New Pro-Touring (sort of) GTO

[gearbanger]

Well after much deliberation and fussing over styles and backspacing and all, I finally got the new tires and wheels on the Goat. They are Intro Vistas, 17x8 with 245/45s and 18x9.5 with 295/45s. The front has 5" BS and the back has 5.5" In the back I have good clearance on the inside. Probably could have went another 1/4" on the backspacing. One the outside, I am going to have to remove that hump that is above the wheelwell lip. No biggy. The front seems to be perfect, I haven't gotten to drive it yet, and the whole car neds to come down a little more. The front is going to come down about 2-3" and the back about 1/2-1"

I am pretty stoked about getting it out on the interstate and running it out. I have a 550+ HP 461 and a TKO 600. Before the tires, I ran it up to 120 a few times, and it wasn't even breathing hard. It should run 150 pretty easy I would think. Not the most aerodynamic body style GM ever made though.

[rob07002]

Looks great! I'll always have a soft spot for Goats... I hope you have the brakes to slow that beast? Not a liteweight at all... Keep us posted.

[gearbanger]

It has a tall spindle conversion on the front. 12" power discs. It will stop very good. It still has the drums on the back, but the brakes are at least as good as my 02 Trailblazer or my 02 shortbed 2wd pickup. I might put rear discs on sometime for looks but the brakes are great already.

You would think the car is heavy, but it will surprise you. I has aluminum heads and no air or spare tires and jacks and all that, I weighed it before the aluminum heads and it weighed 3360, with 1940 on the front end. Since then I moved the battery to the trunk and put on aluminum heads. So I figure the front weight went down 100-110 lbs and back weight went up 45. That is about a 55-45 ratio front to rear and a 3300 weight. Not bad for an all steel A-body.

[flynbyu82]

Is that a '66?

Its absolutly gorgeous

[gearbanger]

Thanks for the comments! It is a 67.

[Northern Goat]

Sweet 67. Love the wheels. Nice to see another GTO getting "modernized". FWIW, The original stance of our cars is the same and I have lowered my 65 2" front and 1.5" rear.

[ALLFAITH]

Beautiful car, on my sold 65 I went with QA-1 coilovers and Global west up front to lower and airbags in rear. If you need pics let me know,


Brad

[GTOConno]

Beautiful car!! Very inspirational for me as I have a long way to go with my 67. Love the wheels.
Good luck with it.

Conno

[Roger Poirier]

the whole car needs to come down a little more. The front is going to come down about 2-3" and the back about 1/2-1"

Very nice car. Looooooking good.

Are you running headers? What type of front suspension? Stock? If so do you plan on changing in the near future? Tire size? Wheel size.
I spent a lot of time on R&D on my own GTO. I lowered it 3" all the way around. I maybe able to help with more info.

You can go maybe 2" more however, 3" inches and you will have other issues to deal with.

R.P.

[gearbanger]

It has B-body spindles and new stock springs now. Global West uppers and 1-1/4" sway bar. I am going to put 550-650lb springs in the front with the hidden adjusters so I can get it as low as possible and still have minimal clearance problems. I am thinking 2" will do.

Tires are 245/45/17, wheels are 17x8 5" BS.

Thanks for all the compliments! The paint is actually 15 years old. The pictures really make it look good. It is actually more of a fifty footer. I am about to get the drivetrain, interior and suspension the way I want it though. Once all that is done, it's coming off the frame and made perfect (or at least close)

[Roger Poirier]

I am thinking 2" will do.

That seems about right to me also. I have done 3" front and rear. Yet the top front tires of my 69 GTO still show thru the wheel wells. It just the way Pontiacs are made.

The car will always sit a little high in the front. Simply adjust the rear with less spring changes, giving it more height in the back which you are already doing.

I posted a pic of how my car sits for reference.

R.P.

[TUBED]

Nice A-body, thanks for the wheel and tire specs along with the back spacing on the wheels. The 295/45's look great.

Post up more pictures when you get it lowered in the front as mentioned. The information is priceless when deciding which way to go on a future A-body project.
Gerald

[Northern Goat]

Sweet ride Roger

[gearbanger]

Man, that is bad!

What drop did you use in the front? What size are your wheels and tires?

[Roger Poirier]

I used B-Spindles with 3" lowering springs. To make proper ground clearance I had to have custom headers made. Stay with 2" and save your self a ton of money in custom headers.


Front: 235-40-18
Rear: 275-35-20

R.P.

[gearbanger]

Dude those are some crazy headers. I am supposed to be receiving some of the new tri-y headers for Pontiac soon. Of course I was supposed to be receiving them soon a year ago so who knows.

Where did you get your springs?

[Roger Poirier]

Dude those are some crazy headers. I am supposed to be receiving some of the new tri-y headers for Pontiac soon. Of course I was supposed to be receiving them soon a year ago so who knows.

Where did you get your springs?

Ordered them thru Original Parts Group in CA.

R.P.

[tripower]

Nice Goat! I like the Vistas as they remind me of the old Hurst wheels.

[Hammered]

I love those wheels. I'm thinking of going with those on my '67 bird. I may do the fat lips and satin inlays. Make sure to post more pictures!

John

[gearbanger]

Your's too Tripower. I am so glad I found this forum. I was beginning to think there was a law that you couldn't modify a Pontiac. There are no modified GTO's in my area. I am lucky to see 6 GTO's at our local shows, and they will all be stock or just a little rednecked out.

Hopefully I can turn some heads this summer. Anyone watch Horsepower TV this weekend? They did a spot on our big local show, the Somernites Cruise. They do it the 4th Saturday of each month, April thru October. It is a huge cruise in. Usually 1000-2000 cars. Check out www.somernitescruise.com for more info, and I hope some of you nearby come and bring you PT cars.