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

This is my 62 Tempest at my mechanic's shop (Eagle Crest, North Vancouver, BC, Canada). He is turning the engine on after 3 years of sitting in the parking!
4 cylinder, 195 cubic (3.2 L)
2 doors, sport coupe

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 1962
• Pontiac
• GM
• Lemans
• Tempest
• 3.2
• 195
• v8
• 62
• classic
• cars
• GTO

[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.

[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!

[babak1969van]

cool! do you have any videos or pictures?

[herbienbrian2]

I see, what a strange engine.

[petradueck]

@herbienbrian2

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

[herbienbrian2]

what the heck?? a V4??

[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.

[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]

@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.