69 GTO Build

[andrewb70]

Agreed again. I've sent out a few emails explaining my project details to art morrison, Street Rod Garage, Schwartz and the Roadster shop. Street Rod garage's website shows an a-body chassis with a gm 12 bolt in place so that's encouraging. Even in this internet high tech age, sometimes ya just gotta send an email then pick up the phone.

Thanks again for your input Andrew.

Gus,

Sometimes you have to be really old skool and give them a call. Each one of these companies probably gets hundreds of emails per day from "dreamers."



Andrew

[ekmxryda]

Hi Gus I would follow Andrew's advice and give them a call to get the best guidance. You have listed all of the companies I was researching before I went with the RS frame. Nothing against the other guys but as you know the RS frame is amazing and I am sure they can help you out, I would ask for Tony, he was very helpful and always answered the dozens of questions I had. Everyone is using the C6 Spindle and suspension geometry up front, the 12 bolt rear end would work, I would just ship it to them so they could weld on all the new brackets. You could always sell the parts that won't fit on the new frame.
It is a big expense but like you said the time savings and peace of mind that it is done right was worth it to me.

[ekmxryda]

New shorter Delrin body mounts.

['71cutlasluvr]

Gus,

Sometimes you have to be really old skool and give them a call. Each one of these companies probably gets hundreds of emails per day from "dreamers."

Andrew

Yeah, you'r right, of course. Until I make decent progress (and have the discretionary income in hand to fund it) I'm in that category of "Dreamer" too.

I'll start making some phone calls and saving my pennies. Thank you again for the imput.

btw: started reading the media coverage of your goat. Impressive.. you had a handle on this PT thing long ago. Kudo's!

['71cutlasluvr]

Hi Gus I would follow Andrew's advice and give them a call to get the best guidance. You have listed all of the companies I was researching before I went with the RS frame. Nothing against the other guys but as you know the RS frame is amazing and I am sure they can help you out, I would ask for Tony, he was very helpful and always answered the dozens of questions I had. Everyone is using the C6 Spindle and suspension geometry up front, the 12 bolt rear end would work, I would just ship it to them so they could weld on all the new brackets. You could always sell the parts that won't fit on the new frame.
It is a big expense but like you said the time savings and peace of mind that it is done right was worth it to me.

Hi Eric,
Kinda figured you've already done the legwork. Also kinda figured you decided on RS for very good reasons. And considering your fabrication skills, and you're opting for a completed frame/suspension kit kinda tells me my results will be hit or miss, and this NEEDS to be done right. Thanks for your input, as always.
btw: me likey the shorter delrin body bushings... another item to add to my "things I need to get from Erics build thread" list

[andrewb70]

Yeah, you'r right, of course. Until I make decent progress (and have the discretionary income in hand to fund it) I'm in that category of "Dreamer" too.

I'll start making some phone calls and saving my pennies. Thank you again for the imput.

btw: started reading the media coverage of your goat. Impressive.. you had a handle on this PT thing long ago. Kudo's!

Thanks Gus. My GTO is pretty pedestrian for this day and age, but given the fact that it was built more than 12 years ago...and had some pretty unique features for the time, it does work well.

Andrew

[Fastmonty]

Eric, Gus, et all,

Great progress, as usual. Sorry for being absent... been kind of crazy with growing the little human, work, etc... but, I was able to perform the first test drive and take project "Green Envy" to the gas station yesterday. I also unveiled it to my Dad for the first time. He teared up, which was the goal... ha, ha.. Below is a brief Youtube link of the start up, and backing out of the driveway. I still have some carb idle issues, alignment, and final polishing to do. But, it was awesome turning heads at the gas station. Which I wish I video'd too.. .because, when we pulled up, there were a few folks admiring a freshly washed yellow C7 Corvette Stingray. I ended that party. Ha, ha...

http://youtu.be/rWDvi1H3ZSo

Talk soon, Mike

[mikes2nd]

New shorter Delrin body mounts.

Where did you get these from?

[Roger Poirier]

http://youtu.be/rWDvi1H3ZSo

Totally awesome. Job well done!

['71cutlasluvr]

Eric, Gus, et all,

Great progress, as usual. Sorry for being absent... been kind of crazy with growing the little human, work, etc... but, I was able to perform the first test drive and take project "Green Envy" to the gas station yesterday. I also unveiled it to my Dad for the first time. He teared up, which was the goal... ha, ha.. Below is a brief Youtube link of the start up, and backing out of the driveway. I still have some carb idle issues, alignment, and final polishing to do. But, it was awesome turning heads at the gas station. Which I wish I video'd too.. .because, when we pulled up, there were a few folks admiring a freshly washed yellow C7 Corvette Stingray. I ended that party. Ha, ha...

http://youtu.be/rWDvi1H3ZSo

Talk soon, Mike

Hey Mike! Welcome back and thanks for the pics and great vid. What a joy that must have been! And to ruin the 'vette's party was icing on the cake. I'll be that smile is STILL on your face! Kudo's!

I was gone a lot longer than you while I dabbled in autox and my one track day with my MX, but cold weather is here and time to get crackin' on the 442. A road trip to Eric's before turkey day is in the works so I can pic his brain and take in all the he has done, and specifically, I need to know what he ordered for his chassis from RS and why. So many questions... so little time.

btw: I subscribed to your youtube channel so please don't hesitate to start documenting your Goat's outings. Would love to see/hear more of her. My 442 is so far from completion, I must live vicariously through you. LOL

Enjoy!!
Gus

[ekmxryda]

Mike it looks and sounds great! Nice work! Cool that your Dad loved it, my Dad said he is first in line to go for a ride in mine too.

I have been keeping busy getting the major bodywork straightened out and the frame ready for paint after a few gusset plates.








Andrew don't sell yourself short, I still hop over to your build thread to steal ideas from your GTO!

[Fastmonty]

Roger, thanks for the compliment. It means a lot coming from you... especially because I used your car as inspiration.

Gus, thanks... I thought you'd be proud of my very first youtube post, ha, ha... I'll try and add more. Especially of the tail lights. And yes, my Dad and I are still smiling. Be careful taking that field trip to Eric's... you're going to have way too many cool ideas to deal with! ha, ha...

Eric, thanks... have you thought of changing your screen name to "Mr. Gussett"? ha, ha... Love the creative rigging to get that door dent pulled out... My next garage will have to have a gantry, like yours.

Keep up the great work!

Mike

[ekmxryda]

Hey Mike, yeah the extra gussets are probably overkill but I can blame them on my Dad and his military philosophy to plan for the worst then expect the best. SO I plan on hitting a typical New England pothole once in a while, you might not have them in California but around here they can do some real damage!
Frame was a full 12 hours to clean and get the primer on.



Now I need to hit all the suspension and rear end.

['71cutlasluvr]

Hey Mike, yeah the extra gussets are probably overkill but I can blame them on my Dad and his military philosophy to plan for the worst then expect the best. SO I plan on hitting a typical New England pothole once in a while, you might not have them in California but around here they can do some real damage!
Frame was a full 12 hours to clean and get the primer on.



Now I need to hit all the suspension and rear end.

Looking good Eric. Bet you saved a ton doing the frame painting yourself. Looks like I'm gonna have to brush up on MY painting skills as well. I have a couple of basic Eastwood spray guns I bought a long time ago when I had illusions of grandeur thinking I could do ALL the paint and body work myself, like you and Mike, but since then reality has set in... but perhaps the guns I have will be adequate to apply primer to the frame. I'll bring them with me when I visit you for your input. Before turkey day, for sure.

Ya know, since I'm so close, ya gotta give me a ride when she's done! THAT will be a great day!!

[ekmxryda]

Hey Gus, yeah a cheap gun is what I have used to get the SPI epoxy primer on and it worked fine, I am no expert painter but for the quality level I am after it looks ok.
For the SEM Rust Shield frame paint (Gloss with Hardener) I struggled with finding a good spray pattern, it is a thicker paint and they recommend a 1.6 tip and I only had a 1.4 the stuff went on a lot different, very sticky and took a long time to lay flat. Maybe with the right equipment it would have been easier? Wondering if anyone else used this paint and if they had luck with adding reducer?
Looks ok though, just don't get too close, haha!



Internal Frame Coating, Sanded Primer

[Motown 454]

Totally awesome. Job well done!

I agree with Roger 100% Beautiful ! I saw the video is sounds sweet!
ekmxryda I'm subscribed to your thread the frame looks great. I hear you on the NE pot holes.

[ekmxryda]

Thanks Wayne, hows the Camaro coming along? I also have back troubles, so using the hoist and chain falls when I can really helps!
So time consuming sanding and prepping all the suspension and rear end. Ground a radius on sway bar arms.

[ekmxryda]

Where did you get these from?

Hey Mikes2nd, sorry just noticed your post now.
My friend with a machine shop made them for me, bought the Delrin stock from McMaster for like $40
I can send you a drawing if you want, if you are using on an A body you have to modify the floor a little, plus a few other things like trans tunnel, shift linkage...

['71cutlasluvr]

Making some great progress Eric. Frame looks great. I'm sure the diff will look just as good. Yeah, I can see why it took 12 hours for cleaning and prep. Lots of metal to cover there.

I'm Curious.....Did your RS chassis arrive disassembled or did you take it apart before prep and paint?

[ekmxryda]

Hi Gus, yeah it came assembled check out post #109
Had good results reducing the Rust Shield with Xylene, adjusted the air at the gun up a little to make it easier to spray. 3 coats on all the suspension, rear end and underside of body.
Went with a gallon of flat then added the hardener which brings it to a semi gloss.
Tried the Eastwood 2K high temp cast gray on the spindles.