1970 Pontiac Lemans Update

[john31s]

@John31s: What width front/rear wheels? I see they're 17 inch, but I was wondering about the wheel widths.



EDIT: I see that the Year One Rally II wheels are listed as 17x9" -- is that correct?

Nice choice, BTW, I agree with others, those wheels look great.

Thanks, and the wheels are 17x9". Year One does make these in a 17x8" but that's more for first gen firebirds. The 68-72 A-bodies have plenty of room up front to take the 9" wide rim. I only wish they made 17x10" so I could stick more rubber undert the rear.

[john31s]

So, here is an update:

Saturday night/ Sunday morning: Got all the hard stuff done, the raditor was finally installed and the transmission cooler lines which I had to remake were done. But then, I realized I forgot to put the probe in the radiator for the fan controller, no big deal. I pull out the radiator, lie it down on the table and realize if I cut the ties holding the fans (which goes through the fins) I wont be able to reinstall it tonight. So I decide to drill on the shroud which is mounted to the radiator using a drill stop to make sure I dont go through it. The drill stop hits the shoud (light aluminum) which deflects and I drill a hole in my new radiator. Yep, I that guy. So then I get angry, order a new one ($$$) adn decide to put the timing cover back on. Put it back on only to come to the conclusion that I royally f#@ked up the gasket along the bottom so it will leak.

I should have left the car alone this weekend. Needless to say, the car will remain in the garage for another week. To make things better, I have just over a month until I go off the college so I need the car done son or I won't get to drive it all summer.

[john31s]

Got the new radiator mounted and plumbed in today. I went to test the car for leaks by running the engine before I wired up the fans and I ran into two issues. First the mechanical fuel pump was puking gasoline. Upon closer inspection I realized that I split the casing by over tightening one of the bolts too much. The second issue was also due to me overtightened a bolt, because I split the thermostat housing at the back, so it leaks like a siv. All in all it could have been worst, and I should have it back on the road soon which is good because as of today I have one month until I go to school.

To anyone who wired in aftermarket electric fans, what kit did you use/ would you recommend?

[john31s]

So I finally got the car 100% back on the road. And just in time becasue in just over two weeks I go away to school. Car runs good and cool but I'm still unsure what temperature should I set the electric fans to kick on at? I have a 180 degree themostat so I was thinking around 190 possibly? Another thing I noticed while driving it around yesterday was then I was cornering and hit a bump the rear got all sloppy. Not about to go into a slide sloppy, more just a big wiggle. I'm assuming this is due to the fact I still haven't gotten around to putting new control arms with new bushings on the rear. Thats really it for now. I'll post some pictures of the new rad setup when I get them off my camera.

[cortcomp]

I'm glad i found your thread, i have a 71 t-37 i'm looking at putting these same wheels on now that my 15's are done. THANK YOU for posting the tire sizes and wheel backspacing, etc! I don't know how familiar you are with pontiacs, but if you ever need tech advice, hit pontiac street performance, great guys over there:

psp.aquacomp.net

190 degrees is fine, but you'll kind of want to gauge it with how hot the car runs. So if it always runs 190, set it 195 so that the aux fans only kick in when you're running warmer than normal. You really don't want them kicking on and off all the time, which can sound annoying. I prefer to run a mech fan only for looks and less noise, i'm where the car is running about 180 all the time, and a little more with A/C on. If i ditched the clutch fan, i think i could lose another 5 or so degrees.

Here's a pic of my car, just back together a month ago for the 3rd time. Thanks again for posting the info!!!!

[john31s]

Sorry I never got back to you, your car looks great. I really want to run a 455 soon cause the 350 isn't cutting it.

As a minor update the car is on hold and at home while I'm at school. I thought about bringing it down next semester but the ways things are looking I won't have the time to do any work on it.

Hopefully I can get some work done over Thanksgiving, but that might not happen, and winter break will defiantly too cold so basically nothing new will happen until next summer.

[car_guy]

That's a super clean looking pontiac...im starting to build a 70 as well. About the year one rally's....what is the shape of the inside of the wheel, im curious if they'd fit C5 brakes

[john31s]

That's a super clean looking pontiac...im starting to build a 70 as well. About the year one rally's....what is the shape of the inside of the wheel, im curious if they'd fit C5 brakes

Thanks, and I'm not sure of the exact shape of the inside, I think/hope they will fit cause I want to run C5 brakes, but my car is back in Jersey and I'm in Virginia so I won't have a chance to try a template till thanksgiving. From what I remember they looked to have plenty room but I will have to check. I will post up when I do get a chance to try a template.

[UMI Performance]

The LeMans is looking great. I really like the wheels, they fit the car perfect. It has a semi-stock look but aggressive at the same time... nice choice!

[Grim]

Wow that's clean! Now your making me second guess my wheel choice.

[john31s]

Wow that's clean! Now your making me second guess my wheel choice.

Thanks, I like the wheels allot but, they are kind of small on the inside. I test fit some brake caliper templates for the right stuff signature series brakes and they were tight.

[ed1le]

Car looks great, perfect foundation for a project car. Enjoy!

[john31s]

Just as another update I ordered new control arms front and rear from UMI. Got to love the 15% off sale. Now I have most of the suspension on its way or in boxes so I can put that all on over Christmas provided the weather isn't terrible. Now I just need brakes and a new steering box/linkage and I'll be set.

[UMI Performance]

Just as another update I ordered new control arms front and rear from UMI. Got to love the 15% off sale. Now I have most of the suspension on its way or in boxes so I can put that all on over Christmas provided the weather isn't terrible. Now I just need brakes and a new steering box/linkage and I'll be set.

Thank you for the order

I have been falling this thread, I love the car. We hope to get some pictures of our '72 LeMans up soon, it is in restoration mood as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Ryan

[john31s]

New picture, update to come...



Photo by Jerry McCrea

[UMI Performance]

Wow does that car look awesome!! I love it

[ed1le]

Love it! Looks great!

[erikgto]

Looks awesome!! Very insprirational!
Can't wait to see what she looks like when you've lowered her!!!!!!!!!!!

[john31s]

I’ve been meaning to do an update for a while so here it goes:

-I've ordered and received all the suspension. All UMI, all red, complete madness. The only suspension parts which will not be bright red will are the sway bars. They are from Hotchkis so they are black, I considered swapping them over the UMI or powder coating them red, this was promptly deemed stupid/ waste of money and/or time.

-I have a set of Viking double adjustable coil-overs for the front, and double adjustable shocks for the rear with Hotchkis 2" lowering springs.

-I ordered a Right Stuff Detailing Big Brake kit. 13" rotors up front with 12" out back. This did not fit, and checking the scale of the template made far too much sense. I was going to be stuck with shipping it back, when I discovered I would have to pay for the shipping my way because I got free shipping when I initially bought them. To save money I drove these back to Ohio from NJ, 8 hour drive. Did both ways back to back, in nothing short of incredible fog, would not recommend it.

-On the way back from the Right Stuff Detailing's place in Ohio i stopped by Summit, and bought a rear disc conversion kit, because that made sense at the time. (A trend is starting to appear).

-Now I have a rear brake kit waiting to go on the car, and I am planning on converting the front to a 12" setup (1LE, Wilwood, I'm open to suggestions).

-Planning on an ARG steering box with all the appropriate linkages to tighten the steering up.

-Install a new alternator, the current stock replacement doesn't charge the battery when the electric fans are on. Driving home though unlit back roads is far less fun when the headlights begin to dim.

-I bought a heat wrap to go around the starter, i was having hot start issues and determined it to be the starter getting hot. I drove the car around for a while, threw it on a lift and used a IR temp. gun to see how it was doing. There was a 100 degree difference between the side facing the exhaust, and the opposite side.

-Would like to put down some form of sound deadening/ a muffle wrap to keep cabin drone down.

-Still pursuing a center console for the car. It was a bench seat car, now has some buckets so I'd like to fill the gap. I would also like to bring the shiftier off the column and onto this console/floor. Cup holders would be a definite plus.

-I would also like to change the steering column/get a new wiring loom for it. Its buggy as all hell, turning dash lights on and off depending on which gear its in (R,N,D).

-New formula style steering wheel would be a solid investment. I probably go with a Grant due to cost, a repro would cost too much.

That should be it for now. I'm still deliberating what to do as far as drive train goes. A posi would be fun, but my P350 isn't exactly up to the task of spinning the 285's.

[LeighP]

Talk to Dave at Pro-Touring F-Body about his 1LE front brake conversion...might work for your A body set up???? otherwise, try Kore 3. Everyone likes their customer service and their kits. I've got 1LE brakes on the front of my Firebird...work well.