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WOLF'S . SLEEPER .

THE PONTIAC TEMPEST PROJECT

This is an all-custom, one-off, stoplight surprise!

It's a 1963 Tempest with a Big Block CHEVY hidden under the hood

(Actually, it's a 9.75 to 1, Gen VI 502, with aluminum heads!)

This paint job was done the old fashioned way, with lacquer and lots of clear - in the family garage. There are a few dust spots, but at least we did'em ourselves!

The motor sits on custom-fabricated mounts and breathes through an 870 cfm Barry Grant carb and our own 1 7/8" headers.

It's been balanced and clearanced, and runs a .600-inch-lift solid lifter cam. This is a VERY STREETABLE car.

With a Richmond 5-speed in top gear at 80 mph we're running 3,000 rpms

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Everything had to be fabricated. This was a flat-floor, 4-cyl transaxle car to start with. The '63 Tempest is a foot shorter and quite a bit lighter than the 64 GTO. Our Tempest has an Art Morison 4-link holding a narrowed 8.75 Mopar rear, a new Richmond Gear 5-speed, Wilwood calipers and 11.75-inch Lincoln rotors up front, custom-centered with stainless rings on the original Pontiac hubs. There are 11-inch MoPar drums out back. A Mopar dual master cylinder and some new plumbing slow it down. A line lock holds it for the launch. The 4-link is set with a 64@3 inch IC but first gear traction is still limited!

The body has a new tunnel and the rear half sports a 2x4 cross member tied into the old torque boxes to give the 4-link something to attach to. Diagonal supports cross the door openings, to stop body-flex and unite the cowl box with the back end. Another cross member inside the trunk suspends the coil overs from the frame and gives the car a nice ride and a normal stance. Inside the trunk there is a 22-gallon JAZ fuel cell along with a bypass pump and a battery box. Up front the cooling is handled by a Griffin 32 inch aluminum radiator. The original 4-hole dash sports new Autometer gauges that all fit right in. Cowl induction lined with Kool-Mat brings cool fresh air in and lets the hood close with 3/8-inch to spare.

Some people say this is the Wengler's mid life crisis, but to us it is just a way of life.

We Never Give Up & WE NEVER LIFT!

Now read about the The Tempest Components

or send E-mail to: wolfwengler@comcast.net

© 2005 Wolf Wengler, a.k.a. The Wheelman