The Bonneville Salt Flats...
The Bonneville Salt Flats have a rich history with speed. These American Racing Salt Flat Wheels take their styling cues from historic cars that once took to the flats to break land speed records. They are 17x7 inches up front and 17x8 inches out back with 3-1/2-inch and 4-inch backspacing, respectively.
In 1999, Bill and Wendi attended the Goodguys show at Indy. They both went nuts over a burnt orange '55 Chevy with tan interior done by Roger Burnham. Bill spoke with the owner, Mike Alstott, who told him it was a '99 Ford F-250 color called Bright Amber Metallic. Bill was shocked. He owned a '99 F-250 in that color that also had tan interior. Seeing it on a car, he didn't recognize it. Immediately after this realization, the plans for the LeMans changed. Champagne was out and Bright Amber Metallic was in.
Body
The LeMans was sent off for paint but poor bodywork reared its ugly head again. Each front fender featured a combination of butt welds, overlaps, and splices that didn't fit properly. Replacement fenders were purchased and installed, banishing the last examples of the backyard bodywork. Jimmy Brawley and Allen Bell at Janco in Mt. Holly, North Carolina, completed the bodywork and paint.
Application and sanding of five coats of Spies-Hecker primer was followed by a coat of its sealer. Jimmy and Allen shot four basecoats of Bright Amber Metallic, followed by three coats of clear, again using Spies-Hecker products. The finish was finally wet-sanded with 1500-grit paper and polished to give it a glass-like appearance.
The '67 upholstery was replaced...
The '67 upholstery was replaced with '66 interior. Bill feels horizontally-pleated seat covers capture the hot rod look better than vertical pleats of the '67, as does the new street-rod-like carpet and mother-of-pearl accents. A Billet Specialties steering wheel and pedals continue the interior customization.
Interior
Bill enlisted Robert McCarter to complete the interior and soon realized the cost of a custom tan interior would be prohibitive. Instead, he chose Parchment upholstery with the '66 seat covers for their horizontal pleats. The '67 featured vertical pleats, and Bill felt the horizontals had more of a hot rod feel.
To continue that theme, he intended to use a sheet of turned-aluminum to make a custom gauge cluster and console. Despite his best efforts, Bill wasn't able to make it work. Finally, the answer came from a mother-of-pearl guitar pickguard. Ultimately taken from a drum covering for its larger size, it was cut to house a set of Bonspeed Roulette gauges. He also had a set of air pressure gauges for the Air Ride system installed, as well as So-Cal Art-Deco knobs and a Vintage Auto Air control panel for the A/C system.
Fresh Engine And Trans
When Bill drove the car up to Hot Rod Interiors in Mooresville, North Carolina, for a Hartz cloth top, bad luck struck. On the way back, the engine blew up. The motor was taken out and when Walt tore it open to rebuild it, the only reusable parts were the block, crank and the rods.
Bonspeed Roulette gauges spice...
Bonspeed Roulette gauges spice things up and are surrounded by mother-of-pearl trim. This cluster also features a set of Classic Instruments air pressure gauges to monitor the suspension.
After proper machining and assembly, the current bottom end consists of a 0.030 over 400 block and a stock crank and rods pumping TRW pistons. The No. 670 heads were replaced with stock (2.11/1.77-valve) No. 16 castings and a 224/230-degree duration, 0.477/0.480-inch lift Comp Cam stick on a 110 LSA was installed with stock ratio Scorpion roller rockers. A Barry Grant Speed Demon 725-cfm carburetor atop an Edelbrock intake manifold provides the fuel and air and an MSD distributor and coil fires through a set of Taylor 8mm wires to Bosch Platinum spark plugs. For exhaust, Bill utilizes a set of Ram Air cast-iron manifolds, 2-1/4-inch pipes, and Flowmaster mufflers. The compression ratio is 10.5:1.
Bill took the opportunity to upgrade from the Turbo 350 three-speed to a 200-4R four-speed Overdrive featuring a shift kit and a Bow Tie TV cable assembly, as well as a 2,000-rpm stall torque converter and a cooler. This new setup allows for more comfortable cruising, and great fuel economy on the highway
Conclusion
Since its completion, Bill has attended several Pontiac events. In 2005, he took Second Place in the Custom Class at the POCI Convention in Greenville, South Carolina. He secured First Place in 2006 at the Mooresville Car Museum Car Show in the '64-'72 GM Division. There are many other shows in which this Pontiac has taken high ranks, something Bill is very proud of.
But don't think for a minute that a lot of show trophies means this A-body isn't driven rigorously. In fact, the LeMans even negotiated Road Atlanta during the YearOne Experience in 2005. "What should have been a 40-mph parade lap quickly turned into an 85-mph 'hold on' lap!" Bill recalls. It just goes to show what rewards come when determination, ingenuity, and some cash are applied to a $600 Pontiac.