68 GTO Project

[tripower]

Looks awesome! Is your Lee box a 600 series or an upgraded 800?

I'm looking to upgrade and not sure if rebuilding and tweaking my 800 is the way to go versus picking up a 600 box. If Lee can get an 800 box dialed in and feeling "modern" (read R&P like) then that may be the way to go.

Nice to see other PT Ponchos out here.

[cdoggy81]

"If Lee can get an 800 box dialed in and feeling "modern" (read R&P like) than that may be the way to go."

He can, call them & they will explain it. IIRC the total rebuild service with that new "modern feel" is ~ $400

[Roadbuster]

Looks awesome! Is your Lee box a 600 series or an upgraded 800?

I'm lloking to upgrade and not sure if rebuilding and trweaking my 800 is the way to go versus picking up a 600 box. If Lee can get an 800 box dialed in and feeling "modern" (read R&P like) than that may be the way to go.

Nice to see other PT Ponchos out here.

Hey tripower, I have the 600 series box. My 800 series was of questionable origin so I replaced it. The side benefit is that I had all the parts when I started the project. The only part I reused from the front suspension was the pitman arm.

Been working on several projects need to update the thread!

Jon

[tripower]

Hey tripower, I have the 600 series box. My 800 series was of questionable origin so I replaced it. The side benefit is that I had all the parts when I started the project. The only part I reused from the front suspension was the pitman arm.

Been working on several projects need to update the thread!

Jon

I'm with you - My entire front suspension has less than 1K miles on it and I didn't re-use anything...all new stuff. I had an 800 box gone through and done with fast ratio but am not happy with the feel. I'm guessing the 800 box I have is in good shape and may need Tom Lee's "magic touch".

I'm trying to determine what the differences between a Lee 600 box and a Lee 800 box to justify the extra $100.

[tripower]

"If Lee can get an 800 box dialed in and feeling "modern" (read R&P like) than that may be the way to go."

He can, call them & they will explain it. IIRC the total rebuild service with that new "modern feel" is ~ $400

Thanks for the info and the rough cost. If a rebuild is around $400 and I can pick up a Lee 800 box for around $515 (with no core) as I've seen on a couple of sites I may just pick up a box. It sounds like to get the most out of the system to have Lee set up a pump matched to the box. I'd go with an early narrow neck P-series pump.

[Roadbuster]

I'm with you - My entire front suspension has less than 1K miles on it and I didn't re-use anything...all new stuff. I had an 800 box gone through and done with fast ratio but am not happy with the feel. I'm guessing the 800 box I have is in good shape and may need Tom Lee's "magic touch".

I'm trying to determine what the differences between a Lee 600 box and a Lee 800 box to justify the extra $100.

The "feel" of the box is a delicate setup. If you have a built 800 you don't like, you could get a Lee box and then sell the box you have. Could put you a bit ahead of sending the box in to be built.

Did you replace the rag joint? It made a world of difference!

Jon

[tripower]

The "feel" of the box is a delicate setup. If you have a built 800 you don't like, you could get a Lee box and then sell the box you have. Could put you a bit ahead of sending the box in to be built.

Did you replace the rag joint? It made a world of difference!

Jon

I'm thinking the same - I could buy a Lee box and matched pump and sell the box I have and most likely be ahead of sending/dropping off my box for a rebuild. I converted from manual to power so I added a new rag joint as well as replaced the lower column bushing/bearing.

The only question in my mind is what is the difference between a Lee 600 and 800 as far as real world feel and does it justify the extra 100 bones.

Looking forward to updates on your Goat - I haven't been on the site in a while and I'm happy to see a lot more Ponchos being pro-toured on here than I recall in the past.

[Roadbuster]

I decided to put in the next phase of the rear suspension. The first was new springs and shocks. This phase is the control arms.

I installed a set of Currie rear arms I got from SC&C:

Uppers:


Lowers:

Sorry for the cell phone pics by my wife had the camera for the day.

The lowers are real nice aluminum pieces, visible if you look for them but not obvious. The uppers are real beefy, I had to go and get a new wrench big enough to adjust them. 1 and 3/8 or 1 and 1/2 inches!

Install was not without some cursing! The Johnny Joints fit very tight and so do the bushings. Even greased they took a lot of persuasion to get in and I had to be careful to avoid damaging that aluminum! Did I mention that I don't have a lift?

At the same time I installed a set of Edelbrock tubular braces to reinforce the mount area. They fit nice and tight and clear the body and my exhaust.

All this really improved the feel of the car in the back and the braces make the rear suspension stiffer. I was surprised at how much - I had to back the shocks off one click to get the same ride as before.

Jon

[Code Red]

I like them just send them to me ;-)

[MIGOAT]

WOW it looks great I love the orange with black wheels. I'm going to be doing almost the exact same front set up. My ride is still sporting the air shok look in the rear. Just wanted to say it looks great!!!!

[aaron]

Looks Awesome. Thank you for taking the time to setup this thread. I have a 68 too, and after 5 plus years in the garage am finally getting close to having it on the road again.

You mentioned that you don't have a stock rear axle setup. Can you elaborate? And I looked twice but didn't see if you mentioned the backspacing you went with for both your front and rear wheels? Can you tell us your wheel setup? Thanks, and again looks awesome.

[Roadbuster]

Thanks guys!

[Roadbuster]

My original seats are shot and I got tired of sitting on a moving blanket to prevent getting poked by the exposed springs. So it was time to upgrade the seats!



These are Sparco Milanos I got from Jim at Motorsportseats.com.

Great deal on the seats and he also hooked me up with a set of custom brackets to move the seats back and down. I am 6'4" and redoing the stock seats would of had my head into the roof! Thanks Jim!

Some more pics:


They clear my Morris seatbelts:


and the center console:


drivers side with the lower adjustment a bit out:


Yes I know the rest of my interior needs lots of help.

Jon

[tom_a]

Those look great. That's a nice upgrade!

[ed1le]

You spare no expense when you do upgrades! Lookin' good!

[ponchopwr70]

Those look nice in there and they must weigh 30lbs lighter. I'm in the process of getting race seats, I had my factory seats redone but they don't hold you in. I'll most likely go with the chrona roads.

[67speedfreak]

Love the seats. Car is lookin great keep up the good work.

Brian

[AUSCAMARO]

I've recently painted my 68 Camaro Orange and now the polished alloy C5's look a bit out of place. Your car looks sweet with the black centre rims and after looking at your pics a number of times I rekon I may go for that approach too.

Very nice GTO.

Mitch

[Roadbuster]

Thanks for the compliments guys!

Those look nice in there and they must weigh 30lbs lighter. I'm in the process of getting race seats, I had my factory seats redone but they don't hold you in. I'll most likely go with the chrona roads.

x2 on the factory seats not holding you in. Those Chrona Roads will look nice in your Poncho!

I did weigh the seats and they are heavier than I thought. Only about 4 pounds lighter than the stock seats. These are Sparco's leather street seats with recline and flip forward for rear seat access. They really hold you in and do not require a roll bar to brace the seats. The big surprise was the custom mounts. They weigh 9 pounds each! All done I gained about 10 pounds, but well worth it now that I can really fit in the car and the seats nicely hold me in place. I think I could trim a pound or two if I really want to.

Most of the really light race seats require a brace to a cage. I have no plans to put a harness bar or cage in the car. I want to be able to take my 2 year old daughter on drives so I have to have a functional back seat. Now a removable harness bar for open track days...

Jon

[ponchopwr70]

Im surprised they were that much. I just ordered corbeau trs seats instead. I got them from motorsportseats. I also bought schroth 4pt harnesses. They are the only harness you can run with out a cage and I"m sure the new set-up is safer than the stock set-up. Might be something to look into and would be easier than a harness bar. I can't wait to try them out at the autocross in 2 weeks.