1967 GTO project thread [Archive] - Page 2

Nicks67GTO

06-20-2015, 10:36 AM

The last few weeks I did a little work. Nothing too cool but progress is progress. I added a Derale power steering cooler to the underside of the driver side fender by the front bumper. I drilled some holes in the inner fender, used rubber grommets and ran the lines through under the battery. It should get plenty of air and be protected under there. I also added a new 150 Amp alternator from http://www.qualitypowerauto.com/ I don't necessarily need it right this second but my old alternator was just that....old. This gives me room to grow with my electronic parts like EFI, electric fans and fuel pump. Install was bolt in and all I had to do was parallel another #10 wire from the alternator to the starter post.

I signed up for my first auto X next Sunday. Its a local Iowa chapter SCCA event held about 2 miles from my house. If the weather holds out i'm hoping to give it a crack! If all goes well there i'm going to make plans to hit up Goodguys in DesMoines over the weekend of the 4th of July. Is anyone else that follows this thread planning on going?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/20150612_172138_zpsgftqsugh-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Engine%20bay%20mods/20150612_172138_zpsgftqsugh.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/20150612_171956_zpscq08z7xe-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Engine%20bay%20mods/20150612_171956_zpscq08z7xe.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/20150612_172909_zps6bjl6pza-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Engine%20bay%20mods/20150612_172909_zps6bjl6pza.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/20150612_183520_zpsdvoxpsbt-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Engine%20bay%20mods/20150612_183520_zpsdvoxpsbt.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/20150620_132215_zpslyq9sreo-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Engine%20bay%20mods/20150620_132215_zpslyq9sreo.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/06/20150620_132227_zps00cfn1rf-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Engine%20bay%20mods/20150620_132227_zps00cfn1rf.jpg.html)

Motown 454

06-20-2015, 11:14 AM

Nice work Nick!

tommycomfort

06-21-2015, 02:10 AM

Looking good Nick. We're planning to be in Red Moines with both cars. Looking forward to seeing the gto in person.

Nicks67GTO

07-08-2015, 06:55 AM

Last weekend I ended up heading to the Goodguys Heartland Nationals in DesMoines with the intention of running my first auto X. I drove the GTO down from Waterloo since its only about 2 hours on the dot and I got a solid 16.5MPG running 75-80 MPH the whole way. I was pretty pleased with that. One thing led to another and I ended up auto X'ing all day Friday and Saturday. What a great time. One of the best times iv'e had in a long while. I dropped 9 seconds off from my first lap to my best time, I didn't smash the car up or break anything and just had a blast. Mission accomplished. The weather was beautiful, I made some new friends, saw a lot of old ones from around my area and ended up finishing with a best lap of 45.5 seconds with a lot of room for improvement left....especially behind the steering wheel. The winning time in street machine was a 40.xx. I took lots of people for rides, met some folks from the board here and all around just had one of the better weekends iv'e had in a good long time.....So I guess that means I'm heading up to St Paul in two weeks to do it all over again for Street Machine Nationals....anyone else heading up there?

Here's a video of one of my late runs on Friday....gotta throw a shout out to my wife, she was holding my 6 month old son in one arm and taking the video with the other haha. You can hear my little girl saying go daddy go in the background too. Ahhh what a weekend. If you click the picture it takes you to the video.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/th_20150703_162046_zpsur2ei0g6-1.mp4 (http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff152/novaguy73/Goodguys%20DesMoines%202015/20150703_162046_zpsur2ei0g6.mp4)

Ryan Buck rode along and stuck his GoPro cam up on my vent window. This is the same run as the one above but its a car vantage point...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB_TpAfk1IY

Heres a few random shots from the weekend...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/20150704_123355_zpssxiony2p-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Goodguys%20DesMoines%202015/20150704_123355_zpssxiony2p.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/20150704_123024_zpscb8szm5k-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Goodguys%20DesMoines%202015/20150704_123024_zpscb8szm5k.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/20150703_105810_zpsdunn8bgv-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Goodguys%20DesMoines%202015/20150703_105810_zpsdunn8bgv.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/20150703_085740_zpswiyc1edc-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Goodguys%20DesMoines%202015/20150703_085740_zpswiyc1edc.jpg.html)

Look who showed up to the fun...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/20150704_133023_zpsm3y50r1i-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Goodguys%20DesMoines%202015/20150704_133023_zpsm3y50r1i.jpg.html)

lucky13firebird

07-08-2015, 10:07 AM

Awesome. Yeah, i averaged 13.8 miles a gallon my entire trip. It was cool seeing yah and your car and family at the show. That gto is looking good.

Nicks67GTO

07-10-2015, 07:41 AM

So last weekend at Goodguys I had this nice young lady ask to go along around the track. I didnt know it but her dad was snapping pics of the run with a nice camera. She ended up sending me a few pics. I think its a pretty cool shot.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/FB_IMG_1436483728892_zps45bh68xm-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Goodguys%20DesMoines%202015/FB_IMG_1436483728892_zps45bh68xm.jpg.html)

Gil

07-10-2015, 08:13 AM

Very nice !
Your car is awesome
Gil

Nicks67GTO

07-10-2015, 11:57 AM

Very nice !
Your car is awesome
Gil

Thanks Gil!

birdsandbowties

07-10-2015, 03:00 PM

Awesome !!

so last weekend at goodguys i had this nice young lady ask to go along around the track. I didnt know it but her dad was snapping pics of the run with a nice camera. She ended up sending me a few pics. I think its a pretty cool shot.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/goodguys%20desmoines%202015/fb_img_1436483728892_zps45bh68xm.jpg.html)

Nicks67GTO

07-11-2015, 09:50 AM

Awesome !!

Thanks!

For the record the steering column you built for the GTO is killer. Well worth the money and a fantastic product.

eric1967

07-11-2015, 10:13 AM

Nick you have an awesome car. I was at Des Moines. I should have introduced myself. I will catch you at the next event. Very cool car.

Nicks67GTO

07-12-2015, 08:42 AM

Nick you have an awesome car. I was at Des Moines. I should have introduced myself. I will catch you at the next event. Very cool car.

Thanks Eric. Did you end up in second place for the event? The top 3 spots were pretty tight.

eric1967

07-12-2015, 01:52 PM

Thanks Eric. Did you end up in second place for the event? The top 3 spots were pretty tight.

Yep I ended up 2nd. It was tight. Super happy to be running with Rich

Nicks67GTO

07-20-2015, 06:43 PM

I decided to drive up to St. Paul this weekend for the Street Machine Nationals and was not disappointed. It was a great event with a huge turnout, even with the big showdown with Car Craft just a few hundred miles away. The Auto X was huge and pretty fast. We were all well into 2nd gear through a lot of the course. Although I didn't lay down any barn burner times, I had a blast. I took a video of a run and got a few pics on a couple of websites that covered the event. I also did pretty well at the speed stop competition besting some newer Mustangs and putting up a pretty competitive time so that was kind of cool. Anyhow I ended up putting about 700 miles on the old girl, got around 15 runs at the Auto X, 10+ runs at the speed stop and rolled 16.8MPG on the way home! I had one electrical gremlin strike and I think I have it narrowed down to an ignition switch.

I did learn that the higher speed showed a clear weakness in my tire selection {Nitto555} and my driving ability, so both will clearly need to be corrected....haha

Packed the car...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/20150716_113139_zpsywdfw2nm-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/StPaul%20Street%20Machine%20Nationals%202015/20150716_113139_zpsywdfw2nm.jpg.html)

Encountered a ton of rain....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/20150716_133223_zpssfxww5ok-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/StPaul%20Street%20Machine%20Nationals%202015/20150716_133223_zpssfxww5ok.jpg.html)

Got up really early...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/20150717_043055_zpsqi4pdz2d-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/StPaul%20Street%20Machine%20Nationals%202015/20150717_043055_zpsqi4pdz2d.jpg.html)

Beat on the old girl pretty good...

{click for video}
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/th_20150717_120501_zpskuzbwyrm-1.mp4 (http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff152/novaguy73/StPaul%20Street%20Machine%20Nationals%202015/20150717_120501_zpskuzbwyrm.mp4)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/Image00025Copy_zpspkg088bd-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/StPaul%20Street%20Machine%20Nationals%202015/Image00025-Copy_zpspkg088bd.jpg.html)

Headed home!...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/20150719_122542_zpssor7x1ap-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/StPaul%20Street%20Machine%20Nationals%202015/20150719_122542_zpssor7x1ap.jpg.html)

analyte

07-20-2015, 06:54 PM

Looks like a great time!! Nothing better than driving the wheels off the rides we built.

Kerry

SSLance

07-21-2015, 04:00 AM

Looks like a successful weekend of wheeling to me!!

Motown 454

07-21-2015, 08:46 AM

Glad to hear you had a great trip. I hope the Gremlin is an easy fix.

Nicks67GTO

08-08-2015, 09:17 PM

A few weeks back I took a trip to St Paul for the Street Machine Nationals to Auto X. While at the track, I encountered a guy with a g-body that had a SC&C chassis like mine. He had pony'd up for the SC&C HD Chassis brace. This is a very common upgrade for G body guys. It triangulates the front frame rails and apparently even GM recognized there was an issue because they used a stamped version on the performance G body cars.

I had kind of scoffed at it a bit at first but then talking to this guy about his, he was very impressed and he said the difference was instant and very noticeable, even over his stock ones he had removed. Marc had talked about how the front frame rails on these cars move under load and that the steering box takes all the abuse under steering conditions. This brace triangulates everything, ties it all together and distributes the load and A body cars really could have used these and really benefit from them...

So I bought one. $217 shipped. It looks like about maybe $30 bucks worth of material if you wanted to hack one together yourself. This one is nice though and has bends where they need to be and it has a nice coating so ok.... Ill be the guinea pig.

I will say I'm impressed with how much of a difference this made. My G body guy was right, it made the car much more snappy and athletic feeling. I had about 3 hrs installing it and the difference was pretty noticeable from the first corner I turned even at slow speed. I'm not sure how the frame rails move that much under load? You would think that they would wreck body panels with that much movement but they must, because the steering feels much more responsive.

Here it is

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/08/20150802_160745_zpse6hikysm-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20150802_160745_zpse6hikysm.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/08/20150802_160806_zpsmx1lioro-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20150802_160806_zpsmx1lioro.jpg.html)

The instructions say you have to center the piece, drill 2 3/8" Holes in the frame rails and 2 5/16" holes and tap for 3/8x16 in the engine cradle. That didn't go well for me. I ended up stripping the tapped holes in the cradle upon final TQ....so I got a 1.5" hole saw out and made a little room to get some nylocks and washers on the back of the bolts that go in the cradle. Oh well, at least its not some numbers matching frame and there was a hole there anyways so....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/08/20150808_164653_zpsyxlp4q6z-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20150808_164653_zpsyxlp4q6z.jpg.html)

I also ended up having to use .195" washers to space it down a bit to miss the swaybar. It says in the instructions this might happen so I was prepared. Inside the frame I had a buttlap weld right in the middle of the hole I drilled leaving a very uneven surface. This was leaving my bolt angled. I tried to get away with just tightening it down but I snapped a bolt off upon final TQ inside the frame rail. I used on of the thick washers to take up the difference inside the framerail and leave a flat surface for the nut to snug up against. Just a bench grinder and file was all that was needed...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/08/20150808_155035_zpsq6lwiet2-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20150808_155035_zpsq6lwiet2.jpg.html)

So I got that all done, TQ'd it down to 35 ft lbs all the way around, checked for interference and took it for a drive....this gentlemen is a great picture as to why you don't buy hooker super comp headers...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/08/20150808_164625_zpskront935-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20150808_164625_zpskront935.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/08/20150808_164633_zps7wmnfo8z-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20150808_164633_zps7wmnfo8z.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/08/20150808_164641_zpseoavb6vm-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20150808_164641_zpseoavb6vm.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/08/20150808_160307_zpslgnugabt-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20150808_160307_zpslgnugabt.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/08/20150808_160227_zpsbzhuaxt4-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20150808_160227_zpsbzhuaxt4.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/08/20150808_164612_zpsdu4xutcd-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20150808_164612_zpsdu4xutcd.jpg.html)

67goatman455

08-09-2015, 06:36 AM

Sweet! ill have to make one for mine. Looks like your steering box has seen better days sir.

lucky13firebird

08-09-2015, 06:59 AM

Wow, thats cool, now thats one more thing i know i need... glad to see you out and about driving that beautiful gto around

Nicks67GTO

08-09-2015, 10:11 AM

Sweet! ill have to make one for mine. Looks like your steering box has seen better days sir.

What are you seeing that im not? It is a 100k+ Jeep Grand Cherokee box so it's on my list of stuff to replace

Nicks67GTO

08-15-2015, 10:23 AM

Nothing too cool to report other than I weighed the car now that its in its first finished form. There will be plenty of refinements, i'm just logging this here. I'm not really seeing anything too obvious that I could trim out to kill some weight other than maybe an aluminum center section and some forged wheels and aluminum heads. Oh well priority #1 is streetcar...

-3800 +/-20lbs with no driver. Weighed at the landfill

-All steel GM sheet metal 1967 GTO
-Stock frame, fully boxed with 1/8" steel and powdercoated
-1/3 tank of gas, stock tank
-PS, PB, PA, AC, stock glass, tilt column
-Iron headed 455 with an aluminum intake and Qjet and headers
-3" exhaust/dynomax ultraflo's dumped at the axle
-Aluminum radiator
-Kore3 Z51 13.4" front brakes w/ aluminum hubs and 02' F body rears with 9" DD power booster and 1" 2002 S10 RHD master cylinder
-SPC upper and lower A arms and springs
-Ridetech HQ shocks
-Currectrac RCA's
-Hellwig swaybars front and chassis mounted rear
-Stock spindles/tall ball joints
-Front HD chassis brace
-Richmond 5 speed, steel flywheel, lakewood scatter shield
-Moser 9" Housing/axles, Iron Yukon 3rd member
-Cast 18" Billet specialties Mag G's and Nitto555's
-06' GTO 8 way power leather seats and a full interior 1/3 covered in dynamat
-Radio and 4 speakers
-Vintage Air

armourmark

08-29-2015, 06:57 AM

Nicks67GTO

08-30-2015, 01:01 PM

Great write up! Very informative. It's always nice to see other members and their struggle to find the right combo too. Every time I redo something or switch it out as budget allows, it always makes me think if I should have waited or did it different the first time (like your brake adventure). BTW, I'm in Cedar Rapids so I will keep an eye out for you.

If you get a chance this Sunday, there's a really good cruise in Waterloo/Cedar Falls on University Ave at Spicolis. I think it starts around 5pm. Its a show n shine then stop light to stop light 45mph crusing up and down uni till 9pm. Its a good one and gets a huge turnout.

Nicks67GTO

09-27-2015, 02:44 PM

Back at Street Machine Nationals in StPaul I was discussing future events with a friend. He had mentioned that there was a hill climb in Waumandee Wisconsin. Fast forward to last Friday. I packed up the GTO and headed up to a spot about 3 miles outside the middle of nowhere to take part in a vintage hillclimb race. Your car has to be 30 years and older to run.

Friday night was homemade brick fire pizza and good beers on a farm with the rest of the field. Saturday morning 8:30 AM was the event and it ran until 5:30pm. The hill climb this year was a 500' ascent over 1 mile and no guard rails so there was definitely an element of danger though it wasn't really scary. The location had been moved from the last 3 years because that surface was unstable due to a recent recovering of the road. It's typically a 500' ascent over 2.4 miles on the original location and is supposed to be back there next year.

I have to say this event was awesome. Everyone was a great, pizza was stellar, scenery was beautiful and the race was a blast. I got to ride in some pretty cool cars when I wasn't running. The event is limited to 75 entrants though we only had 51 I believe. Its mostly older "British" type sports cars like Triumphs and Austin Healey's and such but we had a pretty good musclecar showing with a Fox mustang, 2 mid 80's G body's, a 66 Chevelle, 63 Chevy II, 68 Camaro, 68 Mustang and my 67 GTO. Next year if you're in the area and you want to get involved in a blast of an event that only costs $75 bucks, I highly recommend this one...

Directly below is a video of one of my runs. Click the small picture and it will take you to the video. Of course it looks slow because we're on video but I was probably in the 65mph range on one of the long runs in between chicanes. Just a heads up at the end of the video the passenger drops an F bomb right before I shut the camera off....I think he was just a little excited

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/th_20150926_143237_zpscpbn79m0-1.mp4 (http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff152/novaguy73/Waumandee%20Hill%20Climb%202015/20150926_143237_zpscpbn79m0.mp4)

Random shots of my drive there and the event. I think the drive there and back was just as nice as the event.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/20150926_082857_zpseoo98tlo-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Waumandee%20Hill%20Climb%202015/20150926_082857_zpseoo98tlo.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/20150926_082931_zpsokathqo1-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Waumandee%20Hill%20Climb%202015/20150926_082931_zpsokathqo1.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/20150926_135307_zpsamxizakb-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Waumandee%20Hill%20Climb%202015/20150926_135307_zpsamxizakb.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/20150926_094029_zpspzripyhs-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Waumandee%20Hill%20Climb%202015/20150926_094029_zpspzripyhs.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/20150925_164927_zpsixw1shke-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Waumandee%20Hill%20Climb%202015/20150925_164927_zpsixw1shke.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/20150925_164153_zps4p15hwry-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Waumandee%20Hill%20Climb%202015/20150925_164153_zps4p15hwry.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/20150926_184804_zpsvba2fnhj-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Waumandee%20Hill%20Climb%202015/20150926_184804_zpsvba2fnhj.jpg.html)

Nicks67GTO

12-24-2015, 10:19 AM

I figured I haven't updated this thread in a few months so it was probably time. First...Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope all is well on your end of the computer.

This year has been a heck of a ride. I logged around 3000 miles on the car, ran my first 3 race events, multiple cruises and had a blast. During all of this I found some of the weak spots in the car. This winter will see some upgrades to address these issues.

So far at the house iv'e collected...

-UMI rear shock tower brace

-UMI driveshaft loop

-Fays2 Watts link. Im hoping to tame down the back end of this car a bit. Marc@SC&C says it will get it done. I guess we will see!

-Tanks Inc EFI fuel tank with sending unit and 400LPH walbro pump. Iv'e got to feed my planned EFI setup!

-New Aeroquip 8AN socketless fuel lines. The old stuff is worn out and time for new. I also sprung a fuel leak on the way to work one night. That could have literally burned the car to the ground. Replace your socketless hose as a preventative measure if its starting to look funny.

-American Autowire rewire update kit. I had some 48 year old car electrical gremlins last season and I was 300 miles from home. In retrospect it was something stupid but it cost me time at the track and a serious headache. No more!

-Used Dougs headers. My super comps are literally flat and leaking underneath. I had these on for a week and ruined them on a dip in the road and that was before i lowered the car. They are known as very low hanging headers. The Dougs should give me a bunch of road clearance needed for what i'm doing.

-Re-route the exhaust a bit due to the Dougs sitting much tighter to the floor and maybe add cutouts

With all of that said I decided i'm staying with a traditional Pontiac build as opposed to an LS. With the vibrant Pontiac aftermarket its no big challenge to put together a 550+hp/600ft lb 6500 RPM poncho anymore and I think cost wise ill probably be ahead given that im already setup for it. Iv'e been in contact with some Pontiac specialists about what i need to do to make the car run and it seems like this is the right path. Plus in a world of LS engines, it will be fairly unique. I also decided i'm going to go through FiTech EFI for my induction but i'm waiting to order. I'm not sure if i'm going to do the Meanstreet TBI system or use their new Multiport system that's supposed to drop in late January but that will finish up the touches for the year. Iv'e already started in on a lot of this stuff so be watching for updates if you're interested!

MTZ28

12-26-2015, 10:50 PM

Love your car. My Dad bought a 67 brand new back in the day. I've been looking for it for the last two years and I'm beginning to lose hope. Did manage to find the original engine and back seat. Anyways, really like your car.

ekmxryda

12-27-2015, 03:50 PM

Nicks67GTO

12-28-2015, 06:06 AM

Nicks67GTO

12-28-2015, 06:19 AM

Nick I have been enjoying your updates and results from all the events you have driven to.
Looking forward to your upgrades. Are you looking into aluminum heads too? Like you said there are so many options for Pontiac engines now.
http://www.krepower.com/Pontiac%20Aluminum%20High%20Port%20Cylinder%20Head s.htm

Hey Eric. I'm looking at doing a 440" 400 block + 4" stroke, ported aluminum head, hydraulic roller combo. I thought about doing an aftermarket aluminum block but Im just flat not going to spend the huge money on it to save 90lbs on the nose. I'm just hoping my old worn out 455 hangs on for one more season so I can finish the rest of the car and start the engine build this next winter.

I'm glad someone likes the race updates. Im signed up for the ride tech week (splitting time in a friends car) and Midwest Musclecar Challenge with mine. That will be my first road course. I'm also planning to do Des Moines Goodguys, St Paul streetmachine nationals again and the hill climb I did last year.

Your car is coming along great. I like to check in every now and again on it!

Nicks67GTO

01-08-2016, 10:44 AM

And the winter mods begin!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20160108_092524_zpsq4nqjm0b-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160108_092524_zpsq4nqjm0b.jpg.html)

andrewb70

01-08-2016, 10:45 AM

What are the plans?

Andrew

Nicks67GTO

01-08-2016, 07:49 PM

What are the plans?

Andrew

-Fays2 Watts link to calm down the back end of the car a bit

-American Autowire rewire update kit

-Tanks Inc EFI tank/walbro electric pump

-New fuel line as the old Aeroquip socketless stuff is splitting. Anyone who runs this stuff better be replacing it every 5 years or so. I had it split on me in traffic on the way to work last summer.

-UMI rear shock tower brace

-FiTech EFI

-Possibly an oil filter relocation and an accusump

-Probably different tires come mid spring. I cut my front up pretty good this year in some weird situations and the rears are too tall for the auto X stuff. Live and learn I guess. I'm having a heck of a time trying to find a 245/40/18 and 275/40/18 in a good modern 200TW tire though. I have my choice of the new Nitto555 G2's, Nitto NT05's, or Bridgestone Potenza RE-11's. I really wish those Re71's or Falken 615s were made in a 275/40/18 but right now they're not.

Iv'e got my plate pretty full

andrewb70

01-08-2016, 08:23 PM

That's a big list. Looking forward to progress!

Andrew

SSLance

01-09-2016, 05:59 AM

Iv'e got my plate pretty full

That's putting it mildly!! Good luck on the projects!

I'll be following along.

Gil

01-09-2016, 06:09 AM

Awesome !
Would be my dream to EFI the 455...
Will follow closely your progress !
Gil

Nicks67GTO

01-17-2016, 03:21 PM

Here is my windshield list. Ill be lucky to get this all done by the end of April. Im doing Midwest Musclecar Challenge in May so Iv'e got to get it all done and tested by then...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20160117_163800_zpszlflqf5t-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160117_163800_zpszlflqf5t.jpg.html)

First order of business was mocking everything up, making some changes on the rear axle housing to accommodate the watts link, test fitting the new Tanks inc gas tank and getting the watts frame and rear axle to powdercoat.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20160117_163819_zpsqscot4dd-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160117_163819_zpsqscot4dd.jpg.html)

Then we moved onto the UMI rear shock tower brace. This is a great idea and I can see where it would add strength. The problem is I couldn't get my hands up underneath in between the frame and the trunk floor to get these in place. I fought like hell and made it happen just to get witness marks, removed everything and welded nuts on the back side of the brace. The holes are slotted on one side to allow for frame differences. I think UMI could improve this product with a cage type of nut on the backs of the part allowing for movement and frame differences. This would be a major improvement and well worth the cost instead of fighting it.

Once stuff gets back from powdercoat things will move along quicker...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20151226_130044_zpswfuqinay-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20151226_130044_zpswfuqinay.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20151226_130040_zpsftcp8lsz-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20151226_130040_zpsftcp8lsz.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20151226_130036_zps0banfuuj-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20151226_130036_zps0banfuuj.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20160117_163834_zpswknp2mrf-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160117_163834_zpswknp2mrf.jpg.html)

rohrt

01-17-2016, 04:32 PM

That tower brace is pretty cool.

lucky13firebird

01-18-2016, 06:40 AM

Wow, i gotta get me one of them shock tower braces... and some of the other UMI stuff. Looking forward to seeing yah in des moines again if i make it out there... this time possibly with my 67 tempest.

minendrews68

01-18-2016, 07:35 AM

Thanks! Have you tried searching on Performance Years? Do you have a VIN?

I had a 2001 Silverado once and was wanting to buy it back from whomever for my son. I did a ****** on it and found out that 2 weeks after I traded it in on my present truck the guy that bought it totaled it. The remains were in a salvage yard in Kentucky!..

Nick is right, if you've got the vin you can do a trace on it and probably find it. Good luck.

Nicks67GTO

02-04-2016, 07:59 PM

I got some more goodies in the mail recently. I also got my stuff back from powder coating. Iv'e started the reassembly and install on most of this but there's a lot of little details that prevent fast movement. Some of those details are mechanical. Most of those details are my 2 young kids and having that pesky job. If it wasn't for being a responsible dad/adult....I would have the car done by now! :)

I got my FiTech EFI in the mail. It will be fed with a Tanks inc EFI tank and 400LPH walbro pump assembly. I'm pretty certain ill be building a 400 based 434 this fall so ill need something good to feed it. That's why I went with the 400lph pump. I was advised from a friend who has two tanks inc setups to dump the tanks inc gaskets and make my own out of cork and seal it with aviation sealer so I did exactly that.

I also got my watts link parts and my 9" back from powdercoat. I ended up welding a bolt on top of the housing for a brake line mount, adding Currie Johnny Joints to the upper A arm ears on the housing, moving the brake line mounts, and relocating the vent because the stock vent location was interfering with the watts link mounts. Hoping to get the rest of the back end put together tomorrow!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160120_190113_zpsrixsjhl8-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160120_190113_zpsrixsjhl8.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160129_114910_zpsgywj0kdc-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160129_114910_zpsgywj0kdc.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160130_121645_zpsvxbltgtc-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160130_121645_zpsvxbltgtc.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160202_104905_zpscpsuoix8-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160202_104905_zpscpsuoix8.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160129_114832_zpsqnwoy59j-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160129_114832_zpsqnwoy59j.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160129_100701_zpsdbsygjaj-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160129_100701_zpsdbsygjaj.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160129_100739_zpsfybk6rcv-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160129_100739_zpsfybk6rcv.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160129_100921_zpsq9mx7hgz-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160129_100921_zpsq9mx7hgz.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160129_100720_zpsu0hrrj8b-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160129_100720_zpsu0hrrj8b.jpg.html)

Motown 454

02-04-2016, 08:36 PM

The parts look great, you have some nice stuff there.

keepat

02-05-2016, 03:14 AM

Very cool, love the windshield work list!
Pat

Rucumn

02-05-2016, 04:32 AM

Are you able to use the stock gas tank with the Watts set up? I have seen those conversions on chevelles and they usually need to change to a Nova gas tank or custom order a tank to fit?

Nicks67GTO

02-05-2016, 06:38 AM

Are you able to use the stock gas tank with the Watts set up? I have seen those conversions on chevelles and they usually need to change to a Nova gas tank or custom order a tank to fit?

When I finished the install I was planning to mention this specifically. Typically with the 64-67 A body cars i'm told a 69 Nova tank is whats used. I bought one from Tanks inc ahead of time because of this. I test fit my watts link. Checked clearance with my stock gas tank and it was just fine, so I ended up sending the 69 Nova tank back for the proper 67 GTO tank.

My guess is with a 64-67 Chevelle you would still have to use the shorter 69 Nova tank. I'm also guessing for every GTO that's ever had a watts link, there,s probably 50 chevelles so I could see where the generalization would happen. I'm guessing just from visuals that the 67 GTO has a longer trunk space than the Chevelle and therefore allowed the factory to mount the gas tank farther back, nullifying the need to use the different tank with the watts link. I am in no way saying this will work on other cars but if you're planning to use a watts on a Buick Olds or Pontiac I would check before you buy.

ekmxryda

02-05-2016, 01:01 PM

Nicks67GTO

02-09-2016, 07:56 PM

I got my rear axle reinstalled and filled, watts link in and angles correct, new tank in place, new gas lines made, new brake lines made and bled. Looks like the back end part of my winter work is done! On to the middle of the car where we will be adding a driveshaft loop, reworking the exhaust with some Dougs headers, V band clamps and an O2 bung on the collectors and a little bit of rework on the pipes themselves!

A couple notes on the Watts Link.

-The Watts was kind of a pain in the ass to install. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't a 2 hour install like I expected. This wasn't because of the watts setup itself but because I had to move the axle vent, grind the rear sway bar mounts to fit over the speedway type housing on my Moser 9", I had it re powder coated since it was bright red and I hated the color and I ended up having Jim @ Fays 2 send me 11" watts bars as opposed to the 9" ones he sent. The instructions were generic but pretty decent, Marc@SC&C was a big help and Jim@Fays2 also answered his phone any time I called. Excellent customer service out of these guys.

-On a very bright note I found that a modified gas tank was not necessary at all in my 67 GTO. The reason I mention this is because the instructions and even Marc @ SC&C thought I was going to need a 69 Nova tank. I mocked it up with a 1967 stock gas tank and used a tanks inc 1967 GTO gas tank. I think the warnings on this install about using a Nova tank are possibly aimed at Chevelles. I'm guessing that the Chevelle has a shorter rear trunk area and that the tank is mounted closer to the rear axle making a short tank necessary though that is 100% speculation. So if you have a 67 GTO and are thinking about the watts but the gas tank issue has you questioning it, I didn't need a different tank.

Heres a couple pics!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160209_110504_zpsryntoxiu-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160209_110504_zpsryntoxiu.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160209_110518_zpswjscsaft-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160209_110518_zpswjscsaft.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160209_110532_zpslb80b8jk-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160209_110532_zpslb80b8jk.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160209_110550_zpsebgoyrju-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160209_110550_zpsebgoyrju.jpg.html)

You can see here where the swaybar mount had to be ground out on one side to make it all fit and its still tight.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160209_110605_zps9uvjdpe7-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160209_110605_zps9uvjdpe7.jpg.html)

Nicks67GTO

02-09-2016, 07:57 PM

Nice work Nick.
Just a thought when I looked at new vent location. Hope you run the vent line up high and secure it near top shock mount. Wouldn't want you to loose oil during hard cornering when the oil fills axle tube on that side.

Yessir. #4 line comes off makes a loose loop up high so I don't pull it in half on a corner and is sitting on top of the watts link frame! Thanks!

Nicks67GTO

02-12-2016, 11:32 AM

Since the back end is pretty much done im starting in on my exhaust project. On the off chance someone here is going to run a traditional Pontiac in their old 64-67 poncho, I did a little compare and contrast on a common debate amongst Pontiac guys. D port headers for a 64-67 A body Pontiac. Dougs vs Super comp

There's always been a debate about what headers are best for the 64-67 A body D port crowd. Hooker Super Comps or Dougs. Since I have both on hand I thought id snap a few pics of them side by side for a compare and contrast.

My analysis: The Dougs win by a very wide margin in every category

-More room for bolts, especially on the center ports

-Much tighter to the floor/better ground clearance which is big for me running auto X

-Though both sets of headers I had were used the Dougs had the better finish quality and they were used far more than the super comps I bought

-Install went far easier than the old hooker removal. By that I mean it required far less horsing around with a floor jack moving the car up and down. In fact I only had to use the floor jack one time for about 1/16" of movement on the drivers side, jacking the engine up with the driver side motor mount bolt out.

IMO this is a dead topic now. The Dougs win hands down. The Dougs are the clean headers, super comps are the dirty headers.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160212_120436_zpsakr5v1lw-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160212_120436_zpsakr5v1lw.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160212_120447_zpscmsfztai-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160212_120447_zpscmsfztai.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160212_120458_zps262gzwn0-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160212_120458_zps262gzwn0.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160212_120513_zpsceppwehk-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160212_120513_zpsceppwehk.jpg.html)

no go nova

02-14-2016, 02:14 AM

Just went thru this whole thread, great progress with step by step.

Nicks67GTO

02-14-2016, 03:01 PM

Just went thru this whole thread, great progress with step by step.

Thanks for stopping by!

Nicks67GTO

02-14-2016, 03:04 PM

Got a little done this weekend...

Installed my UMI driveshaft loop. If you want a no frills driveshaft loop with a nice black finish ill recommend this. Fits like a glove and took 45 minutes to install. I also bought a new drive shaft last year with 1350 Ujoints on both ends to replace my stock necked down unit since ill be beating heavily on it. I had a local business do it. They did a fine job. I cleaned her up and shot it with some satin black paint.

I also started my exhaust install. I'll be making a custom setup from parts I have laying around, a chop saw, my cheap lincoln flux core welder and an angle grinder. The first step was having a local guy tig me in an O2 bung for the EFI and a V band setup on the collector of the new Dougs I bought used from a PY member. Hopefully I can say... gone are the days of blown out 3 bolt gaskets and a leaking exhaust collector. I never got one of those 3 bolt setups to totally seal, on any car, ever. Ever. I did the v bands since the O2 sensor is going to be so close and will probably be sensitive to leaks. Ill be adding QTP electric cutouts and painting the whole exhaust with rattle can POR-15 exhaust flat black.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160213_165654_zpsktat3fc0-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160213_165654_zpsktat3fc0.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160213_165705_zpszktzt9hp-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160213_165705_zpszktzt9hp.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160213_165722_zps7ev7xhmn-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20Chassis%20mods/20160213_165722_zps7ev7xhmn.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160213_144906_zpsd5jh8idx-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160213_144906_zpsd5jh8idx.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160213_170035_zpsxuzhpf1x-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160213_170035_zpsxuzhpf1x.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160213_145003_zpsmxyrbcde-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160213_145003_zpsmxyrbcde.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160213_144941_zpslquaoijv-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160213_144941_zpslquaoijv.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160213_144922_zps3wufru91-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160213_144922_zps3wufru91.jpg.html)

andrewb70

02-14-2016, 05:42 PM

Nice work Nick!

Andrew

Nicks67GTO

03-10-2016, 09:49 AM

Its been a few weeks and I got some more stuff done. From the get go I couldn't stand my X pipe. I threw it together in a hurry and it was easily visible from the side of the car. It hung low, caused issues with getting the driveshaft out, it just didn't seem to jive and looked like hell. So I pulled it, rounded up some scrap 3" aluminized exhaust pipe, a chop saw, 3" hole saw, level, bench grinder, angle grinder, and Lincoln flux core welder and went to work.

I ended up making the new H pipe setup from scratch. All in all it came to about 50 pieces. The offsets were made with pie cuts on a chop saw. I believe all the pie cuts were at 15* except a few extras were at 7*. The H pipe was made with a 3" hole saw. It was all a trial and error thing but it turned out ok. I really wish I had a better welder. The flux core welder just spits slag everywhere requiring that the surface be ground down a bit. It will hold anything and gets good penetration but the welds are never pretty.

This honestly took FOREVER but it turned out decent and fits well making the exhaust pretty much invisible at ride height. Its coated in POR15 exhaust paint and im just going to cure it by running it around for a few hours after I fire it.

I also did some QuickTime Dumps. The dumps are tucked way up there and you cant see anything except a 1/2" or so poking out under the frame from the side by the rear control arm mount. I cant wait to open this thing up with the flick of a switch!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/20160304_173841_zps6yzis5wg-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160304_173841_zps6yzis5wg.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/20160304_154123_zpsbkl9qst7-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160304_154123_zpsbkl9qst7.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/20160308_112531_zpsa7jyirej-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160308_112531_zpsa7jyirej.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/20160308_112541_zpshrwq87fv-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160308_112541_zpshrwq87fv.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/20160308_121345_zpstqqyjqyw-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160308_121345_zpstqqyjqyw.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/20160308_121352_zpsukfvbbnq-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160308_121352_zpsukfvbbnq.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/20160308_121512_zpsnydmhuby-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160308_121512_zpsnydmhuby.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/20160308_121530_zps5xlq1lmq-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160308_121530_zps5xlq1lmq.jpg.html)

robbie9999

03-10-2016, 09:55 AM

Your work is excellent I only wish I wrenched more of mine that giving most of it too a shop

Nicks67GTO

03-10-2016, 07:54 PM

Your work is excellent I only wish I wrenched more of mine that giving most of it too a shop

Thanks! I tell ya though, as much as I love making things and wrenching, sometimes I wish I could just hand it to a shop. This one took forever.

Nicks67GTO

03-25-2016, 01:24 PM

Let the rewire begin! Out with the old....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/20160325_123212_zpsno1kuvyg-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Rewire/20160325_123212_zpsno1kuvyg.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/20160325_123218_zpsumhvfnpw-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Rewire/20160325_123218_zpsumhvfnpw.jpg.html)

SSLance

03-26-2016, 03:54 AM

Oh my... :seizure:

I hate wiring, good luck with that. I'm sure it'll be nice when finished like all the rest of your projects.

Roger Poirier

03-26-2016, 11:15 AM

Oh my... :seizure:

I hate wiring, good luck with that. I'm sure it'll be nice when finished like all the rest of your projects.

Nick I have followed your thread for ever. Very impressed with your mind set and tenacity. I'm a little older and not in good health, however I have much admiration for your work ethic. This makes it all worth while in the end.
Keep up the good work and congrats on your continuous progress.

wfo guy

03-26-2016, 02:49 PM

Patience and perseverance will get this done. :) There's many things we don't get right the first time. Looking good. :)

Nicks67GTO

03-27-2016, 06:33 AM

Oh my... :seizure:

I hate wiring, good luck with that. I'm sure it'll be nice when finished like all the rest of your projects.

So do I.... The irony here is that I'm an industrial electrician. Ha! Seriously though there's nothing worse that electrical gremlins in a car. I was stranded in StPaul last year at Street Machine Nationals when all of the sudden the car decided to start again out of nowhere. Im done with 50 year old hacked up wiring.

Nicks67GTO

03-27-2016, 06:41 AM

Nick I have followed your thread for ever. Very impressed with your mind set and tenacity. I'm a little older and not in good health, however I have much admiration for your work ethic. This makes it all worth while in the end.
Keep up the good work and congrats on your continuous progress.

Thanks Roger. I figure I've got an honest couple of years left finishing this one but one piece at a time will get it there. All of the little things I'm doing are in prep work for an engine build I'm planning for this fall/winter. Stay tuned!

Nicks67GTO

03-27-2016, 06:47 AM

Patience and perseverance will get this done. :) There's many things we don't get right the first time. Looking good. :)

Thanks man. Patience and perservierence....and a heaping pile of money lol

SSLance

03-27-2016, 12:15 PM

I put a supplemental brake system in our 2012 Jeep Liberty last week, including a break away system and light kit to make the taillights act as trailer lights when the Jeep is towed behind our RV. The mechanical part of mounting everything up was right in my wheelhouse, the electrical part was slow and tedious for me. When I'm wiring I have to double and triple check everything before making the final connections and even then I'm still nervous when I power the system back up for the first time.

I understand wanting to get rid of the 50 year old wiring, hopefully the kit you use is complete and easy to transplant in place.

lucky13firebird

03-27-2016, 05:09 PM

Loving your exhaust setup... yes, flipping a switch and being earthquake loud is an awesome thing...

Just a heads up, triple check the bolts.... a LOT... the heat cycles tend to loosen things up, and you lose parts on the road...

mc84_zz4

03-28-2016, 06:13 AM

Great build Nick! I really enjoy seeing others doing garage builds.
You spend a good deal on sweating out the little details that make it great.
Nice work on the exhaust, BTW.

chuckd71

03-30-2016, 05:59 PM

SSLance

05-09-2016, 03:35 AM

Any updates on the GTO Nick? I know you were busy last week on Cars and Cones but Midwest Musclecar is coming up soon...

Nicks67GTO

05-09-2016, 08:52 PM

Any updates on the GTO Nick? I know you were busy last week on Cars and Cones but Midwest Musclecar is coming up soon...

Hey Lance. I just realized i havent updated this recently. The American Auto wire update, tanks Inc efi tank and fitech efi are in and seem to be running well. The car has about 100-125 shakedown miles on it. I had purchased an accusump recently from a performance years member for a song but unfortunately it's looking like I'm not going to have time to get that installed. I'll be at MMC...albeit scared out of my mind I'm going to hose a bearing in my old 455 on that road course. Hopefully a canton pan is enough to keep it alive. Im driving the gto there and back. I've got a few punchlist items I'm going to knock out over the next week and then it's off to putnam park!

SSLance

05-10-2016, 03:45 AM

Right on... Can't wait to finally see it in person (and meet you as well).

How do you like the fitech setup so far? Was it as easy as they claim to get up and running and performance wise pretty smooth?

Nicks67GTO

05-10-2016, 08:07 AM

The FiTech install/setup has gone well. There are a few minor quirks i need to work out of it yet and i'm pretty sure it wont be an issue. So far their tech line has been fantastic. As far as actually driving it, its completely different than the quadrajet. It's almost strange how smooth it is and it fires right off without touching the gas pedal. I'm looking forward to seeing if there's any gas mileage improvements on the drive to MMC. My 455 got 16.8MPG on the way back from St Paul last year running 75-80 mph the whole way. If the FiTech unit can beat that ill be impressed.

Yelcamino

05-10-2016, 10:24 AM

Hey Nick, it was nice meeting and hanging with you and your friends during Cars & Cones last week! Maybe next time I'll have the Camino with me!

Nicks67GTO

05-10-2016, 08:22 PM

Cool car and good thread. Was thinking about grabbing one of those shock tower braces myself, but does one end have some play in it? I realize some might be necessary for install, but then again it seems like if the car is twisting hard the brace will just slide a bit no matter how tight you make the nut on it. Maybe I'm wrong. Either way it looks cool.

Hey Chuck. Sorry it took forever to get back. One end is slotted. I mocked mine up, used witness marks and welded nuts to the back for ease of install. It's a tight space up there. I would highly recommend doing that. It would also prevent any sliding like you mentioned.

Nicks67GTO

05-10-2016, 08:31 PM

Hey Nick, it was nice meeting and hanging with you and your friends during Cars & Cones last week! Maybe next time I'll have the Camino with me!

Herb. I had a great time all week. The garage time with Jimmy and Randy was a nice cap to the whole deal, thanks for having us by. Hope to see that El Camino out soon!

SSLance

05-11-2016, 03:12 AM

Nick, did you use an adapter to mate the 4150 style base of the fitech to your spreadbore style intake or did you swap in a different intake? What does your fitech use for a fuel pump?

WildCherry66

05-11-2016, 10:14 AM

Awesome build thread Nick! I just found it and read from front to back. Great to see all of the different things you have put into your GTO. I'm 29 and am getting ready to start tearing into our family's 66 Chevelle Malibu and so far have just been doing tons of thread reading and research and trying to put a budget/timeline together. So far I have invested in a 2 post lift that my dad and I installed in my shop to make a lot of the tasks safer and easier. I have been looking at a lot of the same parts you have used so it is great to see some real-world reviews of them. Thanks for such great posts! I will be starting a thread of my own as well once I get going on the car (hopefully this year yet)

-Chris (WildCherry66)

Nicks67GTO

05-11-2016, 10:49 PM

Nicks67GTO

05-11-2016, 10:53 PM

Nick, did you use an adapter to mate the 4150 style base of the fitech to your spreadbore style intake or did you swap in a different intake? What does your fitech use for a fuel pump?

Lance I used a performer rpm I had laying around which I believe is set up for both spread bore and square 4150 style. If I'm not mistaken though, i believe the FiTech unit will work with spread bore intakes. As for a fuel pump I sold all my robbmc stuff and bought a tanks Inc efi tank with a Walbro pump. So far so good there. The other nice thing about the FiTech unit is that it's internally regulated so the install is super clean. You wouldn't know I had any kind of efi on there without really looking close. I'll try to post up some shots.

Nicks67GTO

05-24-2016, 03:52 PM

**Edit I just went back a few pages and saw that iv'e covered the watts and the tank install. I'm going to leave this though since there's some additional info now and I don't feel like retyping it out. Ill update more later

I just realized I haven't updated this in quite some time. Ill update over the next few days as I get a chance.

It's been a busy couple months. Iv'e had a lot going on with the car. I finished the exhaust, added a watts link, rewired the entire car with an American Autowire rewire update kit, added a tanks inc efi tank, a performer RPM I had laying around, and FiTech 600 EFI. I'm pretty impressed with the FiTech and tanks combo and I'm very impressed with FiTechs customer service. Ive had a couple little issues and 0 problems getting someone on the phone within a few minutes. I did 1100 miles of driving, 4 20 minute road course runs, and about 8 or so auto X runs at Midwest Musclecar Challenge in Indiana just last weekend. I had a total of 0 issues.

The tanks inc setup went in easy. The powder coat was very nice and the price was right. I opted for the 400LPH pump since ill be upgrading engines hopefully by next season. My only complaint was that the straps weren't powder coated. With the advice from a friend I canned the rubber gaskets, made some cork ones and sealed it up tight with aviation sealer. Apparently the leaking rubber gaskets is a common problem with the tanks setup.

In the picture of the pump and the sending unit you may notice 2 mistakes. The first one was that I didn't cut the return tube up high enough and it wouldn't go in the hole. No big deal. That was fixed in 5 minutes. The second issue I didn't notice, was that I have my sending unit float on backwards. My gas gauge was reading full at empty and empty at full. Don't do this. Its annoying. Fortunately my speedhut gas gauge was able to take car of the problem with a few pushes of a button but if you had a stock gauge you would be stuck fixing it.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160129_114910_zpskjeyfksp-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160129_114910_zpskjeyfksp.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160130_121645_zpsvxbltgtc-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160130_121645_zpsvxbltgtc.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160130_124850_zpsptlcw7sj-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160130_124850_zpsptlcw7sj.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160205_104216_zpsklumldzj-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160205_104216_zpsklumldzj.jpg.html)

Nicks67GTO

05-24-2016, 04:12 PM

The re-wire was pretty straight forward. It was time consuming but American Autowire's directions are fantastic and I fired the car off without a single issue. As a disclaimer im an industrial electrician but i think if you have any kind of electrical knowledge this would be fairly easy but again...very time consuming to do right. Oh and buy their crimpers. I completely over looked this part of it and ended up scrambling with some half assed crimpers that got the job done but made it difficult. I also wish I would have thought ahead and done a nice little delphi connector for the back of my dash but again time was limited. that will happen next time it comes out for sure.

I yanked all the old stuff out, installed the new fuse panel, and wired away! I kept all the wiring hidden on the back of the engine, and under the fenders. I really hate sloppy wiring.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160325_123212_zps1fvzyvja-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160325_123212_zps1fvzyvja.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160325_123218_zpswycw1upr-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160325_123218_zpswycw1upr.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160329_180614_zpsxlm8ix2y-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160329_180614_zpsxlm8ix2y.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160330_151834_zpsgl529qbc-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160330_151834_zpsgl529qbc.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160409_144605_zps6hm3eqqj-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160409_144605_zps6hm3eqqj.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160329_180535_zpsdyp4yr6v-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160329_180535_zpsdyp4yr6v.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160427_100115_zpskejplvwa-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160427_100115_zpskejplvwa.jpg.html)

Yelcamino

05-24-2016, 04:46 PM

Looks like a nice clean install Nick. :cool:

tommycomfort

05-24-2016, 05:07 PM

Sure looked great at Midwest Muscle Car Challenge!

Paraman1

05-24-2016, 05:23 PM

Nicks67GTO

05-24-2016, 06:57 PM

Looks like a nice clean install Nick. :cool:

Thanks Herb!

Nicks67GTO

05-24-2016, 06:58 PM

Sure looked great at Midwest Muscle Car Challenge!

Thanks Tom. It was nice to finally meet you. Are you going to be at the DesMoines Goodguys over the 4th of July?

Nicks67GTO

05-24-2016, 07:04 PM

Did the gas mileage improve ? Not that 16.8 is anything to sneeze at as my lowly 250 HP 327 barely gets 12 but I believe that is due to it not being tuned properly (If I drove it more and worked on it less maybe I would mess with it).

Of all the stuff that went on last weekend I forgot to calculate mileage. I will say that it didn't so much as hiccup once the entire trip. I bought the FiTech setup for a few reasons. Mileage wasn't really one of them since 16.8 with a worn out of 455 was pretty good imo. Although if it does improve I'll be impressed. A well tuned Qjet is the best street carb you can run imo. If I wasn't going to be stopping and turning hard I probably would have just kept it.

analyte

05-24-2016, 08:17 PM

I definitely enjoyed checking out the GTO in person. I know you have more changes planned, but the car already looks awesome going around the track or autoX!!!

tommycomfort

05-25-2016, 01:24 AM

Thanks Tom. It was nice to finally meet you. Are you going to be at the DesMoines Goodguys over the 4th of July?

DesMoines Goodguys is definitely on our list. If all goes well, our 66 will be back together by then but we won't hold our breath.

SSLance

05-25-2016, 03:43 AM

Nicks67GTO

05-25-2016, 04:20 AM

Hey Nick, I've been talking with Tanks Inc and looking at that same setup you have. How low did you run the fuel tank on gas at Putnam and did you have any fuel starvation issues? Did you just hose clamp the rubber lines from the pump to your stock lines and also the same up at the engine end?

Sure wish someone had a good picture of the baffle and fuel tray inside their tank so I could see what it really looks like.

Lance, I probably ran down to less than 1/2 tank but not quite a 1/4. I had no starvation issues at all but again i wasnt ever really low. So far I haven't had any of the leaking, vapor lock or starvation issues I heard about after I bought this. I think 1100 miles, some road racing and auto x in one weekend would be considered a pretty decent shakedown but who knows. I ran new 6an aeroquip socketless feed and return lines.

Here's the only pics I have of any of the baffling...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160129_114910_zpskjeyfksp-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160129_114910_zpskjeyfksp.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160129_114916_zpsazxrskw3-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160129_114916_zpsazxrskw3.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160129_114923_zpsb7hwetma-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160129_114923_zpsb7hwetma.jpg.html)

Nicks67GTO

05-25-2016, 04:21 AM

I definitely enjoyed checking out the GTO in person. I know you have more changes planned, but the car already looks awesome going around the track or autoX!!!

Thanks Kerry!

BuddyP

05-26-2016, 10:05 AM

Yes nice GTO! Good meeting you last weekend at MMC Nick!

Nicks67GTO

05-28-2016, 08:42 AM

Ok lets talk about the EFI a little bit. I decided to replace my quadrajet. It ran well and got great mileage but there were some quirky things I couldn't tune out of it. Furthermore On a speed stop challenge last year in StPaul I was killing the car every time I hammered the brakes. If I was staying with a completely street oriented car, I would keep the Q jet. Those of you who trash Qjets need to do a little learning about them. They are great carbs. I had under 100 bucks in it and it ran like a top but it was time to move on for me.

Enter the FiTech. So far I'm extremely happy with this system. The price is right at 995.00, its self contained which means there 4 wires to hook up an O2 sensor in the header and a temp sensor. Its internally regulated so there's no goofy hoses everywhere, just a feed and return and so far FiTech's customer service has been fantastic. I had a couple little issues getting it going but there were quickly resolved by Bryce at FiTech. I will tell you that the front "vacuum" port is not a vacuum port, it's a boost reference port and will throw the entire system into an extremely rich condition that will not tune out and have your entire house, garage, and possibly neighborhood smelling like raw fuel. Don't hook your PCV valve up to that. I have most of my wiring, fuel lines and vacuum lines hidden under the intake or ran off the back of the unit and under the distributor, you can hardly tell there's EFI under there and that's the way I like it. The car theme has always been aiming to leave the 1967 feel and I think the FiTech gets that done. I also decided to mount the handheld up under the dash. i had a toolmaker buddy whip me up an insert for the holder part of the handheld mount, and mounted it under the dash with a 1/4x20 bolt. It works great and it's out of the way.

There's a few little quirks I need to tune out but its ran very well so far. I know I mentioned above that last weekend I ran it for 1100 miles, 4 20 minute sessions at Putnam Park and 8 or so Auto X runs at Midwest musclecar challenge with a total of 0 issues. I have a bunch of pics of the throttle body and I know a lot of people are interested in this setup so if you want pictures or have questions feel free to ask

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160120_190113_zpsrixsjhl8-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160120_190113_zpsrixsjhl8.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/02/20160213_170035_zpsxuzhpf1x-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/GTO%20exhaust/20160213_170035_zpsxuzhpf1x.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160427_100115_zpskejplvwa-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160427_100115_zpskejplvwa.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160427_100508_zpsxcb21qzr-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160427_100508_zpsxcb21qzr.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160427_100518_zpssbdgdpog-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160427_100518_zpssbdgdpog.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160427_100626_zpsafuvmveu-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160427_100626_zpsafuvmveu.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160411_102830_zpsiqlkydin-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160411_102830_zpsiqlkydin.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160427_084625_zpsgohjgyzb-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160427_084625_zpsgohjgyzb.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160423_214655_zpsywl9lhsu-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160423_214655_zpsywl9lhsu.jpg.html)

Nicks67GTO

05-28-2016, 08:43 AM

Yes nice GTO! Good meeting you last weekend at MMC Nick!

Likewise Buddy!

Zoomin

05-28-2016, 07:00 PM

Thanks for the FiTech info. What did you do on the fuel system/tank?

SSLance

05-29-2016, 04:23 AM

Nicks67GTO

05-29-2016, 06:33 AM

Thanks for the FiTech info. What did you do on the fuel system/tank?

Look back a few pages and its detailed with lots of pictures. Tanks inc EFI tank, walbro 400lph pump, 6an feed and return lines, i kept my robbMc fuel filter from my carb setup

Nicks67GTO

05-29-2016, 06:45 AM

Nick, does the fitech setup come with that big aluminum arm you have the return springs hooked to? I don't see it in the first picture. I'm trying to figure out what that will interfere with on my car. Did your stock throttle cable hook directly to the fitech throttle? What all data can you see on the handheld when the engine is running?

Lance, that big aluminum arm was something i had laying around and it's going to go away. I don't like it at all. It looks like crap, rubs on the radiator hose and sticks out like a sore thumb. The fitech system comes with an arm that attaches to the front carb stud and attaches the return spring, though i might do something besides that too. My stock cable didn't attach easily. I had to make a stud. Yours might if you have the ball/socket type of cable. All of this is going to be addressed this winter but for now it works.

Ill go get a pic of the display in a few minutes

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160427_100451_zpsliji06cw-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160427_100451_zpsliji06cw.jpg.html)

Nicks67GTO

05-29-2016, 07:02 AM

Heres the main display screen you can watch while its running. I keep it on whats shown in the first picture

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160529_094838_zpscsq4ylid-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160529_094838_zpscsq4ylid.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160529_094851_zps6anqj4ah-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160529_094851_zps6anqj4ah.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160529_094858_zpspggs41zb-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160529_094858_zpspggs41zb.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/05/20160529_094911_001_zpswp10qkbn-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/EFI/20160529_094911_001_zpswp10qkbn.jpg.html)

SSLance

05-29-2016, 08:01 AM

Nicks67GTO

05-30-2016, 08:32 AM

Thanks Nick, great info there. Where does the fitech unit get it's MAP and baro readings from? I see spark advance is shown, you don't have the TBI setup to control your timing yet...do you? I have my MSD distributor locked out so I think I want to try to get my TBI set to control my timing. This backs into my question about the MAP sensor...I'm wondering how well the fitech works at pulling timing out under low vacuum high load driving?

Where is your coolant temp sensor located, in a head? It looks like you are still running a mechanical fan, I'd love to be able to set the fitech to turn my electrical fans on at "X" temp instead of just relying on whatever switch I can find.

Also you mentioned the port on the front is not vacuum...what does it have for vacuum ports on the back? I need one for brake booster and then one for HVAC controls, MAP sensor, PVC, etc.

Really appreciate the relating of the hands on experiences with it. It's a big help in making a buying decision.

There's a couple little quirky things about the system I haven't tuned out yet but i'm sure ill be able to make it happen, furthermore its nothing that is a deal breaker even if i don't get it tuned out. Overall I'm pretty pleased and for 995.00 you cant beat it with a stick. Heck a good Holley Ultra HP costs just a couple hundred less.

-The MAP and Baro readings must be contained in the throttle body itself. The only external hookups are the O2 and the coolant temp sensor.

-I have my coolant sensor in the intake water crossover and its strange because my speedhut gauges read 10* warmer than the Fitech gauge does and they're literally located inches from each other in the same water crossover.

-I do not have timing control in use yet but there is a guy on the Performance Years Pontiac board that's working on making an HEI trigger it. If he can make it work, i'm probably going to be doing that. FiTech is pretty adamant that you don't need to do this though. Bryce has stated he likes the timing features but they're not really necessary unless you're running boost or nitrous.

-There are two large vacuum ports and two small ports. I have my power brakes on one of the large ports and my PCV on the other large port. I have my HEI vacuum advance on one of the small ports and the other one plugged, of course if you needed more you could always run a T fitting.

-The unit has functions to set an electric fan up for whatever temp you want it to come in at i believe. I will eventually be going to an electric setup as well.

-It also has a fuel pump control that backs voltage off to the fuel pump under mild conditions. I don't have that in use yet either.

Nicks67GTO

05-30-2016, 08:34 AM

Here is the FiTech thread on the performance years board I started a few months back. Its kind of taken a life of its own. It's about 680 posts, 35 pages long with lots of good info packed in there from first hand users.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=778424

SSLance

05-30-2016, 01:12 PM

I'm headed off to read that thread now Nick, thanks. Off the top of your head, do you know if the fitech timing control just retards timing if needed? like the MSD programmable box I currently run? Kind of sounds like it...

Nicks67GTO

05-31-2016, 06:39 AM

Nicks67GTO

06-03-2016, 06:51 AM

A little event update since i think i'm caught up on this years mods

I got a text message from a buddy over the winter. He wanted to know if I wanted to do the big Cars and Cones trip. I thought it sure sounded fun but it was going to be pricey and I wasn't sure if my car was up for it yet. He thought we should split seat time on the auto X in his Chevy II to save some coin and just go. I got the OK from my super understanding wife and it was on. I wont go into a bunch of detail since I could write a book about this trip but it wasn't my car so ill just do a quick outline.

Fast forward to the beginning of May and we head to Jasper Indiana and unloaded his car. The next morning we were off to Concord North Carolina with the Ridetech clan. The next morning it was time for some AutoX. Then to Kodak Tenessee the next morning for some auto X at Smokie stadium. Then Bowling Green Kentucky at the National Corvette Museum lot for some Auto X. A whisky tour the next day. Then more auto X in the same place the following day and a scenic drive to Ridetech for the final party. What a blast of a week. It was scenic drives through the hills and auto X by day, good meals, shop tours and parking lot parties at night. I had also never driven a car on 200TW tires before....I found out quickly the night and day difference between my old Nitto555's and his 200tw Falkens. I'm in dire need of some decent tires. Anyhow.... The whole trip was fantastic and I would love to do it again. Saw some old friends, made some new ones. Some of the best stuff was seeing 3 of the guys I was with win some HUGE prizes and I do mean HUGE. I'm giving this whole trip an A+ and I highly recommend it.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/20160430_153311_zpssnumxmqc-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/2016%20FM3%20Cars%20and%20Cones/20160430_153311_zpssnumxmqc.jpg.html)

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Nicks67GTO

06-04-2016, 10:30 AM

One last update and I think i'm current...

I decided to do Midwest Musclecar Challenge. I knew the car wasn't really ready for it and I would surly get my butt handed to me. That's precisely what happened but hey...you cant be a pansy your whole life right? So I bought in. I was however, seriously concerned my tired old 455 would throw a rod through the block or chew up bearings on the road course. Remember this is a bone stock 455 I got on Craigslist for $800 bucks. Fearing this, I bought a used 3qt accusump setup from a guy on the performance years board. I was going to get one later on, after I built a new engine but this came up, it's in awesome shape and I got it for a great price. Unfortunately that didn't get installed and its still sitting on my workbench. LOL.

All in all, the GTO went 1100 miles, 4-20 minute road racing sessions, 8 auto X runs, a cruise and dinner at Raymond's Performance. I got a professional instructor on the road course which was priceless, that alone was worth the cost of entry and one of the main reasons I chose this as my first road racing event. I learned a lot about the driver and the car and where there are weak spots in both that need to be addressed. I also learned that a tired, stock, cast everything, Pontiac 455 can take an absolute pounding and come back for more. I hammered on that old bucket of bolts as hard as I could and it never bat an eye. Downshift decel from 4200RPM in corners? Not a problem. Flat out as hard as she will go on the straightaway? Sure. In and out of the throttle endlessly? No big deal. I almost want to run it until it blows up and kind of make a game out of it. I couldn't have been happier with the car, taking the beating it got over 1100 miles and without a single issue. The event was fantastic, everyone was extremely cool, and racing a big track like that was by far the most fun iv'e ever had in a vehicle before.

I loaded up the trunk, took off from Waterloo and made it to the hotel in Indiana without issue...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/20160520_065738_zpsu3tqtpij-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/MMC%202016/20160520_065738_zpsu3tqtpij.jpg.html)

Headed into Putnam Park the next day...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/20160520_071815_zpsgkg2bsg7-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/MMC%202016/20160520_071815_zpsgkg2bsg7.jpg.html)

Getting ready to run...

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And were off!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/FB_IMG_1463877685882_zpscffdvfdp-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/MMC%202016/FB_IMG_1463877685882_zpscffdvfdp.jpg.html)

A cruise and a little dinner at Raymonds...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/FB_IMG_1465064448519_zpsqvkjaeak-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/MMC%202016/FB_IMG_1465064448519_zpsqvkjaeak.jpg.html)

Some Saturday autoX...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/FB_IMG_1464368206407_zps1cnrd86f-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/MMC%202016/FB_IMG_1464368206407_zps1cnrd86f.jpg.html)

And a nice 7hr drive home!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/06/20160521_193317_zpsduyuz0ww-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/MMC%202016/20160521_193317_zpsduyuz0ww.jpg.html)

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SSLance

06-04-2016, 12:14 PM

Doesn't get any better than that Nick! Feels good to thrash on a car you put together yourself and have it all hold up doesn't it?

Was great to meet you there in Indy, can't wait to do that event again next year already.

the450r

07-23-2016, 07:50 PM

awesome build. it was weird reading it like reading my own build thread until i got to your watts link then you passed me. now im jealous

Later-A-body

07-24-2016, 11:41 AM

Your having an absolute blast in your GTO, and I'm jealous as hell. I'm dying to get the GA back on the road to do exactly what you guys are doing.

Nicks67GTO

07-29-2016, 05:25 PM

Your having an absolute blast in your GTO, and I'm jealous as hell. I'm dying to get the GA back on the road to do exactly what you guys are doing. It is certainly a blast. Get yours done! It's too much fun.

Nicks67GTO

07-29-2016, 06:42 PM

Goodguys DesMoines was a blast again. This will be an every year event. They let us run until 9pm Friday and Saturday. The track was big and pretty fast. The "Duel in DesMoines" was pretty cool as well. I, of course, was no where near making the duel portion of it but I made both time cuts to keep running, so I got to run all day both days. The highlight reel was that I got to run my mom, dad, wife and a friend around for their first ever autoX runs. We got done and my wife said "ok that was really fun, i get it now" and my 65 y/o mom was ready to go again right away. 69 y/o dad was impressed. Haha. After all the racing, Saturday night there were fireworks to close it out and the kids loved it. This is an excellent event and a great time. If you're anywhere remotely close its worth your efforts.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/07/20160701_055329_zpson4tmtfa-1.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/novaguy73/media/Goodguys%20DSM%202016/20160701_055329_zpson4tmtfa.jpg.html)

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