Pontiac Tempest problems

Common Pontiac Tempest problems

The Pontiac Tempest, produced from 1961 to 1963, was a compact economy car with a unique powertrain layout featuring a front engine and a rear transaxle, connected by an unusual flexible driveshaft known as the "rope drive". This innovative design, however, came with its own set of problems.

One of the major issues was the excessive vibration caused by the "rope drive" system. The Tempest's engine, a slant four derived from the 389 Pontiac V8 with one cylinder bank removed, produced significant torque reversals that were transmitted to the driveshaft.

Another problem was the heavy weight of the Indy 4 engine. Displacing 195 cubic inches, the engine weighed 540 pounds, which was heavy even by the forgiving standards of early-1960s Detroit. This heavy engine, combined with the inherent balance problems of big-displacement four-cylinder engines, made the Tempest a less than ideal driving experience.

The Tempest's body styles also undercut its potential sportiness. Launched with only four-door sedan and four-door Safari wagon body styles, the Tempest lacked the pulse-quickening lineup that could have made it a more appealing sports car.

Despite these issues, the Tempest's innovative design and the popularity of the Le Mans and Monza packages showed that the public wasn't completely turned off by the smaller car if it was marketed correctly

Is the Pontiac Tempest rare?

It is estimated that just 3,662 Tempests were ordered with the 215 engine, or about 1% of production.

Is a Tempest and a GTO the same thing?

A GTO is basically a $2480 Tempest Le Mans with a $296 extra-equipment package that includes a floor shift, 389 engine, dual exhaust, stiffer shocks, "exterior identification" and a choice of super-premium tires or whitewalls.

What engine was in the Pontiac Tempest?

The Trophy 4 engine is a short-stroke, 45-degree inclined inline four created from the right bank of the 389 V8 for the debut of the Tempest in 1961. Its 194.43 cu in (3.2 L) displacement is precisely half of the 389, with an identical bore and stroke of 4+1⁄16 in × 3+3⁄4 in (103.2 mm × 95.3 mm).

What year did Pontiac stop making The Tempest?

His 1968 pontiac tempest is more than wheels and oil it just reminds me of so many. Years of putting it together changing it building it racing it the character embedded carries like a piece of the