1962 PONTIAC TEMPEST

Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi

Symptoms: Grinding or whining from rear differential area, Loss of reverse or second gear, Fluid leaking from rear transmission case, Inability to shift or engage drive

Fix: The unique rear-mounted automatic transaxle is notoriously fragile and parts are scarce. Full rebuild requires specialized knowledge of the two-speed Powerglide derivative. Expect 18-24 labor hours plus hard-to-find internals. Many shops won't touch it.

Estimated cost: $3,500-6,000

Typical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi

Symptoms: Vibration at highway speeds, Clunking during acceleration or deceleration, Visible cracking or fraying of the steel cable driveshaft, Loss of power transfer to rear wheels

Fix: The flexible steel-cable driveshaft connecting front engine to rear transaxle wears out and becomes unbalanced. Replacement is straightforward (4-6 hours) but NOS or quality reproduction units are expensive and hard to source.

Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Heavy knocking from lower engine, Metal shavings in oil, Sudden loss of oil pressure, Catastrophic engine seizure

Fix: This Buick-sourced slant-four (half of the 389 V8 tooling) has main bearing and crankshaft durability issues, especially if oil changes were neglected. Rebuild requires crankshaft machining or replacement (22-28 hours), but machining shops familiar with this engine are rare.

Estimated cost: $3,800-5,500

Symptoms: Hard starting when hot, Raw fuel smell in engine bay, Black smoke from exhaust, Flooding and stalling after warmup

Fix: The single-barrel Rochester carburetor develops needle/seat wear and the fuel pump can push excessive pressure. Carb rebuild kits are available but proper tuning knowledge is critical. Figure 3-5 hours for carb rebuild and fuel system inspection.

Estimated cost: $400-800

Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking when shifting into gear, Excessive driveline movement, Vibration transmitted into cabin, Rear axle misalignment

Fix: The torque tube that encloses the driveshaft has rubber bushings and mounts that deteriorate. Replacement requires rear suspension disassembly and can be tricky to align properly. 6-9 hours labor, parts availability varies.

Estimated cost: $700-1,400

Symptoms: Large cracks across dash pad, Speedometer or fuel gauge inoperative, Odometer stops turning, Gauge cluster lighting failure

Fix: The original dash pads crack badly with age and reproduction quality is hit-or-miss. Instrument voltage regulators fail and speedometer cables break. Dash removal is 4-6 hours; gauge repair or sourcing functional used units adds to cost.

Estimated cost: $800-1,800