Time To Replace The Front & Rear Brake Shoes & New Front Timken Wheel Bearings On The 63 Pontiac Gp

1973-77 Monte Carlo another possible.
1973-75 Chevy Laguna like Dorien had.
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme another.
Then Buick.
Cadillac used in Deville.

Back then each were still making thier own differentisls . Eventually moved to all Saginaw GM division built.
Used to be a Hotrod Article to identify all GM 8.5 variants.
 
chromebumpers said:
Son of a bee’s butt! Took the diff cover off, no C clip! Looks like someone welded something in there. Just as well. The backing/dust plate for behind the caliper mounting bracket doesn’t look right. I thought his rear was for an Impala of the same year, guess I was wrong there as well.
The prior last two owners won’t return my calls despite that I prefaced my request stating No matter what, I’m not about to complain or give anyone a hard time over anything.
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Makes more sense to use the New Rear Disc brake kit you bought.
Remove the axle shafts- bolt in bearing retainer Wedding Band lock rings style today .
It's either a Ball Bearing End bearing or tapered roller bearing used.
If oil seals are Ok reuse.
If they have been leaking outboard seals need to be replaced.
Then mockup New Rear disc brakes.
Sometimes they need to be shimmed up with washers supplied. How Wilwood disc brake kits are most Chicago Street Racers use.
Disc brakes have advantage of not fading under Super High speed stops.
Drum brakes on rear axle actually have more holding power for Drag Race Foot Brake style Launches used such as Bracket Drag Racing.
Takes a 6-piston rear disc brake caliper on rear axle to get same dead stop holding power or Twin - 2 brake calipers on each side of rear Differential.
Seems backwards disc should hold better dead stop but Musclecar GM drum brakes were Engineered Best of all by big 3 Detroit.
Pontiac always used Self Energizing drum brakes.
1963 Pontiac was 1st year of self adjusting drum brakes.
 
chromebumpers said:
This is for sale very close to me. This has been for sale quite awhile now, can My Cat benefit by using this? Price? Too chancy?

https://allentown.craigslist.org/pts/d/plumsteadville-accel-supercoil/7370244691.html
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They work and are nice the Original Accel Super Coil. I had one on the 63 Pontiac 1st 455 back in 1998 with an Accel Dual Point Pontiac V8 distributor. Worked just as Good as GM HEI maybe better because the Accel distributor had a Superior mechanical advance mechanism.
That Accel coil looks brand new. $40 a good deal.
 
What is the difference between this one and the Accel Super Coil that looks like the standard size cylinder coil? Both have a top voltage of 45,000. The smaller one says “Breakerless” Do these go bad? Can it be tested with a multi meter? Thinking of asking if he’ll take $30 for it - it’s been advertised again, this time for a month no interest.
 
chromebumpers said:
What is the difference between this one and the Accel Super Coil that looks like the standard size cylinder coil? Both have a top voltage of 45,000. The smaller one says “Breakerless” Do these go bad? Can it be tested with a multi meter? Thinking of asking if he’ll take $30 for it - it’s been advertised again, this time for a month no interest.
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The Big Yellow One is meant for Points Yes. Designed during the early 1970s for the Super Stock and Pro Stock Racers.
A bit Historic and Kool in my book.
You can test the coil with a multimeter.
They can go bad but I have never Seen the Big Accel Super Ignition coil ever fail.
Probably work 100 years from 2021 Domsday.
Mad Max will appreciate it when all other modern Electronics died.
 
Bleed the brakes on the 63 Pontiac Gp.
I have an excellent brake pedal just like a Brand new car.
1/4 inch down Rock Hard engine off.
Can only depress 1 inch with around 200 lbs force applied engine off.

I took the entire Parallelogram steering linkage off the spare roller frame and installed on the Pontiac.
It's all brand new the Center link, inner and outer Tie rods, adjustment sleeves.
I installed a Vintage Mooge Ball Beatring equipped Idler Arm also I bought back in January 2021.
The old center link was bad tons of slop.
Set the Toe in to 1/8" with a tape measure.
Another Full day spent on the Pontiac working away.
Test drive soon.
Another Job interview in the morning at 7:30 AM Local.
Diesel Mechanic in a Sand Quarry.
 
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I took the upper control arms off of the spare 63 Gp Roller Frame today and installed on to the Pontiac.
The OriginalControl Arm bushings were in bad shape.
The Original ball joints are in good shape amazing no slop or play.
Control arms I installed have New Upper ball joints installed.
Wasn't too bad of a job , just had my Floor jack under the lower control arm and front vehicle weight kept the coil spring in along with the front shocks.
Test drove and got on it a few times drives pretty nice easy to control when all 520 Hp is there wound out.
It's a pain to get the toe in set and Steering wheel centered without an alignment rack but I got it.
Have too much Negative camber about -1 degree on passenger front wheel.
Install a few more shims I have .
Use my Vintage Snap On Camber Caster Bubble level guage that mounts on the Wheel hub.
Do that Tomarrow.
 
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I haven't used it in a while but the Vintage Snap On Caster Camber Guage I used on the 87 Corvette Convertible years back.

Mainly want to get Camber right on the Pontiac.
0 degrees. I have to look up the alignment specs in the 1963 Pontiac Service Manual I have and check a few Vintage Chiltons Repair Manuals.
Bias play tires were stock.
Have modern radial tires, think 0 degrees Camber a good start.
Caster & Cross Caster it's best to set on a modern Laser Alignment rack.
Have to do that some other day.
Last job I did 4-wheel alignment often on the latest Hunter laser 4-wheel alignment machine.
 
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I Removed the Lower Control Arms off of the spare 1963 Gp Roller Frame.
The last guy owner installed new lower Ball joints also along with new lower control arm bushings.
Figured I might as well install and use on the 63 Pontiac Gp 455 now.
That way the entire front suspension is New zero wear.
I looked at the Original Right Lower
control arm bushings on the Pontiac they are shot the real source of my negative camber issue now.

I will try and install the lower control arms on this weekend.
 
I wanted to get an alignment for the Cat. No shops around with the older machines. The contour of the rear wheel well is prohibitive to allow a quarter turn of the wheel with alignment devise mounted.
 
chromebumpers said:
I wanted to get an alignment for the Cat. No shops around with the older machines. The contour of the rear wheel well is prohibitive to allow a quarter turn of the wheel with alignment devise mounted.
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Tell those guys to go into the settings and set the machine for a 2-wheel front end alignment. It's easy touch screen or optional keyboard.
 
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That was alot of Hard Work today. Took 9 hours to remove and replace the lower control arms.
Front bushings tore up stuck in the inner sleeves but I got them broke free.
Check the toe in again in the morning then another test drive.

That Free All Penetrating Oil is Good Stuff.
I Bought a can from my Local O'Reilly Auto Parts store and used on the 63 Grand Prix Lower Control Atm Fasteners.
The Entire Front End is Tight again.
Caster, Camber, Toe In, and Steering Inclination Angle will be Rock Steady Now.
Gained more front end Ground Clearance at the Moroso 8-quart Deep Sump Oil pan swapping the coil springs also.
 
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Next on the list is Recalibrate the Turbo 400 transmission Speedometer Drive and Driven gears in the 63 Pontiac.
Probably start on that Tuesday.
 
When your working with Traditional GM Classic Suspension Coil springs be careful.
They can Kill You.
Immense Huge amounts of stored energy in them.
Even slightly loaded 1 inch compressed.
1st attempt yesterday to install the passenger coil spring into the frame and lower control arm I got hurt.
Spring popped out and hit my right hand thumb.
Instant Blood everywhere bleed profusely.
Sucked it up after pain subsided 5 minutes and kept working till I was done both sides.
2nd coil spring installed Drivers side, I show how to tip with my 4 foot long Vintage Snap On Pry Bar made for Semi Truck Diesel work.
Lift and with your left foot push into the lower control coil spring pocket.
I wear Steel Toe Boots all the time now, old habit I live by.
Have to compress about 1 inch.

It has been 26 years since Worked on classic GM Coil springs , 1995 year last on my 1970 T/A, I had to remember my old tricks.
1st time wrong way.
Remember got hurt the same way in 1995 at 29 years old.
Injured Right thumb then too.

Right thumb sore today.
Take it easy, hit hard again Tuesday Tomorrow on a new project.
I don't like doing nothing too long anymore.
Too many projects and want to get them done all.
 
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