1963 Grand Prix

Redline Lead Subsitute I have been using.
Pontiac started induction hardening the cast iron exhaust seats others told me in 1971 with compression ratio drops for low octane gas back then.
But added insurance with the Manley Pro Flow intakes and Manley Race Master exhaust valves.
My own Valvejob holding up nice.
More I drive it better it runs out.
 
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Meteor Company is A Huge Diesel Semi truck parts supplier, shocks and air brake parts.
Surprised to see they have Gabriel shocks.
No USA .
Mexico and China.
Have to spend $1000 each to get made in the USA Top notch double adjustable coil over Drag shocks. What they cost now!
 
I was under the impression that the no lead valve seat recession thing didn't happen to the extent that was predicted.
 
Loves302Chevy said:
I was under the impression that the no lead valve seat recession thing didn't happen to the extent that was predicted.
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After all these years I thought Valve Seat Recession was Fake News but it did and does happen still.
I tore down my stockpile of Pontiac V8s 2 summers ago into the fall cleaned up all parts at home in Evapo Rust Remover.
I bought Nine 5-gallon containers of Evapo Rust Remover from Jegs Racing for the job. Set up a large cleaning tank outside. 2 months nonstop cleaning.
My 1970 Bonneville 455 engine 360 Hp 500 ft/lbs the Original #15 Heads need a couple of exhaust seats. Battered to death along with valve guides, not sure what failed 1st the guides or seats both close related for longevity, 1 fails the other fails along with.

I left 1 Pontiac V8 together, a 1959 Pontiac 389 300 Hp engine 428 ft/lbs complete.
I got it broke free and turning over smooth by hand, starter motor cranking compression test on the engine stand it looks very promising I think it will live run again, maybe not Day 1 fresh new mint perfect but it has non damaged GM Made in the USA Camshaft and Lifters like the Olds 425 running in past.
Really important today USA TRUE CAM & LIFTERS.
I may try this fall and get it running
Use my Holley 9380 850 CFM Annular Booster carb.
63 Pontiac Gp has the Race BLP 1085cfm AB Double pumper.
175 -185 lbs cranking compression on the 1959 389 engine, Survivor last ran in 1983 year.
 
Chevy Daily drivers running good.
410 Sbc my late friend built I still have.
Mint clean still. Ready someday to test Fire with a days work top end set up.
 

Looks ugly looking but it's a Classis Sleeper Engine.
1st year of the 389 And many advancements done by Pontiac engineers for upcoming new generation Musclecar era 1964 -1974.
 
Strictly Attitude said:
awesome posts Brian!!
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Like to hear that 1959 Pontiac 389 4bbl run .
It has a decent camshaft, same profile cam used in GTO 1964- 1972 Base 389, 400, & 455 When I looked them up.
Bore is 4.0625" so cylinder bores are not shrouding the intake and exhaust valves like smaller bore Pontiac 350.
389 should sound like Pontiac Thunder lesser extent , have nice smooth idle like the Olds 425 had.
Meanest Sleeper Ultra smooth idle was my old 1973 Lincoln Mark IV 460 .
Car over 5000 lbs and faster than all 5.0 Mustangs stock.
 
1963 Grand Prix Sounds like Race Car Thunder, kinda like a 410 SBC Sprint dirt track car.
Everyone knows there is Large cubic inch Race Engine under the hood.
 
Strictly Attitude said:
View attachment 15781 or just build one!!
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I think I want add a little more Fuel Capacity to the 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix John.
An Emergency Reserve.
Looking at Front Mounted Fuel Cells used in No Prep Cars 1000-3000 Hp and Pro Stock Door Slammers.
Found a Jaz 3-gallon Fuel Cell I like.
Connect in Parallel with the present 16-gallon Jaz Drag Car Fuel Cell.
16-gallons Bottom Feed Style Drag largest available.
There is Enough Room for another 16-gallon Cell but be too much weight 32 gallons of fuel for the Stock Pontiac coil springs car wont handle then at High speeds 120+.
I do have a set of Strange Engineering Double Adjustable Coil over Racing Shocks. Able to adjust to Road Race settings or Full Drag car settings.
Eibach Springs on them. From the 87 Corvette Solid Axle Pontiac 9.3 Differential swap I was going to do.
Kinda glad it never panned out got done that project left the Factory Corvette IRS In there. Wrong car to build for Ultra Fast Street Racing.
A Corvette would never Survive Doomsday 2021 Duties around Into and out of Chicago IL.
It stays parked at my Farmhouse.
Only good for a short ride on local country roads now.
Be pretty easy to install the Strange Engineering coil over shocks
A Chromemoly upper shock mount bar has to be Tig welded in between the Rear Frame Rails at Ed's garage.
A few shock mounting Tabs Tigged on also.
 
Pretty nice.
They are always missing the Factory air cleaner. Open elements never used by Pontiac like Chevrolet except Pontiac GTO Tripower 1964-1966 & 1967 GTO XS Ram Air (RA 1).
 
They also had the worst Automatic for Durabilty I recall. Shifts are nice Ok, , Blew up the Slim Jim Rotohydramatic 10 in mine 2nd night out !
Only a Turbo 400 fits with some work.
4L80E will drag on the ground too long.
700 R4 will fit also in a 1963 Grand Prix.
Street racing 520 Hp with Pontiac 455 a 700R4 never hold up.
They made them in 4-speed stick shift also.
Borg Warner T-10.
Not a very strong Transmission either.
Late production 1963 Grand Prix a few reported to be built with early 1963 Muncie 4-speed like Corvette.

Trans tunnel is actually small in Catalina and Gp. Cant fit any modern without cutting up the floor and Race Car Fabricate then all Gp had the nice Chrome consoles, be a challenge to retain it.
 
All the Super Duty 421 cars are 3-speed manuals.
Too powerful for then Corvette Borg Warner 4-speed ,they tried it blew up on starting line launches .
Borg Warner T85 3-speed special built just for the Super Duty 421.
 
I need an air cleaner to fit the Cat, either open or dual snorkel will do. I’d like to make my own air cleaner that I can route into the cowl on the passenger side just like the ‘67 Chevy Z/28.
6C4F72B5-4011-432A-AF50-CFB116607848.jpeg
B&R Racing said:
Pretty nice.
They are always missing the Factory air cleaner. Open elements never used by Pontiac like Chevrolet except Pontiac GTO Tripower 1964-1966 & 1967 GTO XS Ram Air (RA 1).
Click to expand...
 
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