Reviving a 1962 Strato Chief for a drive home

Morty · Veteran Member

Reviving a 1962 Strato Chief for a drive home

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Id do Pertronics and Seafoam, check age of tires, heater, oil and grease, universals, fan belts, what transmission does it have? Check fluids in rear end, transmission, check all lights are working. Post your route and if you need help, you may find someone nearby. Thats a start.

Id try to drive it a few days before leaving for the trip to check it out.

Welcome to an exclusive club, we need pictures!!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Sounds like a fun adventure. Just offering if you happen to run into any need for assistance in the Winnipeg area I am only about 30 minutes south of Winnipeg. I have a fairly well equipped garage so if you're running into a snag feel free to contact me. If you would like contact information for me other than this site just send me a private message and I'd be happy to give you that.

oshawacliff · Poncho Master!

Sounds like an excellent opportunity for some breakfast meetings as you pilot your way home

Morty · Veteran Member

Don! 4speed427! Thank you so much for replying. I will absolutely get those items checked. Apparently everything works as it should, BUT it will be looked over prior to my drive. I will post my route. As for the transmission I honestly have no idea what is in it -it is the manual shift 3 speed on the column - what were the options for that period? I did some digging but the answer I got was there were two kinds used but they were essentially the same, same final drive output etc. I really appreciate the offer and I will swing by if I have the time near Winnipeg !

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

3 on the tree was likely Saginaw, rear end likely 3.36, pretty solid setup if you dont go drag racing. Drop by Carls place, he probably could do a 427 4 speed in no time. Check the clutch too, if it was a powerglide, youd have a lot more to check. All the old trannies were 1:1 final drive ratio.

-- Edited by DonSSDD on Wednesday 23rd of March 2022 03:49:22 PM

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Epic roadtrip, and welcome Morty! You are lucky in that that car has been a driver recently and as such should be proven to be capable of a extended drive.

I agree with all Don said. While I am 100% a Pertronix fan, in your case I'd be inclined to leave for the trip on the points. Do the conversion when you get home.

Help on the road, https://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t67506114/north-american-cp-members-the-help-resource/

Morty · Veteran Member

Guys this is awesome! I did this last year with a 1964 Mercury Comet and it was epic. I really wanted a 3 on the tree car so the Comet is sold and the Pontiac is in! For those who have done it, the northern part of Ontario, the route that hugs Lake Superior is wild. Up by Schreiber and Marathon. I have never ever driven up something so steep, not even in BC. I think the poor Comet with its 170 and a C4 came out of some of those hills going about 30kmh or less. I think I'll take the longer flatter route this time.

Great advice on the points cdnpont - I kinda want to do it myself and if its running right why mess with it right before a huge drive. Thats what I found DonSSDD - I think Saginaw was a plant it was manufactured in. Either way Im excited for this.

Morty · Veteran Member

Question for the crew - What is the general lifetime of the 261 engine, how long do they last. I 100% know this based on use, care, maintenance etc but would these do 200K+ miles like some of the other 6 cylinder engines made (thinking of the Ford 300 here)? Just wondering if I might be in for a rebuild or if I am for sure in for a rebuild. Thank you

1961ragtop · Veteran Member

Hi Monty. Sounds like a fabulous trip! I would also have the drive-shaft hanger bearing checked before the trip and be inclined to have a spare on hand for the trip. Best of luck on the trip! John

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Morty wrote:
I really appreciate the offer and I will swing by if I have the time near Winnipeg !

You will come around Winnipeg on the south bypass and I'm 30 minutes south. Even if you're only stopping for gas we can at least catch a coffee at Macdonalds (1 block away from the bypass) on your way through. I'm retired so as long as I have no commitments we can make it work.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Welcome aboard Morty. If possilbe start a thread when you begin your journey and document your trip. We'd love to see photos and hear about your adventure as it is happening!

Morty · Veteran Member

I 100% will do that and I will also stop and chat to anyone who wants to grab a coffee, look at my rig and make any suggestions. Thank you all again for responding. Im sure I will be asking lots of questions in future and now I can be a stop for the community in Toronto should anyone need a car looked at, a place to stay or any other local recommendations.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

To be honest, I don't think I'd bother with the Pertronix conversion for the trip, just one more thing to go wrong. Put in new points, condensor, rotor, cap, plugs & wires (doing this on a 6 cylinder should only take you about hour at most). Change all the rubber hoses (vacuum & fuel lines) as well as the fan belt and be on your way. It'd be wise to bring a spare fan belt, rad hoses and heater hose. All that, plus some booster cables.

I bought a 70 2+2 from the original owner in Nanaimo, and drove it back to Calgary. While waiting at the Nanaimo ferry terminal I got looking at the electrical system, and found almost everything was disconnected. The car was in need of a tune-up on departure, and was definitely in need of one by the time I got back to Calgary. And both horns quit working on the way home!!!!

Greaser · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Morty,

Before going I'd calculate the cost of the whole trip.

Cost of gas ($1.65 a litre ),accommodations,meals ect.

You might find that it might be cheaper (or almost cheaper) to get it 3900 kilometers without worrying

about the car making the trip. It might just be easier to ship the car home.

Just something to think about.

Welcome to CP.

-G

Morty · Veteran Member

You're not wrong about that - I will look into it. However I love a good road trip and its a good opportunity to get to know the car. It is a bit wild to buy a car sight unseen, drive it 3900kms but its also exciting. I hope to get to meet some of you guys along the way.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

A member here a few years ago bought a 1964 F*** that had been sitting in a shed for just over 30 years. After a bit of a refresh (fan belts, new tires, pack wheel bearings etc) he drove it 2100 Km's from southern Mb to near Toronto with virtually no issues (Seems to me he had minor carb issues maybe?

Go for it!

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

Welcome from Canada's east coast!

Are you going to call it "Mort" like Neil Young's old hearse? wink

Morty · Veteran Member

Thats the kind of inspiration I need! Thanks for this!

67Poncho · Uber Guru

We are all the way along the drive with you... if you take the Yellowhead (#16) from Edmonton, there are many members in "Stoontown as well as myself right on the highway 2.5hrs east of 'Stoon. We will be sure to lend a helpong hand if needed or just a visit.

Here are 2 of my adventures, one I have yet to finish the story to after nearly 6 years!

Traveling East Central Saskie Across Canada to The Rock With The Great Estate! - Canadian Poncho (activeboard.com)

This one was MUCH more of a hair raising adventure.....

Road Trip From Victoria, BC To Saskatchewan - Canadian Poncho (activeboard.com)

-- Edited by 67Poncho on Thursday 24th of March 2022 04:50:06 PM

Morty · Veteran Member

You know what I might, I'll decide when I hit the prairies!

Morty · Veteran Member

Thanks 67 Poncho - I will post my dates when I know them and I will for sure meet up and we can take a look at this new rig. Thanks for sharing your travels, I just love this stuff. I will be in touch

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Welcome to CP from the West Coast (Sooke) . Road trip??!! Went from Victoria to Winnipeg with my Canso a few years back. Almost 6000 km in 7 days of driving! Trip of a lifetime, meeting members and having them put us up for the night (or two) !! As what to take..foam tire fill or good spare, first aid kit (all thumbs like me), fire extinguisher and a good cooler. biggrin Don't worry..have fun and enjoy the ride...what else is there?? My road trip Planning a trip "Heading East" with the Canso. AGAIN! - Canadian Poncho (activeboard.com)

-- Edited by hawkeye5766 on Friday 25th of March 2022 01:42:15 AM

pontiax · Poncho Master!

If you leave points in the car, throw a points file in the glove box. cheap insurance to keep you off the side of the road.

hope to see you on the southside of Winnipeg with your newly acquired Poncho. As said before- post pictures when you can.

-Pete

67Poncho · Uber Guru

With regards to keeping points? I agree with the guys here. Although I did buy a pertronix kit, I have witnessed the issues it may cause as well as heard. I bought my wagon with the points in it and it had @ 98,000 on the odom. I believe there is @ 119,000 on it now. The trip to Newfoundland was @ 7830mi. I set the dwell twice and those points still sit under the cap to this day.