1961-1963 Lemans / Tempest questions

[Pro Stock John]

I'm curious what sort of modifications are made to a '63 Lemans or Tempest for drag racing. Specifically the rear suspension and the transmission tunnel.

I've always liked these cars and think about getting one from time to time.

If this green one had been closer to me I would have followed up on it. If anyone is curious about this particular car I have more pics of it from the online ads, it went to California is my understanding.

[Keith Seymore]

Tom Schlauch is our resident expert on these, but I think you nailed it in your comments.

Most use a big Pontiac or Olds rear axle and hang it with either ladder bars or a four link. Add a transmission tunnel from a donor car to clear the engine mounted trans and traditional drive shaft.

We have/had two of these prior to dad's passing. His Lemans convertible went to my sister.

He gave the coupe to a family friend. Ed since has finished the rear axle install and is driving it, complete with patina.

He's getting really good crowd response as I am seeing it in various commentaries and magazines.

K

[big gear head]

Looks like that one has the big Olds Pontiac rear end in it with some kind of ladder bars.

[Keith Seymore]

Gary Beemer was a friend of my dads, and now also me (he races with the NMCA in my class).

The first place he went when he completed his car was over to our house, so dad could see it.

K

[Pro Stock John]

Some more pics the green one I came across years back.

[tjs44]

I have done 3 of them.If doing a new now I would use a ford 9 inch with coil overs and ladder bars.They are a unibody car so if using a pan hard bar if mounted to the unibody rail it will have to be reinforced.I’m told the hot ticket is a First gen bird floor.The firewall will have to be cut almost half way up to clear a bellhousing.Tom

[Pro Stock John]

Hmm so based on your comments guys and the posts I've seen on PerformanceYears in the past, it's a lot of custom fabrication.

I've kept my eye on a built roller, maybe that's something I should focus on.

[markjohnson]

Those are not easy cars to build so there’s not many of them out there. I remember when the Green car was advertised several years ago and I’ve always been suspicious if it was the missing Royal 421 transplant FX car.

[markjohnson]

.

[Pro Stock John]

Oh my.

The green car got painted black and supposedly is in CA.

[tjs44]

Buy a car that has been done well,getting one that has not might be worse than starting from step one.I did not like the looks of the ladder bars on the green car.I anyone intends to do one I can supply pics and measurements.That is what Dave Johnson did for me.Tom

[Pro Stock John]

Those are not easy cars to build so there’s not many of them out there. I remember when the Green car was advertised several years ago and I’ve always been suspicious if it was the missing Royal 421 transplant FX car.

Mark do you have any more info or pics on this car?

[markjohnson]

Mark do you have any more info or pics on this car?

Unfortunately, no. I have the same photos as you from the ancient CL ad. I wanna say the car was in upstate NY, maybe?

[Pro Stock John]

It was and I did talk to the guy who sold it to someone in CA. The seller really didn't know anything about the car. So this is your first time seeing the pics of the car in primer. The underside of the hood has that dual air cleaner cutout, I wonder what engine would have run a setup like that.

[Pro Stock John]

This one has been for sale for a while...tube chassis per the ad