1966 GTO Project Hell Beast

[robbie9999]

Alright Lads! Purchased car from Southern Tennessee 8 years ago, resorted it too numbers matching, after driving it for the past two years got sick of the piss poor handling, sick of jetting the tri-power carbs, the horrible gas mileage, and so on, but wanted to keep the look, so starts the conversion from original to "pro touring" / "rest mod" first order of business find a really gay ass name for my build lol "project hell beast"...why not

- LS3 MOTOR - Had 20K on it put in the GM HOTCAM 480HP to the crank
- HOWL ENGINE HARNESS AND COMPUTER - tuned should put motor to 500 just estimate, will provide real horsepower to wheel on dyno later est. 425 to wheels who knows?
- Tremec TKO 600 - from Hurst drive line
- 12 BOLT POSI REAR END - 3.73 gears
- C5 Radiator and Dual Electric Fan
- Qa1 SHOCKS - all four corners
- Custom Dash - take a look at picture
- Wilwood Brakes
- IDIDIT Steering Column
- LS Swap Headers (BRP Muscle)
- Fat mat Extreme 70MM - were dynamat is 67 MM thick (Fat mat is half the price)
- HOTKIS SUSPENSION - Extreme Swap bars front and back, tie rods, all rear components, all upper and lower arms
- New Body Bolts and Rubber
- Changing front bumper and grills to 1967 GTO (the only part of the 66 GTO I did not like)

There will be more, parts to add and a ton I have missed, currently I have the car at the mechanics, I pulled the motor and trans out sold it for a good amount, pulled the seats the carpet back for help to begin cutting the tunnel. What’s happening with the car now check the pictures. Frame off sandblasted, will be primed and shot chassis black, bottom will be lizard skinned, interior will be Fat mat, then bolt everything.

I am looking to go 19X8 in the front and 20x10 rear - need help though with what will work, anyone?? I am looking to go pimpish but I do like the wheels I attached, I see a lot of 20 and 18's, which kinda look off to me, need help with backspacing. Any help or suggestions on set up would be great, new to the change, and would like to learn from experience, although its under way, Does anyone have photo shop that they can put these wheels on the car for me?
As well as any fine tuning that has helped your project and car handling and power to weight ratio.

[Todd in Vancouver]

What a beautiful car and good for you for making it what you want and enjoying being able to drive it. Subscribed and will be following along on you journey to build your car.

[Zanie]

"Changing front bumper and grills to 1967 GTO (the only part of the 66 GTO I did not like)"
......really?
I guess the 67 grill is a little softer and more stylish.
.....the 66 does have the best tail lights!
Can't wait to see you drive the wheels off it!

[robbie9999]

Thanks Tood Thanks Jason, will post progress up ASAP looking for the build to be complete in the next three months, took me a year to sell the engine and trans to come up with all the parts needed for the conversion. Once completed I will beat it ! Like Ike did Tina !

[66larkgs]

nice build!! i am doing a 66 lark and had to wait to collect parts too.. it is like xmas when the brown truck pulls up to your door thou... keep up the good work and cant wait to see it running

[Compaan-Designs]

Nice! I love Pro Touring GTO's!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I bet a lot of resto guys are looking for ya but who cares make it your own..

[66larkgs]

any progress?? really looking forward to your build. are you doing the work yourself?

[robbie9999]

Hi Paul,

I will be posting pics up ASAP hoping by next Friday of progress made, this build will not take 16.7 years, I want to be driving it by spring !

We have run into clearence issues with the existing manifolds on the LS3, I have ordered LS SWAP HEADERS from BRP muscle who go through Headman Headers, unfortunately Headman has not be supplied tubing, so the hearders are just not shipping, hope to have them by next week, run them down to the shop.

Paul - I have done the prelim work with getting the motor trans, and stripping off the stuff required, I do not have the tools nor the time with kids to complete the work myself at this juncture, if I have days off the mechanic lets me do some of the work. .. Post pics soon,

Biggest issue now is ordering wheels that will not rub and get backspacing down to a T ! any suggetions

[66larkgs]

i saw that your rear end already came in. do you know the total width of the rear? i like to install the rear end put the rotor or drum on the rearend and clamp a piece of flat bar that is 29" long to simulate the diameter of the tire and rim. i measure from the inside of the flat bar to the inside of the frame rail where it kicks up over the axle. that will tell you the backspacing. subtract half a inch to take the rim off of the frame rail. i narrowed my rear by 2" total and run a 20x9 in the rear and i run a 4.5 back spacing with a ton of room on each side. i would buy the tire you want to run first than set it up like i said and you should be good. The reason i do a piece so long is so when you put in on the front hub to measure for the front wheel and do a steering sweep you can tell how much clearance you will have from the tire and the suspention componants.

[robbie9999]

Hey Guys

There has been some major progress

1. Frame blasted and painted
2. Installed Engine and Trans, needs to move up higher an inch touching the steering
3. Finally got the BRP LS SWAP HEADERS they work perfect !! thank god
4. Rear Wilwood brakes installed
5. All Hotckis suspension installed

- need to buy cooler for steering pump, battery cables, optima yellow top battery,
- the car being 45 years old barely any rust, just surface, will be grind out, then all Lizard skinned,
- the back tires are 8 inches, I have measured the back with it being 11.5 across so I do believe 20X10 in rear will work
- need to dumby wheels and tires for front to find in the interim

Robbie

[66larkgs]

Looking good, what type are those front sway bar end links? Looks like you have been very busy! 20x10 shouldn't be a issue, what was the measurement from the face of the rotor to the inside of the frame? I bet you are going to be 6.0 b/s.

[robbie9999]

Hi Paul believe there hotckis came with the sway bar, as well from the points you discussed I will do the measurements

[qnitro]

great looking car.. our cars will be twins

[robbie9999]

Hi Kevin

Thanks for the information last night.

I will be looking to go 275/35/20 in back and 245/40/19 out front ...

How low did you drop your car ?

Robbie

[qnitro]

Man, I think I went a full 2 inches total... when I get the car back I can measure fenders for you

[muthstryker]

You guys are reallly making me miss my damn GTO....!!

[qnitro]

Matt,

you make the hat trick...Sure wish you had yours still

[robbie9999]

Hi Boys.

More progress,

- Tunnel now has to be cut in may have to cut further back to ensure drive shaft clears
- may have to buy dropped 2 inch sindles for camber ? did not want to ask the coil overs will help with the drop, and do not want to go to low but will see now
- next steps lizard skin bottom
- CAR is not sitting at proper height so dont worry lol
- some new parts came in steering rack, wiring, etc.
- BRP headers fit perfect thank god !!


Robbie

[qnitro]

looking good