[Autie1969GTO]

Appreciate it, geeteeohguy

Good Guys is usually slim picking for Pontiac parts, but I know where a spare set of d-port RA manifolds are if push comes to shove

I was telling GoatWood over PM that my first inclination was to say "come over and we'll fix it in an afternoon!" but that can be a trap if you don't know exactly what's going on. My good intentions have gotten me in trouble with wife, friends and friend's wives a number of times LOL.

This site is by far the most helpful, kind, knowledgeable group I have ever dealt with in all my years in this hobby. That being said it is not that hard of job, just labor intensive. Yes, broken bolts suck but come w/the territory of the hobby. Crazy, but there was a time we did this sort of thing for fun helping each other out! A weekend, a case of beer, some pizza and tunes playing on the radio. After all, these were our everyday vehicles and were wrenching on them constantly. We were a different/dying breed I guess. I see way too many people commenting on how the majority of shops are too lazy, or not enough $$$ to make a scandalous profit or just do not have the knowledge to work on these classics. Some of the younger guys on different Pontiac sites might want to start paying attention instead of posting laughing emoji's or watching hack youtube videos of "experts". I always tell my son either learn my 40+ years experience now or pay someone big $$$ in the future, only for them to screw it up because they have little to no knowledge/experience of these vehicles. And you are right..."no good deed goes unpunished"

 

[Verdoro 68]

One of the things I love best about this hobby is the camaraderie and communal problem solving. Plenty of folks have helped me out of the years. I’m always eager to pass it on if I’m able to.

 

[Droach6498]

Yep, you read that correctly!

I have a manifold leak that no less that 3 shops are willing to work on, due to the nature of the repair. It's crazy, I've never been turned away by people I am willing to give money too, but seems like nobody wants to do this job for me.

Does anyone have a shop who relishes jobs like these and isn't afraid to get in and take out bolts, resurface the head and fix this for me? The clicking sound (and probably the exhaust fumes) are driving me crazy.

Thanks in advance.

Theres a guy in South SF I met he only does Pontiacs engine builder machinist Andy 415-596-6691 if not maybe he knows someone. I also know an old timer macinist in Concord but hes booked for 4-6 months and difficult to get along with. But he does have the tools in his 80 year old shop.

 

[Droach6498]

Where in the Bay Area are you located? I'm in the Concord area and know of a couple shops that service old iron and could do this.

I hope you dont mean Kurt at Main Machine

 

[Herding Goats]

Not an answer to your leak, but doubtful the head will need resurfaced, just a matter of locating the leak, which is probably a bad gasket or a cracked exhaust manifold. Remove and replace.

I've had a cracked manifold on a '68 make that clicking sound. @GoatWood I'm in the Bay Area for a few weeks if you need a ride back from the shop! I'd offer to help work on it but as @Verdoro 68 pointed out, I am leery about breaking other people's cars!

 

[Verdoro 68]

Theres a guy in South SF I met he only does Pontiacs engine builder machinist Andy 415-596-6691 if not maybe he knows someone. I also know an old timer macinist in Concord but hes booked for 4-6 months and difficult to get along with. But he does have the tools in his 80 year old shop.

Sounds like the guy in Martinez who did my heads. It took a loooonng time, but it was a pleasant experience and the work was awesome.

I hope you dont mean Kurt at Main Machine

No, I referred him to a couple shops in the area I've had experience with who work on old iron.

I've had a cracked manifold on a '68 make that clicking sound. @GoatWood I'm in the Bay Area for a few weeks if you need a ride back from the shop! I'd offer to help work on it but as @Verdoro 68 pointed out, I am leery about breaking other people's cars!

It's less about breaking other people's cars than it is about projects going sideways and taking longer than expected. If we're working in your garage it's no issue, but if you drive 50 miles and we can't finish the job because we need parts or some machine work that's not a good situation for anyone.

 

[oldgoat64]

I'll add: if it's been leaking a long time, it can 'blowtorch' the head and cause some erosion to the head. Surfacing the exhaust ports on a Pontiac head is basically unheard of. You may need a new manifold. Good used and reproduction HO manifolds ARE available. New gaskets will take care of any erosion, if it exists.
I used to be a professional mechanic. No tech worth his salt is going to want to work on a 50-60 year old car with an exhaust, intake, oil leak, etc. and guarantee it. It's a losing proposition. If you were local to me, I would help you do it, but with no guarantee at all. Final note: if passenger side, many times it is a worn heat riser shaft hole causing the tick. This can be brazed up and repaired sometimes. Verdoro is a solid guy. Never met him personally, but have 'known' him a long time. If he wants to help you with some good info, , you are ahead of the game.
30+ years ago the senior mechanic in the shop I worked at recommended valve cover gaskets to fix the oil leaks on a '67 Catalina with a 400 engine. I told him not to touch it. He went after it anyhow. That car came back a don't know how many times. He ended up pulling the engine and doing the rear main, oil pan, timing cover, valley pan, etc. for FREE.
The joke after that was "with this oil leak I thee wed". And the car was 'only' 20-25 years old at the time!
Most professionals these days know that old car guys tend to be cheap, nit-picky, and hard to please. When you combine this with using either worn, decades-old parts to use in the repair, or poorly made reproduction parts, it's hard to have a win-win situation. Good luck.

I owned a repair shop for over 30 years and I agree.
Another factor on top of what you said is a lot of old car guys like to leave their car for a long time.
Last one I had in my shop told me where to get the parts, how much they would be and how long it takes. That was enough to make me pass on the job then hey says you can keep it as long as you like, 6 months if you need it. No thanks.

I'm in Santa Rosa but I don't have anyone to recommend to you. They all died or are incapable and I don't have a shop anymore.

 

[drg44]

West Coast Mufflers in Concord 94520, 2090 Market St. 925-676-8376, ask if Steve Elstins is still there, it has been a few years since I've been down there, they should be able to take care of it, I would think. They like the old muscle cars.

 

[oldgoat64]

I lived in Oakland for 40 years. Moved to Fresno in 2003. I sure like the space to breathe out here!! LOL....

That's why they call it Fresyes!😁