69 GTO Project

[naylor46]

Hey guys I am new to the site and have some questions about a build I am starting into. I have a 1969 GTO and am starting to look into making it a pro touring car. I am so amazed at what pro touring cars can do that I really and looking forward to making my own. I have bagged and tagged the entire car now and have the body off the frame. My first real question deals with the frame suspension and brakes. I've seen a lot of cars that keep their original frame and add components such as hotchkis suspension and willwood brakes. Or i see guys going to such places as art morrison to buy full set up. I don't know what option is the best and what is the best thing to do. I am looking to definitely do this the right way the first time around and if need be take my time and spend the money appropriately. My expectations for the car is to run it at the track and to also have the capabilities to take it into town to car shows but I want it to handle amazingly. Also the car will be running a stroked 455 EFI and a Tremec 6 speed. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Naylor

[Roadbuster]

Welcome! Always glad to see more GTOs!

For frame changes, You are stuck with whatever the new frame has for suspension. Changing it does not really work out for cost. For an A body there are lots of options to use with the stock frame. Depending on how much work you want to do, you can modify the frame to run real low or fit huge tires. See widowmaker's car.

The factory offered a heavy duty frame option for pontiacs. It was a convertible frame under a hard top body. Do you have this?

I kept the factory frame and have added a watts crossmember in the back as well as reinforcing the rear control arm mount points. Plan is for more reinforcement when I go to a T56 trans.

Jon

[CruizinKev]

welcome aboard! good luck with the GTO!

[naylor46]

Hey Jon how would I be able to tell if it's a heftier frame? Also it's not so much the appearance that I am going for it's the performance and handling. I intend to take it to the track and compete with vintage class.

[chevelletiger]

Hey Jon how would I be able to tell if it's a heftier frame? Also it's not so much the appearance that I am going for it's the performance and handling. I intend to take it to the track and compete with vintage class.

The heavy duty frame,convertible as jon said has boxed frame rails and the brake,fuel lines run outside of frame instead of inside frme as a standard frame is not boxed.welcome to the site we need more abodys!phil