The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > General Forums > Alternate Tinkerings

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-17-2017, 03:15 PM   #1
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

I finally got my Custom Convertible Tempest back up and running, and made the 60 mile freeway round trip to the SoCal Chapter Pontiac Oakland Int'l Club annual show this past weekend.



I acquired the car from the original owner's family after talking with them in 2011. It was ordered by the father (a local physician) for his mom in 1963 through Ebersole Pontiac in Lebanon, PA. It was oddly optioned - ordered with power brakes and power steering, 4 bbl 195 ci 4 cylinder (half of a 389), with the Custom option (Triton upholstery, custom steering wheel, and wheel covers - typically found on the Lemans model).

After paint, new top, re-chrome and hunting down parts, the original exhaust crossover/manifold heater finally fell apart from corrosion. This exhaust leak started the proverbial ball rolling that led to a complete engine, front suspension rebuild, one-year-only gas tank restoration.








__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

Last edited by vin63; 05-17-2017 at 08:46 PM.
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 03:20 PM   #2
GR8-68
Senior Member
 
GR8-68's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Belews Creek , NC
Posts: 4,220
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Thank you for sharing, and that is one beautiful and unique ride
__________________
Larry

It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new.

"Project 68"

paypal.me/ldgrant
GR8-68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 03:20 PM   #3
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Thanks! I had to weld up a couple of sizable holes in the gas tank, and went through a restoration process that included coating the tank inside and out.



__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 03:30 PM   #4
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Half a V8 installed and running...


__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 03:34 PM   #5
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

During the engine and front end rebuild, I had Ron Mangus repair the front seat that was starting to show its wear from being in a convertible...The seat back side caps were replaced, as well as the three middle panels of the seat bottom.

__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 07:01 PM   #6
Keith Seymore
Registered User
 
Keith Seymore's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,136
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

I love the color and I have always loved those wheelcovers.

Mine looks pretty plain in comparison.

K
Attached Images
 
__________________
Chevrolet Flint Assembly
1979-1986
GM Full Size Truck Engineering
1986 - 2019
Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926
My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524
Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/
Keith Seymore is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 08:52 PM   #7
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Very cool Lemans!

We had a great turnout of the Western Region Little Indians Chapter - 16 1961-63 Tempest Lemans showed up (17 registered), with one unable to make it due to a family emergency the day before - for our first show/get-together within the POCI show.




__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2017, 10:01 PM   #8
Clyde65
1965 Chevy C10, 2005 4.8L/4l60
 
Clyde65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: DFW Texas
Posts: 8,539
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Nice car! Love the oldies!
__________________
Clyde65

Rebuild of Clyde
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post8338184

69 Aristocrat Lo Liner build
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post7561684



support our troops!
Clyde65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2017, 10:51 AM   #9
67ChevyRedneck
Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires
 
67ChevyRedneck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 23,090
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Seymore View Post
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

K


There were so many beautiful cars built by Buick/Olds/Pontiac that just never got the love they deserved. Heck, it's getting rare to even see a GTO or Firebird at a large show anymore.

Great job on not only bringing it back to life, but to such a high original standard.
__________________
Jesse James
1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73
1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc
1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken!
2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71
2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd
2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo
2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride
American Born, Country by the Grace of God
1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild!
My 1967 C-10 Build Thread
My Vintage Air A/C Install
Project "On a Dime"
Trying my hand at Home Renovation!
1965 Mustang Modifications!
67ChevyRedneck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2017, 12:12 PM   #10
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Thanks! I agree, the BOP models of that era were great examples of a departure from traditional designs at that time. My favorite was the 1963 Catalina Ventura with the stacked headlights, but the 1963 Buick Riviera is probably the best of that model year.

While the front seat upholstery was getting resurrected, I addressed the non-functioning radio, and went with an AM/FM stereo conversion w/MP3, and upgraded the dash speakers and went with some under seat speakers from Custom Autosound.



__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2017, 12:37 PM   #11
Keith Seymore
Registered User
 
Keith Seymore's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,136
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Quote:
Originally Posted by vin63 View Post
My favorite was the 1963 Catalina Ventura with the stacked headlights,
(lol - had one of those, too).

K
Attached Images
 
__________________
Chevrolet Flint Assembly
1979-1986
GM Full Size Truck Engineering
1986 - 2019
Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926
My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524
Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/

Last edited by Keith Seymore; 05-18-2017 at 12:42 PM.
Keith Seymore is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2017, 12:55 PM   #12
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

That's incredibly cool. I'm planning on heading to Dallas/Ft. Worth for the POCI Convention in July, and hoping to find a '63 Cat.
__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2017, 01:55 PM   #13
Keith Seymore
Registered User
 
Keith Seymore's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,136
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Quote:
Originally Posted by vin63 View Post
... and hoping to find a '63 Cat.
That's what I was after as well, but ended up with a '63 GP instead.

K
__________________
Chevrolet Flint Assembly
1979-1986
GM Full Size Truck Engineering
1986 - 2019
Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926
My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524
Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/
Keith Seymore is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2017, 04:30 PM   #14
RustyBucket
Registered User
 
RustyBucket's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Space Coast, Fl.
Posts: 1,050
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Very pretty little convt.!! Innovative car also, 4 cyl, I.R.S., flexible driveshaft, transaxle. I remember them with a 326 V8 also. I'm OLD, I remember Mickey Thompson did some crazy stuff with that 4cyl. .. so I think the M/T valve cover is a fitting tribute.
My second car in high school was a well used '64 GTO post car... still like 'em & '61 full size cars
__________________
Dad always said, "Son, WISH IN ONE HAND, and ......."
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Current toy trucks:
'71 GMC 1500 SUPER CUSTOM short/step, orig. dk. blue, 350/700r, ps,pb, A/C
'72 Blazer 2wd, ochre & white, 454, tremecTKO 500 5spd. ps, pb, A/C, tilt

Last 10yrs of hobby vehicles, had a FEW more in the 50yrs. before these:
'66 Plymouth Belvedere City of Miami cop car clone.
'70 Nova 406"sb, 13.5-1, solid roller, Brodix, p.glide/t.brake, back halved, 9" Ford, spool 4.88, cage,ladder bar/coilover, 10.5 tire....... SOLD!!
'67 C10 short/step side mount spare -- SOLD!!
'72 Jimmy 2wd, 350/350, ps, pb, fun driver, lots of bondo & a shiny red paint job..... SOLD!!
'69 Nova 350, 4spd, A/C, ps, p.b, ...SOLD!!
RustyBucket is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2017, 07:44 PM   #15
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Thanks! I went with new stands and roller rockers, so the original valve cover was not going to work without a spacer, and those Pontiac valve cover spacers are $100...ugh! I had a few M/T valve covers laying about, so I painted one to match. The other thing I had to go with was a spare Ram Air III exhaust manifold to replace the OE manifold that was not salvageable...almost no one noticed it at the show.

__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2017, 08:25 PM   #16
Clyde65
1965 Chevy C10, 2005 4.8L/4l60
 
Clyde65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: DFW Texas
Posts: 8,539
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Quote:
Originally Posted by vin63 View Post
That's incredibly cool. I'm planning on heading to Dallas/Ft. Worth for the POCI Convention in July, and hoping to find a '63 Cat.


Hey Vin63,

Like this one?

https://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/cto/6099697385.html
__________________
Clyde65

Rebuild of Clyde
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post8338184

69 Aristocrat Lo Liner build
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post7561684



support our troops!
Clyde65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2017, 10:11 PM   #17
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

More like this Ventura optioned Cat that I foolishly passed on a few years back.





__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2017, 05:51 PM   #18
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Over the weekend, I made it to the Friends of Steve McQueen fundraiser car and motorcycle show that benefits the Boys Republic - https://stevemcqueencarshow.com/
It's one of the cooler events as it has a great mix of vehicle types and manufacturers.



__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 05:48 PM   #19
68SWB4x4
Strongman Garage
 
68SWB4x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Salinas, CA
Posts: 10,241
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Cool car such an interesting looking engine!
68SWB4x4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2017, 02:35 PM   #20
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Since PB changed their format...
Attached Images
   
__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2017, 02:40 PM   #21
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,261
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

From the SoCal Pontiac Oakland Club annual show (top) and the Friends of Steve McQueen annual fundraiser for the Boys Republic in Chino Hills (bottom).
Attached Images
  
__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2017, 10:35 AM   #22
KShortell
Registered User
 
KShortell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Posts: 722
Re: 1963 Pontiac Tempest Convertible

Outstanding!
__________________
Semper Paratus
KShortell is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:31 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com