69 GTO Build

[ekmxryda]

Having a little separation anxiety!
Dropped off the GTO at the frame shop for some help squaring up the quarters at the door jamb, drivers side was still a little in from the accident. Cool to see most of the body together again, first time in 30 years. I hope the tarp stays on so it won't fill up with snow.
I have plenty of work to do on the LQ9 but once again the old house projects are stealing my time. So Gus I would think at least another year before I am driving it, unless Chip Foose and his crew want to help out.

Mike any news on the engine noise?

['71cutlasluvr]

She looks great Eric! It's such a shame that as nice as the body is and is gonna be, that beautiful chassis is hidden underneath. Sorry to hear she's off to the frame shop but at least you know what needs to be done and that you need a hand to get it done right. Another year? I might just catch up with you yet.... NOT!

I'm having second thoughts about going the RS chassis route. Between the cost of putting in the drainage system and plans to pave my huge driveway, available funds for my project car will be seriously depleted. (finally allowed to post pics... I probably didn't size them right last time. See below.

Since My car won't be put through the rigors of competition like yours, unless I hit the lottery or have a long lost aunt/uncle leave me $16k (which was the final tally with all the options I would want from RS) I will probably just modify the frame to accomodate coil overs. No notching, not even sure if mini tubbing will be needed. I'd love to emulate your goat with the 335's+, but at this time just can't justify the expense. Since I won't be putting on those big/huge/large meats like you are, I can get by with smaller rubber and skip the notch job. I will still add the boxing plates for stiffness.

Will have to check out Mike's thread. I think he got 295's on his goat without any frame mods? Perhaps the mini tubs will give me a bit more room, depending on how much the frame protrudes into the wheel well after minitubbing. Will have to research that.
Either way, since the frame is pretty much welded up from my one plasma cut, I'll leave it as is on the support stands and weld in the coil over bar that ABC provided for the rears. (have to cut out the stock rear spring perches... I can handle that at least!)

There's another builder, buryingthesun, doing a '67 firebird who really does his research. He came up with these for the front coil overs:

http://www.speedtechperformance.com/...rod/prd272.htm

This will keep me busy welding and prepping for body paint over the winter. I hope to make some serious progress this year.

You can be sure I'll be referencing yours, Mikes and buryingthesuns build threads. So much I don't know and will be learning as I go.

Once the coil over mods are in place and the body work is done, I can apply lizard skin to the body, clean up the firewall and we'll be fairly close to paint.

btw: -4 this morning! Sheesh. The good news is that Now that the driveway is frozen, no longer mud, I can move the body/cart up to the heated garage to pick away at the metal work. All the kids and mrs. cars have been maintained for the winter, the Miata will stay in the trailer until the spring, so hopefully no need to move the body for access to the lift.

Stay warm my friend. Hope you get your baby back soon. Mine may be in pieces but I can go out to the garage and see her anytime. I can understand your separation anxiety!

Hope you have a great 2015.

['71cutlasluvr]

Mike any news on the engine noise?

+1. How goes the battle Mike? As you can read in my last post, I'm back to referencing your build since I will be retaining the stock frame albeit with some stiffening pieces and a rear coil over setup from ABC performance. Front coil over setup will probably be from Speedtech, since I already have some of their pieces.

Was hoping you found the engine noise issue and it wasn't an expensive fix. Let us know when you can.

[Roger Poirier]

Having a little separation anxiety!
Dropped off the GTO at the frame shop for some help squaring up the quarters at the door jamb, drivers side was still a little in from the accident. Cool to see most of the body together again, first time in 30 years. I hope the tarp stays on so it won't fill up with snow.
I have plenty of work to do on the LQ9 but once again the old house projects are stealing my time. So Gus I would think at least another year before I am driving it, unless Chip Foose and his crew want to help out.

Your having anxiety, I'm having withdraw! A whole another year to go. It can't be... Then your going to paint the car satin black. It will be another ten years before it's painted. Since your into the car full board anyways you might as well paint it. Be done with it. Please, pretty please...

[Fastmonty]

Guys,

Just popping in... I really wish this site would notify me when there's a post. Anyway, let's see... the motor noise, which was clicking, went away. Which tells me the lifters were collapsed. I had removed all of the push rods, and did a compression test, as well as a cylinder load test. Nothing! The motor still has a nasty vibration, with and without power... sooooo, today I ordered my custom heads from Jim Butler himself. I will be using my 400 block, but converting it over to a stroker... hmmm about 467ci. 550+ hp and over 550 ft lbs. of torque. Should be fun. I'm waiting for my cherry picker to be delivered, then I'll start tearing it down. I suspect I pulled a rod bolt, and spun a bearing. Place your wagers...

Gus, I saw you asked about tire fitment. I have 285's. BUT, 295's will fit when I order tires again. I suggest getting a Wheel Rite tool. It's around $60, but helped select my wheel offsets, etc... I think it looks great, but the test will be when 600 ftlbs gets laid down. Ha, ha....

I'll keep you guys posted...

Mike

['71cutlasluvr]

Guys,

Just popping in... I really wish this site would notify me when there's a post.

Gus, I saw you asked about tire fitment. I have 285's. BUT, 295's will fit when I order tires again. I suggest getting a Wheel Rite tool. It's around $60, but helped select my wheel offsets, etc... I think it looks great, but the test will be when 600 ftlbs gets laid down. Ha, ha....

Mike

Hi Mike, Eric,

Long time no hear!
I agree Mike. I have not had ONE notification since the last post I made in January! Sheesh. For some reason, my subscription to this thread was cancelled.....
I should have checked in sooner, knowing you two won't be letting the winter slip by without making some serious progress.
Guess I got some catching up to do. A lot going on during my absence. Please forgive the late responses to posts made throughout the winter.

A wheel rite tool is in my amazon wish list Mike. Thanks for the recommendation. I have heard 295's will fit with careful backspacing. I'll be sure to double and triple check before I order tires and wheels. I Wonder if putting in the abc performance minitubs would give me a little more room or is the frame interference the bigger issue which would make installing the mini tubs a waste of time and effort? Your thoughts Mike?

Well winter was a bust for my pt project 442. Too much snow, so cold had to keep tractor in heated garage to be sure the diesel will start for each of the many MANY snowfalls we had this year. And the bay the tractor was in I needed to do the body work I had planned on for the winter. A big No Go. Horrible winter but spring is here! (Bet you enjoyed yesterdays 70 degrees Eric!) . I plan on minimizing my autocrossing this year so I can concentrate of the pt project. Hoping to have body done, engine in and body on frame by next winter. Perhaps even get some wiring done. Kind of ambitious but I'm ready to get the old girl back on track and on the road before I retire!

Kris (Horton) finally got the rendering done. See below. He did a great job and was very patient with my requests and changes.
He'll be sending me a 13 x 19" print of both views as shown as well as a thumb drive with high resolution image data of this view as well as the front and rear view separately so i can print out high res posters for the shop. Every bit of motivation helps!

Looking forward to catching up with your posts guys. Enjoy Spring!
atb
Gus

[Fastmonty]

Gus,

I was actually notified of your post! Ha, ha... Anyway, you're right... for a mini tub to be truly effective, you'll need to take an inch out of the frame. I'm sure Eric can verify that. That said, the inner rear corners, where the inside rear of the tire touches the body... you could notch that out, and fit 305's. An easy thing to do when your mocking up the body, etc... I thought of it, AFTER I was done painting. So, I didn't do it. Arrrggg.

Here's the latest with my motor build... New Butler ported heads are on. Measured and ordered the pushrods. So, next weekend I should have the motor ready to go to the dyno the following week. Fingers crossed...

['71cutlasluvr]

Gus,

I was actually notified of your post! Ha, ha... Anyway, you're right... for a mini tub to be truly effective, you'll need to take an inch out of the frame. I'm sure Eric can verify that. That said, the inner rear corners, where the inside rear of the tire touches the body... you could notch that out, and fit 305's. An easy thing to do when your mocking up the body, etc... I thought of it, AFTER I was done painting. So, I didn't do it. Arrrggg.

Here's the latest with my motor build... New Butler ported heads are on. Measured and ordered the pushrods. So, next weekend I should have the motor ready to go to the dyno the following week. Fingers crossed...

Hey Mike! Great to hear from you again. I actually got the email notification. Don't understand why I keep losing my subscription but maybe it will stick this time.

Thanks for the input on the mini tubs. Yeah, 305's would be perfect for my needs. I'll have to do some research about trimming the inner rear corners so I know exactly where to cut. But what a time/labor saver for me. For the most part I'll be emulating your build. Only difference really is the body, interior, wheels and of course, that motor. I will be reviewing your threads as I go but may pm you for specifics if the need arises so I don't clutter Erics thread any more than I already have.

Man your new Butler motor looks killer! I don't know the story behind the other motor yet as I haven't had a chance to go through all the old posts but looks like you did it right. A car that looks a nice as yours DESERVES a killer motor. Bet your Pysched!
in hopes that she fires up first time problem free. I would guess there will be no issues considering the build quality.

How about a viddy of the startup?? Please?? I haven't heard my big block rumble in almost two years and it's killing me!
Still living vicariously through you and Eric I guess.

Looking forward to restarting my pt project and to your advice and input Mike. Your build will be kind of a blueprint for mine since you've done all the research and legwork and ended up with a killer Goat on the stock frame.