Vehicle Description
More Pictures and Video Coming Soon!!! Gateway Classic Cars now has
up for sale in our Dallas Showroom, a 1964 Pontiac GTO Hardtop with
a numbers-matching high-performance tri-power engine and TH400
automatic transmission. This is an original tri-power automatic
with papers from the Pontiac Historical Society. The block is an
incredibly rare numbers-matching "77J" block topped off with a set
of numbers-matching "9770716" heads, numbers-matching "9775088"
intake manifold, and three original Rochester two-barrel
carburetors, which appear to be numbers-matching as well. The PHS
paperwork shows that the car rolled off the assembly line on July
9, 1964. The casting code on the block is "D 9773155 F64", which
means that it was cast during the day shift on June 6, 1964. The
date code on each head is "F264", which means that each head was
cast on June 26, 1964. The intake manifold is date-coded "E284",
which means that it was cast on May 28, 1964. These casting dates
fit nice and tight with the final assembly date of July 9, 1964.
The engine was built in 2017. When I bought the car in 2011, it
came with the numbers-matching heads, intake, and carburetors
mentioned above but the numbers stamped on the front of the block
showed that it came out of a 1964 Grand Prix. I searched for five
years and finally found a numbers-matching 77J block in April of
2017 and started the engine build right after that. The block was
in good shape (no cracks or welds) but had been bored .040 over. It
cleaned up at .060, making it 428 cubic inches. The old crankshaft,
rods, and pistons were replaced with a new rotating assembly sold
and balanced by Butler Performance. New main studs, freeze plugs,
high-performance cam, camshaft bearings, rod bearings, main
bearings, file-fit pistons rings, wrist pins, timing chain, head
studs, and fuel pump were installed. The bottom end received a new
oil pump and heavy-duty oil pump shaft. The front end received a
new water pump, water pump plate, and timing cover. A new crank
pulley was bought from Ram Air Restoration to match the low-profile
crankshaft from Butler and ensure perfect external-pulley
alignment. The block and heads were resurfaced and new valve/push
rod geometry was provided by Butler. Hydraulic roller lifters,
custom push rods, 1.5 ratio roller rockers, valves, and valve
springs recommended by Butler were installed. Valve cover spacers
were added so that vintage valve covers could still be used. The
factory oil tube is maintained as original with a longer dipstick
used to compensate for spacer height. All brackets on the engine
are per factory specs, including the two alternator brackets, power
steering bracket, oil tube bracket, heater tube bracket, and spark
plug cable brackets. The carburetor bases have been reworked and
sealed by Mike's Carburetors and work very well. The carburetors
have been rebuilt and can run on modern gas. The vacuum choke on
the center carb works like a top and the idle-circuit
stoichiometery is nailed at 4.7 to 1. The carbs are topped with OEM
tops, bases, and filters from Ames. Vacuum fittings are OEM and
functional as well.New engine and electrical harnesses were
installed in 2016. The alternator has been upgraded to a
high-performance one-wire Powermaster which, except for the one
wire, looks and installs exactly like the factory original. The
starter is enclosed in a thermal blanker for heat protection. The
factory exhaust manifolds have been replaced with ceramic headers
from Doug's. The car came equipped from the factory with tail pipe
splitters and they remain. When I bought the car, I did not know
that the factory two-speed Powerglide transmission had been
replaced with a three-speed TH400. I noticed that the transmission
was trying to shift into a third gear and, when I looked under the
car and saw that the TH400, I installed new shifter linkage so that
all the gears could be used. I even replaced the factory two-speed
shifter plate in the console with one that shows all three forward
shifting positions for the TH400. It was rebuilt along with the
engine in 2017. The rear end has a gear ratio of 3.23 to 1, which
makes her fast with tons of torque. You should hear the secondaries
kick in when you mash the accelerator at highway speed...time to
hold on.The car came from the factory with air shocks, which have
been replaced with a set of Gabriel Hijackers. Factory wheels and
red-line tires have been replaced with Cragars and B.F. Goodrich
Radial TAs. A factory jack and spare tire are in the trunk. The car
came with a factory trunk light, which works. It also came from the
factory with power windows and a power bucket seat for the driver
-- also incredibly rare -- which work as well. The car also came
from the factory with the optional center console, wood-grain
steering wheel, vacuum gauge, and tachometer. Everything works
except for the brand new tachometer purchased from Ames. It works
intermittently and the folks at Ames have tested it and swear it
works and say that all I need to do is wire it directly to the
battery, which is not factory but should be an easy fix. This car
also came with factory power-steering and power brakes. New drums,
bearings, and brake assemblies were installed last year and the
drums were blacked out to give it a wicked look. Brakes work
excellent despite the low vacuum produced by the high-performance
cam at idle.The car came from the factory painted Cameo Ivory with
a black interior, which are retained. The paint shows wear
consistent with its age but is in good condition. No rust is
present underneath the car. A Kenwood stereo is mounted in the
glove box, Kenwood speakers are mounted in the kick panels and
package tray, and an amplifier and subwoofer are mounted in the
trunk. The car came from the factory with a rear power antenna,
which still goes up and down with a flick of its original
dash-mounted switch. Headlights are Triple Ts and are fully
functional, along with the taillights, parking lights, brake
lights, turn signals, and horn. The winning bidder will also
receive a set of factory shop manuals, restoration guides,
invoices, schematics, and specialty tools (including wiper puller
and door handle remover) in addition to the PHS paperwork for the
car. To view this stunning 1964 Pontiac GTO in greater detail
including over 100 HD photos and video, please visit
www.GatewayClassicCars.com or call to speak with one of our
friendly and knowledgeable staff at 817-310-9400. See more at:
WWW.GatewayClassicCars.com/DFW/1278/
