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#1
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64 Tempest Convertible Project
Hi all, I posted a picture of the Tempest project several years ago. Short version of the story....the car was my wife's grandmother's car since '64. We received it in '03. Here is a picture of it when towed home from Virginia.
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#2
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The Tempest was a daily driver for 25 years and racked up about 70k miles by the proverbial little old lady in Virginia. It was repainted once in the 80s in a slightly darker shade than the original Marimba red. I did a lot of resto work on the TA in my avatar in the '05-'07 timeframe, and realized the effort that would be required for the complete restoration the Tempest. Work has conspired to prevent me from spending similar time on the Tempest so off it goes to one of the best guys in the business.
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#3
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The car as built at the Baltimore plant; Marimba red, red bench seat interior, white top. 215 6 cyl and 2 speed automatic. Options are limited to remote mirror, AM radio, tinted glass, back up lamps, wire wheel covers.
Plans are to keep it mostly stock with a few updates and mods; front disc brakes with dual master cylinder power steering 200r4 4 speed automatic trans 3.55:1 final drive Working on the engine rebuild now. I am looking at a few mods to up the power output of the 215 a little; compression ratio, some port work, and possibly multiple carburetion. I am no Chevy 6 expert so I am doing my research to determine how to generate, ideally, about 225 lb-ft of torque and 200 horsepower. |
#4
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Lot of potential there!
Tom V.
__________________
"Engineers do stuff for reasons" Tom Vaught Despite small distractions, there are those who will go Forward, Learning, Sharing Knowledge, Doing what they can to help others move forward. |
#5
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Nice looking car.
What condition are the seats in? |
#6
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Sweet little Tempest Custom convert you have there, neat that it has some family history as well.
Love the factory color combo. Nice to see you're being realistic about the power potential of a warmed-over 215. I would highly suggest stroking it with a 3.53" crank from a Chevy 250, replacing the original 3.25" stroke crank. You never know, with a sonic check you might be able to take the bore size out from the Pontiac 215 3.750" standard bore size all the way out to Chevy 230/250/292 3.875" standard bore size and use a set of Chevy 250 pistons. If you can do that, no custom pistons needed. Another option would be to recreate the 'PONTIAC' block letters cast into the side of the block on a common Chevy 250 block using some JB Weld, and keep Grandma's 215 intact and safely tucked under your workbench.
__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42 1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56 2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23 |
#7
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If you aren't already aware...
...Tom is one of the first guys you might turn to for info;
http://www.langdonsstovebolt.com/
__________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did, in his sleep. Not screaming like the passengers in his car. |
#8
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updating more photos on the project....
The body is coming off the frame..... and there is waaayyy more rust than I expected! |
#9
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I did not know you could pull the entire body including the front clip off the frame like that. Is there any sag from the fenders to doors and is considered normal to go this route. I ask because I want to do this to my hardtop to detail the frame and engine but am afraid things won't line back up. My first car was a 65 Tempest, loved that little straight six. Nice project.
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#10
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I didn't notice that about the front end at first.
I'll be interested in seeIng what the crowd says - I can't look at that picture of him with his hand on the core support without thinking "I wouldn't put much weight on that. "
__________________
1965 Pontiac LeMans. M21, 3.73 in a 12 bolt, Kauffman 461. |
#11
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Quote:
Anybody want an air-cooled Super Turbine 300 2-speed trans? Free to a good home.... |
#12
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Quote:
Any issues with flex picking it up by the rockers? Like the doors hitting the body. Was that roller dolly something you made or bought? Thats an interesting take on the cowl bracing. At least you can hang doors doing it that way. What did you end up doing with the motor? I love seeing the progress on this great work. |
#13
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did you have any body mount bolt spinners that you had to cut into the floor boards?
No, but alot of the floorboards have been replaced (both front, L rear and trunk floor) Any issues with flex picking it up by the rockers? Like the doors hitting the body. Did not open the doors until the body was properly supported Was that roller dolly something you made or bought? You'd have to ask Nyle Wing, it is his. What did you end up doing with the motor? Rebuilt it, new pistons, valves, cam, bearings. Kept stock block and head |
#14
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put a OHC sprint motor in it nice car btw
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#15
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Will keep an eye on this thread. Working on a similar project myself, 64 Lemans ragtop, V8, frame off.
__________________
66 GTO, 495, M22, Strange S-60 w/4.10 Sold new at Royal Pontiac. 70 Formula |
#16
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Sorry I have not updated this post in a while, but progress has been steady. Alot of body work! After media blasting the rust was much worse than I expected. I pressed on anyway. Here are some photos of floor replacement....
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#17
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Looking good.
No project like this one gets done quickly or easily, thanks for the update.
__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42 1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56 2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23 |
#18
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Very nice.
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#19
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I found a nice solid RH door and L Fender in the desert southwest last spring.
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#20
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trunk floor was in serious need of replacement. Fortunately Ames sells a suitable replacement....
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