[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by post toastie

The other fun fact on is the last 6 numbers on the custom s vin # is a palindrome.

Ha!...we did notice that!

Dennis

[Kenth]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

The standard GTO YS & WT engines just came with the 45 lb. pumps and non-hardened dizzy gear.Dennis

Wrong, the GTO 400 engines uses the 1111946 "dizzy" with the hardened gear and 60 lb. pump.

The 1969 350 HO M/T uses the #1111966 dizzy and the A/T uses the #1111965 unit.

[SD455DJ]

Thanks for straightening me out Kenth...brain fart on my part regarding the oil pump applications...However, this little 350HO does have the 1111946 dizzy, not the 1111965 unit. You can just make out the 1111946 on the close-up shot (terrible pics...wow...I'll try to get better ones soon).

Dennis

[KSZR]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Yes, thanks go out to Post Toastie for finding out about it. Having it sit only 5 miles away is another benefit (I think). My brother and I are really attracted to the weird and unusual Pontiacs and want to save them, if they are worth it.

I'll try to talk to the son to see if they kept any of the parts off the car (highly unlikely, but I have to try). We need this car like another hole in the head, but the 'pull' was too strong...lol.

Anyone need/want a dual quad set-up? It's definitely coming off the car in the spring!

Dennis

5 miles!? It was meant to be.

[johnta1]

Have you noticed any kind of secondary marks on the 48 heads?
Will you be measuring the chambers someday?

[SD455DJ]

John, we're bringing her home tomorrow, so haven't had any time to really give it the once-over. I think the engine may have been rebuilt but will confirm that as well once she's in the garage. We're going to replace the dual quad system sooner than later, so we may pop off the heads to see what's been done...or not, hopefully. We'll cc them too.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Drove the Custom S 45 miles totally problem free on the back roads 55-60 mph on those old Sears 4-ply polyester cord G78-14's...which rode pretty well with 28 psi! They weren't flat spotted either, which makes me wonder if the OO kept it stored on jack stands over the long winters. We have a very rich set of carbs that will be removed (along with the Offy intake) asap for a proper cast iron 4-bbl intake and Q-jet carb. We had to disable the front carbs mechanical linkage as it was too easy to flood the engine. We do have a '69 intake along with a couple 7029268 carbs to choose from. I was amazed at how tight and quiet it drove; everything works as it should too, all lights, AM radio, signals, flashers, dash, courtesy, gas gauge, etc. It was very well maintained by the OO. I forgot to say the carpet is still the original and I failed to test the horn...darn it!

Since it was burning so rich, we drained the oil as soon as we got to the garage as we could smell a slight hint of gas in the oil and didn't want to wash down the cylinders with continued driving. We also replaced the sooty black Champion J11Y spark plugs with new AC R45S's before hitting the road (which helped start-up immensely). The timing was only 3 degrees BTDC as we found the dwell was way up at 45. We couldn't successfully adjust it, so we reset the initial timing to 9 degrees and it had all-in with vacuum advance of only 40 degrees at 2500 rpm. It still ran great with that high of dwell.

I didn't try the Safe-T-Track out since I was worried about blowing one of the old tires and possibly having the dual quad linkage hang open on me. We're doing the typical Jensen response to a new car...time to tear her down and see what it needs. We'll be reporting on the progress.

Dennis

[b-man]

Such a nice car, certainly well cared for.

Anxiously waiting to see if the #48 heads actually have the 66cc or so chambers, as we have seen written about them when used on 350 HO engines.

[SD455DJ]

Bart, I can report that of the two '69 350HO engines that Dan has rebuilt, both heads measured 66 cc's after a very minimal cut to ensure flatness, so maybe 67/68 cc's as machined from PMD. If we take these heads off, we'll for sure measure them. We are going to Whistle the engine both cold and warm and compare to the previously mentioned 350HO's results.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Dan couldn't take knowing that crummy dual quad set-up was still on the car after I left, so took matters into his own hands...prest-O, change-O!

Possibly a new intake and carb on it tomorrow!

Dennis

[will slow gto]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Drove the Custom S 45 miles totally problem free on the back roads 55-60 mph on those old Sears 4-ply polyester cord G78-14's...which rode pretty well with 28 psi! They weren't flat spotted either, which makes me wonder if the OO kept it stored on jack stands over the long winters. We have a very rich set of carbs that will be removed (along with the Offy intake) asap for a proper cast iron 4-bbl intake and Q-jet carb. We had to disable the front carbs mechanical linkage as it was too easy to flood the engine. We do have a '69 intake along with a couple 7029268 carbs to choose from. I was amazed at how tight and quiet it drove; everything works as it should too, all lights, AM radio, signals, flashers, dash, courtesy, gas gauge, etc. It was very well maintained by the OO. I forgot to say the carpet is still the original and I failed to test the horn...darn it!

Since it was burning so rich, we drained the oil as soon as we got to the garage as we could smell a slight hint of gas in the oil and didn't want to wash down the cylinders with continued driving. We also replaced the sooty black Champion J11Y spark plugs with new AC R45S's before hitting the road (which helped start-up immensely). The timing was only 3 degrees BTDC as we found the dwell was way up at 45. We couldn't successfully adjust it, so we reset the initial timing to 9 degrees and it had all-in with vacuum advance of only 40 degrees at 2500 rpm. It still ran great with that high of dwell.

I didn't try the Safe-T-Track out since I was worried about blowing one of the old tires and possibly having the dual quad linkage hang open on me. We're doing the typical Jensen response to a new car...time to tear her down and see what it needs. We'll be reporting on the progress.

Dennis

This car doesn’t realize yet how lucky it is to end up in the hands of the Jensen brothers. The OO would be pleased. Any plans to respray in Palladium silver?

[SD455DJ]

Will Slow GTO, Thanks for the kind words...it's a disease and it's only been home for 1 hour and it's under the knife...lol!

There is quite a bit of mud around the rear wheel wells, so it would be nice to patch in new metal and so a scuff & shoot of Palladium Silver could be in its distant future. It's not going to be restored by any stretch of the imagination, but a nice 20 footer.

Dennis

[north]

Nifty! I did consider the car last fall but the salesman on the phone was evasive about the bodywork on the car. I never would have guessed it had an HO so that's a great find! Sounds like it's going to a good home, probably the only car like it left.

[SD455DJ]

Thanks North! It's really clean under the valve covers with all the original hardware in place on the valve train. Now were wondering if the nylon timing gear (and chain) was ever replaced (at almost 72,000 miles)!

Dennis

[north]

The highest mile engine I found with the original nylon gear was a 69 GP 428 HO automatic with 81,000 miles. They hadn’t failed but the teeth were probably one full throttle acceleration away from stripping.

I know it’s sacrilegious but I install NOS nylon gears on most of my rebuilds. It really reduces engine (not exhaust) noise.

[SD455DJ]

North, you'll probably never have an issue with the nylon gears with as little mileage these cars see any more. It'll rot before it wears out...lol!

It still may exist in this engine. We're going to stick a scope up the fuel pump opening to see what's there since we aren't tearing the engine down beyond the intake replacement...have to move it around for other work to get done.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

Dan discovered that it has its original 4-Q-69 AC Delco spark plug wires on it still that definitely have a 'set' and also its original Delco cap and rotor...amazing. Dan also set the new cast iron intake in place...getting closer to looking more factory original...and running.

Dennis

[Kenth]

4-Q-69 date would be for 1970 vehicles.

FWIW

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Maybe they are 4th Quarter 68 wires ?
Instead of 4 Q 69 (70)

Either way he appears to have been a concerning owner.
And the car sure got lucky -AGAIN- when you guys came along.

[SD455DJ]

Sorry, my bad, they are indeed 4-Q-68...2nd brain fart.

Thanks Kenth and BVZ!

Dennis