1965 Pontiac Bonneville Restoration

[AfterDark3]

Hello all, I have a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville, 4 door hardtop, with the "Trophy 389CI V8" engine with a Carter 4 barrel carburetor and a TurboHydramatic 400 Transmission 3 Speed Automatic, and what I want to do is get this vehicle up in working shape, not necessarily showroom shine sort of thing, but in good mechanical order. The car currently has an indicated 57K miles (It could be 157K for all I know, it only has a 5 digit odometer) and has been sitting in a barn since 86'. Is there anything that I should be concerned about other than fixing the brakes, and most likely upgrading them to disks, and new plugs, oil (engine and trans) battery, tires and a fuel system flush? The wiring will most likely need to be replaced if the mice got at it as well.
In advance thanks for the help.

EDIT: The engine is not seized, it will turn over if a battery is installed.

 

[melsg5]

Should change every fluid in every system in the car. Coolant, engine oil and filter, transmission fluid and filter, brake fluid, rear end fluid. Check belts and hoses cooling system and fuel system and brake hoses.

 

[AfterDark3]

Is there anything else that I should be worried about at this car's advanced age? Warn out cams, valves, alternator, starter, gas pumps, points, condensers, brake lines , tubing?, ETC? Or is it an "as you go" sort of project? You have to remember that this car has been sitting nearly 30 years (or so I assume so) without being ran.

 

[melsg5]

Those are all potential failure points but unless you want to invest a ton of money I would check items that can be checked, compression test, voltage output, fuel pump pressure, points and condensor replace them, lines check for visual leaks.

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[AfterDark3]

I did a little inspection, and pulled off the brake master cylinder reservoir cap, it is damp inside the reservoir but it is full of rust and that, i am assuming, means get a new master cylinder. And also, what oil should I use in the engine, and the same for the transmission. Where do you put the oil on this car? I know where the dipstick is but I don't see an oil fill port. Same for the transmission, Or do I fill though the very large dipstick. Oh, and also the gas tank was completely empty when I got a stick and tested it, not that it means much, but someone was thinking when they put the car away. And finally, the cooling system still holds water, and still has water in it fortunately. And the engine and transmission are full of oil, not necessarily clean oil, but none the less, it gives me confidence that you could probably get this car running in a day.

 

[melsg5]

1. Oil, not knowing the condition of the engine try a 10W30 oil and add a bottle of blue STP for additional zinc and phospherous. If it burns oil try going to a 10W40.
2. Transmission fluid, a DEXRON III type fluid.
3. You dont see an engine oil fill cap on one of the valve covers?
4. After changing the transmission filter and fluid you refill through the transmission dipstick tube.

 

[AfterDark3]

First, Does it matter what brand of Trans oil I use, and is there one brand that is better than another, or should I just use the cheap Carquest stuff?, Second, I did not know that the breather was also the oil fill. Thirdly, how on earth do I identify the engine other than the engine stamp, on this car, I'm 80% positive that it's the 389, but I have a hunch that it may be the 421, and I cannot find the stamp on the Passenger side on the engine block or see it, is there any distinguishing factors between them other than the stamp and manually looking under the heads? and Lastly, Do the brougham models and standard models have any difference, I have done a lot of looking on brougham Pontiac, and I have found virtually nothing, and I was wondering if you knew anything about it. Again, thanks for all the help.

 

[melsg5]

1. I would use any name brand oil no nothing about Carquest.
2. There should be a two character engine code on the block in front of the passenger side cylinder head. Your car is a "B" body and this link has all the codes
http://www.pontiacpower.net/engcode01.html
The casting code is another way to tell whether 389 or 421
http://www.pontiacpower.net/engcast01.html
3. Beginning in 1964, a Bonneville Brougham option package was available that included an even more luxurious interior trim level with front and rear seats featuring center armrests, upgraded door panels and a standard Cordova (vinyl) roof with "Brougham" nameplates.

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[AfterDark3]

There isn't a cast or ID #, unless I am looking in the wrong place, it's in the attached image. It's turned 90 degrees counter clockwise, and by the way, it's not a brougham model.

 

[melsg5]

that location should have the engine code and a partial VIN, it's either covered in rust or the block has been milled.
did you look at the distributor pad for the casting number?

 

[AfterDark3]

What's a distributor pad? After a little looking I came up with nothing, so I assume you know. I will also take some sandpaper and see if its rusted and can find it. I do not believe the block has been milled, It was owned by a band director, and after so my grandfather, who was a farmer, so I don't think it was ever taken out or any major work done.

 

[AfterDark3]

Oh, and also, since Dexron III is kind of hard to come across, can you use Dexron IV instead? I have heard that it is possible, but will it do any damage do the THM-400?

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[Zimgxp]

Dextron IV will be fine.