'65 GTO Tripower 4-speed build

[MGCslugger33]

Well the motor is coming out tonight so I figured I'd get a build thread going with some before shots. The main goal of this build is to farm out as little work as possible and learn as much as I can along the way. I plan to keep the factory drivetrain and overall look but update the suspension so that it'll be fun to drive.

This was the last time she was all together when I brought her home.



This is how she sits right now

[CruizinKev]

cool project! good luck with it

[MGCslugger33]

Got the old Motor out.

[NJSPEEDER]

Very cool build. How much resto and how much modern are you shooting for?

-Tim

[LeighP]

So, I'm guessing not a numbers matching engine...appears to be a late November 1963 casting from what I can see.
Are you planning on staying with the 389, or going to a later 400 / 455?
Should be a great project, I love 65 models. Check out Iris Mist, if you're looking for a colour...fairly rare 65 model only colour...looks great.

[coolwelder62]

Very cool,I would love to have a 65 GTO or a 66 chevelle for my next build.

[Yelcamino]

Nice project. It kinda looks like my El Camino did when I started!

[MGCslugger33]

So, I'm guessing not a numbers matching engine...appears to be a late November 1963 casting from what I can see.
Are you planning on staying with the 389, or going to a later 400 / 455?
Should be a great project, I love 65 models. Check out Iris Mist, if you're looking for a colour...fairly rare 65 model only colour...looks great.

Correct. That is a 64 motor. When I bought the car It came with a rebuilt '76 400 that has a tripower set up that came out of a GTO that was wrecked less than 1000 miles after the restoration was completed. I don't know much else about the motor, other than the seller said it ran strong in the other gto. Im going to rebuild the tripower set up and redetail the motor and give it a shot. If its a dog, I'll rebuild the 64 389. The '76 motor is in my signature.

As far as the color I am pretty well decided on black and the plan is to paint it myself. I like Iris Mist, just scared I wouldnt be able to make it look good.

[MGCslugger33]

Very cool build. How much resto and how much modern are you shooting for?

-Tim

I want to keep the car looking stock visually as much as possible with the exception of the tires,wheels, and brakes. I want to get a good suspension set up on it and want a protouring style 18 inch wheel. I plan to keep the Manual steering and brakes. For the drivetrain Ill use the rebuilt '76 motor I got with the car, and the factory M20. The goal is for it to look and sound like a period correct '65 gto, but have it handle like a new car. Thats the goal anyway.

[1red68]

sounds like a great project. I always like the GTO's. are you sure you want to stay with the manual stearing and (drum?) brakes?

[gearbanger]

I would not keep drum brakes for simple safety reasons. Drum brakes suck! and with 18s it will make it worse even if you stay with the stock diameter tire. The inersia of a large diameter wheel tire combo is quite a bit more than that of say the 14" setup that it came with. That alone will make the car harder to stop. That being said, you wont keep the stock diameter cause it looks terrible and in no way will look "pro touring" so basically your brakes will be worse than factory.

Also, the stock GTO had a one piston master cylinder which is a pretty bad setup. It just doesnt lend itself to stopping power. I'd get away from stock brakes.

[MGCslugger33]

sounds like a great project. I always like the GTO's. are you sure you want to stay with the manual stearing and (drum?) brakes?

I would not keep drum brakes for simple safety reasons. Drum brakes suck! and with 18s it will make it worse even if you stay with the stock diameter tire. The inersia of a large diameter wheel tire combo is quite a bit more than that of say the 14" setup that it came with. That alone will make the car harder to stop. That being said, you wont keep the stock diameter cause it looks terrible and in no way will look "pro touring" so basically your brakes will be worse than factory.

Also, the stock GTO had a one piston master cylinder which is a pretty bad setup. It just doesnt lend itself to stopping power. I'd get away from stock brakes.

Yeah I think I was misunderstood, I never said I was keeping drums. I am going to keep manual brakes but they will be disc. I do want to keep the manual steering though.

[NJSPEEDER]

I want to keep the car looking stock visually as much as possible with the exception of the tires,wheels, and brakes. I want to get a good suspension set up on it and want a protouring style 18 inch wheel. I plan to keep the Manual steering and brakes. For the drivetrain Ill use the rebuilt '76 motor I got with the car, and the factory M20. The goal is for it to look and sound like a period correct '65 gto, but have it handle like a new car. Thats the goal anyway.

Sounds like it will be a fun car to drive.

Manual brakes with updated master cyl can be a lot of fun. Some people bag on manual brakes because you can generate so much clamping force with so little effort from power but manual brakes have the advantage of being very linear. Once you get the feel for them you can get as far into any corner and use the brakes better to rotate the car.

What made you decide to keep the manual steering? Any manual steering set up I have ever heard of was a long way from lock to lock or so heavy it was ridiculous. Could make for some exciting moments in spirited drives.

Good luck with the build. I'm looking forward to your updates.

-Tim

[gearbanger]

Yeah I think I was misunderstood, I never said I was keeping drums. I am going to keep manual brakes but they will be disc. I do want to keep the manual steering though.

Gotcha.

You know, after I typed that I thought to myself, "He never said anything about drum brakes..."

The manual brakes and steering will definitely give you a clean look under the hood.

[MGCslugger33]

What made you decide to keep the manual steering? Any manual steering set up I have ever heard of was a long way from lock to lock or so heavy it was ridiculous. Could make for some exciting moments in spirited drives.

Good luck with the build. I'm looking forward to your updates.

-Tim

Gotcha.

You know, after I typed that I thought to myself, "He never said anything about drum brakes..."

The manual brakes and steering will definitely give you a clean look under the hood.

Part of the reason for leaving the manual steering is that the engine bay will look cleaner, but the main reason is that I just want to experience the manual steering for myself. Ive had a '71 442 and a '72 skylark and both were power steering. So, Im really just curious to see what it will drive like. If I get done and its a pain, Im not against putting a power unit in it.

[gearbanger]

I have had both on my gto and personally I think manual steering is pretty bad. Even with the big ole wheel they come with from the factory the steering is hard to operate when not moving and with a smaller wheel and much wider tires, it would be h3ll.

I recently switched my car to a CPP steering box and that made a world of difference. The steering is much stiffer now and you really feel like you are steering the car now istead of that super easy steering like the factory components.

[MGCslugger33]

Just a quick update. I have just been stripping everything off of the body. Got the doors out of the way, windshield is out. Most of the dash is out, still need to get a few things out of there.

After mulling it over, we are going to pull the body off of the frame and blast it. I think the finished product will benefit from this even though it will take extra time.

Ive pretty much decided on the rightstuff manual disc conversion and the hotchkis tvs set up. If anyone knows of any other options that are good values let me know.

STILL LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT WHEEL, so suggestions would be appreciated. I want an 18 that is similar to this wheel, but not sure if I can get the backspacing to work.


I hope to have everything stripped off the body by the weekend and Ill get some good pics before we pull the body.

[solarguy09]

Hello.i just joined this site, and i am doing steering and suspension and brakes and more... i recommend a new style power steering box, also those wheels you showed look like the Jason Rushforth Night train's...

With Rushforth's , backspacing won't be a problem....very pricey but sweet...

When i bought my 71 Z/28 back in 1983, i was looking for power brakes and manual steering because i wanted to feel the steering and i wanted to be able to stop....

Now days the steering boxes are way different, and the brakes are crazy sweet now...

Good luck on your build.i am up to my eyeballs in mine right now.....

Camaro freak, but i love the goat's....

[gearbanger]

The hotchkis rear bars are really nice and simple. I would go with adjustable uppers and put rubber bushings in the top of you rear axle. It actually does make a noticeable difference over the poly ones.

The front end really, really needs some kind of tall spindle treatment. I would either change it to the tall ball joint setup, or do the B-body spindle swap on it. It will make the biggest difference in handling that you can do to it.

[MGCslugger33]

Everything seems to be on schedule to get the body pulled this weekend. I got everything pulled off of the Dash and firewall tonight. You wouldnt believe the amount of dust and dirt that was collected in all the nook and crannies. Haven't run in to any surprises yet. The car seems very solid.