68 GTO Project

[oestek]

Looks awesome!

[Marauder]

I agree, the car looks fantastic! I'm interested in hearing your impressions of the suspension upgrades as I'm considering some of these as well.

FYI - Eastwood makes a "grey phosphate" spray paint just for hood hinges. I used it on mine and they turned out real nice. Much cheaper than sending them out for the plating like the guys that want them 100% original do.

[Roadbuster]

Looks awesome!

Thanks Kevin!

Looks sharp...I haven't noticed this one before.

Wheels look great too.

Are you stepping up to a 455? I have a std short block if interested.

Also, can anyone recommend an alignment shop, preferably west side or SFV? I have the same UCA, yet to install, and I really don't want to have to train someone how to adjust these.

Thanks.

I agree, the car looks fantastic! I'm interested in hearing your impressions of the suspension upgrades as I'm considering some of these as well.

FYI - Eastwood makes a "grey phosphate" spray paint just for hood hinges. I used it on mine and they turned out real nice. Much cheaper than sending them out for the plating like the guys that want them 100% original do.

Karsch and Marauder,
I love the suspension! I am still feeling it out but it corners flat and predictable. It made the car more solid. As I am getting the feel for it I am pushing it more. It handles like my wife's 545! The tires don't chirp on the 1-2 shift like the old ones, so I need to learn how they behave at the limit.

Plans are to do the rest of the rear suspension next year. I need to replace the rag joint and steering shaft with a new collapsable shaft and a universal joint. Doing my research and getting ready to order the parts.

Karsch,
For an alignment, I have had my wife's 545 aligned at Bud's in Riverside. A bit of a drive but I got a recommendation from the local Porsche shop and Porsche club. Good job on the alignment and reasonable too! I will take the GTO there to compare my home alignment and see just how close I am and get a good baseline.

Thanks for the offer on the 455, but the 400 I have is built and runs strong for now.

Jon

[Karch]

Thanks Jon.

Riverside is just too far for me, but thanks anyways.

[Roadbuster]

I never liked the exhaust exit on my car since I got it. Adding the wheels and tires just seems to call more attention to them and I think they would look better if I just shortened them so they would be seen.

Here is what they looked like before:


Marked for cutting at a slight turnout:


Cut off:


and after:


Looks much better and you have to get under the car to see them. I will get under there with some paint after the holidays I did this while it was raining.

Jon

[ed1le]

Jon, are you running the 18x11s with stock rear wheelwells? I know you can fit a lot of meat under the back of the 68-72 A-bodies but that's impressive for that large a tire I think. I'm looking to run a similar set up, what backspacing are you running? Thanks!

[RBARNES496]

Good job looks great so far.I like the orange w/5spokes. I also have a 68 gto, more of a restomod those parts are rare! keep up the good work.

[Roadbuster]

Jon, are you running the 18x11s with stock rear wheelwells? I know you can fit a lot of meat under the back of the 68-72 A-bodies but that's impressive for that large a tire I think. I'm looking to run a similar set up, what backspacing are you running? Thanks!

Ed1le, Yes they are 18x11. I don't have a stock axle so the back space is unique to my car. I took a lot of measurements to get it to be centered in the wheel well. A 1970 Skylark might have more room, but it is best to measure. An 11 inch rim is actually 12 inches outside to outside. I had to remove some thick undercoating and make a tweak or two to make them fit and keep my fender trim.

Good job looks great so far.I like the orange w/5spokes. I also have a 68 gto, more of a restomod those parts are rare! keep up the good work.

Thanks for the compliments Street Rod. I want to keep the style close to the original with some modern touches. Yeah, finding 68 GTO parts can be pain since a lot of them are one year, one model parts! Good luck with your ride!


Jon

[claytonisbob]

That is a really slick looking car. Big difference when you swiched wheels, makes it look like a totally different car (in a very good way).

My dad has a '68 Goat and I've been drooling over it since I was a little boy. Definily like the orange without "The Judge" stickers from '69... ick. It seems the only GTO's I see that color are '69s with Judge decaling.

BTW, exact suspension setup I plan on soon... wish I had those Toyos. They're not too harsh of a ride are they? They're more of a track tire aren't they?

[Roadbuster]

When I bought my Lee steering box I also bought a new rag joint. Seems that my car has had the steering shaft changed at some point its life and a late model 800 series steering box and matching shaft were installed. I returned the rag joint and used the setup I had. It was worn out and there was too much play in the steering. The play was from the worn out rag joint and the upper joint was worn out as well. Time to replace it all. Since I needed a new shaft any way I wanted to get rid of the rag joint.

With some advice from Marc at SC&C I called Borgeson, and after a chat with tech support I ordered up a new collapsable steering shaft, new vibration dampening lower u-joint and new upper u-joint. PN (014352 U joint, 034931 Damper U joint, 450024 24" Telescopic Shaft)

The Borgeson stuff is nice! Here is the new setup after trimming to fit and assembling next to the old:





After installing it made a world of difference! The car handled great before, but I had to watch it because of the slop in the steering shaft. Not good when tackling twisties. Now it responds instantly to the steering wheel. There is no slop in this setup now and I get to keep the safety feature of the collapsable shaft!

Jon

[Roadbuster]

That is a really slick looking car. Big difference when you swiched wheels, makes it look like a totally different car (in a very good way). ...

Thanks! That is what I was looking for! I was looking for a more aggressive/sinister look.

... My dad has a '68 Goat and I've been drooling over it since I was a little boy. Definily like the orange without "The Judge" stickers from '69... ick. It seems the only GTO's I see that color are '69s with Judge decaling. ...

I drooled over my dad's cars when I was kid too! I still do! I get my love of cars from my dad. The color is a custom color, with less red than the Carousel Red used in 69. I hear you on the stickers - I think the cars look cleaner without them. The font was a little dated.

... BTW, exact suspension setup I plan on soon... wish I had those Toyos. They're not too harsh of a ride are they? They're more of a track tire aren't they?

Marc is the man for the suspension! The Toyo R888 are a real sticky tire, DOT legal but designed more for road racing. To me I have not noticed a ride difference between the new Toyos and the KDWS I used to have on the car. That is going from a 245/45R17 to the 255/35R18s up front with less sidewall. There is a definite performance advantage. Much better grip! and the tires hook much better!

Jon

[cdoggy81]

VERY NICE!!! Love to see the Pontiac's getting some love

What did that steering setup run you BTW?

[Grngoat]

Man that looks nice. I was just about to rebuild my stock steering shaft too. That's out. I'm calling Borgeson for sure.

Been following your thread. Like what you're doing, keep up the good work.

[Roadbuster]

VERY NICE!!! Love to see the Pontiac's getting some love

What did that steering setup run you BTW?

Thanks!

It was about 270 direct from Borgeson. Almost half of that is the damping lower U-joint.

Jon

[4spdharry]

Thanks for all the pictures - I enjoy seeing the different ideas in motion

SC&C will probably get some of my $$$ soon

[blown9746]

looking awesome

[67goatman455]

wow, your car looks insane! I am in love, just take a pressure washer to the engine bay please, lol. Thank you for my new desktop background by the way.

[Roadbuster]

Thanks for all the compliments guys!

wow, your car looks insane! I am in love, just take a pressure washer to the engine bay please, lol. Thank you for my new desktop background by the way.

I need paint in the engine bay. That is overspray and just plain faded paint. My wiring is on the list to replace, so I don't want to mix it with water just yet!

Jon

[jfaria78]

Nice Car and sweet wheels... Now at least I know what you are talking about

[Code Red]

looking good man I'm starting to get back to work on my 68