The ends of the Tri-Power...
The ends of the Tri-Power air cleaner studs should be beveled to accept the wing nut. Also, the filter elements are incorrect but are used as replacements on many Tri-Power Pontiacs because they flow better than the stock units. On the right, this restored '61 Tri-Power 389 is used as an example to show the correct studs.
In Part I we will examine the engine compartment to illustrate a few examples of Pontiacs that are "restored to sell." We will point out what is obviously wrong and correct much but not all of it, as the owner's budget could only go so far. So bear in mind that there are some items that you may notice in the photos that we do not discuss since this is not a restoration guide that espouses every correct finish and inspection mark. Rather it's a basic tech story that points out certain aspects of this GTO that were incorrect aesthetically and mechanical aspects that needed immediate attention for proper operation. This, to better help you make an intelligent decision when buying yours. It's not fair to compare this GTO to a national points car because that would take much more investment but it will at least be a solid weekend warrior once done.
If you glean anything from these articles it's, "Buyer beware!" Before you buy your dream Pontiac, educate yourself. They may look great from 20 feet away but have a knowledgeable person come along to examine it. The investment to "fix" a Pontiac for which you already paid too much will be much greater than recognizing the problems before you buy. And using that knowledge to your advantage to force the price down or pass on the Pontiac entirely and look for a better candidate will put you cash and aggravation ahead.
Here we found that the alternator...
Here we found that the alternator wiring harness was missing the red cap that covers the hot line, the connectors were from a hardware store and the harness itself is old and may be dangerous. Also shown are an incorrect fan belt and the wrong valve cover bolt finish.
At the back of the head we...
At the back of the head we also noticed a rigged coolant outlet for the heater hose.
After sandblasting the exhaust...
After sandblasting the exhaust manifolds we saw that someone had drilled a hole in this manifold to make it fit the application. This is not a GM-drilled hole and the surrounding area is so thin that with the heat cycles of the engine, it may indeed crack.
The oil pan had made quite...
The oil pan had made quite a few introductions with the pavement. Not only was the pan badly dented but also the plug had been stripped out and replaced with an oversized one. This is not the hot ticket for longevity so a new pan was installed.
While replacing the oil pan...
While replacing the oil pan we noticed that the lower dipstick tube was missing. Without the lower tube that attaches to the upper and then turns and extends through the windage tray, you will never get the proper measurement of the oil level. And the dipstick, when inserted, may interfere with the crank and/or rods and put metal shavings into the engine.
Further back on the block...
Further back on the block we noticed that a common bolt was used in place of the correct GM ball stud to attach the clutch linkage Z-bar. It's a great way to destroy the Z-bar not to mention ensuring clutch problems down the road so the correct ball stud was installed.