1962 Pontiac Tempest - Turning the Engine on After 3 Years!

[herbienbrian2]

I see, what a strange engine.

[herbienbrian2]

what the heck?? a V4??

[petradueck]

@herbienbrian2

Not a V4 !! it is basically half a of a 389 V8 so it's a slant 4.

[peeweecee]

Wow that is cool! My mom had a 1961 tempest wagon with the automatic shift on the dash and there was no "park". The parking brake sucked and the car would roll out of the driveway, so we used to have to put a log under a tire everywhere we parked it. We got in a serious accident when the car flipped, something many people say was caused by the Tempest independent rear suspension.

[babak1969van]

The transmission is in the rear. If you open the trunk you'll see an oval cover with 3 screws in right/middle area. If the original transmission fluid sticker is there it will tell you exactly where it is. If you still can't find it which I doubt, give me an email an I send you a picture.

[101AOK]

Hey ...where do I check the tranny fluid? I have 62 with 2 speed on the dash. Can't find the 2 speed tranny dip stick. If it was a "hydro" it's on the side by the fire wall...where is the stick? It is not mentioned in the manual. Mentions other tranny s with pics, but not the 2 speed.

[101AOK]

I have a 62 same engine!

[kolbpilot]

I never knew these engines existed until several years ago. That is a piece of Detroit & General Motors history. What a cheap skate engine design. Cut a V8 in half & hope for the best. Still worthy of a rebuild & display though.

[adogg619]

That motor is shaking like crazy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this motor basically the 389 cubic inch V8 with half of it's cylinders removed?

[babak1969van]

@adogg619

The motor was shaking like crazy. One of the cylinders was not firing up. The push rod was broken so the engine was running on three. You are almost correct about the engine size. It is exactly half of a 389 V8 (6.4L) . Cut in half almost! it is still pretty strong for the 2700 lbs body weight and when I drive it and I push the gas pedal it jumps like crazy!

[adogg619]

@babak1969van

You have a piece of Detroit history there. Being such an old engine I wonder what kind of power and torque numbers it's putting out.

[babak1969van]

cool! do you have any videos or pictures?

[101AOK]

I just got my 62 running this week. 4 Banger!

[Dannyboy6009]

Sounds like Music to my Ears Doctor!!

[alexsuchapimp]

nice air filter

[kenpalmer1965]

My dad owned a 1962 Pontiac Tempest when we lived in Satellite Beach,Florida from 1969 to '71 when he was in the Air Force. It was a white 2-door coupe. I can't remember if it was automatic or manual transmission though. I liked it as a kid. It was a neat little car from what I remember. Nice video.

[radialnut]

Wow, i remember doing the same exact thing back in 1984. i bought my grandmothers old 63 white 4 dr for 200 bucks from my buddies father, who'd bought it years earlier. sounds almost identical. that was my first legal car in high school. MAN i wish i'd kept the ol gal. also had a grey 63 2 door auto at the same time. kids can be so dum!