Need to Know Where to Buy Some Parts

Hello Everyone,

I am in the early stages of restoring/customizing a 1966 Pontiac Catalina and need to know where to buy some parts.

At this stage Im working on the engine, brakes, suspension and etc and need to ask where to buy the rubber pieces that hold the radiator? Also, I would like to know where to buy rear springs? I can find plenty of sites selling front springs but no rear springs. One person told me to just use airshocks but Id just must rather do it right.

If anyone is interested I will tell more about my car and the plans I have for it.

Justin  

There are several aftermarket companies that specialize in NOS and RP parts.
Year One
Ames Performance Engineering

Those two come to mind off the top of my head, but there are several more.
Try "Classical Pontiac" web site
Try doing an online search for "66 Pontiac Cataline parts".  

Hello My71,

Thanks but I did not see the radiator things on Ames. Out of curiosity what do they call the plastic radiator holdings? The ones I'm talking about go on the radiator support top and bottom. Maybe if I know the name I can more easily find it.

Also, Will the springs from any other car work? I ask as while the Catalina seems to have very few things available maybe one of its brethrens springs may be interchangeable.

Justin  

If I am understanding you correctly, you are referring to the radiator support bushings that fit in between the radiator and shroud?
Changing springs from one type vehicle to another is tricky at best because each vehicle had springs designed for their mounting style and vehicle weight. I'd call tech support of one of those companies, or find interchange info on the web.
try page 203 of the Ames full size catalog for your springs. they list rear springs for a 66.
They do only list radiator core support bushings for 69-77 though  

My71,

Yes that's the part. I saw the 69-77 on Ames and even on Summit but noone seems to have the radiator bushings for the 66. I wonder if the 69-77 can be made to work somehow? Actually, My car says Ventura not Catalina but I think its just a Catalina with some different moldings or something.

Regarding the rear coils. I now see them on Ames. I saw on the featured section here a 65 with 1" front and 2" rear drop coils made by a company called Coil Spring Specialties'. I will contact that company and request the price but first will wait on my new rims to get in so I can see the amount of room I have in the wells. I ordered the 18" Chrome Cragar SS rims with 50 series tires that should be here next Tuesday. I also wish I knew how that guy deleted all the dash stuff as it looks great in the pics.

Also, Do you know anyone who sells the following parts.

1. Front and Rear Bumpers.
2. Dashpads.


I found another site to a place called Franks Pontiacs that seems to be a Pontiac Salvage yard in California Dessert. He had no rear bumpers though , nor non AC dashpads listed.

You know would have been much easier to have taken a Chevy as my first project I think but I really like the lines of the Catalina and think once done it will be much better than a Chevy due to its uniqueness.

Thanks,

Justin  

Year one makes dashpad covers. I sent my dash off to "just dashes" in CA and they completey re-made it from scratch. They do quality work.
http://www.justdashes.com/

As far as the bumper, I'm afraid I'm at a loss there. You might try a local junk yard that is electronically "hooked up" to the junk yard network.
I did find this site:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

Another option is to search for Catalina clubs and see if they have resources  

You will likely have to find decent bumpers from a wrecking yard (try some of the Pontiac specialists that advertise in HPP) in the southwest USA and get them rechromed. Try Eaton Detroit Spring for replacement springs, their website has lots of good info and they have the specs for most US production vehicles from many years back. Good luck!
Steve  
A little help... 'cause we don't all have to learn the hard way!

Steve,

Thanks allot for your reply and tip about Detroit Springs. I went to their site and they have Catalina Springs available in stock height or up to a 2" drop or lift. The prices weren't bad either as is 159 for stock height or 30 extra for altered height.

Regarding the bumpers. I hope it was my lucky day as found both front and rear bumper tonight on a local buy and sell site. They are for the 66 Bonneville but I emailed Franks Pontiac and was told the Bonneville and Catalina bumpers are the same. Anyway, I have emailed guy to ask about rust etc but no reply, will call tomorrow.

Justin  

My71,

Thanks for that info. Out of curiosity what kind of pricing does just dashes charge? I think my dash pad it to far gone for just a cover as its in really bad shape. Anyway, I still have allot of engine, suspension, brake and body work to do b4 worrying about interior.

Good news is hopefully found the bumpers tonight, am just waiting for a response from the guy selling them. They look , in the pictures, to be missing the reverse lights but thats ok as my plan was to cut them up anyway as I want to run 3" exhaust out of the places where the reverse lights are located.

Justin  

Justin,
the pricing from Just dashes varies. The price for my 71 goat was a bit pricey (700$ if I remember correctly about 12 years ago), but when you go to thier website, you'll see a picture of one just like it (it might even be mine as it's the same color) and it's a lot more involved than most other dashes. Different dashes will have different needs so the best thing to do is call them and get a ball park figure from them.
Glad to hear you may have found bumpers! things like this can take months or even years to finish out just because it's hard to find some parts for certain vehicles. Good luck!  

My71,

Thanks for the info. I think it will take me years as I do not have a extra 10-15g sitting around =). I have plenty of time though as am doing the rest/mod on the Catalina with the intentions of giving it to my son as a 1st car as it seems like a perfect first car since its big, solid and cheap to insure.Anyway, He is only 3yrs old so I have 13 yrs to work on it.    My though though is I will probally spend 5 yrs on it.  

Today was talking to a neighbor with a 65 Impala he restored around 12yrs ago and he said at time he restored it that also it was hard to get parts since in those days the 65 Impala wasnt a very popular car.

J.  

Justin, If you are still needing those rubber radiator bushings, I've found that they are fairly standard from one Pontiac to the next since the radiators are pretty much the same size. My 78 Trans Am has ones from four different cars and work fine - I just pick up every good one I see at junkyards and there will always be one that fits perfectly. Good luck on your Catalina, I did the same thing for my daughter, now she has one of the coolest 79 Trans Ams in Houston - and knows how to work on it too! Your son will be so proud of that car some day. he will be telling his friends "I remember when I was little."  

Hello Brazil,

Thanks for all the info. I was wondering if the ones at Summit will work as they have several listed just not under the 66 Catalina catagory. See Link.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/?keyword=pontiac%20radiator%20bushings&dds=1

Also, I agree that my son will most likely like the old car when he gets older. I was going to bag it and etc but have since desided to just customize it in a classic way so it will not go out of style or etc. I kinda like searching for the parts though as its like a scavanger hunt.  

Hello,

I wanted to give result about the radiator bushings in case anyone else ever needs the information. Summits 7-1712 didn't work as they are to large. The summit 7-1711 where also to large but they worked great as only needed to use a razor blade and shave them a small amount to make them fit. End result though was excellent.  

Glad to hear you found some that worked Justin.
Having a car like this to pass along to your son is a pretty cool idea. When I first did my goat, both my sons were in high school and into cars, so they helped me do the body off resto-mod. Kept them out of trouble and gave us a father-son thing to do together. Now my only problem is they both want it, so I'll have to decide at some point which one gets the car and which one gets the equivalant cash.