68 GTO Project

[Roadbuster]

Just wanted to post up some shots of the work in progress that is my 68 GTO. Current project is new front suspension and while I am at it the brakes too. I am doing this myself with lots of research on the site here. I started this in March of this year.

Here is what is going in SC&C's Street Comp AFX suspension (Thanks Mark!) amongst other stuff:


The old front suspension (not so clean under here):


Old front suspension removed:


The pro-wheelie jackstand look:


New suspension mocked up and I started to clean up the frame:




Jon

[oestek]

Looks cool. It's really going to drive nicely when you're finished. Those are some funky looking headers from this angle... what are they? What's the specs on the rest of the car?

[Roadbuster]

More pics:
Getting the bolt in near the header was a pain. The header had to come out because I didn't want the nylock near the heat shield.


AFX spindles and coil overs are in. You can't see the 1 inch coil spacer on top of the spring


Underside view:


Here it is back on the wheels (still need to adjust the coil overs). This is about 5.5 inches from the frame behind the front wheel to the ground! Having the rear at about stock height doesn't help the geometry.


Still have lots of details to do. Next is to paint the firewall. That hydroboost looks too pretty next to the tired firewall. I am going to order a wilwood master and need to run the brake lines.

Jon

[Roadbuster]

Looks cool. It's really going to drive nicely when you're finished. Those are some funky looking headers from this angle... what are they? What's the specs on the rest of the car?

Thanks for the compliment!

I don't know what the headers are, they came with the car. I know they are old - they have 4-bolt collector flanges that are 3 inches in diameter.

The car was in the process of being converted into a drag car (so I was told) when I got it. It has a Pontiac 400, TH400 and a BOP 3.23 rear. The engine has been built and runs strong though it still needs some tuning. The interior is stock for the moment. Here is a better overall pic (before the front end work started)

Front end has a Lee power steering box and a new Moog linkage and a hydroboost is going in

Future plans are to do the rear suspension, rear end and a T56 trans and a new set of wheels as my budget allows .

Jon

[deadend1970]

really nice car the modifications are looking great too

[ponchopwr70]

Nice car!

[PT Goat]

Sweet!

[Code Red]

real nice man check out my 68 GTO project


btw any interest in possibly selling your old front disc setup? mine has drums all the way around

[Roadbuster]

Thanks for all the compliments guys!

Code Red

btw any interest in possibly selling your old front disc setup? mine has drums all the way around

The front disks look like a '69 up setup. I am not quite ready to sell them just incase I need some little part. The disks are shot. They had grooves in the pads and in the rotors and were a bit of a pain to separate from the calipers!

I have been watching your thread - that is a lot of work you are doing!

Jon

[tom_a]

Looks good!

[guccieng]

update your profile. it says 'soon to have...

[Roadbuster]

update your profile. it says 'soon to have...

Profile Updated!

[Roadbuster]

I could not stand to put in the hydroboost with the firewall looking like this. It just did not look right



So this weekend I painted the firewall. Much better!



Note that the top of the firewall will be painted later - I need some seam sealer first.

Jon

[Roadbuster]

I found out when I removed the power steering bracket that it is cast aluminum. It didn't look all that cool. I decided to try and give it a brushed finish. After a LOT of sanding, filing and dremel work this is what it looks like:



In this shot you can see what it looked like initially in the inset area. This will be against the head and you won't see it when installed. It also has the part number cast into it so I didn't want to sand it smooth.



These shots show it with the 220 grit sanding almost done. A little bit more and then once again with 360 and it should look like a machined part!

Jon

[Motown 454]

It all looks good nice job on the clean up and paint
Wayne

[Code Red]

I could not stand to put in the hydroboost with the firewall looking like this. It just did not look right



So this weekend I painted the firewall. Much better!



Note that the top of the firewall will be painted later - I need some seam sealer first.

Jon

what did you end of using for paint?

also did you not fill in all the little dents? thats going to be my big thing once I get my excess holes filled is to fill in the little dents

[Roadbuster]

Code Red,
I used Eastwood's Underhood Black paint. Yep rattle can. Just scuffed, masked, cleaned, primed and painted.

I did not do any body work. I don't have the tools for that (yet ) and I want to do it by welding the holes and pounding out all the dents. My A/C is not working so I have not made a decision on that yet. So for now just a new coat of paint to let me get on with putting in the hydroboost and plumbing the brakes so I can drive it!

Your firewall will look sweet given the quality of all the other work you are doing on your 68!

Jon

[Roadbuster]

It all looks good nice job on the clean up and paint
Wayne

Thanks for the complement Wayne I still have a long way to go in the engine compartment detailing.

Jon

[Code Red]

Code Red,
I used Eastwood's Underhood Black paint. Yep rattle can. Just scuffed, masked, cleaned, primed and painted.

I did not do any body work. I don't have the tools for that (yet ) and I want to do it by welding the holes and pounding out all the dents. My A/C is not working so I have not made a decision on that yet. So for now just a new coat of paint to let me get on with putting in the hydroboost and plumbing the brakes so I can drive it!

Your firewall will look sweet given the quality of all the other work you are doing on your 68!

Jon

thanks though I'm still a amatuer at most of this stuff but I'm learning lol

My brother also deserves some of the credit

[Roadbuster]

Its all installed!!



I need to dial it in: Set the final ride height and align it again.

Sorry its short - I had a hard disk crash and need to sort it out.

It never ends, the rear springs are giving out - so they are next!

Jon