Oddball Muscle Cars

[Paul Ceasrine]

Jim R,
I would agree...The 58' Pontiac 370 with Tri-Power or Fuel Injection,
very rare,,and a runner too!.
A couple of runners in 1966.
Mary Ann Foss; D/SA
Jay Hamilton; F/SA
Just what did those Chieftans weigh anyway??

Jim,, I think you could put one of those Sunbeams in the trunk of a
58' Pontiac..God knows, you couldn't drive a Sunbeam, with split
shock towers!!
Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

Jim R,
Great list for 58' Pontiac 370 c.i. information.
The hot ticket back then, the "886" camshaft
Pontiac part #524886
Hydraulic Lifter w/H.D. valve springs
.411/.411 lift 283/293 duration, 60 degree overlap
For the 370/310hp w/fuel Injection..
The higher HP engines had other special options.
PC

[bill dedman]

Thanks for the great info, Jim!

The amazing thing was that any of those ('57-up cars {Pontiacs}) would even get out of its own way with that miserable Jetaway/Strato-Flight, dual-coupling transmission. If they'd just left a Dual Range Hydro in those cars for three or four more years, you'd have SEEN some "runners"!!! Oh well, at least it didn't have a torque converter...

To its credit, it did have marginally better ratios than the Dual Range units (3.95; 2.55; 1.55; 1;1 vs.. early Dual Range's 3.81; 2.63; 1.45; 1:1.)

In '56, G.M. engineering gave the Pontiac's Dual Range Hydros a 1.55 third gear which resulted in ratios of 4.08; 2.55; 1.55 and 1:1, a big improvement over that huge 2nd-to-3rd gap in the earlier transmissions.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Bill,
Any information on the exact/approximate weight of those 58's.
General info; Bonneville around #3800, and the Chieftain #3700.
Is that in the 'range'?
That seems a little light, for all that chrome and steel.
Pontiac Paul,,,

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Bill,
Any information on the exact/approximate weight of those 58's.
General info; Bonneville around #3800, and the Chieftain #3700.
Is that in the 'range'?
That seems a little light, for all that chrome and steel.
Pontiac Paul,,,

Paul,

I went to one site that said a Chieftain weighed 3070lbs......that must have been the hood only!

Here's the weights from a reliable site: 2dr Chieftain shipping weight, 3640lbs; Bonneville coupe, 3785lbs and the Convertible, 1 million lbs. (couldn't find it).

We all know that the shipping weight is always soft, probably by at least 200lbs.

JimR

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Jim R,
I would agree...The 58' Pontiac 370 with Tri-Power or Fuel Injection,
very rare,,and a runner too!.
A couple of runners in 1966.
Mary Ann Foss; D/SA
Jay Hamilton; F/SA
Just what did those Chieftans weigh anyway??

Jim,, I think you could put one of those Sunbeams in the trunk of a
58' Pontiac..God knows, you couldn't drive a Sunbeam, with split
shock towers!!
Paul

Paul,

You could park the Sunbeam on the Pontiac's hood and still have room to play kick ball! At car shows at least 4 people will ask me how many dead bodies will fit in the trunk!

JImR

[Paul Ceasrine]

Jim R,
I think those front fender/hood ornaments would work wonders for utilizing as a hanger, to put the Sunbeam on, when hanging in a closet..

Also, the 58' Bonneville was a popular choice with my
'waste management friends in the Bronx, NY.. Those trunks can carry alot of no-necks/bent-noses to that special 'burial-site'.

Looks like the weight numbers are right on..
I found 3710lbs. for the Coupe. And a light 3905lbs. for the Bonneville
convertible.
Amazing performance, 58' Bonneville Coupe, 370/330hp Tri-Power,
3-speed on the column, 3.23 posi....1/4 Mile ET..15.20 @ 91mph.
1958 Performance Magazine...Not Too Shabby!!!!
Paul,,,Go Chieftain

[Paul Ceasrine]

Jim R,
Just saw on an old site.
1966 NHRA Stock World Champion
Jay Hamilton, F/SA 58' Pontiac 4-door. w/370
Then went out and won the 67' Springnationals in E/SA.
Wt/HP Factor; (11.89 - 12.49)
A 10-year old 4-door, weighing in at 3830lbs.
Must have drove the NHRA and Factory marketing reps NUTS!!!
PC

[Paul Ceasrine]

Wagon Odd-Ball,
1966 Plymouth Belvedere II Station Wagon w/Hemi.
Just how many of those things were made??

Jim R,
On the 58' Pontiacs.
What was the deal with all those camshaft options?
The '886' dealer installed hydraulic.
McKellar #6 .407/407 lift, w/283/293 duration.
And in the trunk, another camshaft, a McKellar #7.
A solid lifter cam w/1.65 rockers. .445/.447 lift, w/300/304 duration.

PC

[Paul Ceasrine]

Saw one,
Not ODD-BALL, but a Police Pursuit Vehicle.
1966 Dodge Polara with a 440/365 HP (480 lbs/ft torque).
3800 lbs.
w/Police Interceptor Package
w/Holley 570cfm carb.
Heavy-Duty Suspension Handling Package.
Special 727 Interceptor, w/higher stall converter, H.D. clutch package and valve body modifications.
With 2.94 gears, capable of 140+ MPH.
Swap in 4.10's, and could run 13.90's.
Pop in 4.56's, down to 13.50's. Enough to give those
66' Olds 442's and 66' GTO's fits, in C/SA.
Car was classed in C/SA in 1966.
PC