1967 GTO project thread

[Nicks67GTO]

Well I installed the HQ's the other day. I talked to ridetech and they were pretty stern that I should be mounting these through the lower A arm hole and not on top of the spacers. It could have messed with available wheel travel. I had to get the die grinder and carbide bur out and do just a hair of clean up on the SPC lower A arm and spacers. Maybe a minutes total grinding on each lower arm. The HQ's just wouldn't fit through. I probably took out less than .080 total between both sides on each arm. I really just cleaned it up and they slid right in from the bottom. Mounted up with grade 8 hardware and that was it!

After a bunch of reassembly I took the GTO out on the first shakedown drive. I haven't even gotten an alignment yet. I just used a level and made the front wheels level and pointing straight. I probably logged 15 miles. My first impression....this thing handles awesome and was/is worth every penny iv'e stuck in it and every hour put tward it. Here is me initial reaction to the short drive I took it on today...


-I can now make a full left turn where I couldn't before with my old jacked up frame.

-I have no ackerman shudder on sharp turns where I had it pretty bad with my other frame

-It feels like its glued to the road and I don't even have an alignment in it yet let alone good wheels and tires. Against my better judgement, I took some pretty hard corners and a long sweeping left hand run down an interstate, it never felt out of control and it felt like it had a lot more in it if the tires would hold.

-The ridetech HQ shocks/SPC springs must really like each other. I have the 24 position shocks at 12 clicks in the front and 8 in the rear. The ride quality was super smooth and much better than the Bilstiens/stock springs I had before. I think I can make it better with some tuning after my alignment.

-The ABC aluminum body mounts/SC&C isolaters were not noticeable at all. I heard no squeaking, the ride quality was great. In fact much smoother and quieter than the stock springs/bilstiens/rubber bushings.

My only issue right now is ride height and this is where coilovers would shine. I'm off from side to side by about 1/2" in front and 1/2"-3/4" in the rear. Iv'e swapped rear springs around and that did nothing so it cant be a rear coil spring mismatch. I looked at the front springs and they are now sitting in their pockets in the frame correctly. I loosened everything up, removed swayabars and shocks and cycled the suspension. There is not a bind anywhere. Its smooth as glass and well lubed. The suspension is just off. If I get a 1/2" spacer in the rear for the driver side rear, I think it will clear most of the problem up. If i'm within a 1/4" side to side i'm calling that a victory for a 45 year old car.

Any other suggestions on where to look on my suspension for ride height discrepancies? I did find that the driver rear spring is compressed a half inch farther than the passenger side but i swapped springs around and that did nothing.

all suggestions are welcome.

A couple of shots...

Out with the new...in with the really new??









All back together where we started!! It was a huge undertaking and im still working out the ride height difference side to side but its good to have it in one piece!