[Txbobcat]

I would go with the 4 speed. Good luck

[63gpman]

Yup, go with the 4 speed..............ever hear anyone say, man that big old boat was so cool .......and it was an automatic!!

[Rapdron]

I would love to make it into a 4 speed car
The only parts I would need to buy would be a decent clutch set-up.
Guess I need to decide before I ship out the frame to get painted.
My new Millermatic 211 mig welder arrived today.
Maybe I should practice welding on a frame bracket for the Z bar.
The floors, trunk, lower quarters and rear window channel will be next.
And that's what I can see right now. Can't wait to see what else turns up.
Should be an interesting summer and fall at the minimum.
I have a 66 Bonneville 4 door parts car I can use for the lower quarter patch panels and trunk floor.
I hopefully should have enough good flooring to repair the 2+2 floors.
At least the NOS front fenders, tail panel and bumpers will make my life just a little bit easier.
My Bucket List Dream car, a 66 2+2 ................ I'll need to keep reminding myself of that.

[Deadhead]

Originally Posted by 63gpman

Yup, go with the 4 speed..............ever hear anyone say, man that big old boat was so cool .......and it was an automatic!!

No, but after sitting in a 4 mile traffic jam on the Interstate I have said, both "I wish it was an automatic" AND "I'm glad this is an automatic". It all depends on how you are going to drive it and where. I love rowing gears, and I grew up with both cars and big pickups that were all manual (neither of my parents have ever owned an automatic vehicle and they are near 80), but if you are not stoplight racing, hauling a trailer or doing mountain rally runs, an auto is very nice in a 4000# car.

I have the same dilemma on one I am building since I no longer have a 4 speed car, and I am leaning more to an auto since I never drive less than 75 miles when I go out and am on the highway a lot. It is a pleasure to stomp it and have it drop a gear and be able to manually shift it with 2 fingers with the power seat in a semi-reclined position. Luxury AND performance.

[65WJ]

Originally Posted by Rapdron

Spent last week stripping the car to it's bones.
Front clip off, interior completely removed including the dash & wiring.
Inner & outer A/C & heater boxes removed, tagged & labeled all the vacuum hoses & wires.
Unbelievable how many different vacuum lines because of the A/C, the cruise control & the vacuum trunk release.
Lot of rust, a lot of work.

I just need to keep reminding myself it's my dream car.
1966 was a special year, not just for Pontiac's 2+2
Had my first date with my then girlfriend, now bride.
One of the reasons I wanted a 66 to restore.

Trying to decide if I should keep the automatic, or convert it to a 4 speed.
Not concerned about original, since it now has a 65 389 under the hood.
I just happen to have a complete 4 speed set-up that I tried to sell recently, and glad that everyone who positively wanted to buy it flaked out.

Sending my 68 428 to the machine shop to get freshened-up;] will wait to see if I keep the 3.08 posi currently in her, or install the 3.42 I pulled from that 66 4 speed Bonneville 2 years ago.
I guess it will depend on if I keep the automatic, or go 4 speed.
My heart says 4 speed.
My spare boxed Catalina frame goes next week to get sandblasted and painted.
The original one was soooo bad, the doors barely closed.
Definitely will be adding the NOS dash tach I just bought along with the new cup courtesy of Ian!

It will definitely stay that gold color with a black top & interior.
It really is a great color combination........... Right Keith

Pictures will follow shortly as I decided to take off the 4th and spend this week with my bride at the Jersey shore.

Ron

well if you like replacing ac compressors run the 3:42's
I made the mistake of running 3:55 in my GTO with AC. I have replaced 3 comprssors and 2 clutches.
I am going back to the original 3:23

patrick

[Rapdron]

Patrick
The 4 speed option won.
I started the 4 speed install on Friday.
The pedals are in, swapped the lower steering column support plate for the 4 speed one.
I have a section of the front floor with the cutout for the shifter I removed from a parts car years ago to use as a template.
I will keep the 3.08 rear that it came with for now, the 3.42 will stay in the shed.
The original brake pedal assembly with the cruise parts also goes on the shelf.
I will keep all the cruise & automatic parts for future reference.
Ron

[barrierblue66]

Originally Posted by Deadhead

It is a pleasure to stomp it and have it drop a gear and be able to manually shift it with 2 fingers with the power seat in a semi-reclined position. Luxury AND performance.

Yeah man!