My 1964 Star Chief Project

973 Views 36 Replies 9 Participants Last post by ponchonlefty, 2 mo ago

BEERkonig

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

Hello everyone!
My name is Paul and I recently purchased a great project car out of Arizona! So far the tentative name I have for her is Starla...but I'm not set on it for now. My intention for this car is to bring it back to it's 1960's glory and use a few more modern systems to make the car safer and a little bit more reliable. I will add current progress photos and photos as I progress. I would like to write posts before I begin a project so that this wonderful community can help me not screw things up too bad, or to make sure I do things in the right sequence.

Again, thank you all for joining me on this exciting adventure!

PS. This is m first American car! So a lot of things will be firsts for me and I will be asking a lot of possibly dumb questions!

Reactions: 2

21 - 37 of 37 Posts

CDub67

· #21 · 3 mo ago

That's a great project. All that chrome is terrific and really adds tons to the car's appearance. I hope you enjoy the resto process. Looking forward to progress pics.

Reactions: 1

BEERkonig

Discussion Starter · #22 · 3 mo ago

I had some fun with the bountiful snow this morning!

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Baaad65

· #23 · 3 mo ago

BEERkonig said:
I had some fun with the bountiful snow this morning! View attachment 163514
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I like the bus, is it a camper or a party bus or both

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BEERkonig

Discussion Starter · #24 · 3 mo ago

Thats my home haha! I converted it and have been living in it for the past three years!

Reactions: 4

Baaad65

· #25 · 3 mo ago

BEERkonig said:
Thats my home haha! I converted it and have been living in it for the past three years!

Seriously?

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BEERkonig

Discussion Starter · #26 · 3 mo ago

Baaad65 said:
Seriously?

yeah! it's great!

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ponchonlefty

· #27 · 3 mo ago

BEERkonig said:
yeah! it's great!

looks like freedom to me. is it off grid?

Reactions: 2

BEERkonig

Discussion Starter · #28 · 2 mo ago

ponchonlefty said:
looks like freedom to me. is it off grid?

Yes! I have enough solar and water storage that I can be off grid for up to a couple months! Water and food being the only restrictions.

Reactions: 1

ponchonlefty

· #29 · 2 mo ago

BEERkonig said:
Yes! I have enough solar and water storage that I can be off grid for up to a couple months! Water and food being the only restrictions.

sounds like a pretty good set up.

BEERkonig

Discussion Starter · #30 · 2 mo ago

My rear deck lid trim came in! And man does it look good!!!

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Reactions: 5

BEERkonig

Discussion Starter · #31 · 2 mo ago

Hey everyone,
I got all new ignition wires, alternator, and coil. I got the engine to turn over by running a jumper from the solenoid to the battery. The engine turned over! I attempted to turn the car over with the key, and no luck. There is a clunking sound from what i assume is the relay bit nothing else happens. There is also no spark from the wires or the coil. Any advice? The negative side of the coil is reading 9V, but the positive side isn't reading anything, what does that mean? I don't know what to do next. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Reactions: 1

geeteeohguy

· #32 · 2 mo ago

The 9V with the key on should be at the positive side of the coil. The negative side goes right to the points in the distributor. So it's connected wrong. The purple 'S' wire from the ignition switch to the solenoid will get high resistance over the decades and will give you a click or a clunk or just a dash light when you hit the key. 95% of the time it is the wire. Since it cranks when jumpered, it's the wire or possibly the switch. I would replace the wire or install a remote switch and attach it under the dash. (That's 5 minutes vs. a couple of hours!). Vice Grip Garage just posted a '68 Bonneville 'will it run' video the other day. Very cool stuff.

Reactions: 5

BEERkonig

Discussion Starter · #33 · 2 mo ago

geeteeohguy said:
The 9V with the key on should be at the positive side of the coil. The negative side goes right to the points in the distributor. So it's connected wrong. The purple 'S' wire from the ignition switch to the solenoid will get high resistance over the decades and will give you a click or a clunk or just a dash light when you hit the key. 95% of the time it is the wire. Since it cranks when jumpered, it's the wire or possibly the switch. I would replace the wire or install a remote switch and attach it under the dash. (That's 5 minutes vs. a couple of hours!). Vice Grip Garage just posted a '68 Bonneville 'will it run' video the other day. Very cool stuff.

The wire that has 9V is the side that terminates at the distributor....any idea why that is the case?

Reactions: 2

PontiacJim

· #34 · 2 mo ago

BEERkonig said:
The wire that has 9V is the side that terminates at the distributor....any idea why that is the case?

Because some idiot did not come here to this forum for guidance and advice...................or blew us off and did his own thing.

That's what I am thinking. But of course you wouldn't be like that guy because you have your 1964 Service Manual at your finger tips and listen to advice.

Reactions: 3

BEERkonig

Discussion Starter · #35 · 2 mo ago

I found a possible solution to the wiring issues I'm having: Painless Perfomance wiring harness! All of the wires that haven't been a snack for the mice and rodents are super hard and very oxidized. So I figured that I could get this kit and save me hours of crimping and stripping wires. What do yall think?

Reactions: 1

BEERkonig

Discussion Starter · #36 · 2 mo ago

Update: I found a set of really nice Scrpit badges for the front quarter panels! They should be here this Friday! All that's left is the last piece of chrome side strip on the front passenger side. I'm so happy to have this car and in such a complete state! These little and trivial findings of exterior chrome is helping me maintain my motivation for getting this car on the road.

Reactions: 2

ponchonlefty

· #37 · 2 mo ago

i think the painless wire harness is a good idea.you wont have to worry and find little gremlins later. im glad your having fun with it. for me that is the point.

Reactions: 2

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