Over the next several years, Dana gathered information and pieces to correctly restore the Grand Prix. The toughest part was obtaining the Super Duty engine components that were missing. Dana says that hobbyists Greg Minor and Pete McCarthy helped locate a correct, late-year, high-nickel block. A correct No. 542990 forged crankshaft was also procured. Though the four-bolt block required one cylinder sleeve, both units needed minimal machining otherwise and retain their original bore and stroke configuration of 4.09 and 4.00 inches, respectively.
From various sources within the hobby, Dana obtained such other components as a pair of No. 544127 cylinder heads, a No. 9770859 dual four-barrel intake manifold, a pair of correct Carter carburetors, and a No. 1110976 dual-point distributor without vacuum advance. All these pieces were then rebuilt or refurbished. Initially, a set of No. 529238 Super Duty forged connecting rods were purchased, but Dana opted for new Eagle units to complement the N.O.S. set of Mickey Thompson forged-aluminum pistons. The end result is 421 ci of displacement and a compression ratio of just over 11.0:1.
An N.O.S. No. 541596 "McKellar No. 10" flat-tappet mechanical camshaft with 308/320 degrees of advertised duration and 0.445/0.447-inch lift with 1.65:1-ratio rocker arms went into the freshly rebuilt long-block. The pushrods, lifters, and roller rocker arms, however, are all modern aftermarket units. And though he has the original high-pressure Super Duty fuel pump, Dana uses a typical stock-replacement mechanical pump to prevent carburetor flooding from the excessive fuel pressure at low speed.
Output is channeled through a steel flywheel and a Hays Borg & Beck-type clutch to the aforementioned transmission. On the opposite end of the factory driveshaft is the original rear axle with the optional limited-slip differential and a 4.30:1-ratio gear set. The exhaust system connected to the factory cast-iron manifolds consists of a pair of correctly routed, aluminized 2.25-inch head pipes reproduced by Eugene Riotte of Ardmore, Oklahoma, 50-series Flowmaster mufflers, and custom-bent tailpipes. It bellows a symphonic lope of high compression and excessive camshaft duration.
The body was repaired and prepped for paint, and the stainless steel trim was straightened and polished by Bob Brueggemann of Custom Auto Bodyworks in Norfolk, Nebraska. Kirby Johnson of Classic Auto Restoration in Columbus, Nebraska, applied three coats of Dupont Chromabase Mandalay Red, followed by three coats of clear. The front and rear bumpers, and various other trim pieces, were chromed by AIH Chrome Company in Dubuque, Iowa. Several N.O.S. pieces were acquired and installed as well.
Des Moser and Fremont, Nebraska-based C&J Upholstery restored the parchment and red interior with material and products from SMS Auto Fabrics in Canby, Oregon, Harry Samuel Interiors in Pontiac, Michigan, and Ames Performance in Marlborough, New Hampshire. Just Dashes of Van Nuys, California, restored the dashpad, while Quality Restorations of Poway, California, restored the original steering wheel.
The project was completed in August 2005. Its first appearance came that same month at the 23rd Annual Pontiac-GMC-Oakland Show in Gretna, Nebraska (see show coverage in HPP Aug. '05), where it not only received best-in-class honors but also the best full-size Pontiac at the event. Since then, Dana has entered the SD/GP in just one other area show, and he currently has no plans on showing it at larger national-type gatherings. So for the time being, it seems that this Nebraska-based car will not venture far from its home state.
Though the list of those who held key roles in the Grand Prix's completion contains myriad names, Dana says, "I owe a great deal of gratitude to my partner in crime, Darwin Sieh. Without his motivation towards the restoration, I feel that the Super Duty Grand Prix may have never been completed." That being the case, we owe Darwin a great deal of thanks too. With only 16 SD/GPs ever produced, he and Dana teamed together to preserve not only a piece of Pontiac history, but arguably one of the most beautiful Pontiacs ever built.