Marks63Pontiac
12-06-2010, 07:48 AM
Hey all. Although I'm not building a Pro-Touring type car I've come here to look in on your site for up to date and good technical information that I can use on my project. I'm big into turbos and want to use fuel injection sometime on the future. I'm building a '63 Pontiac Catalina Gasser. Ok, now, once you've stopped laughing let me explain. I'm a Pontiac foamer. Love 'em and have built and run other cars over the years but my heart lies in the early Pontiac big cars. I grew up during the great drag car expansion, (sounds impressive hey??). From stock type cars into gassers, into funnies etc. I've always wanted to build a gasser. But not a belly button "Period Correct" gasser. More of a street freak. Mixing my love for the big early ('59 to '64) Pontiacs and gassers I've finally found a good candidate, and sold my '73 Trans AM to finance it. The new owner of the TA is here on the board (don't know his user name but will add that later with his permission). It was a semi touring turbocharged 462 (Pontiac motor) 1065 hp Trans Am. This is a picture of the TA. You may have seen it in the board from the new owner.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/IM000675-1.jpg
It had been a previous late 70s show car (hence the paint job) that I got ahold of and modified over several years of ownership.
Now I'm building the '63 Catalina Gasser.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/Catalinaingarage001-1.jpg
I'm building a 1960 389 block (early very strong blocks) to a 406 (.090 over) for it using a forged 3.75 Ohio crank, GRP aluminum rods, Forged dished Ross light weight pistons, KRE aluminum 325 CFM D-Port heads, splayed 4 bolt caps and full roller valvetrain. I'm presently going to bolt on an S400 B-W 75mm turbo with a 1.32 A/R exhaust. Not sure of the compressor stats. It's a big frame T-6 and may upsize later if needed. Right now deciding on using a more turbo friendly/efficient 4L80E built for mucho power or running a built T-56. I have both just have to decide. Then sell the other. The 4L80 is the smart choice--the T-56 (manual banger) is the heart choice. The pic shows the rear tire sticking out. I'm narrowing the frame to put them inside the wheelwells. The front sheetmetal will all be bolted together and tilted. The firewall will be cut back and the engine placed back in the frame. But anywho. That's me and my project. I'm a retired Factory supervisor. Working this project as I feel the urge to work on it and as the money is available. I came here to see what you guys are up to and to gleen any pertanent info I can use in my build. I like to keep up on trends and see how others do things. It also motivates me to work on my projects. Looking forward to lots of reading and pictures (pictures, GOOOOOD!!!!) Thanks guys. Mark L
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/IM000675-1.jpg
It had been a previous late 70s show car (hence the paint job) that I got ahold of and modified over several years of ownership.
Now I'm building the '63 Catalina Gasser.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/Catalinaingarage001-1.jpg
I'm building a 1960 389 block (early very strong blocks) to a 406 (.090 over) for it using a forged 3.75 Ohio crank, GRP aluminum rods, Forged dished Ross light weight pistons, KRE aluminum 325 CFM D-Port heads, splayed 4 bolt caps and full roller valvetrain. I'm presently going to bolt on an S400 B-W 75mm turbo with a 1.32 A/R exhaust. Not sure of the compressor stats. It's a big frame T-6 and may upsize later if needed. Right now deciding on using a more turbo friendly/efficient 4L80E built for mucho power or running a built T-56. I have both just have to decide. Then sell the other. The 4L80 is the smart choice--the T-56 (manual banger) is the heart choice. The pic shows the rear tire sticking out. I'm narrowing the frame to put them inside the wheelwells. The front sheetmetal will all be bolted together and tilted. The firewall will be cut back and the engine placed back in the frame. But anywho. That's me and my project. I'm a retired Factory supervisor. Working this project as I feel the urge to work on it and as the money is available. I came here to see what you guys are up to and to gleen any pertanent info I can use in my build. I like to keep up on trends and see how others do things. It also motivates me to work on my projects. Looking forward to lots of reading and pictures (pictures, GOOOOOD!!!!) Thanks guys. Mark L