69 GTO Build

[derdingle]

Just Dashes will be putting the screen in and angling it towards the driver seat with a slight inset to match the factory look.
It will have the same style as the dash in this picture, but with the panel, not gauges.
All functions will be moved to the switch panel, and the ashtray removed, leaving a clean look.

I don't have a build thread yet, but I will be starting one soon enough. 1969 GTO full build threads are rare and extremely helpful, so I would like to leave my experience documented for others, just as you are, as well for my 4yo twin nephews who will one day inherit it.



My brother and father picked up the car in Fairbanks AK while they were stationed at Fort Wainwright in 2004. They moved back to Albuquerque NM a few years later and it's been sitting on the side of the house till I moved here in 2019 and started tearing it down. Dad/mom are handicap so I work remotely from their house for my employer in Boston (I lived in Wellesley from 2012-19 since you happen to be from the area). Since I have the time/tools/space to work on it, I decided for a full tear down and restore when covid hit. Dad raced NHRA Funny cars in the 70s so all his experience is a huge asset. Basically a father and sons project.

As for plans, here is the current setup. It always evolves as time goes on and new things are released to the aftermarket. Just time and money...

• GM 2020 Corvette "Red Mist" for the paint color. I decided to go with an easily reproduced and blended color in the event the car is in an accident. I have a 2012 GS Corvette and have taken a lot of ideas from it to build into the GTO, such has a handbrake instead of the foot pedal.
• I am in the process of tearing the original 400ci motor down to install an Eagle stroker kit to 461ci. (Has 84k original miles on the car.) I have an Edelbrock Pro-Flow 4 fuel injection system, CVF Racing serpentine belt setup, Vintage Air, and Meziere electric water pump, at the moment. A Butler Performance top end will be the finishing touch. (Comp Cam/Edelbrock heads)
• I ended up replacing the trunk floor, rear quarters, and front fenders as there was quite a bit of rust/repair from sitting in a barn in interior AK. Luckily I have a body guy that lives down the street that has been doing it for 30yrs. He has a 1964 Chevelle that we will be restoring next since I have the shop, lift, tools, and time to assist him.
• Went with the fiberglass console from Modern Classic Interiors so I can keep the double-din radio, power window switches, Digital Dakota climate controls, etc, off the dash. I have a set of Dakota Digital gauges that have an interface to the Edelbrock system to get data from as well.
• I picked up a set of 2005 BMW M3 convertible seats since they have the seat belt built into them, fully electric, and were $200 for the pair. I will have them recovered locally as I am having a hard time finding a set of covers pre-made. I have a complete rear interior for a 2005 GTO that I am going to install so I can have buckets in the back too.
• The outer door handles are being replaced with Classic "Spoon" Style Door Handles by Kindig-it Design as I love the shaved door handle look.
• Front suspension is a UMI upper/lower control arm with Speedway tall 2" drop spindles and a full QA1 coilover kit. The rear is a solid mount upper/lower trailing arm from Massive with a Auburn mini-spool 3.55 gear. Wheels are 17" Year One Rally 2 staggered setup.
• The car was a bought with basically no options other than a Muncie M20, radio, and hideaway headlights, so I put in power front disc brake setup and power steering. The late model quick ratio steering box makes a world of difference from the original manual steering box.
• I replaced every single plastic part of the front hideaway headlight system as it was held together with epoxy and such...as well as a vacuum-to-electric conversion kit from www.dicksterssmartpants.com.

Anyway, I digress. I could spend pages going over everything, and I don't want to intrude too much into your thread. I will put a link to my thread soon enough.

You are doing a great job, and thank you for all the pics and info so far. I look forward to seeing it finished.


Just Dashes example:


Right before the tear down: