1962 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX - RESTO ROD

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 AUUTOMATIC.

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 6.2 LS MOTOR AND 4 L 60 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.

I THEN INSTALLED A CUSTOM 2 ROW ALUMINUM RADIATOR FROM CHAMPION RADIATOR COMPANY WITH THE 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.

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 HD “FABCRAFT” REAR SWAY BAR.

I FRESHENED UP THE 3.23 POSI 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 GUAGES WOULD NOT WORK; NO AFTERMARKET GUAGE COMPANY HAS A DIGITAL DASH FOR A 1962 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX – SO WE HAD TO MAKE OUR OWN. LUCKY FOR ME I HAVE BUDDIES THAT ARE INTO ELECTRONICS. – THEY MADE ME 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 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 DUE TO THE NEW 4L60 E TRANS.

WE MODIFIED A “SHIFT WORKS” KIT FROM A GTO TO WORK – IT DOES.

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 WILL NEED A LITTLE TLC AND A NEWER PAINT JOB, BUT THE MECHANICALS ARE 100% PLUS!!

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 I’M TELLING YOU NOW THERE IS NOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION ON THE PRICE. AND I’M NOT INTERESTED IN A TRADE. Call Frank @ 508-364-113, Please no Txt Msgs,

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 (LQ4) YUKON DENALI MOTOR AND 2WD SUBURBAN 4L60E 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 SHIFTER CONVERSION.

POWER DRIVERS SEAT – CUSTOM RELOCATION.

CUSTOM EXHAUST SYSTEM.

3.23 POSI-TRACTION REAREND – NEW BEARINGS & SEALS.

INSTALLED A HD “FABCRAFT” REAR SWAY BAR.

INSTALLED NEW “PURE MUSCLE” HD “BOXED” REAR TRAILING ARMS.