Getting a Clue

 It seems most project cars that are on the market are being sold due to burn out, either mentally, monetary, or both. If you're lucky, every once in awhile the car gods might decide to throw a deal your way. But in my humble opinion, buying someone else's project car is a lot like playing the game Clue. You start out with very little information and as you dive deeper into it, more clues start to reveal themselves. Recently I was fortunate enough to accompany my lifelong friend Duane on a trip to pick up not one, but two Pontiac Grand Prix hardtops! The car gods were in an especially good mood because he scored them both for $1000! Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

There was not a lot of information available about them. The owner had passed away and his family was selling them. The cars had been stored for decades in a rural storage lot so their overall condition was suspect, but they were both bucket seat cars with center consoles, so could you really go wrong for a thousand dollars? Duane and I are old school and came loaded for bear. We also did this very methodically, one car at a time, swapping out flat tires, airing up the ones that would hold air, and using a chain and a come-along to pull the cars up on the trailer. No electric winches or battery powered impact wrenches here, just brawn and muscle that we paid for dearly the next day! I call this the "young of mind, old of body" syndrome. 

Yours truly pretending I'm in the pits at a NASCAR race.

Getting ready to hand winch this behemoth up on the trailer.

The wide track Pontiac is loaded and ready to go.

What we have is two almost identical Pontiac's that had been sinking into the terra firma for decades, but there was still a lot more to figure out. Both trunks were locked with no keys, and one of the car's hood was chained shut, so it's engine remained a mystery for now. All the seats were in amazing shape considering how long these vehicles sat. We also found a lot of evidence of the cars being covered with heavy tarps at one time so that is what probably saved both interiors from total annihilation. Once each Grand Prix was relocated to their new home, the inspection began. Up first was cutting the lock and chain that secured one of the Pontiac's hood to see what lurked in the engine bay. We knew both cars had the 4 speed Hydra-Matic transmission and one had what appeared to be it's original 389 V-8, but the other was a complete mystery. Upon cutting the lock and opening the hood, Duane was greeted by every Pontiac enthusiasts dream - a 421 cubic inch V-8 with tri-power carburetion! Talk about hitting the jackpot! 

This very special air cleaner is a clue to what lies below it.

A sight for sore eyes, factory multiple carburetion.

As the clues started to reveal themselves, there were still some major unknowns. The 389 in the other Grand Prix was totally complete and stock. It still wore it's factory Carter 4 BBL carburetor along with dual exhaust but it's condition was a total mystery. It was as though the car had been driven into storage and parked. But Duane didn't just fall off the turnip truck, and we both knew better as our combined 90 years of automotive experience told us so. There was a reason, but what was it? Duane was determined to get to the bottom of it and began working on the 389 in earnest. He actually got the engine to start and run! This ruled out any major engine problems like a spun bearing or broken timing chain. The radiator was bone dry and the system appeared to still be sealed. Probably a rusted out freeze plug, right? Upon further inspection the next clue revealed itself.

Pretty sure this cracked block is why the car was parked!

With both engines more or less sorted out, curiosity was killing the cat so we had to find out what was in those locked trunks. Both cars were sitting really low in the rear and we figured either the trunks were loaded with cement blocks or the coil springs were collapsed. First up was the Grand Prix with the 421. Upon getting the trunk open, besides getting attacked by wasps, Duane was greeted by a cornucopia of Pontiac parts. The previous owner had apparently used the Pontiac's portly trunk to store his spare parts.

All this and more was discovered in the trunk of the Grand Prix!

Next up was the 389 powered Grand Prix to see what treasures were tucked away in it's trunk. Using the clues divulged in the first trunk, I jokingly told Duane that there was probably a tri-power stashed in there. Low and behold, there was a tri-power manifold and more!

Another set of 8 lug wheels and a tri power!

With both trunks sorted out it was time to solve the mystery of the 421 powered Grand Prix. The engine looked as if it had been rebuilt and installed but with nothing really hooked up. It needed a starter, which was in the trunk, so that had to be addressed first. Upon further inspection another clue revealed itself. The flywheel was missing! Someone had bolted the engine to the transmission but failed to install it. Duane had no choice but to remove the trans in order to install the flywheel, which conveniently was also found in the trunk.

No car lifts here, this transmission was removed the old fashioned way!

 

After the Hydra-Matic was removed another clue revealed itself. The reason they did not install the flywheel was because the 421 that was installed in the Grand Prix was a later model motor. In 1962 the 389 would have had a crank hub that measured 2.600 whereas the 421 had a crank hub measurement of 2.750, so there was no way to bolt the Hydra-Matics special flywheel and spring hub to the 421. The original starter would not work either so that presented another problem. With a vast array of Pontiac parts at his disposal, Duane quickly formulated a plan. The Hydra-Matic would be swapped out for a Turbo-Hydramatic TH400 transmission. The flex plate for the TH400 will bolt up to the 421 crank and a later model starter could be used. Once the clues were figured out it all started to come together.

Starter and flexplate problem solved!

 

Doesn't everyone have a good used TH400 in their parts stash?

As I write this the final details are being completed on the transmission swap for the Grand Prix. Next up will be going through the brake system and maybe using one of the sets of 8 lug wheels to put this Pontiac on the road. So for this automotive version of Clue, if you accused Professor Pontiac in the driveway with a wrench, your guess would be correct!

 

Those Were The Days, My Friend

 Last winter I got bored, so I decided to get a part time job to keep busy during my retirement. I called upon my past experience in auto parts and landed a job at the local parts store. Well the "winter only" gig just kept going and here I am, still working. I foolishly thought that I could relive some of my glory days as a counterman. Heck, I still know the part number for Standard Motor Products Chevrolet V-8 distributor points, DR2270XP. Guess what, points aren't really sold anymore, except maybe for an old tractor. No need to memorize part numbers as you have a computer filled full of them, along with google, right at your fingertips. Don't know what a part is? Simply take a picture of it with your phone and hit search. Bingo! Instant results that can make anyone, and I mean anyone, look like they actually know what they are doing. Don't have any automotive or parts experience? No problem, it's really the computer doing all the work. The real eye opener was the prices. I know everything goes up and of course you have inflation, but how the heck does automatic transmission fluid go from 99 cents to over $12 a quart? Talk about sticker shock!

There is just no place, or need, for a former parts professional in the industry anymore. Nobody needs a carburetor diagnosis, timing suggestions, or tune up tips anymore. It's really a young persons game, old folks need not apply, except maybe in management and you can forget that. It's the same old corporate bull crap, jump through hoops to get your "bonus", work an insane amount of hours, chase an ever increasing quota, etc, etc. Been there, done that. No thanks! I think it's time I hang up my counterman's hat for good. I would rather remember the good old days of selling parts then today's pick and click and push this months promo pitch. Call me old, but those were the days my friend, and they are gone forever.

Still Swimming

 Recently, while perusing the google universe, I ran across a "Auto Bloggers Database" website. Curiosity got the best of me and I decided to investigate it further to see what I could find. The site is Feedspot and they have a auto bloggers database that is bar none. As I was browsing their A to Z listings of auto blogs, I spotted "Classic Car Blogs", so I jumped down that rabbit hole to see what I could find. I was a bit surprised to find yours truly listed as number 28 under the 50 Best Classic Cars and Websites in 2025. Wow, I am truly humbled. Unless it's AI generated, then no. 

While I'm on the subject of self promotion, a seemingly random blog of mine has gone pre-viral, amassing an astonishing 50k plus views! Gee, I wonder why? Could it be it's subject matter? Yes, a mere drop in the bucket in TikTok land, but I will take what I can get.

Another New Beer

 As I get older, every new year is like a trying a new beer. Some are really good and others are crap. The last four beers have been some of the worst that I have tasted. I'm talking hogwash like Bud Light. Hey, some folks like that swill, so the last four beers to them have been nothing but thirst quenching. To each their own I say. Personally I am looking forward to the next four ales, but I am going to take it one bellywash at a time. As for my annual prediction of things to come, well lets just say the jury is still out. I would love to say that it's going to be all rainbows and unicorns, but the stark truth is the incoming POTUS has a hell of a lot of work to do. I can't shake the feeling of something major and ominous happening in the upcoming year. I pray that I am wrong, but if my past predictions are any clue, this one will follow suit. 

So what does the new year have in store for the Amberlight Garage you ask? (Okay, maybe you didn't ask but I am going to tell you anyways) Well, financing has been secured for the major addition, so vetting contractors will be the next step. While technically still in the planning stages, the new Amberlight will be larger then the old digs, but it will be far from a "garage mahal". A large mezzanine is planned, along with a dedicated fabrication/welding room. And with any luck, project Yellowjacket will emerge from Helm's Deep and work will begin in earnest on it. Hey, all it takes is time and money, and I just happen to have a little of each!