MNG's new 68 GTO

[mr_nice_guy]

Well I finally got to meet up with that guy in Longmont with the 68 and I bought it!!!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/11/IMAG00821-1.jpg

Thats the only pic I have I will get some more tomorrow depending on work....

The good:
Only real rust I saw was in the trunk floor
Newer paint not show quality but a solid 20 footer
New tires, alt, battery
New seat covers, carpet, front and rear door panels, and head liner
Hurst dual gate shifter!!
New dual exhaust with "turbo mufflers"
Good enough mechanical condtion I drove it home about 150 miles with no problems

The bad:
Cracked paint on the front bumper (they are made out of rubber and I don't think they used a flex additive)
Speedo is a little jumpy at slower speeds
Tach needs hooked up
Gas gauge doesn't work
Dash lights don't work
Cigarette lighter doesn't work
Radio doesn't work
One of the wheel cylenders leaks
Hide away head lights need repaired or you can just flip them by hand.... https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/11/biggrin-1.gif and save your self a bunch of https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/11/greedy-1.gif
Probably more that I can't think of or haven't found.... But for the price I can't bitch and I talked him down a 1000 bucks to a total of 10.5k!!!

I want the car to handle well, corner flat, stop well, be reliable, and make about 400 whp so I can drive it across the country if I want to!! I don't plan to auto-x it, the only track time it will see would be drag.

The plan:
Whole new suspension A arms ?, bushings, sway bars, tie rod end links, whole new rear, etc....
Disc brakes all around!!!! (it is drums all around and kinda sucks)
Fix the little electical problems
New radio
Wheels to fit over the new brakes
Fix rust
Start saving for a LS based power plant....

[ProdigyCustoms]

I love 68 GTOs. Very cool car. Congratulations!

[MrQuick]

if you can afford, buy all of this.
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?74303-Atx-spindles-and-comp-hotchkiss-sytem-w-pics-form-Chevelle-El-Camino&p=740301#post740301
you'd have all you'd need and have saved big bucks too boot.
vince

[Roadbuster]

Cool, a Goat! Looks like a nice car! 68's are fun to work on!

[LeighP]

Nice looking project GTO.....now I'm a Pontiac guy, so you can figure I'd say keep the Pontiac engine....a stroker kit for the 400 will turn it into a serious torque monster....add all the great handling gear and you've got a beast.
Theres no school like the old school..... :)

[mr_nice_guy]

Well I just ordered this kit from Matt's Classic Bowties, I went with the 8'' dual booster, new hard lines, powder coated calipers, and slotted and drilled rotors. I have to say after talking to them on the phone I was very impressed with there customer service!!! They were very knowledgeable and listened to what I wanted with out trying to get me to spend more money on stuff I wouldn't need....

I also ordered the 7 pc trunk pan kit so I can get to cracking on the rust in the trunk and a new plastic trim kit for the cowl (it has hale screen on it right now!!! LOL)

64-72 Chevelle / A-Body Suspension Pack CPP Control Arms QA1 w/ Brakes


This Kit Includes:

4 Wheel Disc Brake kit (includes lifetime warrenty!)

Classic Performance Products Front and Rear Control Arms

Front and Rear Sway Bars

QA1 Front Coil Overs

QA1 Rear Shocks

Rear Coil Springs

2" drop spindles

It will fit 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 Chevelle / El Camino / Cutlass / 442 / Monte Carlo / GTO / Lemans / 442 / A-Body with SMALL Block Block Motor

Requires a 15" or Larger wheel.

Complete POWER kit with a LIFETIME warranty and free pad replacement for life as well!

Nothing else compares to the stopping power of 4 Wheel disc brakes on a classic car, Why do you think most all new cars have them?

The front kit includes: Spindles, FULL 11" rotors, bearings, seals, caliper brackets, FULL SIZE calipers, pads, hoses, banjo bolts, hardware and dust caps. (Watch out for kits with small rotors and metric calipers, they were not designed for your car and will get VERY hot and fade under hard braking)

Thats EVERYTHING you need at the front wheels for a complete install

The rear kits include: Calipers with Emergency/park brake, 11" rotors, Ebrake cables, flex hoses, banjo bolts, washers, caliper brackets and pads with ALL hardware and brackets. This kit will work with Most GM 10 and 12 bolt rear ends! This kit is 100% bolt on!

It also features a beautiful BRAND NEW show quality cadnium color 11" Booster (7, 8, 9 booster optional at no extra cost), BRAND NEW master cyl. (dual ported) and porportioning valve. The porportioning valve is an AC delco (GM) preset for YOUR car so there is no need to worry about playing around with an adjustable one and never getting it right! (the adjustable ones aren't even street legal)

This is a name brand kit with a REAL company for tech support and warranty. (No part time, backyard stuff here) We also offer Powder coated calipers, slotted, cross drilled and Zinc washed rotors as well as 2" drop spindles, stainless braided lines and rear disc kits for the above kit at SUPER LOW prices.

We have COMPLETE hardline kits required for a complete install avail!

We also carry several Camaro/Firebird and GM A-body suspension parts like Poly rebuild kits, steering, sway bars, ect..We sell EVERYTHING for Camaro/Firebird and GM A-Body cars bumper to bumper.

We highly recommend purchasing the Hardline Kit to go with this Brake Conversion Kit. This kit plumbs differently than a stock drum brake kit. This new Line Kit is designed to work specifically with your car and our brake kit (see options above).

Brand new Tubular Steel Upper and lower FRONT control arms LH and RH! Lifetime Warranty!!!

Includes factory style ball joints and will work with any spindle that is designed for use with factory ball joints.


FRONT ARMS INCLUDE:

The arms are preassembled with new ball Joints and plated Billet cross shafts! They will Improve suspension geometry and reduce unsprung weight.

These Tubular Control Arms are designed to provide full wheel travel and minimal friction. The upper control arms are made from 1-1/4 x .120 wall D.O.M. tubing and the pivot barrels are thick 1-1/2 x .188 wall D.O.M. tubing to eliminate distortion. The upper control arms add 5 degrees of caster. The lower arms are 1 1/2 x .120 wall D.O.M tubing and they provide increased ground clearance and allow the use of sway bars and factory style spindles (uses factory type ball joints) The bushings are made from self lubricating non-squeak patented plastic that will out last any rubber or urethane, and works at temperatures in excess of 400 degrees F and requires ZERO lube. Comes powder coated gloss silver or black.

The Chrome-moly cross shafts and sleeves are zinc plated for lasting performance. The sleeves have an interlocking design that prevents the hardware from ever working loose. The pivots carry both forward and back loads (the original cross shaft pivot was designed to only carry a forward or back load, but not both). The control arm assemblies are a simple bolt-in installation with no modification required. They work with all factory

This kit also includes Front and Rear Sway Bars, and Replacement Coil Springs!
High performance Solid front 1-1/8" sway bar with new poly bushings and end links.
High performance Solid rear 1" sway bar with hardware that bolts DIRECTLY to the built in brackets on the lower trailing arms!
QA1 Front Coilover system with billet aluminum shock body and 12 position shock adjustment (dampening and rebound in one) We also include the "Adjuster" kit which allows ride height to be adjusted without breaking a ball joint loose (spanner wrench and bearings) This system will allow for approx. 2" drop or lift from stock ride height
Stock spring rate rear coils 2" Drop
QA1 Billet Aluminum matching rear shocks with 12 position shock adjustment (dampening and rebound in one)

[mr_nice_guy]

I am new to these older suspensions, is there anything that doesn't come in that kit that I should be ordering so I am not scrambling parts together once we start?
Thanks MNG

[hightower2011]

Looking forward to seeing this project go on! My dad had a '68 GTO in high school.

[mr_nice_guy]

Well the weather was nice so I got the GTO out yesterday and took some pics.....

A couple nice surprises I found waiting for me..
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/IMAG0096-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/IMAG0095-1.jpg

Here are some pics of the rust in the trunk... The trunk pan kit showed up already, I have a buddy with a mini sand blaster he said I could use to go through the trunk first.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/IMAG0093-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/IMAG0092-1.jpg

A little dusty but I didn't want to go to the carwash... LOL
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/IMAG0091-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/IMAG0090-1.jpg

The paint is peeling on the bumper, since I basically got laid off I should have some time in the next few weeks to paint it... :grumpy:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/IMAG0089-1.jpg

The brakes are here I am just waiting on the rest of the suspension to show up, The new steering wheel showed up yesterday and I bought a new steering box for a Jeep grand Cherokee that is supposed to be a direct bolt in and it tightens the steering from 3 and 3/4 turns to about 2-2 1/4.

[mr_nice_guy]

Well I am starting to get frustrated, I call Matt's and they called CPP and everything except the control arms are instock so thats why they haven't mailed them out. So I told them to send everything else and the control arms are expected begining of Jan. So with some luck SOME parts will show up this week.......... It's only going on 2 months!! I am not slamming Matt's they have been more then helpful, its just frustrating......

[mc84_zz4]

Huge Congrats! You're going to enjoy that!

[LeighP]

Hope your parts showed up OK....I had the same deal happen on a pile of stuff I ordered....they held up everything waiting for a couple of small parts....hmmmm. lol.