NOTE!!
HAVE YOU EVER WISHED THAT YOUR CLASSIC CAR WAS AS RELIABLE AS YOUR EVERYDAY CAR? DO YOU WISH IT HAD AS MANY CREATURE COMFORTS, HAD UNBELIEVABLE POWER, COULD GET 21- 24 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY, 17 to 18 MPG AROUND TOWN, CAN START WITHOUT PUMPING THE GAS AND WILL RUN SMOOTH WHEN WARMING UP AND IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT?
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THIS GRAND PRIX WAS AN ORIGINAL TEXAS CAR. I BOUGHT IT FROM THE SECOND OWNER IN ODESSA TEXAS. WHEN IT ARRIVED, IT WAS AN EXCELLENT RUNNING CAR WITH A REBUILT 389 – 4BL AUTOMATIC.
AS I HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY WITH MY LAST CAR (1956 CHEV SUBURBAN) I STARTED ON THE LONG, HARD AND COMPLICATED JOB OF MAKING IT INTO A “RESTO ROD”. SUITABLE FOR A POWER TOUR RUN.
I BEGAN BY REMOVING THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION AND REPLACING THEM WITH A LS MOTOR AND 4L60E ELECTRONIC OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION. BELIEVE ME THAT WAS NO EASY TASK; WE MADE CUSTOM MOTOR MOUNTS AND FABRICATED THE EXHAUST. I HAD THE COMPUTER CUSTOM “FLASHED” TO MY SPECS. WE INSTALLED ALL NEW FUEL LINES WITH RETURNS, INSTALLED AN INLINE CORVETTE TYPE PUMP AND FILTER.
I THEN INSTALLED A CUSTOM KWIK PERFORMANCE ENGINE PULLEY SYSTEM AND BOUGHT A SANDEN COMPRESSOR SO THAT IF A FUTURE A/C SYSTEM IS INSTALLED, IT WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE RE-DONE.
ALSO BECAUSE THERE IS NO STOCK AFTERMARKET VINTAGE AIR - AC KIT FOR A 62 GP, I HAD VINTAGE AIR MAKE A CUSTOM "ONE OF A KIND" CONTROL THAT WILL WHEN INSTALLED, RETROFIT THE STOCK HEATER CONTROLS TO WORK (A PLUG-IN) WITH THEIR UNIVERSAL SYSTEM.
I THEN INSTALLED A CUSTOM 2 ROW ALUMINUM RADIATOR FROM CHAMPION RADIATOR COMPANY WITH A CUSTOM SHROUD AND ELECTRONIC ENGINE FAN.
I REBUILT THE ALTERNATOR AND STARTER.
I THEN BEGAN REBUILDING THE ENTIRE FRONT END AND INSTALLED A “BEEFIER”SWAY BAR.
I THEN REBUILT THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FRONT AND BACK AND CONVERTED TO A DUAL MASTER CYLINDER / BOOSTER.
I BLASTED AND REPAINTED THE EIGHT LUG WHEELS AND INSTALLED NEW RADIAL WHITE WALLS.
I REPLACED THE STOCK REAR TRAILING ARMS WITH A SET OF “PURE MUSCLE” HEAVY DUTY BOXED UNITS AND INSTALLED A HEAVY DUTY“FABCRAFT” REAR SWAY BAR.
I FRESHENED UP THE 3.23 POSITRACTION REAREND WITH NEW BEARINGS AND SEALS.
I INSTALLED A CUSTOM EXHAUST SYSTEM.
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BECAUSE WE INSTALLED THE LS MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION, THE ORIGINAL ANALOG GAUGES WOULD NOT WORK; NO AFTERMARKET GAUGE COMPANY HAS A DIGITAL DASH FOR A 1962 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX – SO WE HAD TO MAKE OUR OWN. I MADE A --ONE OF A KIND -- DIGITAL DASH THAT WORKS GREAT. (SPEEDO, TACH, ETC.)THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS FACTORY MADE. I WANTED A STATE OF THE ART RADIO, SO I SENT MY ORIGINAL “WONDERBAR” RADIO TO THE AURORA COMPANY THAT CONVERTED MY RADIO TO AN AM/FM, BLUETOOTH WITH A USB FLASH DRIVE. THE RADIO HAS THE BUILT IN TELEPHONE HANDS FREE OPTION, (cost $800+).
WE TOOK APART ALL THE POWER WINDOW MECHANISMS AND REPLACED EVERY MOTOR AND LITTLE PLASTIC ROLLER FRONT AND BACK TO MAKE THEM WORK SMOOTH. WHILE THE DOOR PANELS WERE OUT DOING THE WINDOWS, I INSTALLED A CUSTOM REMOTE DOOR LOCK KIT WITH 2 REMOTES.
MY SON AND I ARE 6 FOOT PLUS AND I FELT THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL FOR MY LIKING, SO WE FABRICATED ADAPTERS SO THAT IT COULD MOVE 4 MORE INCHES BACK AND HIGHER IN THE BACK, STILL LEAVING THE ORIGINAL SEAT FLOOR MOUNTS INTACT SO THAT IT COULD BE RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION.
WE HAD TO FABRICATE THE FLOOR SHIFT LINKAGE AND SHIFTER DUE TO THE NEW 4L60E TRANSMISSION CABLE SYSTEM. WE MODIFIED A “SHIFT WORKS” KIT FROM A 1964 - 1965 GTO TO WORK – IT SHIFTS NICELY AND LOOKS ORIGINAL.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER DETAILS THAT WERE UNDERTAKEN IN THIS PROJECT. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE BY MY NARRATIVE AND LIST OF PARTS, IT WAS VERY INVOLVED AND VERY EXPENSIVE-NOT TO MENTION THE HUNDREDS OF MAN HOURS SPENT. I ADMIT THAT IT STILL COULD USE A NEWER PAINT JOB, (ALTHOUGH STILL VERY PRESENTABLE), BUT THE MECHANICALS ARE 100+%! I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF OR SEEN ANOTHER 62 GRAND PRIX THAT HAS HAD ALL THIS WORK DONE. OTHER “RESTO MODS” I HAVE SEEN WITH THIS TYPE OF LS CONVERSIONS IN THE WANT ADS ARE RUNNING IN THE HIGH 50 TO 60 THOUSAND RANGE.
IF YOU ARE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED, CALL ME, BUT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION ON THE PRICE. POSSIBLY OTHER GM VEHICLES TRADES MAY BE CONSIDERED - Call Frank @ 508-364-113,
Phone calls only!!! And to all you Listing companies, I do not need your help!!!!!
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1962 PONTIAC RESTORATION PARTS LIST
(Many other items not listed were used)
ENTIRE FRONT END REBUILD, WITH UPGRADED HD SWAY BAR.
UPGRADED QUICK RATIO POWER STEERING BOX.
COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM REBUILD WITH UPGRADED DUAL SYSTEM..
5 NEW P215 70 R14 WHITEWALL TIRES.
CONVERTED TO HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS WITH RELAY KIT.
INSTALLED CUSTOM “CHAMPION” 2 CORE RADIATOR, SHROUD AND ELECTRIC FAN.
NEW “XS” HD PERFORMANCE AGM BATTERY.
KWIK PERFORMANCE “LS” ENGINE PULLEY SYSTEM WITH SANDEN COMPRESSOR.
CURRENT PERFORMANCE LS ENGINE WIRING / RELAY SYSTEM.
INSTALLED A LS2 YUKON DENALI MOTOR AND 2 WD SUBURBAN 4L60E (ELECTRONIC OVER DRIVE) TRANSMISSION.
CUSTOM COLD AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM.
CUSTOM ENGINE COVER.
HAND MADE (ONE OF A KIND) DIGITAL DASH.
UPGRADED - RETRO- “AURORA FMR” AM/FM, USB, BLUETOOTH RADIO.
REPLACED ALL POWER WINDOW MOTORS AND ROLLERS.
INSTALLED REMOTE DOOR LOCKS.
UPGRADED STEREO SPEAKERS.
CUSTOM “SHIFT WORKS” FLOOR SHIFT CONVERSION KIT..
POWER DRIVERS SEAT – CUSTOM RELOCATION.
CUSTOM EXHAUST SYSTEM.
3.23 POSI-TRACTION REAR END – NEW BEARINGS & SEALS.
INSTALLED A HD “FABCRAFT” REAR SWAY BAR.
INSTALLED NEW “PURE MUSCLE” HD “BOXED” REAR TRAILING ARMS.
****NOTE-- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT EVERY TIME I SEE ANOTHER CAR I WANT, I CAN'T BUY IT UNTIL I SELL MY EXISTING CAR; MAYBE YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM? SO I WOULD CONSIDER AN INTERESTING TRADE. I WOULD PREFER A CAR THAT HAS HAD A LS CONVERSION, BUT WHATEVER I DO GET NEXT WILL UNDERGO THE SAME TRANSFORMATION AS THIS CAR DID. SO DON'T HESITATE TO RUN YOUR TRADE BY ME, I WILL CONSIDER ALL! 5083641132
frankchamberland@yahoo.com