I just traded a Biuck I had for a mint 1966 Bonneville Tri power 389.
Was this the similar setup as the Olds Tri power?

Thanks,
Ted

 

Yes, very similar. Post some pictures of the car and engine, I'd love to see it.

 

As said, very similar with some subtle differences. In 1966 Olds called theirs tri-carb. The carburetors were slightly different (with different part numbers). The Olds manifold had movable heat riser block offs; not with Pontiac. The Olds used a ported vacuum tap for ignition on the center carburetor; Pontiac went with direct manifold vacuum. The Pontiac used vacuum actuated front & rear carburetors (like the old Olds J-2 from 1957-58); the Olds was mechanical in '66. The Pontiac was available with an automatic trans. as well as manual; Olds was manual only. And as you know Pontiac was available in the "B" body as well as "A"; Olds was "A" only. The good thing about Pontiac was that they sold them continuously from 1957 through 1966, hence sold many more than Olds and hence more aftermarket "stuff" for them is available. If I said an error, I hope someone will correct. I agree, the photos would be nice.

 

66 Pontiac 3x2 used mechanical linkage.

Henry

 

car is in pretty good shape.....last year....as was said for the Tri Power for Pontiac

 

Car is in awesome shape, is this one a keeper?

 

I apologize. I got misled by the carburetor book. I never owned one.

 

Nice looking cruiser Ted! You sure have been doing a lot of wheeling and dealing recently. I have always had a soft spot for the big Pontiacs. Never owned one but there is a black 421 Bonnie that I see a lot of the local shows that is gorgeous.

 

For now......

 

Do you still have the Mustang you traded for a while back?

 

Haha! I seem to have been....I am finding out about these cars strictly by word of mouth....the Bonnie I have always liked and the w30.....well I just could not let it slip by me.
The guy I got the Bonnie from has a 1970 442W30 4speed convert with really low mileage...needless to say he will not tell me exactly where it is and has turned down a quarter for it.....but, I made a connection with an old school car nut that has owned a lot of cars
My insurance broker is starting to think I am a car salesman.....

 

Yup, I think I will sell it and concentrate on the w build.....

 

Fine lookin' Poncho!

 

Sweet looking Pontiac Ted.
So, how does she go?

A buddy in high school had a
66 Bonneville with the 389 4 bbl.
It was a beast.

 

Thanks Adam!
Nice cruiser.....goes along okay.
After I took it out, I jumped in the silver beast.....quite a difference
I will take the Bonnie to the drive in with my wife, but when I want to really drive, Olds all the way

Ted

 

The drive-in? Man I miss those things!
The nearest one to us is about 200 miles.
I think it may be the last one here in Texas.

 

Based on a buddy's 66 Bonneville Brougham I'm gonna go out on a limb and say 66 Pontiac big cars were still using vacuum linkage but many were modified to mechanical. His intake still has the temperature switch but the vacuum motor is gone.

That car's PHS report showed it was originally invoiced to Pontiac Engineering so as a test mule it has some "unusual" stuff... The guy finds weird cars- his 64 GP had some engine mods made as it was coming down the Atlanta assembly line. It was converted from standard GP 4-barrel to a complete correct and date coded Tri-Power with factory headers, all documented on its paper trail.

 

We have a drive-in here in Mayberry Adam, there are still a few left in Texas. In addition a company built a new one in the DFW a couple of years ago.

 

The Rochester carburetor book says that the 389 & 421 engines with automatic transmissions (irrespective of the bodies) both originally came with vacuum controlled end carburetors. I can understand where conversions to manual were possible.

 

Very nice Bonnie. Always dug the big Pontiac Bonnies, Cats...Hemmings MCR had a 67 GP in last month issue, a bright red vert. Drool.....If only I had an endless wallet and endless storage...clone me into J Leno!

 

Is it a good idea to add a brake resevoir to this car?

 

Nice looking car, must have been someones baby, vacuum wouldnt worry as much as being sure the brakes are in tip top shape with the single master.

 

Don't quote me, but I don't think there was a Bonneville Tri-Power 389 in 1966. Sure it isn't for a GTO or a 421? Did you get PHS for the car?

 

Great looking car, I don't think it would fit my garage.

 

Talked again with the previous owner. This setup was in it when he bought it, and had it restored. Very little info....
The car came from Trotter Pontiac, Chattanooga Tennessee .....I know little about these cars, but the folks I have chatted with say it was possible to get this setup in the Bonneville..would carb numbers help ??

 

18.2 feet long

 

The carb numbers don't help with determining pedigree because anyone can add the carbs. The only way to determine is by PHS or, in the meantime, the engine code on the block.

But literature shows no 3x2 389 available:

http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/stati...estige-51.html

 

Time to dig up some numbers...still pretty cool car

 

nice ride.i have a 66 cat 4dr my dad bought in the early 70's have to see if i can post a pic.as far as brakes those big pontiacs had the biggest brakes on the market 2 3/4 shoes on front.that car screams for some 8 lug wheels.

 

Thanks. I thought 8 lug wheels were for trucks?

 

I believe he is referring to the Pontiac 8-lug wheel.... such as the one listed below......




http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/2010810...lpid=82&chn=ps

 

yup probably thee coolest wheels ever made.

 

I worked as a line mechanic for Bendall Pontiac in Alexandria Virginia from 1963 to 1970. My wife's car was a 1964 red with black int. Catalina Ventura 2+2 /421 tri power 4 speed . My Mother's car was a 66 Bonneville 4 dr. 421/ 356 HP tri power auto. My Pop's car was a 67 Bonneville 2 dr. 428 auto.( all had 8 lug wheels ) He also had a 37 Packard conv. with Olds 400/400 turbo & his and hers out of a total loss 69 442 .------ My car was a black 2 dr. post sedan 66 442 W30 Track Pack that kicked the ...... out of all the GTO's every weekend and it really ........ them off at work. ---------- I loved Pontiacs and still do and still have some Super Duty stuff from when I raced them in the early sixties. I had so much of that stuff I can remember giving away 14 tri powers to a guy at one time. ---- ---The old guys at the dealership hated the 60's hot rods so I had them stacked up everywhere like cordwood with blown up everything with a new batch every Monday morning with shoe polish on the windshield. Lots of theft recoveries too , they would take tri power, 4 speed and bucket seats. You couldn't get a complete assembled tri power from Pontiac . You had to order every single solitary piece and make the fuel lines yourself. ------Enough reminiscing -----As I remember the only 389 tri power was the 360 horse GTO ( all progressive linkage ) ( no 389 tri power in full size ) Full size cars got 421/356 hp...tri power ....421/376 hp. ...tri power ( all with vacuum linkage ) I changed a lot over to progressive but I personally never saw one come from the factory. ------ This Bonneville brings back great memories . There's no better sound than stomping on a Pontiac tri power !!! :-)

 

Thanks for posting your memories. Funny about the older gents disliking the hot rods.
The PO said the tri power was on it when he bought it. Sounds more and more that it was installed after.
This car is up for trade for anything Olds I probably will not use it that much.it sure is nice to drive, and growls when you put your foot into it I think this car is the longest one I have ever owned!

 

^^^ Cool story. Thanks for sharing.

 

Funny thing is -- I was in my twenties , they were WWII vets in their forties and I thought they were ANTIQUES. I'm 70 and now people in their 40's seem like teenagers . Oh how things change :-)