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Members Helping Members help Buying a non Pontiac item, transportation help, Handy-man advice, directions, vacation ideas, places to dine, ebay and generally anything you think might help other members. |
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#21
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Yep. |
The Following User Says Thank You to 400 4spd. For This Useful Post: | ||
#22
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Just because you can……doesn’t mean you should.
The proper solution: Procure a nice 1964 GMC or Chevy 3/4 ton truck and install a Pontiac 455 and TH400. Do a front disc brake conversion and you’ll be set, nostalgia and solid old Pontiac V8 torque and reliability. Primitive and a little uncomfortable but you’ll be looking oool doing your thang man.
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1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42 1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56 2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23 |
#23
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There are really only 1 or 2 trucks that I would ever want to spend very much money on, but they aren't exactly ideal for trailers as they would both be lifted 4x4 with big tires(Fall Guy replica or a more driveable version of the late '70s Bigfoot). Otherwise, it's just doing the most I can with the least $.
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"What the hell's wrong with freedom man? That's what it's all about." (Billy) "Oh yeah, that's what it's all about alright... but talkin about it and bein it, that's two different things." (George) Easyrider |
#24
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In 1969 on our way to Detroit Dragway. '65 Catalina with a 4 speed conversion towing a '57 New Yorker. We were just kids.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to HoovDaddy For This Useful Post: | ||
#25
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I am old enough to have driven most of these cars when they were new. I knew NOBODY back then that towed with a truck. Trucks were uncomfortable, didn't handle worth sh-- and contrary to what you may think had LESS power that most mid sized cars. Most people that I knew that had pickup trucks had either a 6 cylinder or a small V8. They were all used for work. If you went on vacation you towed your camper or boat (even large ones) with the family sedan or station wagon. If you use common sense you will have no trouble.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Goatracer1 For This Useful Post: | ||
#26
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I have no proof, but I think my 63 Bonne wagon was ordered w/a 4-speed for use as a tow vehicle.
James Q
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James Quayhagen 1963 Bonneville Safari - Nocturne Blue, 4-speed |
The Following User Says Thank You to jamesq For This Useful Post: | ||
#27
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I towed my stock cars more times with one of my cars than a truck. I had a friend that used his truck to flat tow my stock car, 1968 GMC 1/2 ton, with a 3 on the tree, and a 250 cubic inch sraight 6. I used to ride in the car while we were towing, so I could do some of the braking with the race car brakes. I also would start the race car up when we came to a hill to push his truck. It was pitifully underpowered. He might make it in second gear on a big hill if I didn't start the race car up and push him. That 400 Pontiac would get you up the hill in a hurry............ Nights when we got rained out, it was a miserable ride back to town with no windows, except the windshield. You were soaked to the skin by the time we unhooked the car. We thought it was fun at the time.......LOL.. |
The Following User Says Thank You to Sirrotica For This Useful Post: | ||
#28
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A lot of excellent points have been covered. My big thing is yes you can pull it, but can you stop it? Those old drum brakes were adequate before we got used to 4 wheel disc brakes. You have to know what’s coming and be braking early. No panic stops! Also those old transmissions are just that, old! Unless you have a Turbo 400 installed , I wouldn’t tow. I can remember in the 70s when it was a big thing to tow big airstream trailers with big GM cars. Most were ordered with towing packages with optimal rear end ratios, heavy duty cooling systems, heavy duty springs and shocks, and 455 V8s with Turbo 400 transmissions. Also 10 ply tires are needed. You might be OK if you are just going across town,but not long distances. JMHO.
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#29
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Me, young n dumb in 1978, at Lake Greenwood, SC, my '68 Firebird conv 350-2bbl, ST300, 2.78, 4 wheel std drums The hitch was a loop type that bolted to the bumper and had a bar that went forward of the trunk floor. I did only pull it from the lake house to the ramp a few miles away though.
I was smart enough to pay the tractor service there to launch the boat though These days I use a 1994 Buick Roadmaster wagon or 2013 Silverado, both with receiver hitches, weight distribution system, and brake controllers! Oh and GM's 5k rating on the wagon and 7k on truck.
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------------------------------ 1968 Firebird Convertable - my original HS car! 1978 Firebird Esprit "survior" 1930 Ford Model A Coupe .. (original) 1994 Buick .."TowMaster" ...woody wagon |
#30
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discs start to shine is *consecutive* stops, brake fade is not fun. But you can cook modern brakes too. Knowing the limits (regardless of which style is used) is kinda important. |
The Following User Says Thank You to 242177P For This Useful Post: | ||
#31
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Dragging a loaded trailer at highway speeds without brakes, more than 1500# isn't safe anyway, no matter whether it's being pulled by a car, or a truck. Having disc/drum, or 4 wheel disc brakes on the vehicle towing it still isn't going to stop it any quicker/safer. The key is having either a surge system on the trailer, or electric brakes with a decent controller. The whole rig needs brakes on the axles so it stays in line when you have to stop abruptly. Trouble starts when the tow vehicle is doing the stopping, being pushed by the trailer, a jack knife is a good bet in that situation, been there, done that. Just for the record, I've done some of the dumb stuff early on that I'm recommending not to do. Bad experinces led to recommending others not follow my blunders. I was lucky that I got away with some of the riskier things I've done without consequences.
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Brad Yost 1973 T/A (SOLD) 2005 GTO 1984 Grand Prix 100% Pontiacs in my driveway!!! What's in your driveway? If you don't take some of the RACETRACK home with you, Ya got cheated Last edited by Sirrotica; 02-12-2024 at 08:50 PM. |
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Sirrotica For This Useful Post: | ||
#32
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You people keep bashing Drum brakes but I wiped out the disc brakes on my Caprice wagon coming down Mt Washington because it had no engine braking. I had previously driven the Mountain with my 1966 Tempest and my 1965 GTO with no problem slowing down. Both had the tiny stock drums. Engine braking! Also people keep forgetting the TRAILER brakes. I see NO problem with braking while pulling your trailer.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Goatracer1 For This Useful Post: | ||
#33
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Looks like it only wants to go around in circles.
You should really get that checked out. Didn't much care for fake wire wheels before, a nice set of 15s might make me reach for my wallet today. Weird. |
#34
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We got our first truck in 1969.
K
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'63 LeMans Convertible '63 Grand Prix '65 GTO - original, unrestored, Dad was original owner, 5000 original mile Royal Pontiac factory racer '74 Chevelle - original owner, 9.85 @ 136 mph besthttp://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ My Pontiac Story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 "Intro from an old Assembly Plant Guy":http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 |
The Following User Says Thank You to Keith Seymore For This Useful Post: | ||
#35
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Growing up, Dad special ordered our family's first unofFicial tow vehicle, that was early in the Fall of '68. Midnight green with a limelight green top '69 Executive Safari wagon. 428 T400, AC, HDC, 3.23's. Dad had one of his Pontiac rep contacts @ zone 20 drive it til near 3000 miles so he could get the best GM employee deal.
The Spring of '69, Dad then equipped the Safari with a trans cooler & very HD Equalizer hitch. Very similar hitch to todays Class 5 hitch, no breakaway box. Not every Summer, but at least every other one, our family was fortunate to head out on a 3 or 4 week vacation. Once at our destination, the trailer was parked in a good campground spot & Dad served his 2 weeks summer duty at a nearby AFB. Early July of '69, Colorado Springs area, '71 was near Maumstrom AFB in Montana. Last one long trip was in western WI, not sure on the base. As far as the Pontiac Safari wagon went, Mom drove it as the family driver til Oct of '75. Dad had a company car till the Fall of '77. The turbo 400 in the Safari never had to be rebuilt, the 428's timing chain was changed early on. Through the late 80's up through today, hitting many massive boneyards through extensive travel, have ran across less than a dozen '69 Executive & Bonneville Safari wagons. Have a better chance seeing one at POCI Nats, many higher C/R wagons simply were gone by the 90's.
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Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms. Last edited by 'ol Pinion head; 02-13-2024 at 10:44 AM. |
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