69 GTO Build

[ekmxryda]

Hey, Just got back from a 3 hour tour, my new friend Pete hooked me up with a killer deal on a set of brand new LS3 heads that he decided not to install on his Grand Sport Vette. He bought this PRC head and cam package from Texas Speed, but his wife didn't want him to void the warranty.
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-1170-p...m-package.aspx

Should work out perfect for the LQ9 after I go through it. Gotta thank my wife for understanding the need to jump on the deal, but she and the kids are not very excited about the new parts, so I figured I might get better reactions here!




Modified motor mounts over the weekend for the 3 1/2" setback, before and after.



Gus how did the new drainage handle the heavy rains last week?

[Roger Poirier]

Should work out perfect for the LQ9 after I go through it. Gotta thank my wife for understanding the need to jump on the deal, but she and the kids are not very excited about the new parts, so I figured I might get better reactions here!




Funny Guy!

[Fastmonty]

Eric, why wouldn't the wife and kids be excited about new heads and a nice Cam? ha, ha... too freakin funny. Great job on the engine mounts, can't wait to see those powder coated!

I've managed to make a big step with the interior... Dash is in, gauges, and the radio actually works!... Kickpanels with speakers, painted to match too. hope to have the door panels in this weekend, but have to align the windows, which is always fun.

Keep up the great work!

['71cutlasluvr]

Gus,

Thanks for the details on the Plasma cutter. Luckily, I have 220 too, for my TIG. (I still have to get a MiG) Thanks for the compliments on the headliner, I was fortunate enough to have labeled the bows, from front to rear. Otherwise the other trick is to use binder clips and weatherstrip adhesive. You can see the binder clips in my post above... but, during the install, I had one about every inch.... so, like 250 of them? They're cheap, from McMaster.

Hi Mike,
So sorry for the delay in responding. (I'll respond to your posts also Eric). Most of my time over the last couple of weeks was engulfed with work and prepping the MX for my second autocross. Well, it paid off. This course was far more difficult than my inaugural event in May. I went off course the first 3 times! But once I got it down and, with input from other drivers, let about 5-6 psi out of my tires, I did very well, taking in novice, leading the next fastest driver by 1.5 seconds. I only did six out of the available 11 runs as i was exhausted from excavation work and helping my son in law replace the totally rusted out reciever on his truck so we can use it for pulling my trailer. Of course, the next day (Monday) I return to work, an upgrade on a CT scanner went bad and I was up 24 hours, head hitting the pillow at 7am. Nothing worse than driving home when you've been up all night and the sun is looking at you in your rear view mirror!

Now that I've won novice, I must run with the seasoned guys/gals in CSP. But once I get the tire pressure down I think i'll be competitive. Win or lose, doesn't matter,... Still great fun with a great group of enthusiasts always willing to help (unless your their competition....no... really.... honest!) Autocross is REALLY a time eater, keeping me from working on the cutlass, but I am gaining excellent driving skills that will serve me well when (if) I get 442konekilr done and ready for track days. btw: We have a track day at Thompson Sept 13th. Man I just can't wait!

Anyway, hoping to do more cutting today on the frame and perhaps start the welding up of the plates on the drivers side. btw: The plasma cutter was a godsend when we cut off the bolts from the rusted receiver off of my son in laws 2002 ford f150. I guess a torch would have worked too, but using cutoff wheels and sawsalls would have been torture.

Back to your goat Mike. Man she's looking sweet. I just realized that tan color is the pretty much the same color that my hardtop's interior was when I bought it in 2002. Kudos to you for not going black, like most of us (including me!) your pics are great.. Nice and clear, very detailed. Thanks for posting. Keep on trucking Bud!

['71cutlasluvr]

Hey Mike, Here is the shot of the back tires, I still need to space them out more maybe another inch, not sure yet.
Been distracted by the cage work. I will have a removable harness bar for back seat access for those family trips to local shows.
My plans have always been to make it a street-able track car. Would be much easier if I were to pick one or the other


Roughing out locations through floor. Not welding anything yet.

Hey Eric,

Sorry for the delay in responding. My excuses are in a previous post to Mike. But 1st in an autocross event sure is a big win for me, since I'm such a newbie.

Wow those tires fit nice! And I share your mindset on a streetable track car. I'm watching your roll cage install closely. I'm pretty much to the point that I'm sayin' "If Eric's doin' that to his car, then it's the way to go!" Well, if I can afford it anyway.

You asked in an earlier post how the drainage system held up in that heavy rain we had last week (we had 4.5 inches!). Well, I only dug out the silt with the intention of backfilling with more stone, but that would only be another bandaid. A friend of mine and his buddy have a mini excavator. We will use it to dig a ditch and lay a pipe to take all the roof runoff underground and away. No more Silt! Another homeowner thing keeping me from my PT project, but such is the joy of home ownership, eh guys?

Enjoy the weekend. Especially this fantastic cool weather! Isn't august supposed to be the hottest month of the year here in NE? Could've fooled me! Last year was similar I believe. No complaints. Much more bearable in the old garage.

[ekmxryda]

Mike the interior is looking good.
Gus nice job with winning!
Just want to add a disclaimer that following what I do might add years to your build time not to mention extra costs! Haha
Almost every time I do a little research on the PT forums I am learning great stuff, it is always a balance of what you can afford at the time.

Cool trick to get the scale off hot rolled steel, after I finish welding I toss the parts in a bucket of diluted (1 part acid 2 parts water) Muriatic Acid for an hour or two, then in a bucket of water with baking soda to neutralize the acid, with a final rise of water. Wear gloves, respirator and glasses! Keep away from the kids too!
After drying I wipe them down with Ditzler DX579 metal prep (phosphoric acid) then finish sanding with 80 grit.



Couldn't help myself from adding a couple gussets to the rear end. Was thinking this spot at the Watts link pivot might be the only weak point during track day abuse.



Love this frame, can't wait to get some paint on it!

[Fastmonty]

Eric,

I can't wait to see that frame painted too! Awesome job on the motor mounts and gussets... The acid trick is exactly what I did to my entire body. The beauty of that is the zinc coating that results, protecting all of the interior areas you can't get primer on.

Anyway, on to the news... I finished the interior! (Well, at least what you can see... still don't have a glove box, yet) Next step is bleeding the brakes so I can roll it into the sun and do a final QA on the paint.

Talk soon...

[Roger Poirier]

Well I thought it was time I respond to the multiple car thread. In the past I have only posted in regards to EKMXRYDA. Even I am hooked on the multiple car yarn. You guys have started a new trend....

Fastmonty: Very nice interior. Reminds me of what I did with my own 1969 GTO. Love the factory console.

[ekmxryda]

Hey Roger, thanks for reminding them who is in charge here! Haha this thread is your one stop shopping for A body mods.
I enjoy everyones input and seeing progress on these cars.
Nice interior Mike! Before you make me jealous with the picture of your finished car in the sun, post up a couple pictures of your car in bare steel!

I have been welding up all the holes in the firewall and trunk, that I don't need, grinding and more sanding getting ready for primer.
Making filler plates for trunk to pass SCCA tech.



Sanding frame as well.



Going to make up some Delrin body mounts, I just stacked washers for now to test removing .25" off the height of all the mounts. Looks good so far still have gaps where I need.
Maybe I will go into production on them!

[ekmxryda]

Have been finding / fixing spots where my dreams of .25" shorter body mounts are giving me trouble. Didn't notice body was hung up before.
Might almost be there now.



Also filling in gaps around inner fender well and RS frame.

[cdrod]

Sorry to hijack the thread but I have quick question for Mike. I'm new to the PT scene and building an Olds 442 convertible. I like your parking brake cable set-up and equalizer bar. I'm running 11.7" rear discs off an '01 Blazer for my rear brakes and the parking brake cables look similar to what you have on your car. I never really cared for the stock "clothesline" set-up that these car had from the factory. What can you tell me about the bracket where the 2 rear cables meet the front cable? I would like to do the same thing with my car. Thanks!

Rodney

[Fastmonty]

Eric,

Great work, as usual... I'm glad to see someone more Anal than me on here. (That's a compliment) Sooooo, you wanna see bare steel, huh?... here you go. As well as a teaser outside... Next time out, I'll get a better "sun" shot.

Mike

[Fastmonty]

Roger, thanks! Again, you're the roll model here...

[Fastmonty]

Rodney,

No worries... we welcome all A body guys on this thread. I just happen to have a picture of that contraption I came up with for the E brake issue. The front end is the stock wire. The rear wires are the Wilwood Ebrake kit. (The gold looking metal components come with the Willwood kit) I then sourced a threaded eye from McMaster carr to connect the two. Easiest mod I've made on this crazy project.

Have fun! Mike

[ekmxryda]

Mike the paint looks great! All that body work and sanding really paid off. Good to see the before shots too.
Rodney, I am in the middle of working on my hand E brake set up, (PN LOK-EC-81TU looks like the same kit) from Lokar to work with the Wilwood brakes. They have different ends to work with the Chevy brakes, but the same block to split the cables.

[Stovebolter]

That's a fine looking car! And great job with the fabricating.

[andrewb70]

Digging all the fabrication work. Want to make me an e-brake mount like that? Please?

Andrew

[ekmxryda]

Thanks David!
Thanks Andrew, I would love to help a fellow GTO man out! My only problem is I tossed out my old trans tunnel and don't remember what mid 80's car I got the E brake out of at the junk yard 25 years ago.
So I might have a hard time reproducing one to fit your ride. Do you have a hand E brake in mind yet? I was looking at the new GTO's and Camaro's but I had this one kicking around and I like how simple it looks.
Here is a good link for a Camaro set up. PM me if you want to make up a template, I can give it a shot.
http://www.apiem.com/camaro/brakes20100330.asp



Took a break from the welding fumes today and went to a local car show.
Nice Chevy with Art Morrison frame. Mike your Green is WAY better than this 68!

[ekmxryda]

Able to check the E brake off the list now.
Console will cover it, with a service door for adjustments.



Weld nuts for aluminum heat shields between headers and floor.

[andrewb70]

Erik,

Good call on planning ahead for the aluminum heat shield.

I was thinking about using the Lokar e-brake, since it looked like it was pretty easy to mount and the mechanism would be under the floor.



Andrew