1964 Catalina Safari Wagon

I guess that I need to read this thread from the beginning, but I only got to page 1 and saw the pictures. Another item that you need to give attention to is the brakes. I suggest that the master cylinder and all wheel cylinders be replaced or rebuilt. By that, I mean with Made in USA parts, not the crap from the 3 world nation that is exporting everything that used to be made here. Personally, I have no problem with the single master cylinder if you replace all the rubber lines, rebuild / replace the wheel cylinders, and the same for the master cylinder. Then fill the system with silicone brake fluid. I did this on my Corvair almost 20 years ago, and the brakes are as good today as they were when I fist did them. The DOT mandated the dual master cylinder because people didn't do proper maintenance of the braking systems, and there were a lot of failures as a result. If a dual master cylinder has a brake failure, it might as well be a single master cylinder, since what is left is barely enough to slow the car. It gives people a false sense of security. Don't be suckered into making the change to dual, unless it will give you peace of mind. Either way, if you service the brakes every 2 years with brake fluid changes, they will last. If you use silicone brake fluid, it will last forever without any maintenance.

 

Ha, Junk I love the way you think. I love it so much, because I already got my front disc break conversion kit in. It has a dual master and new power boost.
The brake lines were already new when I got it.

 

The only difference between the 9 passanger wagon and the 6 passanger wagon is the rear seat. Nothing changes as far as the floor pans or the tank itself. I fill my tank regularly, and it takes 20 gallons every time.

 

So, in the 6 passenger wagon there is a big cavity in the cargo bay for storage where the third row would go? I know some other vehicles used it for the spare tire but the spare is above and behind the rear passenger wheel on this one. Is it a tool area or something instead? That would be a great thing to have. ( I have been storing tools under the third row).

 

Your car is the same basic body as all the 1961 - 1964 GM full size station wagons. The only thing that changed on the inside is the way that GM trimmed out the different division cars. Other than that, everything is the same. You can take the seats out of a Chevrolet and put them into a Buick, Pontiac, or Oldsmobile using the same bolt holes. The only thing that might be a question is the split rear seat. Don't know if the mounting holes are in the floor pan if it didn't come with that option, but my inclination is to say yes. Even the front seat seat belt mounting holes are in the floor already. Frames are the same, but the spring rates changed for the different divisions. Steering is different, but some parts are the same. There is a lot of interchange for the early cars.

 

That is really good to know. I didn't think GM had that much range that early but I am wrong. I am a youngling so most of what I know is what someone told me.
I love it when things interchange.

 

I'm so old, I could be your great grandfather!!!!!!!

 

Well, my great grandfather is dead. Wanna fill a spot?

 

Dear Great Grandson,

Please send your Great Grandmother and I some money. We are broke, and the electric has been turned off. It is getting cold, and we have no money for wood or coal, and we are both too frail to cut wood. Enough money for two nice cashmere sweaters for the both of us is all we ask... till next month..

thanks,

Your old great granddad..

 

Since, great grammy is still alive... there are other ways to stay warm.
Also, poverty must be genetic. I have tons of kids and live in a 2 bd apartment. If we can stay with you I will cut the wood.

 

Gas tank holds 19 Gallons. Here is the page from the service manual.

Dave

 

Well, that's great. Now we can go more than one hundred miles on one tank of gas.

 

Sorry son... Your grandma and I did our part raising kids. We don't need your spoiled little brats running around here, inhibiting our life style. We already have enough interference in our lives with your darn parents dropping in unexpectidly, and asking to borrow this or that....

 

Ah, that's a shame. By the way I messed up on a wood project can I borrow your board stretcher?

 

On the Chevy, the fill is at the top of the tank, and you can put fuel in till you reach the very top of the tank. No breather line to cause you back up problems. My shop manual says 19 gallons also, but I have never run it totally dry. The other Chevrolet models are 20 gallons, so I assumed this was the same until I just looked it up, but I knew for certain that it wasn't 13 on the Pontiac.