[Keith Seymore]

We were just discussing "hop up" tricks on another thread, and I was reminded of something that would fit here as well:

The discussion was installing "weaker mechanical advance springs" in a reworked distributor -

Remember those cloth hand towel machines that were in the men's rest room of the day (the ones that were a continuous loop)? You'd give them a little tug like a window shade, and they would present the next section of "clean" towel for your use.

Dad and his buddies discovered that there were little springs inside those, that were perfect for replacing the mechanical advance springs in the distributor.

He said, at one point, you couldn't find a bathroom in Pontiac or at Chevrolet Manufacturing where the towel rack worked. They'd just go "bzzzzzttttt" and the whole length of towel would end up on the floor......

[robz]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

We were just discussing "hop up" tricks on another thread, and I was reminded of something that would fit here as well:

The discussion was installing "weaker mechanical advance springs" in a reworked distributor -

Remember those cloth hand towel machines that were in the men's rest room of the day (the ones that were a continuous loop)? You'd give them a little tug like a window shade, and they would present the next section of "clean" towel for your use.

Dad and his buddies discovered that there were little springs inside those, that were perfect for replacing the mechanical advance springs in the distributor.

He said, at one point, you couldn't find a bathroom in Pontiac or at Chevrolet Manufacturing where the towel rack worked. They'd just go "bzzzzzttttt" and the whole length of towel would end up on the floor......

LOL! Now THAT is funny!

[Old Goat 67]

Remember those cloth hand towel machines that were in the men's rest room of the day (the ones that were a continuous loop)? You'd give them a little tug like a window shade, and they would present the next section of "clean" towel for your use.

Dad and his buddies discovered that there were little springs inside those, that were perfect for replacing the mechanical advance springs in the distributor.

He said, at one point, you couldn't find a bathroom in Pontiac or at Chevrolet Manufacturing where the towel rack worked. They'd just go "bzzzzzttttt" and the whole length of towel would end up on the floor......

Is that called "Necessity is the mother of invention." Or, would that word be procurement?

Charles

[65WJ]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

We were just discussing "hop up" tricks on another thread, and I was reminded of something that would fit here as well:

The discussion was installing "weaker mechanical advance springs" in a reworked distributor -

Remember those cloth hand towel machines that were in the men's rest room of the day (the ones that were a continuous loop)? You'd give them a little tug like a window shade, and they would present the next section of "clean" towel for your use.

Dad and his buddies discovered that there were little springs inside those, that were perfect for replacing the mechanical advance springs in the distributor.

He said, at one point, you couldn't find a bathroom in Pontiac or at Chevrolet Manufacturing where the towel rack worked. They'd just go "bzzzzzttttt" and the whole length of towel would end up on the floor......

Originally Posted by robz

LOL! Now THAT is funny!

Originally Posted by Old Goat 67

Is that called "Necessity is the mother of invention." Or, would that word be procurement?

Charles

That takes a very creative mind to wonder how a towell dispensor works.

So how did the word get out? hmm I would have kept that secret to myself.

I like your walking stick. I may need something like that in a few years. Arthur is rearing his ugly head in my right ankle. uggh

Great story Keith thanks for sharing

patrick

[Keith Seymore]

It's been a long, boring winter here in southern Michigan. We thought perhaps spring had sprung on Saturday; the forecast was for snow/freezing rain and (naturally) we awoke to a crisp, clear, beautiful morning.

So - I loaded up the GP and headed over to our Woodward Avenue bookstore cruise. Only Jim Kennedy and I were brave enough to drive our vintage Pontiacs (his a '62, mine a '63):







I the end, the forecast was dead on; by Sunday afternoon we had the freezing rain and slushy conditions that were predicted.

We call it "Indian Winter"....

K

[Old Goat 67]

Stunning car Keith!

I just love it when you post pics.

Charles

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Hey, Keith that is me in the Yellow and grey Corvette racing jacket and my red Expedition in the lot.
Yes, you and Jim did brave the cold and bring out the Pontiacs. But Jim Kennedy's heater doesn't work. Now that is really a case of cabin fever....and he just couldn't wait to get the car out...After all with that cold air you make more horse power...so what you can't get traction on...It is still a lot of fun.
Hope to see soon
Eric

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Keith,
I got a call from both of Jim Wangers' old drivers, John "Cheater" Politzer and "Fast" Freddie Foreman. They want to get together at the Auto Zone Book Store Saturday morning. Breakfast afterwards.
Eric

[Keith Seymore]

A couple updates -

a) Yesterday was June 11 and therefore was my seniority date and 32nd anniversary of starting with General Motors.

In celebration, I went to......

b) the Widetrackers Dustoff Car show!

Weather was a little punky but still a pretty good show.

I was honored to be asked to speak for a few minutes during the awards presentations about Mac McKellar. I spoke extemporanously (off the top of my head) and managed to fake my way through it, setting the stage for our first Mac McKellar memorial award, given to this gentleman for his beautiful '69 Grand Prix, complete with 428 cubic inch engine and redline tires mounted on steel wheels with dog dish hubcaps.



Link to more Widetrackers photos here: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...=1#post4340713

K

[Keith Seymore]

One of our PY members Bonneville Joe started a thread about taking his car back to it's original delivering dealer from some pictures (link: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=666290), and I thought "hey, I can do that, too!".

So - since this is Father's Day and I can do pretty much whatever I want, I drove the GTO over to 400 N Main Street in Royal Oak, formerly Royal Pontiac (and more recently formerly Jim Fresard Pontiac) for a photo shoot.

The building is actually being considered for a Kroger supermarket ( I have also heard they may tear it down), so I wanted to get some photos before that happened. These are intended to be primarily documentation of the existing buildings, but if one or two turned out to be somewhat artistic...well, that's a bonus I guess.

One other ironic thought: during my growing up years, when we were at Royal a couple times a week, it was a 50 mile ride. Now, as an adult, I live about 4 miles from this hallowed ground.

K

[Old Goat 67]

Bet you are glad you did that!

Neat!

[GT182]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Thank you, Rob -

Mirror was an option; base was no mirror, then manual mirror on the door or the top 0 the line remote mirror on the fender...



On a different thread, we have had some discussion about the dome lamps in the C pillar of that car, and that they may have not made production.

K

Your 63 GP brings back some fond memories Keith. Tho mine was also black it didn't have the 8 lug wheels. Interior was somewhat different, in that everything was red except the bucket seats and rear seat and headliner... they were white. Came from the factory that way I was told by the original owner. And it had the remote mirror on the fender. Also had an AM/FM radio in it with reverb and rear speaker. I sure miss that big ol landcrusier. It sure was a chick magnet.

Mine had the vacumm gauge on the consol. Does yours?

[Tenney]

Cool Keith!

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Keith,
I guess I better get the Black bird and the GTO over there ASAP. I can still remember in 1969 Sam Frontier, Ace Wilson's Parts Mgr, sending me up those steel stairs, to the area just above the parts department, to pick out any intake manifold I wanted for my car and passing RA/HO exhaust manifolds on the steps. Than as I got to the top of the stair case seeing all of those intakes, aluminum and cast iron, hanging from the rafters each by a hook and clynder heads lined up. Carb's etc. A new "take off" cast iron intake cost $10.00 and was considered used. I think the aluminum "take off" intake was a whopping $25.00.

Sam told me that when they changed enignes, warranty or otherwise they would get complete engines from the factory and turn them into short blocks. Then use the customers upper end on the new short block. He said they had to do it this why. I don't remember why he said the factory wanted it this for warranty work.

Author Dave Newhardt got a picture of my '68 GTO Bobcat convert, top down in front of the Service Entrance for his book, "Pontiac's Great One GTO". Dave also got a picture of my GTO in front of the orginal Ace Wilson's Royal Pontiac which is now Autometric's Body shop a couple of blocks north of the 400 N. Main building.

We used my '68 GTO for Jim Wangers "Crusing Woodward" video. They had me pulling into the service write up area as then pulling out on to Main St as they talked about all the guys coming in on Friday's for a Bobcat Tune up before hiting the strip.

What great memories.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by GT182

Your 63 GP brings back some fond memories Keith. Tho mine was also black it didn't have the 8 lug wheels. Interior was somewhat different, in that everything was red except the bucket seats and rear seat and headliner... they were white. Came from the factory that way I was told by the original owner. And it had the remote mirror on the fender. Also had an AM/FM radio in it with reverb and rear speaker. I sure miss that big ol landcrusier. It sure was a chick magnet.

Mine had the vacumm gauge on the consol. Does yours?

Thank you; the GP definitely gets it's fair share of attention compared to it's younger sibling. Kinda funny that when I decided to step out from under my dad's shadow, flexing my wings and declaring my independence, I end up buying the "box the GTO came in". I guess the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.

At any rate - yes - came with the vacuum gage, and then I added the factory style tach at a later date.

[70Steve]

Nice shots Keith.

That old black paint sure is photogenic!

I've got some shots from there as well, some new GTO's out the front, one in particular with some funny stripes on it too. Sadly not from 1968 though, more like 2004.
Having said that, I was glad I went there and took some pix. When I get a chance I'll post them up. Maybe here or the old dealer thread perhaps?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 70Steve

Nice shots Keith.

That old black paint sure is photogenic!

Thank you; the horizontal surfaces are pretty crackled, and there are hairs in the paint and fingerprints on the hood - but - it does look pretty good in photos!

Originally Posted by 70Steve

I've got some shots from there as well, some new GTO's out the front, one in particular with some funny stripes on it too. Sadly not from 1968 though, more like 2004.
Having said that, I was glad I went there and took some pix. When I get a chance I'll post them up. Maybe here or the old dealer thread perhaps?

Let's put those in the old dealer thread....

K

[Keith Seymore]

Today was the Widetrackers semi-regular caravan over to the Baker's Cruise and luncheon in Milford Michigan. Since it was a beautiful day I sort of spontaneously elected to join them, driving the Grand Prix.

I thought it was going to be just "us" Pontiac guys but it turns out there were several hundred cars of all denominations.





Some of the Widetrackers are parked down this row (you can see the Grand Prix about 3 cars in):







The whole upper field was full of these old vans like this:





Since the girls claimed they did not remember ever seeing the GM Proving Ground in Milford we headed over and drove up and down the entry road. I pointed out various buildings and test tracks that you could see from that vantage point, and stopped for a quick pic on the way out:



K

[Old Blue 66]

Havent seen this thread in a while. Great pics you shared Keith. Espesially the Royal pictures. I really enjoyed them.

[71ModelJ]

Why couldn't G.M. keep the building and sell Buicks GMC's or Chevy's. What a shame! Great pics. At least their not selling fn jap rides!