69 GTO Build

[Fastmonty]

Eric,

Yeah, mechanic jail is frustrating. My Dad's mechanic had the car for 6 years, before I took it back. (All they had to do was rebuild the motor)... Anyway, I'll say some prayers that the white **** goes away quickly and your frame shop straightens you out just as fast.

As for the flywheel... I'm leaning towards a Hays 15lb. wheel, with either a Centerforce 11", or a Ram twin disc. My motor is planned to put out around 600 lbft. So, finding the right clutch for an original 69 motor, really narrows down the options...

Andrew, what weight flywheel are you using in your Goat? What's the engine's output?

Thanks, Mike

[andrewb70]

Eric,

Yeah, mechanic jail is frustrating. My Dad's mechanic had the car for 6 years, before I took it back. (All they had to do was rebuild the motor)... Anyway, I'll say some prayers that the white **** goes away quickly and your frame shop straightens you out just as fast.

As for the flywheel... I'm leaning towards a Hays 15lb. wheel, with either a Centerforce 11", or a Ram twin disc. My motor is planned to put out around 600 lbft. So, finding the right clutch for an original 69 motor, really narrows down the options...

Andrew, what weight flywheel are you using in your Goat? What's the engine's output?

Thanks, Mike

Mike,

I am using a stock LS7 flywheel and clutch in the GTO. It's very heavy, but for the way I use my car it works very well.

Andrew

[ekmxryda]

Hey Andrew,
Thanks for the input and link to the Monster Clutch site, I have heard good things about them. Sweet RX7 video at the drags, that must have been a fun car!
I hope to find a good combination of lower overall mass for quick acceleration between the cones, but at the same time it has to engage and launch hard without me slipping the clutch and building heat.
The budget might lead me towards a single disk with the 18 lb. billet flywheel. Plenty of time to research before I get the car back I am sure.

Mike I hope it is less than 6 years though!

http://monsterclutches.com/c5-corvet...12-inch-clutch

[ekmxryda]

GTO on the operating table finally!



Need to hurry up and get the motor done. Did some block de-burring and updated the back of the block, cutting a groove for better oil flow.

[ekmxryda]

Back at home today with the door gaps looking better.
Sitting out in the snow the last couple months has not been good for the primer.
I figured epoxy primer would have held up but now it has a few spots of rust bleeding through. Will need to see how much I should strip back to bare metal.

['71cutlasluvr]

Guys,

Just popping in... I really wish this site would notify me when there's a post.

Gus, I saw you asked about tire fitment. I have 285's. BUT, 295's will fit when I order tires again. I suggest getting a Wheel Rite tool. It's around $60, but helped select my wheel offsets, etc... I think it looks great, but the test will be when 600 ftlbs gets laid down. Ha, ha....

Mike

Hi Mike, Eric,

Long time no hear!
I agree Mike. I have not had ONE notification since the last post I made in January! Sheesh. For some reason, my subscription to this thread was cancelled.....
I should have checked in sooner, knowing you two won't be letting the winter slip by without making some serious progress.
Guess I got some catching up to do. A lot going on during my absence. Please forgive the late responses to posts made throughout the winter.

A wheel rite tool is in my amazon wish list Mike. Thanks for the recommendation. I have heard 295's will fit with careful backspacing. I'll be sure to double and triple check before I order tires and wheels. I Wonder if putting in the abc performance minitubs would give me a little more room or is the frame interference the bigger issue which would make installing the mini tubs a waste of time and effort? Your thoughts Mike?

Well winter was a bust for my pt project 442. Too much snow, so cold had to keep tractor in heated garage to be sure the diesel will start for each of the many MANY snowfalls we had this year. And the bay the tractor was in I needed to do the body work I had planned on for the winter. A big No Go. Horrible winter but spring is here! (Bet you enjoyed yesterdays 70 degrees Eric!) . I plan on minimizing my autocrossing this year so I can concentrate of the pt project. Hoping to have body done, engine in and body on frame by next winter. Perhaps even get some wiring done. Kind of ambitious but I'm ready to get the old girl back on track and on the road before I retire!

Kris (Horton) finally got the rendering done. See below. He did a great job and was very patient with my requests and changes.
He'll be sending me a 13 x 19" print of both views as shown as well as a thumb drive with high resolution image data of this view as well as the front and rear view separately so i can print out high res posters for the shop. Every bit of motivation helps!

Looking forward to catching up with your posts guys. Enjoy Spring!
atb
Gus

['71cutlasluvr]

Showing off my new toy, Diversion 180. Will make my life easier when I get to welds I care about, once I learn how to use it.
They are offering rebates until the end of the month.
http://www.millerwelds.com/landing/b...content=online

Attachment 108207


Gus it would be nice if you could finish the mini tubbing over the winter, don't give up on it.
Mike glad you will soon be having fun building your Butler stroker.............

Hi Eric. Late response again.
I picked up a Diversion 165 back in 2013 and just love it. Miller makes very nice tig welders. And with your fab skills, the learning curve will flatten out quickly I'm sure.

Well, you already know how my winter went! Nothing got done. But I would like to ask you what I asked Mike, since I'm not going to narrow the frame rails, should I still install the mini tubs? Will I gain any clearance for 295's or will it be a waste of effort and time?

Mike, a Butler Stroker? Wow! I'm guessing the original motor had issues. I'll continue to play catch up.. i'm sure the answer is in here somewhere.

Enjoy the day.

[Fastmonty]

Gus,

I was actually notified of your post! Ha, ha... Anyway, you're right... for a mini tub to be truly effective, you'll need to take an inch out of the frame. I'm sure Eric can verify that. That said, the inner rear corners, where the inside rear of the tire touches the body... you could notch that out, and fit 305's. An easy thing to do when your mocking up the body, etc... I thought of it, AFTER I was done painting. So, I didn't do it. Arrrggg.

Here's the latest with my motor build... New Butler ported heads are on. Measured and ordered the pushrods. So, next weekend I should have the motor ready to go to the dyno the following week. Fingers crossed...

['71cutlasluvr]

Gus,

I was actually notified of your post! Ha, ha... Anyway, you're right... for a mini tub to be truly effective, you'll need to take an inch out of the frame. I'm sure Eric can verify that. That said, the inner rear corners, where the inside rear of the tire touches the body... you could notch that out, and fit 305's. An easy thing to do when your mocking up the body, etc... I thought of it, AFTER I was done painting. So, I didn't do it. Arrrggg.

Here's the latest with my motor build... New Butler ported heads are on. Measured and ordered the pushrods. So, next weekend I should have the motor ready to go to the dyno the following week. Fingers crossed...

Hey Mike! Great to hear from you again. I actually got the email notification. Don't understand why I keep losing my subscription but maybe it will stick this time.

Thanks for the input on the mini tubs. Yeah, 305's would be perfect for my needs. I'll have to do some research about trimming the inner rear corners so I know exactly where to cut. But what a time/labor saver for me. For the most part I'll be emulating your build. Only difference really is the body, interior, wheels and of course, that motor. I will be reviewing your threads as I go but may pm you for specifics if the need arises so I don't clutter Erics thread any more than I already have.

Man your new Butler motor looks killer! I don't know the story behind the other motor yet as I haven't had a chance to go through all the old posts but looks like you did it right. A car that looks a nice as yours DESERVES a killer motor. Bet your Pysched!
in hopes that she fires up first time problem free. I would guess there will be no issues considering the build quality.

How about a viddy of the startup?? Please?? I haven't heard my big block rumble in almost two years and it's killing me!
Still living vicariously through you and Eric I guess.

Looking forward to restarting my pt project and to your advice and input Mike. Your build will be kind of a blueprint for mine since you've done all the research and legwork and ended up with a killer Goat on the stock frame.

[ekmxryda]

Hi Gus,
My notifications of new posts are acting funny too. Feel like I am slowly coming out of the winter hibernation and getting a little less depressed every day.
I like the rendering! The mini tubs done without moving the frame will give you a little extra room if you make or use an inner tub that has a smaller radius, like Mike said. (see link for reference)
https://www.cachassisworks.com/p-431...x36-steel.aspx

Mike, the motor is looking good! Looking forward to a startup video too.

Sorry for lack of updates, not much to report since I have been adjusting body gaps and doing body work refinement.
I picked up a '04 GTO back seat and seat belts, I need to weld in brackets and hardware. Also installed a fuel door, filling uphill from the stock location into the fuel cell wasn't going to work.
http://www.yogisinc.com/index.cfm/pa...od/prd7170.htm

[Fastmonty]

Eric,

Awesome job with the filler door! Looks like it came that way.

Gus,

What did I find wrong with the motor? Not much... one lifter wasn't spinning, the front main lower bearing had significant wear and some of the valves were miss colored, as compared to all of the others. Soooo, that's why I decided to replace everything that moves. Stroker Crank, Rods, Pistons, Cam upgrade to a Roller (Custom ground to Butler Specs), Heads (Ported by Butler), bigger valves, 1.65 roller rockers, port matched Performer RPM intake, lastly sent my Barry Grant to a carb specialist and converted it to a true double pumper, mechanical secondaries, and other road racing tweaks, like upgraded road racing floats, as well as jetted to my new specs. This weekend I have to trouble shoot why I have a small oil leak at the rear of the pan, install the distributor with a new cam gear, then take it to the dyno, on Monday. (Fingers Crossed that life doesn't get in the way... ha, ha..) Here's the latest...

['71cutlasluvr]

Hi Gus,
My notifications of new posts are acting funny too. Feel like I am slowly coming out of the winter hibernation and getting a little less depressed every day.
I like the rendering! The mini tubs done without moving the frame will give you a little extra room if you make or use an inner tub that has a smaller radius, like Mike said. (see link for reference)
https://www.cachassisworks.com/p-431...x36-steel.aspx

Hey Eric,

Thanks for the input on the mini tubs. If I do use mini tubs, I'd like to use the ones I purchased from ABC performance. Not sure what you guys mean by reduced radius other that what the term implies. I'll pull the mini's out from the box and give them a look see, make some measurements and try to determine if they are in fact reduced radius tubs.

Me Likey the gas cap Eric. Looks cool AND will be functional. Very nice. Body

I finally have some vaca to take in May, two weeks, whoo hooo. Frame mods will be the order of the day, hoping to make a rolling chassis by vaca's end. We shall see. Putting autox fun on hold to get this pt project back on track this summer.

You mentioned earlier about coming out of winter hibernation. Man is that EXACTLY how I was feeling, but today is supposed to hit around 70 so the horrible winter is turning into a distant (sort of) memory.

Aw man.. On call this weekend. Just got called out to yale new haven hospital.. Cat scan down. Oh well, yard work will have to wait... but double time helps pay for the project 442.

I'll check back soon.
atb
Gus

['71cutlasluvr]

Eric,

Awesome job with the filler door! Looks like it came that way.

Gus,

What did I find wrong with the motor? Not much... one lifter wasn't spinning, the front main lower bearing had significant wear and some of the valves were miss colored, as compared to all of the others. Soooo, that's why I decided to replace everything that moves. Stroker Crank, Rods, Pistons, Cam upgrade to a Roller (Custom ground to Butler Specs), Heads (Ported by Butler), bigger valves, 1.65 roller rockers, port matched Performer RPM intake, lastly sent my Barry Grant to a carb specialist and converted it to a true double pumper, mechanical secondaries, and other road racing tweaks, like upgraded road racing floats, as well as jetted to my new specs. This weekend I have to trouble shoot why I have a small oil leak at the rear of the pan, install the distributor with a new cam gear, then take it to the dyno, on Monday. (Fingers Crossed that life doesn't get in the way... ha, ha..) Here's the latest...

Hey Mike. Still not sure if my notifications are working correctly but I think so.

Wow, sweet motor. Bet the suspense is killing you prepping for the dyno run. Wishing you atb during that huge moment.
Any chance of a vid covering the blessed event? ;)

I am so looking forward to my vaca in a couple of weeks. Priority is going to be frame mods and maybe start some panel replacement/mini tub install if I find the ABC performance tubs will actually give me a bit more room. But the first few days of the first week will be a bit hectic as we are finally getting the driveway paved. No more covering the car with dust after a detailing!

Hoping everyone makes good progress this week.

Eric, can you believe we hit 83 degrees down here? A little consolation for the miserable winter.

Gus

[ekmxryda]

Hey Mike the motor looks great! Glad to see someone making progress, I have been busy working and then when I do get a chance to work on the car I feel trapped in body work land. But once I get the trunk gapped hopefully things will speed up.
Picked up the mounting hardware - brackets and seat belts out of an 04 GTO, need to get those welded in, if anyone has experience (shortcuts) let me know.
Gus I am enjoying the heat!

[ekmxryda]

Finally finished adjusting the trunk gaps!

This close up shows how low the drivers side quarter was, brought it up level using my truck jack.



Had to cut and move the end of the drivers side quarter to bring it up level with the trunk lid. Also a vertical cut to make the gap right.



Passenger side gap needed to be tightened up, a few cuts and a slide hammer got me there.



Final result worth all the cuts and metal splinters!

[andrewb70]

Looks good Erik. I am envious of guys like you that can do body work. Sincerely.

Andrew

[Motown 454]

It looks good!

[ekmxryda]

Playing with custom spoiler ideas, this is just a rough layout, I would fiberglass it to the trunk lid to get rid of that gap. I want something different and functional. Maybe something like this fiberglass piece with a NASACR style plate blended in?

[ekmxryda]

Thanks Andrew and Wayne! I appreciate real body guys even more now, it is so much work.



Made some good progress mounting the Wilwood clutch MC on a filler plate too.



Got it tacked in place for now. Made sure to lay out the clutch pedal linkage in Solidworks to make sure it all worked out before welding it in.

[andrewb70]

Erik,

Interesting that you came with a MC mount that is straight off the firewall. All the kits that I have seen mount the MC at an angle. I gather you're doing something special with the clutch pedal geometry? The bolt in kits use the stock clutch push rod hole on the pedal, so you must be doing something else?

Andrew