The interior has been converted...
The interior has been converted to bucket seats and a floor shifter. A fresh dash and console accompanied the makeover. Aftermarket gauges monitor oil pressure and coolant temp.
A new six-disc CD changer and AM/FM stereo were installed in the trunk, and are remotely activated by a hidden controller in the console to retain the factory look. To finish the cabin, Richard added reproduction Pontiac floormats and a Pontiac Sport steering wheel.
Outside, the paint was holding up well. "I'm not sure who repainted it prior to 2002, but I cleaned the finish with a clay bar, polished it, waxed it, and it looks great," he says. New front and rear Grand Prix script emblems and an arrowhead emblem from Ames were installed, along with fresh stainless rocker panel trim.
Pontiac Rally IIs with PMD caps, measure 7-inches wide, with 245/60R15 BFG T/A tires up front, and the wheels were widened to 8-inches out back and fitted with 255/60R15s. The 11-inch front discs received new pads, and the 9.5-inch drums got new shoes, wheel cylinders, and hardware.
Under the long, distinctive hood, the A/C system was serviced and recharged; new belts, a fan clutch, and a hood-insulating pad were installed. Richard found a dual-snorkel air cleaner on eBay that he sanded, painted, and installed with a K&N filter.
With the assistance of his friend and fellow Pontiac hobbyist Sam Walker, extensive work was performed to the engine bay in February 2007. The engine was removed and partially disassembled for detailing, and a Melling SPC-4 camshaft ground to 198/208-degrees duration at 0.050 and 0.404/0.408-inch lift was installed, with Melling rockers and pushrods to cure a suspected lifter noise. Richard took a quick trip to NAPA to pick up a new water pump, timing chain and sprockets, and various gaskets. A new chrome air cleaner lid, chrome valve covers, and emission decal were sourced from Ames.
While the engine was apart, the pair took the time to clean, paint, and detail the bay with Eastwood Chassis Black and Underhood Black. The firewall, hood springs, engine block, brake booster, master cylinder, and wheelwells were all repainted.
Shortly after reinstalling the engine with its new cam, they fired up the Pontiac. "It sounded and ran beautifully for a couple of minutes," Richard laments, "then the clacking began. There wasn't sufficient oil pressure." They shut it down and began troubleshooting the issue. Eventually they concluded it was a blocked oil galley; they cleared it and oil pressure returned. For good measure, Richard decided to install oil pressure and water temperature gauges from Auto Meter. There hasn't been a scare since.
The PX-code Turbo 400 trans and the suspension remain stock, as does the Safe-T-Track rearend with 3.08 gears.
Since completing the upgrades, Richard couldn't be happier. "This is my first classic car and I have loved every minute of owning it," he says. He appreciates the GP's unique style and it attracts a lot of attention at the over 100 local Dallas-area car shows he has attended. He says he hasn't seen another third-generation GP in that time, something he feels speaks for their survival rate. All he knows is that it's great to have the Model J back in Texas and back home.
Rally II wheels wrapped in...
Rally II wheels wrapped in modern BFG radials improve the street manners of this Model J.
The equalizer augments a stereo...
The equalizer augments a stereo system that is mounted in the trunk.
Even the door handles on the...
Even the door handles on the GP are cool.