68 GTO Project

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.