[Poncho60]

I don't know where you get the clips by themselves. Just thinking that if you are "junking" you might have more options. the 55-56 rims are 15 inch (not sure about width..might be 5 or 5.5 inches)....std 57 and up is 14 inch unless heavy duty or whatever. I was gung-ho on the poverty cap thing until all of the clip crap started...i.e. the Fusick ones for Olds apparently don't actually work and / or are made of the wrong material. I have an NOS set of 60 poivery caps I'm actually thinking of unloading.

[Engine-Ear]

This week I am going to carefully measure, photograph and share what I can about the NOS clip (singular) I have. I will have no way to determine the specific steel used.

From friends' first-hand experiences, it is my understanding that the Fusick clips are dissimilar enough from the OEM design for PMD wheels that they are not advisable on a DRIVEN car (Probably more than adequate for a trailer queen). They had problems keeping the clips in the rims leading to loss of hubcaps and or they would crack in half upon insertion into the wheel.

[Safari Larry]

Originally Posted by Poncho60

Aren't the clips used on the 55-56 pontiac wheels with dog dish hubcaps the same? I've seen pics of at least a couple of 60's with wrong earlier dog dishes on them. I think the hubcaps are basically the same design as far as how they attach. Maybe I'm mistaken.

I think you are correct. According to 1960 MPC, clips are same for 1939-60. Reproductions have been available on ebay but I haven't seen them for some time. Photos attached of clip from a '56 Pontiac.

[Engine-Ear]

I am starting a new thread on rim clips in 62-66 for easier future searches...

[MOJO Catalina]

Originally Posted by Safari Larry

I think you are correct. According to 1960 MPC, clips are same for 1939-60. Reproductions have been available on ebay but I haven't seen them for some time. Photos attached of clip from a '56 Pontiac.

Thanks for this info. I'll be on the hunt for some so if anyone know where to find a set please clue me in.

[MOJO Catalina]

Got a parts wagon with better rear sheet metal and a few other goodies being dropped off this weekend ... Of course, the guy robbed the bumpers, fan shroud and sway bar but it has tinted glass all around and a few other goodies I can use... I'll be offering the rest up to the guys on this forum first and then on FeeRape I guess..

[MOJO Catalina]

Well, I'll be taking a crack at getting the original engine popping one more time in the coming days. It has compression, spark and fuel but just didn't want to fire up.. What else can it be? Bad timing chain? Can anyone tell me what you'd do next?.. The A1 is still on standby but with gas at $4 a gallon this Econ 8.6 engine is looking more attractive than ever..

[Engine-Ear]

oh man, $4 per is not a reason to swap engines... Deadhead said it best - 13 Smiles per gallon. Get rid of your cable TV but fer cripes sake, don't sacrifice your windshield time.

[Safari Larry]

MOJO, are you sure ignition timing is correct?

[Bill Hanlon]

Originally Posted by Safari Larry

MOJO, are you sure ignition timing is correct?

and firing order??

[MOJO Catalina]

I'll verify both of those things before my attempt to fire it up. Another thing I thought of was maybe the coil is weak. It was showing spark on the inline tester but maybe not jumping the gap at the plugs..

[MOJO Catalina]

Dang, where does the time go? I hope all's well with you fellers.
The wagon project hit a stall for a while but I'm hoping to get back on it soon.

My wife decided it was time to fix up our 1961 Yellowstone Camper so we could bring it up to the NC mountains by the end of August..



I'm hoping that next year the wagon will be the tow car..

Thought the timing appears to be right now, a buddy of mine has convinced me that my problem may be a worn timing chain/gear and that I'd be foolish to pull the engine without changing that and trying to fire it up again.

So, in the next couple of weeks I'll be over at the barn fiddlin' with the wagon.

[MOJO Catalina]

Just scored a '60 Star Chief with good front clip, doors and rear bumper.. details to follow.. I now have all the sheet metal and plenty of engine parts to fix my wagon.. Probably have to refab the tailgate jamb due to rot... Photos of "the Chief" to follow soon..

[MOJO Catalina]

I got this '60 Chief real cheap.. No title, no keys, engine stuck, tree fell on the back...
I had to go to a toxic waste dump to get it..



Worked on it for 3 hours yesterday..
The Key to my Catalina turned the ignition (first one I tried).
Tapped all the rockers with a hammer, sprayed the carb with PB Blaster, shot some blaster into each spark plug hole...Took a bit of monkeying in each direction but it finally winked about a 1/4 inch and stopped.. I had to get up inside and put my foot on the breaker bar but it broke loose.. Was a bit rough the first few times around but it's spinning pretty good now.. Put a small bottle jack in the trunk and pushed the dents up, hammered the creases a bit.. came up pretty straight..



I now have all the sheetmetal and plenty of engine stuff to fix my wagon.

Gotta get busy...

[MOJO Catalina]

Also, I may end up using the Star Chief side trim.. I saw a Canadian Laurentian Safari and really like the look of those stars..

[Rocky 389]

'60 engine/trans will come out in one piece. I yanked this 389 out or a rusty starchief 2 door sedan [really!] as a donor for my 56 cheiftain 2 door hardtop.

[twooldgoats]

Looks like progress is being made.

Jim

[MOJO Catalina]

Yep, I have collected all the parts now and with the extra sheet metal I have around here I can repair the floor pans in the wagon.. I have the floor brackets and bucket seats from a 64 Grand Prix I junked a while ago so maybe I'll use them.. It'll be a rat rod before it will be a restomod and maybe some day it will be restored to it's original plain jane state.. Hell, the guy that had it didn't care about it and was just gonna flatten it..

[Engine-Ear]

Originally Posted by MOJO Catalina

It'll be a rat rod before it will be a restomod and maybe some day it will be restored to it's original plain jane state.. Hell, the guy that had it didn't care about it and was just gonna flatten it..

- keeping a worthy builder from the crusher,
- building it YOUR way (instead of necessarily going full tilt resto right from the start),
- enjoying (hopefully) the project as it migrates toward your vision of it.

A winning recipe.

[BigAquaBonney]

Car is beyond cool.