[b-man]

Originally Posted by Verdoro 68

Interesting approach for those wheels. That large of a flat area between the hub and rim looks a funny to me, but I guess your options are limited if you want a bigger tire with 8 lugs It need some thing to break it up. I saw these wheels at a GoodGuys show a while back and while they aren't actually 8 lugs, I thought they looked slick. I'm sure they were big money.

I also thought that large flat portion didn’t look all that good myself. Perhaps some skilled airbrush work could add some depth or detail. Either way it was a nicely executed build.

This afternoon I took advantage of the perfect mid-70s weather and cruised around the Santa Clarita Valley in the Le Mans, topping off the tank on the way home. Was pleasantly surprised that 91 premium had dropped down to $4.339.

[Verdoro 68]

We brought the Ventura home from the school shop last night. One thing that was immediately apparent by the squealing tires while going straight was that the alignment was way off. Other than that, it was a successful few miles home. The car stops great, so there's that.

Today was a full day of wrenching on the car. This morning I did a shadetree alignment to try to get the car somewhat drivable. We pressured washed the car and scrubbed it down to get as much of the Pacific Northwest and High School auto shop funk off as we could. I think a Comet wash might be in order next.

Next we took off the driver's door and fixed the severely worn out hinges. The back of the door was dragging on the sill plate and you could move the door up and down about 3/8". Had to get some oversize bushings, but it opens and closes like butter now. Cole scrubbed down the door panel with a magic eraser and it's in surprising good shape. The passenger door hing is worse and the pins are being stubborn so we left them to soak in WD40 for a bit.

I had him take off the carb so we could take it apart, clean it and Igive it a rebuild. It's currently soaking in Berrymans. We wrapped up the day trying to diagnose the lack of brake lights and turn signals. Turns out a few of the bulb sockets were bad and/or not grounded. Relatively easy fix with some new sockets I ordered.

Yesterday, I ordered Cole the material to redo his seats for Christmas from SMS. I think he'll be surprised.

[67drake]

My machinist called yesterday and said my block and stock crank were ready. He tanked the block then honed and took .005” off the deck , put plugs and cam bearings in. He polished the crankshaft and threw the valley pan in the tank because those are a pain to get clean here at home. $520! That’s including the bearings and plugs. That’s why it good to have a good Pontiac guy as a friend.
I’ll work on it a little here and there over the winter I still need to gather a few more parts.

[Verdoro 68]

Continued our work on the Ventura. Cole got up before I did and got to work reinstalling the carb. We tackled the passenger side door hinges, fixed the dash lights (bad rheostat in the headlight switch) and replaced the bad reverse light socket.

We took the car on a couple test drives around the neighborhood and the fasten seat belt buzzer would go off every few minutes. We weren't sure why, then we realized that we hadn't driven it with anyone in the passenger seat! It goes away by unbuckling and buckling the passenger side belt so there's a bad sensor somewhere.

The carb refresh definitely helped. Cole stomped on it at a stop sign and laid some rubber. I even had a minute to get a family photo for the first time.

Time permitting, we're going to try to get it aligned and registered this week so he can start driving it regularly.

[ponchjoe]

I converted the oil pressure gauge from mechanical to electric. I had two leak on my wood grain on the console and was tired of it. I used the Stewart Warner Green Line gauge and now need to find a matching electric Temp gauge.
As a backup, I tee’d the original light switch in.

[Verdoro 68]

Tried to get the Ventura registered on Friday afternoon and expereinced maximum bureaucracy. We started with AAA but they couldn't do it because they needed a previous registration slip (new policy), so they sent us to the DMV. The DMV couldn't do a VIN verification because the VIN is too old so they sent us to the CHP. CHP can't do a VIN verification until March and told us to get a temporary permit at the DMV.

Went back to the DMV to get a temporary permit and were declined a permit because we're missing some paperwork from the seller. Now I'm trying to get in touch with the seller to see if he can get us what we need. An out of state purchase on an old car in California apparently makes things much more difficult. I didn't not have any of these issues with my Trans Am.

Outside of that, been working fixing up the set of honeycombs. Cole sandblasted them at the shop, I shot them with flexible primer, sanded with 220 and top coated them with the OER brand honeycomb paint. I can get the finished texture close to what I remember on the original set my dad had by spraying the paint from far away and layering it on in light coats, but I remember the wheels being more matte but maybe that was from being weathered outside for 15 years.

Pic of an original set from 1991-1992ish


Sanding after primer


Finished top coat

[b-man]

Originally Posted by Verdoro 68

Tried to get the Ventura registered on Friday afternoon and expereinced maximum bureaucracy. We started with AAA but they couldn't do it because they needed a previous registration slip (new policy), so they sent us to the DMV. The DMV couldn't do a VIN verification because the VIN is too old so they sent us to the CHP. CHP can't do a VIN verification until March and told us to get a temporary permit at the DMV.

Went back to the DMV to get a temporary permit and encountered a were declined a permit because we're missing some paperwork from the seller.
Now I'm trying to get in touch with the seller to see if he can get us what we need. An out of state purchase on an old car in California apparently makes things much more difficult. I didn't not have any of these issues with my Trans Am.

A title service that specializes in old car registration should be able to jump through the hoops for you and get you taken care of.

I’m going to be using this one in the near future for a car I bought without paperwork. http://boulevardregistration.com/

[Verdoro 68]

I didn't know those services were a thing. I'll definitely check it out.

[T.Weber]

As b-man stated, a lien service will work. I've used Pats Lien service out of Livermore several times years ago - like 40 years ago. Back then they would send an invoice to the last known owner/address and bill them for towing & storage the storage part was the killer like $365.00 a day for storage. So, at $365.00 a day for a year equal $133,225.00 The previous owner can do nothing, and you get to keep the car or the or pay you $133,225.00 and get the car back. Back in the 90's I think I paid around $75 for their services. No one ever responded to the liens, so I got to keep the vehicles. The lien service provides you with all the necessary paperwork, you walk into the DMV and you walk out with the car in your name. Back then they didn't need to see the vehicle or verify the vin number etc.

[Scarebird]

Originally Posted by T.Weber

...Back then they would send an invoice to the last known owner/address and bill them for towing & storage the storage part was the killer like $365.00 a day for storage...

and towing companies wonder why all think they are scumbags.

[srmmmm]

Hit 1100 miles on the Bird today and can tell the engine is making good progress on the final break in stages. Finally got the Q-Jet close to where I want it with consistent cold start characteristics and reasonable idle quality. Very pleased there is absolutely no hesitation or surge coming off idle to WOT. I did discover that the needle on the fuel gauge is quite accurate and that there is absolutely no reserve when it reaches "E". The problem is the fuel pickup isn't low enough in the 18.5 gallon tank so after running out of gas, it only took 14.5 gallons to fill it back up. Some new rattles have shown up in the dash and I've got to get the poly bushings lubed, but it is a blast to drive!

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by Verdoro 68

Tried to get the Ventura registered on Friday afternoon and expereinced maximum bureaucracy. We started with AAA but they couldn't do it because they needed a previous registration slip (new policy), so they sent us to the DMV. The DMV couldn't do a VIN verification because the VIN is too old so they sent us to the CHP. CHP can't do a VIN verification until March and told us to get a temporary permit at the DMV.

Went back to the DMV to get a temporary permit and were declined a permit because we're missing some paperwork from the seller. Now I'm trying to get in touch with the seller to see if he can get us what we need. An out of state purchase on an old car in California apparently makes things much more difficult. I didn't not have any of these issues with my Trans Am.

Outside of that, been working fixing up the set of honeycombs. Cole sandblasted them at the shop, I shot them with flexible primer, sanded with 220 and top coated them with the OER brand honeycomb paint. I can get the finished texture close to what I remember on the original set my dad had by spraying the paint from far away and layering it on in light coats, but I remember the wheels being more matte but maybe that was from being weathered outside for 15 years.

Pic of an original set from 1991-1992ish


Sanding after primer


Finished top coat

Ken, some inspiration for you and your son.

Dennis

[Verdoro 68]

I don't know why they didn't offer those with honeycombs. IMO they look pretty sweet on that car with the Polyglas tires and the Sprint stripe.

[67drake]

Got out in the shop and threw some parts in the sandblasting cabinet last night. Came out and wiped them down with acetone today and shot some primer on them.
On the intake I sprayed around the exhaust crossover with some high temperature silver before I sprayed the primer. I did this on my GTO intake back in ‘08 and it worked well. Pretty sure the can I found in the shop was the exact same can I used in ‘08! Surprised it still worked.

[67drake]

So I started cleaning pistons today on the 400 I’m rebuilding. After I got the carbon cleaned off the #1piston, I saw someone had stamp a”2” on the top! How much you want to bet someone had this engine apart at one time, and stamped them according to the order they were on the crankshaft? We’ll see. Only one piston cleaned so far.
Funny, though, I didn’t think this engine was ever completely apart. Still had original bearings in it too.

[VCho455]

The ever diligent Inspector #2 was there.

[KSZR]

Originally Posted by 67drake

My machinist called yesterday and said my block and stock crank were ready. He tanked the block then honed and took .005” off the deck , put plugs and cam bearings in. He polished the crankshaft and threw the valley pan in the tank because those are a pain to get clean here at home. $520! That’s including the bearings and plugs. That’s why it good to have a good Pontiac guy as a friend.
I’ll work on it a little here and there over the winter I still need to gather a few more parts.

Who is your engine guy? Not many Pontiac engine guys left in Iowa that I know of.

[67drake]

I’ve used Wayne Shicantek
(414) 801-9230

Been using him since ‘07. He’s in East Troy Wisconsin. Very reasonable prices, and he’s a Pontiac guy. Search his name on this site.
Example-He tanked my block, honed cylinders, decked, put in cam bearings and core plugs. Also polished crank and tanked my valley pan. Charge- $520 including parts.
Don’t know if he gives those prices to everyone, but he’s my go to.

[KSZR]

Thanks

[Verdoro 68]

Originally Posted by b-man

A title service that specializes in old car registration should be able to jump through the hoops for you and get you taken care of.

I’m going to be using this one in the near future for a car I bought without paperwork. http://boulevardregistration.com/

Following up, Liz gracious helped us with the Ventura registration. I had a local VIN verification guy come out last week (bypassing the 3 month wait for the CHP) and sent all the paperwork down to her. Plates are in the mail

After morning festivities, we spent Christmas day wrenching on Cole's car. He installed new door weatherstripping (x-mas gift) and I got 1/2 of the valve stem seals replaced. Most seals were non existent or came off in crunchy pieces. What a tedious PITA job. Cylinders 5 and 7 are lower on compression, so a rebuild is in it's future at some point, but we'll see if this helps with the oil consumption in the mean time.