I am
interested in your recommendations for some performance improvements on
my car. Before we get to the details of my
car, I have to bore you with a short story. I
promise to make it a condensed version.
I am
58 years old and have been a Pontiac fan since the 50’s. My dad bought a new Pontiac in 1955 and as soon as I
could drive it, I was hooked on Pontiacs. I
drooled all over a 1960 Ventura all through high school
and finally bought it after I graduated. In
1964 when Pontiac announced the GTO, I
read the Car & Driver article on the now “infamous” Royal Pontiac
prepared cars and then wrote Royal Pontiac for a price on a Bobcat
prepared version. See the attached copy of
that letter that I typed in 1964. The Royal Pontiac salesman's
remarks and answers are written. Unfortunately,
I did not purchase one. I lived in California and made about $1.25 an
hour in those days, thus empty pockets and Uncle Sam then asked me to
take a trip to Southeast Asia. No
need for a GTO there. Many years have
passed since those days coupled with serious commitments to marriage
and raising children.
About
two years ago, after deciding that I was not getting any younger, I
joined a local GTO Club here in the Atlanta area and started to look
for the car that I never owned. At a club
meeting, I got to meet Jim Wangers and share my letter and story with
him also. It was a lot of fun. Since then I have looked at many GTO’s and
full-size Pontiacs, but instead of locating that elusive GTO, I found a
car that I had always wanted prior to the GTO. It’s
my favorite (full-size) body style. I
bought a 1961 Ventura with tri-power and a
4-speed. The car was undergoing a complete
mechanical restoration when I bought it. The
engine had just been rebuilt. I finished
the remainder of the rear end and reassembly work and have driven the
car about 300 miles. I plan to drive to
local shows and cruises and trailer it to some other shows. The car is beautiful and it runs good, but I
would like it to run stronger. It’s that
affection for the Royal “Bobcat” treatment that keeps grabbing me and
that’s where I would like to hear your recommendations.
Here’s what I know about
the engine (from the receipts and the previous owner):
- 389 block – bored .030
over
- Pistons – stock (rebuild
receipt reads p/n 711P30)
- Cam – stock (rebuild receipt
reads p/n CS-187)
- Heads – stock
- Distributor – overhauled
and re-curved for 93 octane fuel (receipt reads: advance begins @ 800
rpm, full advance @ 3,200, mechanical advance 20 degrees, vacuum
advance 10 degrees @ 18 in. vacuum. Set
timing at 12-14 degrees)
- 1964 tri-power and intake
manifold (I only know the jet size on the rear carb is 066)
- 425A exhaust manifolds
with 2 ¼ exhaust pipes
- T-10 transmission
- Safe-T-Track 3:23 gears
And here's
the questions:
1.
Do
you recommend the electronic ignition changeover?
2.
What
about the jetting on the carburetors?
3.
Is
that cam too mild?
4.
What
else?
My goal is not to turn
the car into a complete racer or too radical, but I would like
to “feel the power” of a classic Pontiac V-8.
I appreciate any comments you may have.
Thanks,