the new toy is home!!!! And the push to get it ready for Martin

Well, I came home this morning at about 10am with the new toy in the trailer. A big thanks to Diego, Rich and Tom.

I am now the proud owner of a 1970 Pontiac Tempest GT-37 400ci 4bbl 4sp. Cardinal red with black bench interior. :TU: This is my first 4sp car, so this is going to be interesting. :3gears: The car has the original engine, which is a WT code 400. The base GTO motor. 3.55 posi and M-20 wide ratio. The rear is original, but the trans is not. I'm about to run some numbers on the trans to figure out what year it is. The entire driveline has been rebuilt.

The car doesn't have gauges and the speedo doesn't work so I need at least to put a tach on the column. Also need to install a driveshaft loop, rev limiter (VERY important with that numbers matching engine) and replace the rear air shocks. And of course some seat time so I get used to where the gears are. The shifter isn't correct, so I may borrow one if I can't find and install the correct shifter. Also need to rebuild and install the original carb since an edelbrock is currently on there.

Here is a pic of the car sitting in my driveway

 

Cool Chris, glad to see you got it:3gears:

Hope to see you/it at Martin.

 

A real GT-37, huh? A really nice find. A real wolf (goat?:laugh: ) in sheep's clothing... kinda like the SX Olds.

Buick never had a 'tweener like those.


Congrats!

 

Hey Chris,

You did real good! That car is a beaut.!!! Very cool color combo! Love the subtle graphics.:birthday:

Congratulations!!!:TU:

You weren't kidding when you said you were going to try to get it in under the wire.

Lookin forward to next Sunday!

Rich C.

 

Nice find, looking, glad to see some new iron for this years events

 

Cool ride Chris. :TU: Was it ordered with the GTO-hood and 69 Judge stripes? Also, does it have the GT-37 decals on it?

 

the second owner installed the GTO hood. It isn't correct. I hope to have that fixed before Stanton since the flat tempest/lemans hood should be easier to find. second owner also repainted the car so the GT-37 decals are no longer present. I have a set of decals, but the car needs to be repainted so I'm not going to put these on. The 69 judge stripe is part of the GT-37 package. GT-37 includes a 350 2bbl with 3sp, exhaust system with cutouts in the valence like 70 GTO, hood pins, rallye II wheels without trim rings, G70-14 tires and the aforementioned 69 judge stripe.

 

Chris,
Congrats. Now put my car outside and start thrashing Oh and practice laying black marks with the 4spd:3gears:

Matt

 

It could have been optioned with any engine, from the 250 through the 455, correct?

 

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nope. the GT-37 meant you also got the 350 2bbl 3sp as the base drivetrain. the 3 engines for a 70 GT-37 are 350 2bbl, 400 2bbl and 400 4bbl. no 455 that I know of.

 

Ummm-- a real quick check pulled this up-- is it wrong?

>>The GT-37 was an option that could be put on a T-37. The GT-37 had the performance of a GTO without the cost. Pontiac used the phrase "There's a little GTO in every GT-37, And you don't have to be over 30 to afford it." Produced two years, 1970 and 1971, this car was actually based on the T-37 Tempest line. To determine if you have a T-37, the VIN must have 233 as the first three digits. The T-37 came standard with a 250 six cylinder engine. The T-37 could have the GT-37 option put on the car with various engines, 350/2 barrel, 400/4 barrel and 455/4 barrel. GT-37 was an option package that could be ordered only on the T-37. The GT-37 option was available on two-door coupe and two-door hardtop. The package included a three speed floor-shift transmission, dechromed Ralley II wheels, G70-14 white lettered tires, hold-down hood pins, dual exhausts with chrome extensions, vinyl body stripes and special GT-37 identification.<<

Don't get me wrong, please-- you have a great car and I'd love to have one-- as you can tell by my username on this (and other) boards, I'm a big Pontiac fan!

 

that actually sounds like a combination of 70 and 71. there are 71 GT-37 with the 455HO (Dan Jensen is working on one for a local guy I know). But of all the research I've done, there wasn't a 455 available in 70 (I am still learning though). Of course, there was the theory that the 400 manual trans motor in 70 was the RA III (WS code), but that rumor has been squashed with several cars being documented as having the WT code (like mine).

GT-37 engine options as how I understand them:

70 - 350/2bbl. 400/2bbl. 400/4bbl
71 - 350/2bbl. 400/I believe 2bbl and 4bbl. 455HO/4bbl.

as a side note on what you found, there were no post coupe GT-37 in 71. only in 70. and very few of those existt or have been found.

 

Didn't they have a grill emblem (metal) too? Or was it just decals?

 

There was no GT 37 decals at all in 1970 .
1970 has Diecast chrome GT-37 emblems on fenders and corner of decklid.
In 1971 that changed, later year swordstripe cars has GT 37 cut out of swordstripe wheasas early 71 cars had 2 color eyebrow striped similar to Judge stripes.
These cars also had diecast chrome emblems

 

no decals in 70?

then explain this original owner car

 

Chris,I like it:beer Thanks for all your help in the past with Olds part numbers:TU:

 

That looks like a neat car Chris ! Congrats. :3gears:

 

:TU: The pic isn't showing up for me but congrats anyway!

Dang, now I have to replace the pit crew.:laugh:

 

SWeeeeeet!!!!!!! Very nice. congrats:3gears:

 

Well.... are we going to see it tonight in DG????