surfnuke9]

Just looked.

Paint code is D-1 which, if I read right, means it was built alpine blue metallic with an ivory white top.

[yakker]

Surfnuke - It is "Lemans Blue" off the Z06 Corvette. Appropriate name, huh? It is used on 2004 to 2006 model years. The same color is used on the Cadillac XLR and is called "Luxo Blue". These are the only two cars that this color comes on. It is actually an extra cost option on the Corvette, as it has two different pearls in it. I went dealership hopping for weeks trying to decide on the right color blue. It is a dizzying experience. It is much easier doing it this way than trying to decide from little paint chips. The chips just cannot show the true color that will come out on a large surface. I almost went with Chevy Indigo Blue from the 1998 - 2003 trucks, but I just couldn't resist the name "Lemans Blue" for a Pontiac.

[surfnuke9]

more progress....interior is about 3/4 done now.

[Greg Reid]

That parchment interior with white top will look great with any kind of blue.
Thanks for the paint code. Hard to tell Turquoise from that blue in a photo.

[techteacher5561]

Yakker, what tire combo are you running- they fill up the wheel wells nicely, I've got 245/60/15's front and back. thinking of going with a bigger tire in the rear sometime. Also the Lemans blue is sweet on your car.

Surfnuke, that parchment interior is really sharp! comparing the before pic with the blue interior and the parchment it just really seems to "Pop out" with the parchment. Other plus is if you're redoing the whole interior with parchment you most likely don't have to worry about matching 38 year old trim parts with new ones. In other words,,, new parchment and old don't exactly match. Ask me how I know,,,,

I'm jealous to see you guys making such nice progress, you should be proud.

Howard

[yakker]

TechTeacher, thanks for the comments.

In back I am running 15X8 wheels with 4.75" BS. The rear tires are 275/50-15.

In front, I am using 15X7 wheels with 4.25" BS. The front tires are 225/60-15. No rubbing issues whatsoever. The wheels are custom backspace.

Surfnuke- you will have one sweet car when it is done! Keep the pics coming.

[Blowd]

I rarely miss an opportunity to post a pic of the Tempest.
This a couple of yrs old before the paint failed,. I 'm in the process of prepping it for something really stupid right now...

[OHC6-Man]

Blowd, I'd be throwin that pic up any chance I get. With a backseat like that, I'd be tootin my horn all day long.


Yakker- thats some beautiful paint, and the chrome bumper looks great with it too. I guess I'll have to start goin to dealers trying to find some colors.

[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

[surfnuke9]

more progress. still need to install the stereo and align the front.

[ProDale]

I got this one for a pretty good deal. Not too bad...quarters have been replaced, but not done well. Fenders were molded into the front valance. Trunk is rusted out and previous owner had a drop in pan (not welded). Had a cheapy paint job done. Was originally Limelight Green with black interior and black top. I plan on doing alot of work. Got a nice 455 block that is going to be stroked to aroun 500ci with a nice pair of Edelbrock Alum. heads.

[Greg Reid]

Very nice looking LeMans ProDale.

[68Pontiac]

Two's a pair!

[tremo]

Nice shot, '68! To me, the '68 & '69 body styles are the epitome of a muscle car... :

Jim.