69 GTO Build

[car_guy]

Your goat is gonna be mean as hell. Its going to be very cool to see the RS chassis slide under it!

[ekmxryda]

Thanks guys,
69*Goat I am going to be paying for it for 3 to 5 years!
Car_guy I have been following your build, great work! You finish those quarters yet?

Working on shaved drip rails and lead work, although I should be working on the mini tubs.
I think I have project ADHD!

[Slammd-Gto]

Ok I gotta ask, what's the proper way to shave the drip rails? I've seen horrible results from people just cutting them off and them blowing wide open. I'm looking to do it to my 69 lemans so this is perfect timing. Any draw backs to doing this ?

[carolina69bird]

just cut couple inches at a time then weld it then cut more then weld it and so on if you just do small sections at a time it will not blow apart

[ekmxryda]

I got lucky by just using a sawzall and taking it all off in one shot, it was probably just beginners luck, haha! But the two layers didnt spring open at all, so after I ground it down flush I just moved around with the tack welds to keep the heat down. If I were to do it again I would back the weld with a piece of copper to cut down on the grinding on the backside (or inside next to the weather strip)
Went from Grinding Wheel to Flapper Wheel then a Belt Sander to get it flat. I plan on welding a little more along the low spots and doing more grinding to level it out better.Might end up leveling off the inside next to the weather strip with epoxy.
Dealing with the lead in the front isnt that bad, just get the areas really clean first or it wont stick when you re do the lead. Get all your welding done first before you do the lead.
I dont know of any downsides yet but I am sure I will find out when I drive in the rain.
Here is a reference video for ya, starts around 12 minutes in.
Good luck!

http://www.powerblocktv.com/episodes...smobile-part-3

[67speedfreak]

Big boost for the GTO today! Just got off the phone with Tony at the Roadster Shop.
I am excited that my cautious frugal side was convinced by my wild and crazy side to make the jump and go for it!
Thanks to my wife for not killing me too!

Attachment 85523

Very Nice ! Can't wait to see the finished product !

[ekmxryda]

Hey thanks 67Speedfreak!
Established a center line for the rear after a lot of measuring back and forth.
I think the tubs will measure 40" between the insides, at least that is what I am shooting for. So that means the tubs are in 3.5" instead of the 3" I mentioned before.
I will let you all know the final dimensions after its all welded up.

[Fastmonty]

Eric, great progress... especially the frame decision... I might have to add that to my Rev 3.0 list. Ha, ha... at least I already have the 13" and 14" Willwoods. Any way, I painted the entire car last weekend... so, I hope it inspires everyone here. Now I get to color sand and buff... I can't wait for the sanding to end! I've been sanding for freakin year!

Enjoy, Mike.

[jtwoods4]

PM me if you have any build questions. I finished a 69 GTO last year and it was built for road race and auto cross. This is a hell of a big car for auto cross so you ha e to get her low and stiffen everything up. Here are some videos of the goat at autocross and road course.

[ekmxryda]

Mike nice job on the paint! All that sanding will pay off just take your time, love the spray booth too, I will be doing the same setup.
What system did you go with? I have some SPI epoxy primer but need to pick up some 2K primer.
Hey I will have to drive out and let you test drive it when its done (if you can wait that long) haha!

Thanks for the inspiration jtwoods4 I cant wait to be able to get out there!
I am sure I will hit you up with questions, thanks.

Pic of the night, some 28 year old boxes of GTO parts.

[raustinss]

Just so you know if you shave off the drip rail anytime there is any water...rain..dew..snow...whatever on the roof it will drip right into the interior, I found this out driving my Chevelle in the rain and opened the Window a bit for fresh air. Now I did have my drip rails on but I was missing the A pillar stainless trim piece. It doesn't sound like much but realize the rain then hits the Window and some of it will get passed your windows fuzzies...into the door and quarter panel
Good luck Ryan

[Fastmonty]

Eric,

Thanks... the paint looks pretty good, for my first time. Some trash here and there, a couple minor clear coat runs, but that's to be expected shooting in a garage. Because this was my first time, I went high end with the paint materials, because they're typically much more forgiving. That said, I used all BASF Glasurit line... Epoxy, DTM Primer, and the Clear. The Base Coat is BASF Limco, which is their low cost line and how I saved a little money. I used a Devilbiss Finishline 4 for the primers and a SATA for the base and clear. In all honesty, the bumper prep was the bitch... when you get to that point, I'll be happy to give some pointers. I can't wait to hang it, it's gonna look mean...

Sooooo, if you're willing to drive out to San Diego, hell yes I can wait. Ha, ha...

JT, good to hear from you... I came across your youtube videos online a while ago, very inspirational. What suspension did you go with?

Mike

['71cutlasluvr]

Hey Eric,

Thanks for the link. I've subscribed. I will read through the whole thing during the weekend. You have a lot of talent my friend. I am no where near your level! Not sure how local you are to me but if you'd like to pm me, I'd be happy to have you visit my place and perhaps I could visit yours. I am south on 395 about 25 minutes from Thompson.

btw: Wish I did my floor like yours. Mine is gray and is fading horribly. even though I cleared it. Your's looks like new.

I've always loved GTO's... Had a 1967 but let her go when I lost my job in the late 70's. Still kicking myself. My fav years, like my cutlass', are the '68-'72's. In fact, I like all a-bodies during that range. But my grandfather was an olds man and it kinda rubbed off I guess. I attached the wip rendering here also in case your gto brethern might get a kick out of.
Attachment 86198
btw: enjoy that fact that your daughter has an interest in your car project now. When mine hit her mid to late teens, dad and his musclecars were forgotten to make way to social stuff.
But she does think my cutlass' are cool and the autocross Miata will be a blast.

I will comment on your post on the other thread later this weekend, but gotta put the snow tires/wheels on my two daughters cars and they ain't gonna jump on there by themselves! Time's like this I am very "thankful" to have the lift. Hope your turkey day was a good one.

[cwmiller]

Congrats on the new frame, thats great news. I haven't had much time to work on my GTO lately... been working all over the country! Looking great and keep the updates coming.

[ekmxryda]

Hi Gus,
Thanks for the kind words, through careful editing I only show the stuff that looks good, haha! It feels like I have a long way to go compared to a bunch of the builds on here.
Would be fun to get together and trade build thoughts, and garage thoughts. I think we are less than 2 hours apart. Everyone is always welcome to stop in my garage, just PM me and let me know.
Your rendering looks really good, seems like we are on the same path! I love the look of the 442.
The floor has help up well, I put it on six years ago and it takes a lot of abuse, I usually keep some wood under the places I am welding.
http://www.ucoatit.com/2011web/main.htm
A lift is on my list someday, poured the slab deeper in spots to mount one. Turkey day was great, still recovering! Was able to get some work done between eating.

Hi Cameron,
Stop working so much and get back to the fun stuff!
I feel very lucky to be able to work on the GTO now, after it sitting in the background for so long its nice to make small steps forward, I used to constantly sketch build thoughts and research parts for years to keep motivated.

Committed to a location for the inner wheel house. If it does'nt work out it will be hammer time!


Made up some 14 Gage filler brackets.
Hope to finish this side tomorrow...



Had a scary moment spinning the body into this position, it must have shifted a little while making a loud bang. I thought it was going to drop onto the roof!

[ponjohn]

In for another Pontiac.

Nice work.

['71cutlasluvr]

[QUOTE=ekmxryda;1034101]Hi Gus,
Thanks for the kind words, through careful editing I only show the stuff that looks good, haha! It feels like I have a long way to go compared to a bunch of the builds on here.
Would be fun to get together and trade build thoughts, and garage thoughts. I think we are less than 2 hours apart. Everyone is always welcome to stop in my garage, just PM me and let me know.
Your rendering looks really good, seems like we are on the same path! I love the look of the 442.
The floor has help up well, I put it on six years ago and it takes a lot of abuse, I usually keep some wood under the places I am welding.
http://www.ucoatit.com/2011web/main.htm
A lift is on my list someday, poured the slab deeper in spots to mount one. Turkey day was great, still recovering! Was able to get some work done between eating.

Sounds like a plan Eric. Perhaps after the holidays and cabin fever has taken over! Or if you are heading to thompson someday to check out the track, you could stop by.

The rendering is far from complete, as is the project. I am doing the abc mini tub/frame notch route. Have all the parts but buying the MX5 threw everything into chaos so everything is boxed, stored and awaiting the spring. I decided to go high end and ordered the AFX spindles and SPC adjustable upper control arms from Mark at SC&C. The spindles are works of art. Pricey but I'll have no excuse for crummy driving since it will be the driver's lack of skill, not the car!

I used ucoatit also, but my concrete was only a couple months old so perhaps did not cure enough but I had no choice. Do it now or don't do it. Lot's of bubbling over the years (8) but it's better than bare concrete I guess. In preperation for the lift, I added a few inches to the depth where the lift would sit, total of 6" per most lift mfrs recommendations. Also had the higher psi strength concrete poured, also per mfrs recommendations. It was seven years before I could afford to do the lift, but well worth the wait. Here's a couple of pics of the install and finished project. Without the tractor and the help of a good friend and his son (mainly to raise the assembled columns) I would have had to pay to have it installed.


Attachment 86248Attachment 86249Attachment 86250Attachment 86251Attachment 86252


Bought the lift from Greg Smith equipment. Excellent company to deal with . Great price. Feel free to ask any questions if the spirit moves.

Good luck on keeping your project moving. I look forward to following your progress Eric.

[bonecrrusher]

Nice lift!

[ekmxryda]

Thanks ponjohn!
Mike I will check out the BASF line and bug you when I get on the bumper prep, I had it medial blasted but it has some cuts and nicks that will need some prep. Looking forward to getting some paint on, I have painted a dozen or so cars in outdoor tarp booths but that was 20 years ago!
Gus I like the lift, I was planning on a two post like that. I will call your guy when the day comes. I am jealous of the tractor and the land you must have to justify it, haha! I am trapped on a quarter acre here! Will have to stop in after the holidays to check out your rides.
Bonecrusher you have one of the best sleepers out there with the Pontiac G8 GT! Want to get one for commuting but my insurance would go up from all the tickets.

['71cutlasluvr]

Nice lift!

Thanks bonecrrusher