1960 Pontiac Ventura

[tripower]

If you really want the 3:42 first gear, you could always find another tail house and main shaft like the other one and switch it out.. Everything in the main case is the same...

Yes I thought about that and may choose that route, as my buddy has a bunch of these and would not care if I took one of the others and swapped the tail housings and main shaft.

 

[tripower]

Looks like you've found the elusive fan blade, eh?

The fun part was the search, but once you got it was transformed into perfection .

Cheers!
TomK

Yes Tom, its the search and then the score... These parts are not to easy to find so having this forum and and members here willing to keep a eye out and help is a blessing...

 

[tripower]

The clutch pedal assembly on these early Pontiacs, 57-62, leaves much to be desired. Lots of moving parts and lots of room for potential problems like twist and ware. Where the Pontiac engineers got it right with the 9.3 rear they lost it in the clutch pedal assembly department namely the bell crank. They should have peeked around the corner a little sooner to look at how Chevrolet was doing it. 1963 they did.
Anyway I welded up all the oblonged holes, worn pins and pedal stop. None of this stuff is available reproduction.

 

[Jim Sullivan]

Your not kidding about lots of moving parts. Looks like the engineers got a bonus based on the number of parts and complexity of the linkage.

 

[real61ss]

But it works and shifts smoothly, actually much more so than the 61 Chevrolet, at least that's my opinion

 

[real61ss]

I thought Fabcraft made all that stuff

 

[blkblk63ss]

But it works and shifts smoothly, actually much more so than the 61 Chevrolet, at least that's my opinion

Why yes ,Chevrolet are cheap!!!!!

 

[blkblk63ss]

Actually knew a fellow had a new 63 or 64 Pontiac full size 2 dr ht with 4 speed V8 back in the day and thought that was rare then. It was a dark brown metallic color .

 

[tripower]

But it works and shifts smoothly, actually much more so than the 61 Chevrolet, at least that's my opinion

The problem with it Tommy is there are six plastic bushings and then metal to metal on the center override extension spring, this is the wear issue. The bracket that attaches to the frame is attached with two 5/16" self taping sheet metal screws, no nuts on the backside, I am going to weld nuts into the frame. Then the bell crank is manufactured out of a piece of flat bar which wants to twist, mine was slightly twisted so I straightened it. This was a real issue especially when the drag racers started pounding on these rigs down the track or, any kind of hard driving so I have been told. This design was revised in the 61-62 models but went to the tube style in 63 which only uses the two bushings on either end with the balls, just like Chevrolet, and by far stronger.

 

[tripower]

I thought Fabcraft made all that stuff

No, Fabcraft makes everything from 61 up nothing for 60. Although the bushings and, clutch fork for 61-62 do cross over other then that, that is it.

 

[tripower]

Here is a exploded view of the 61-62.
Then 58 and revised 59 which was used for 60.

 

[tripower]

I just noticed you can see the twist in the bell crank in this pick.

 

[tripower]

Also have to do a little resto work on the clutch fork. Replace the spring and weld up the pushrod hole and counter bore.

 

[tripower]

Got all the parts ready to go for the clutch pedal assembly just waiting on parts now from Fabcraft...Didn't trust the sheet metal screws that attached the bellcrank bracket to the frame so I drilled out the holes and welded in some nuts. Figured I would rather take care of it now then have a issue later...

 

[63 dream'n]

Got all the parts ready to go for the clutch pedal assembly just waiting on parts now from Fabcraft...Didn't trust the sheet metal screws that attached the bellcrank bracket to the frame so I drilled out the holes and welded in some nuts. Figured I would rather take care of it now then have a issue later...

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Did you have the parts plated......rattle can......spray gun ?
Looks great......!!!!!

 

[tripower]

Also did some digging around in the spare parts department and pulled out a good 11" clutch that is going to work as well...

 

[tripower]

Did you have the parts plated......rattle can......spray gun ?
Looks great......!!!!!

My neighbor does ceramic coatings so he sprayed and baked em. Looks like cad and holds up real well.

 

[tripower]

Dan,
That is very interesting materisl, where did you find that manual? Jim Matteson, owner of PHS had told me that he felt less than 25 four speed car were actually built so I'm supprised there was a manual printed. Unfortunately Jim can't document them as his records only go back to 61 and not all 61's

Tommy,
I just received this document, thought you might want to have a look...

 

[real61ss]

Dan,
Thank you, I will print that and put it with my other documentation. I thought there were more 4 speed cars built in 61 than that. I think that according to PHS there were 1150 some 4 speed 425a Ventura's built. I just figured there were more 318 horse 4 speed cars built than 425a's.

 

[real61ss]

Dan,
Wonder if Stuart over on the PY site has seen that. He has a 425a / 4 speed 61 Bonneville. He has is a good sorse for information