1970 Judge Convertible - Basket Case Rescue

"After pre-oiling the motor, it was started the first time and ran for 30 seconds. It spun five bearings, and one of the pistons seized in the block. The motor was removed and the problem was quickly identified as dirt and grease from the oil passages. The original machine shop had not removed the rear plug under the distributor to properly clean the oil passages, nor had it bored one of the cylinders to proper clearances.

"A quick trip to someone who built race motors was made. Mike's Speed Shop in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, remachined the block and corrected all the mistakes made by the original machine shop. All new parts were obtained again. Mike wanted to check the heads, but I thought they would be okay. Big mistake!

"The motor was reassembled using ARP head bolts. It fired up and ran perfectly. The Judge was now under a time constraint to get ready for the '02 Spring Fling Pontiac show at Beaman Pontiac in Nashville. "On show day at Beaman Pontiac, disaster struck again. A gust of wind blew the club tent up into the air and it landed beak-first on the rear spoiler and trunk of my Judge. The spoiler was badly damaged and the trunk lid was gouged. That gouge ripped up paint and scratched metal from the trunk lid onto the rear quarter and into the side Judge stripes. To add insult to injury, the convertible top was also damaged.

"As the Judge was being loaded into the trailer for the somber ride home, antifreeze started pouring out from the left head. It turns out the original machine shop had not checked for warped heads. So, out came the engine again. "The Judge went back to Bob Connell in Kentucky for repairs. After six months, it emerged in 2003 for its first full season of shows. It began with the Judge causing quite a stir as it sat on special display in The Nashville Auto Show at the Nashville Convention Center in January. Overall, the '03 show results were not bad for a car that survived major rust surgery, an incompetent machine shop, and damage from a club tent."

Conclusion
Poor luck still followed Gary's Judge right up to the completion of this feature. He had filled out his tech sheet, written this story, and had sent them to HPP about a month and a half after the photo shoot. We never got them. When I decided to call Gary to get the information, I couldn't find his contact information anywhere, yet I had contact information for every other Pontiac that I shot at the Southern Nationals. Then I checked our event coverage--surely he had won or at least placed in his class. If I could confirm his full name and hometown, I could do an Internet search. The coverage revealed his name, but his hometown and state were not available. I contacted the Dallas Area Pontiac Association--the host club--and they came through with the needed information to contact Gary.

When I spoke with him, he told me he would overnight the information, which he did. But it didn't arrive the next day. Instead, it missed the pick-up at the depot. Not Gary's fault, it was due to the express-mail company. Happily, the info did come a day later and we got the story done.

Though it would seem this Judge has a dark cloud hanging over it, one look at it reveals a gorgeous and rare Pontiac in a striking color. Despite all the hurtles that had to be overcome, I doubt anyone would view owning this Judge as bad luck.

Here are a few of the Judge's accolades.