[77 TRASHCAN]

Very nice, like you say, you've got a good foundation to start with. You only live once!!!

Are those E-heads, "D" port or round port?

Congrats from Mid America!!!

[Johnny99]

They're round port. Which is unfortunate as I really want to lose the headers. The plan is to run Ram Air Restoration manifolds but with the 64-65 everything indicates I need to move the engine back by a 1/2" by drilling holes in the frame. Not thrilled about that but there doesn't seem to be an option.

My ultimate goal is a cruiser I can use regularly during the summer. I have no plans of racing so the headers, msd , torque convertor , cam and carb will eventually go.

[SRR]

Nice ride!

[dhcarguy]

Originally Posted by Johnny99

I registered a looong time ago but never became part of the community, I'd like to change that.

I'm a long time Pontiac owner that's been without one for quite awhile. The kids are older so I'm just starting to get back into it a bit.

I was always a Goat guy and have had a few in the past, 68 auto, 65 3 speed, 69 ragtop auto, 68 ragtop HO 4spd, 70 Judge 4 spd, 66 ragtop auto, 69 auto. Though I've had some birds as well, 76 Formula 35, 76 Espirit, 79 TA, 67 ragtop, 82 TA , 84 TA, 89 Formula. Last was a 66 Tempest 326 ragtop, that was about 20 years ago.

I started looking for a 65 GTO a few months ago but a ragtop was out of my budget so I started looking at Tempests and LeMans'. Found this LeMans GTO clone/tribute/fake in Kentucky and took a long distance gamble. Didn't lose my shirt but didn't win the jackpot either. A little misrepresented but she's got good bones .

Anyway, hi.

Welcome back. I love your car....it's the right color.
My 65 GTO was sold new in Long Island at Montauk Pontiac(no longer there of course)

[Johnny99]

Wow. Montauk was beyond the boonies in the mid 60's. That's very cool

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by Johnny99

They're round port. Which is unfortunate as I really want to lose the headers. The plan is to run Ram Air Restoration manifolds but with the 64-65 everything indicates I need to move the engine back by a 1/2" by drilling holes in the frame. Not thrilled about that but there doesn't seem to be an option.

My ultimate goal is a cruiser I can use regularly during the summer. I have no plans of racing so the headers, msd , torque convertor , cam and carb will eventually go.

I'm just thinking out loud here...I wonder if you received any receipts or documentation concerning the engine build, or parts used.
The round port "E" heads have huge ports, not possibly the ideal "driver" heads, although on a 455 they are not nearly as bad as on a 400 or 389.

I like the idea of the 455 in your car, although it sounds a little radical as it sits now...
Sounds like you'll get it all under control in due time, this is not your first Pontiac rodeo.
Will be hopeful you share your future workings, here!!!

Many Pontiac enthusiast's would not recognize those wheels as Chevy wheels, they do not look bad, my opinion...LoL, Chevy folks won't recognize them either!!!

[dhcarguy]

OOPS! looks like they installed the front seat covers backwards.......... I've seen that many times over the years.

[racerboy]

Beautiful car and welcome to the club!


I dig the Username (98 shows and counting - hope we get a solo acoustic record after the Broadway run). I'm spending next weekend at the Crossroads Sheraton, in Mahwah. Located not too far from where the old Ford plant was.

Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that month...

[Johnny99]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

I'm just thinking out loud here...I wonder if you received any receipts or documentation concerning the engine build, or parts used.
The round port "E" heads have huge ports, not possibly the ideal "driver" heads, although on a 455 they are not nearly as bad as on a 400 or 389.

I like the idea of the 455 in your car, although it sounds a little radical as it sits now...
Sounds like you'll get it all under control in due time, this is not your first Pontiac rodeo.
Will be hopeful you share your future workings, here!!!

Many Pontiac enthusiast's would not recognize those wheels as Chevy wheels, they do not look bad, my opinion...LoL, Chevy folks won't recognize them either!!!

It is a little to radical, and not something I'm really used to. No receipts. The fellow I bought it from had no knowledge of the car at all. I might end up pulling the engine and taking it apart just to see what it is. Not something I really planned on doing, at least right away. Take the bad with the good I guess

[Johnny99]

Originally Posted by dhcarguy

OOPS! looks like they installed the front seat covers backwards.......... I've seen that many times over the years.

I didn't even notice. I am out of the loop

Looks like the bottoms are correct though

[Johnny99]

Originally Posted by racerboy

Beautiful car and welcome to the club!


I dig the Username (98 shows and counting - hope we get a solo acoustic record after the Broadway run). I'm spending next weekend at the Crossroads Sheraton, in Mahwah. Located not too far from where the old Ford plant was.

Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that month...

98 shows, you guys amaze me! Think I'm on 21.

Funnily I had a spare set of tix one night for the last round of Jersey shows, the person who bought them was up to 212, that's not the funny part. I went with my daughter and we had GA tix. Sitting on a blanket next to us was a family of 5 or 6. The youngest who was probably late teens maybe 20 had been to almost 40 shows. They lived local so would always get last minute tix. I've been going for 40 years and just cleared 20.

We get the Netflix show and the show cd soon. Thought the talk was of an E Street album next?

[Johnny99]

I've never been to Mahwah. Did get escorted off of the driveway of the Rumson house by security though

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by Johnny99

It is a little to radical, and not something I'm really used to. No receipts. The fellow I bought it from had no knowledge of the car at all. I might end up pulling the engine and taking it apart just to see what it is. Not something I really planned on doing, at least right away. Take the bad with the good I guess

Maybe you can drive it some on some short trips to possibly see what it's condition is, oil consumption wise, look at the engine crank case filter, see if it's got anything coming out of it,,,spark plug color...being a 455 it could possibly stand less gear and converter, depending on the cam installed...

65's are so cool, to me, a friend had one, rebuilt from several piles of junk. Had a 455 in it, Muncie M20, with tri-power. I was at the engine builders shop one fall afternoon. Engine builder had just put the final tune on the engine. He ttok out on the asphalt road in front of his house/shop, he went up road approx. 1/4 mile and got on it coming back. I remember seeing the front end raise up in 1st and 2nd gear, very noticeably, and the sound was awesome. He never abused customers cars on test drives. I will never forget that test drive...
Carry on!!!