Can anyone out there tell me if a 396 was offered in '65? A friend of mine picked up a '65 Custom Sport convertible with a 396 - 4spd. I don't think it belongs myself. It definitely is not a numbers car. If it doesn't belong is there a way to tell what engine the car originally came with? P.S. This will settle an ongoing bet.
JC
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'68 Parisienne 2+2 Convertible Matador Red (Resale Red but not for sale).
We have determined from extensive discussions and research on this board that the 396 was not available in 1965 Canadian Pontiacs from the factory.
Of course if someone has evidence to refute this we will be pleased to see and hear it.
Over the course of this site's existence we have seen one 1965 car with a 396 however it was determined that it was not original to the car and in fact was a late 60's engine.
Our registry maintained by 68sd actaully provides eveidence that it is most likely that the last passenger car use of the 409 engine was in a Canadian produced Pontiac. In other words long after Chevrolet stopped using 409's in Impalas etc... Parisiennes were still fitted with the engine until the end of production in 1965.
The only V8 engines listed in the 1965 Pontiac User's Guide are 283, 327 and 409.
-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 18th of September 2010 06:18:38 PM
I'm sure I talked to someone a couple of years ago who had this exact same issue when a 409 failed. A 396 was used as the warranty replacement. For the life of me I can't remember who it was that told me this. Damn Alzheimers!
That is an excellent point on service replacement. anyway it is simply a matter of running the VIN at Vintage Vehicle Services to know what the car left the factory with.
I'm sure I talked to someone a couple of years ago who had this exact same issue when a 409 failed. A 396 was used as the warranty replacement. For the life of me I can't remember who it was that told me this. Damn Alzheimers!
Wow, the poor GM technician that had to do that. Lots of differences between the two as far as brackets, etc. What a pain that must have been... It would take a generous GM Service guy to step up to do that. Know any generous Service guys Todd?????
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
try the back seat for your paper tag or the plate surrounding the stearing colum or the underside of the front buckets be carful they are brittel and mice like them as nesting material
Can anyone out there tell me if a 396 was offered in '65? A friend of mine picked up a '65 Custom Sport convertible with a 396 - 4spd. I don't think it belongs myself. It definitely is not a numbers car. If it doesn't belong is there a way to tell what engine the car originally came with? P.S. This will settle an ongoing bet.
JC
You could contact GM in Oshawa at 888-467-6853 to get the build sheet. It will be gospel as to what the car came with. I presume you have access to the VIN, and the $50 (or maybe $60) they charge.
Looking forward to the GM Vintage info if you get it!. Although 1965 W-Motor production has been clarified, 1965 Pontiac B-Body MK1V production hasn't and GM Vintage info for a car so equipped the ultimate answer!.
Although not everyone agrees, personally I still lean towards the YES side of '65 Pontiac B-Body MK1V production being a possibility!. Especially so being B-Body Chevrolet MK1V production was happening at Canadian plants!.
Also W-Motors were available as parts long after they were being installed on the production line.. So if a warranty W-Motor was necessary, this would've been supplied and not a MK1V and components necessary to do a swap.. Pre CE (Chevrolet Engine) were X codes including XX which was a 1965 409 'Chevrolet Engine' available as a part..
~
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I like real cars best...especially the REAL real ones! ----------------------------------------------------------------
I put a 396 in a 65 Convertible 4 speed a number of years back. It originally had a 327 but that was mostly missing so I tried to make the 396 look as stock as possible. Sounds like the same car?? It was blue/blue interior, factory tach and later rally wheels. That's about all I can remember right now other than I shouldn't have sold it!! It and my 67 Strato Chief 2 dr big block auto.
Thanks Randy .
-- Edited by GLHS60 on Friday 1st of October 2010 01:45:00 AM
-- Edited by GLHS60 on Friday 1st of October 2010 01:46:09 AM
I put a 396 in a 65 Convertible 4 speed a number of years back. It originally had a 327 but that was mostly missing so I tried to make the 396 look as stock as possible. Sounds like the same car?? It was blue/blue interior, factory tach and later rally wheels. That's about all I can remember right now other than I shouldn't have sold it!! It and my 67 Strato Chief 2 dr big block auto.
Thanks Randy .
-- Edited by GLHS60 on Friday 1st of October 2010 01:45:00 AM
-- Edited by GLHS60 on Friday 1st of October 2010 01:46:09 AM
Was there much of an issue replacing the 327 with a 396 ? I have a friend that's pondering it. motor mounts ? space ? Did you also replace the tranny ?
My brother has the march prduction 65 409 car that's in the registry. As far as we know it is the 2nd last dated 409 survivor car. When we found that out it really lit a fire under him to drive it again and lately he's been working on getting the orginal engine reunited with the car and getting it running. We've had a good look at the engine bay of what we know is a real one and without the engine the only thing we can see is that the fuel line was 3/8's, not 5/16's and it had a returnline back to the tank. I can't remember if it had the double upper rear control arms. Its up on his hoist right now and I'll have to take a look, get some pics. We spent part of the day robbing a few parts from my 66 parts cars to replace some of the pieces that went missing over the years. Can't think of a better cause. The engine looks good inside so we may very well be ripping down the road in that black beast yet this fall.
If we do I'll have to finally figure how to post a youtube video of the old torque monster.
they are a treat to work on, hey while you are under there have a look at the yokes on the axel and trans are they large or small, if you need any help let me know
You bet. I can confirm that it has the two upper bars on the 12 bolt. As for the drive shaft I haven't looked for that. I'm not sure we have the original one as we kind of bent it in a "over torquing incident" some back. (Came out from under the car durng the 1st to second shift.)
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Monday 11th of October 2010 07:02:35 PM
I ll take a look. i think my brother might have kept it he never throws anything away. it ll be the one that has all the scars on it and is kind of bent.
picked up another motor, in peices but not siezed, your brother shouldnt feel bad i snapped two yokes on my trucks rear end until i replaced it with the proper 1370 peice instead of the 1310 part
Can anyone out there tell me if a 396 was offered in '65? A friend of mine picked up a '65 Custom Sport convertible with a 396 - 4spd. I don't think it belongs myself. It definitely is not a numbers car. If it doesn't belong is there a way to tell what engine the car originally came with? P.S. This will settle an ongoing bet.
JC
I forgot about this thread until now. Is this car in Alberta? It must be the same car I put the 396 in a long time ago. Any up dates??
Sorry I never answered back sooner. The car is in Alberta. This is the only history I know, approximately the last ten years: Someone from Millet gave away the car to pay back rent oweing. Then it was brought over to the repair shop I work at. We completely went though the front end and brakes. It also had a lot of electrical issues (burnt wiring under dash) and all power windows seized. After finding out that it wasn't numbers matching the guy was in no hurry to pick the car up. After a couple of years sitting in our compound one of the guys I work with bought the car and paid off the remaining bill. He then had issues with the bodyman he sent it to so now its back sitting in our compound. Turns out the car had a lot of previous bodywork and most likely out of his league. I'm pretty sure the frame is slightly bent too. The steering column lower bearing and coupler were toast and after repair did not line up with box. Does it sound like the same car?
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'68 Parisienne 2+2 Convertible Matador Red (Resale Red but not for sale).
