'66 Pontiac Resto-Mod Update

[Motown 454]

Wow great that looks great. That interior color set that exterior color off great.

[wmhjr]

Thanks! I was a little worried at first, but when I got the interior actually I was really happy.

BTW, exhaust fitment and TIG welding was completed, and I took it to a metal finishing company last night to have it silver ceramic coated and polished.

Stainless brake lines are also now complete.

[gearbanger]

Would you be interested in selling one of those billet dash pieces? I had been thinking of doing something like that, but you beat me to it. Yours looks perfect. It would probably be easier and cheaper just to have your guy knock out another one, than for me to reengineer one of my own.

[wmhjr]

I have no problem giving you the info. But, it's not automated, so it's going to be another kind of "build from scratch" job. If you're interested, I want to check with the machinist just to make sure he's interested in doing it. If he is I'll put you directly in touch with him as I wouldn't provide any value and I certainly don't want any money or anything. I'm just not sure how much of a PITA it was and don't want to commit him if he'd rather not do it. I suspect that he'd be more than willing at the same price.

The original dash bar and handle is kind of a 3 module assembly. There is a chromed pot metal frame that bolts to the actual dash. There is a lucite plate (black, that says "GTO") that inserts in the frame. Then there is the grab handle assembly that goes in front and bolts through all of it also. I used a beat up chrome frame to send to the machinist as it is actually not "square" (the bottom is thicker than the top to make the plate orient correctly). I had a "good" frame with good chrome already on the car. However, when I got the finished product back - it fit perfectly in the "beat up" frame but did not completely fit into the "good" frame. I had to spend about 45 minutes carefully filing and sanding the inside of the "good" frame so as not to damage it, but to allow the billet piece to fit. I then needed to spend some time clearancing the dash holes also. What I thought would take 5 minutes to mount took over an hour. Cost of the piece was not terribly cheap. Before I tell you the cost I'm curious as to what you'd guess it would be?

[progoat]

Man your car is going to be bad I can't wait to see some pics of it outside.The color and the parchment guts I take it the top is going parchment or white also?

The dash peice is sweet,I've been talking to a buddy of mine that makes a lot of billet peices to make one for my car also.He just switched to a different machine shop so we have to wait a little bit before he can sneek the job in

[wmhjr]

Man your car is going to be bad I can't wait to see some pics of it outside.The color and the parchment guts I take it the top is going parchment or white also?

The dash peice is sweet,I've been talking to a buddy of mine that makes a lot of billet peices to make one for my car also.He just switched to a different machine shop so we have to wait a little bit before he can sneek the job in

Thanks! I really appreciate it. The interior is actually "pearl white". I was afraid that the parchment which has a little green/gold tinge might not work with the top down. The top is black, but the boot is pearl white. My thought was that I'd almost never have the top up anyway, and was afraid that the fold lines in the material would get stained.

Let me know if I can help with anything.

[progoat]

Ahh you went custom? I haven't seen any pearl white replacement covers.reguardless its sweet and a great color cambo My dad had a black 66 gto with parchment interior then his dumda-- got rid of it