Project: Never Gonna Run Again.

[gearbanger]

Well I have finally after 20 years since it was last painted, decided to take the Pontiac off the frame and make everything right. I got the car when I was 17 in high school and we did the best we could and could afford. The sheet metal work was kind off weak, but the body man was good so the car came out slick. It was painted with acrylic enamel so it didn't take lonfg for the weather to get to it and fade it out a bit. The car sat blown up while I finished college and worked out of town for a couple of years. Then when I met the girl I was to marry, she said she wanted to ride in the GTO to the wedding! Only condition was the interior had to be redone. I made improvements to the car, interior, motor and trans for the next several years after that, but now I have finally decided it is time to make the body and paint right. I am doing all the mechanical and sheet metal work myself so this is gonna probably take the rest of my life. But I have realized over the last few years that I think I may like working on the car more than I like driving it. It seems I do a project and then take it out for a cruise, then bring it straight back to the garage and tear it apart again. I guess it is just a character flaw I have!

This is what it looks like now and I hope to see this again someday, only slicker and straighter and faster!

[icebird84]

excellent GTO

[TA219]

That GTO is hot, I love my 04, but would really love a 67 like that!

[gearbanger]

Here are some progress photos. I have been working on it for a couple of months now. Slow going. I have the frame about the way I want it. I had to fix almost all the body mounts. They were totally rusted out. Only about 4 good ones on the whole frame. I also boxed it for some strength. It is amazing how much stiffer it made it, but I am really surprised at how flexy a frame is. I would definitely say that a body is way less flexy than a frame is.

[gearbanger]

Rusty frame

[gearbanger]

Fixed

[gearbanger]

It was sad dropping the body off at the blaster knowing that when I got it back there would be no more red paint for a long time. I am kind of anxious to see it in bare metal though. I have to put a trunk floor and some floor board patch panels in. Not too bad though. I have learned alot watching these forums so it should go pretty well.

[oestek]

Wow man, that's a nice car to blow apart! I'm sure it's going to be mint when you're finished. Very cool!

[68Formula]

That's the wayto do it. If you're going to have a project name, it should be honest, LOL!

Good looking GTO, best wishes on your project.

[gearbanger]

I have a question. The body is set to be blasted the first of the week, and I talked to him about priming it for me. I know I want to use PPG paint on it so I thought I would use DP epoxy primer on it. Should I prime it or just leave it alone to do all the metal work on it first? I am just worried about the amount of time it is going to take me and I hate to leave it unprimed that long.

Also, what color should I use. Would it be okay to use black?

[1971CHEVELLE]

What do you have planned for the color combo?

[fastback]

I would definitely put it in primer. You'll have to grind it off and re-prime everywhere that you work, but if you don't prime it, it'll flash on you.

[jackfrost]

i've had my car in bare metal for a couple of months now, and I have no problems with surface rust. however, i just ordered some Gibbs product to protect it while I work on it.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=52324

[gearbanger]

I am going back with that same color. It is a dark red like victory red.

I went to the paint shop today and decided to go with light grey PPG DP50LP. The guy said that or red oxide is typically okay with red paint. He said not to do black. He also said that if the body man wanted to change colors he could on subsequent coats once the body work starts. All I am doing is putting two wet coats on to protect the metal for a while.

[Motown 454]

Wow beautiful car , you can't get a much better starting point than what you have. Good luck and keep the pictures coming

[Nicks67GTO]

I love your GTO, i have to ask....whats going on with the dash? Is it custom? An overlay and custom gauges? I like it!

[gearbanger]

Yes, the 64 and 65s had a turned aluminum insert like that but the 66 and 67 had wood. I wanted the aluminum and was just about to attempt to make one when they came out with one. Pretty lucky!

The gauges are from Classic Instruments.

Thanks For the compliments!

[gearbanger]

Well I killed the last three weeks making a rotisserie for my car. It is pretty nice and I have it sold when I am done so I wont be tripping over it from now on!

Anyway, I havent rigged a way to lock the rotisserie in position yet, but it rotates effortlessly because I used rear hub bearing assemblies for the rotating points. I got them at the junk yard for $20 ea. Not too bad but I felt kind of stupid because I have changed those on about every vehicle I have had, so if I had kept them I would have been set. Oh well.

Next step is to roll it up on its side and fix a couple of body mounting points, and then replace the holes in the floorboards. Then on to the trunk floor.

[Motown 454]

Looks like you did a nice job on the rotisserie.

[gearheads78]

As I've said before I love your car and look forward to seeing the progress.