65 GTO

[Thumpin455]

Re: 65 GTO

Here is what I have gotten done on it lately. Yes I have been lazy as well as busy with other stuff. The drivers fender had a crease along the trailing edge where the Tempest door had smashed it in when it was opened. Pulled that apart and kicked the crease down, getting it pretty close. Far from final but its much better. The passenger side is needing more work, but it seems more solid than either drivers side I have. I wish they repopped these things, that would simplify my life considerably.





Got some sand blasting done on the radiator support, it is turning out nice. A coat of POR and a bit of rust repair, then its primer and a top coat. If I am motivated enough tomorrow I will knock out the rust holes and get the thing covered.



It would be nice to get started on the primer yet this month, I have lots of welding to do before I can shoot anything on it. I cant buy the paint for a while, need to find a source for firewood before October, I go through 25-35 face cords each winter. Since I cant buy the paint for a while, I have plenty of time to get the body work done and the thing straight. I hate painting in winter, but it is much less humidity then.

[DanStokes]

Re: 65 GTO

Todd summed up the painting process nicely. John - like I said - work out the timing and I'll come help/teach. The stuff with Mom may make my time a bit harder to come by but I'll bet we can do something. And DON'T settle for a flat paint job. You won't really learn how to prep and paint if you do that.

Dan

[Thumpin455]

Re: 65 GTO

Got the rust repaired on the radiator support, stiffened it up a tad in the process, then slathered it in POR. Also got the quarter panel almost perfectly trimmed to fit, I'll finish it up tomorrow and weld it. I dont have any pics of the quarter and you cant tell where I did the patches after it was painted black, so I am happy with how it came out.





Its gettin there!

[milner351]

Re: 65 GTO

;D

[Thumpin455]

Re: 65 GTO

Hit another snag with this thing. I have the quarter trimmed to fit and I mounted the trunk lid to be sure the quarter lines up and the gap is even. Then when I tried to close the trunk, well it hit the filler panel above it. So I adjusted it outward and it still has almost half an inch of overlap. This will not do. Apparently the hinges were bent at some point, so now I need to figure out how to make the trunk lid fit without elongating the holes so far the trunk is a slip on instead of bolt on. Yanking on it isnt as easy as it looks, if you pull the lid itself you can buckle it or dent it pretty bad long before the hinges move far enough. If you yank the hinges you can pull them off center or rip them completely out, not good either. How to do it without screwing anything up is what has been vexing me for three days now.




The other little gem I found was an inch deep gouge in the drivers door. It was filled with bondo instead of being worked at all. Not sure what happened here but its deep and localized. Its not like it is in a hard to reach spot, they just didnt want to fix it, so they mudded it. A common theme with this poor Goat.





That quarter sure looks like it belongs though dont it? I guess I can do something right.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: 65 GTO

It's absolutely nauseating how well it looks like it belongs there. Nice work. Too bad you're not a 1000 miles closer, I'd dump my crap off in your driveway with beer and pizza on the seat.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: 65 GTO

i'd do you one better...I would dump my crap off with beer, pizza and a few hundred bucks...

[Thumpin455]

Re: 65 GTO

So I should start a shop called 'low buck restorations' then? What is a good motto for the shop? Will cure cancer for pizza and beer?

We have a large sign between our driveways that used to say Rodgers Classic Cars, right now it says you should vote for our Judge that got a DUI. After the election were are going to put up letters on the sign that say RUST HAVEN... Maybe in small letters, "Ensure your tetanus shot is up to date"...

[DanStokes]

Re: 65 GTO

I hope we can get up that way some day. This year's trip to MN and MI has to be kind of fast as I have to get back to FL to take care of Mom but we have been known to go from St. Paul to Ann Arbor by going thru the UP. Maybe next year. Let me know what the sign says so I can find you!

Dan

[milner351]

Re: 65 GTO

Inch thick bondo - that didn't fall off? Amazing.

This thing has been full of surprises -- your tenacity is inspiring.

[Thumpin455]

Re: 65 GTO

Its easy to find this place Dan, no matter what the sign says. As long as I am living here you guys are welcome to stop in, just send a PM and I will tell you where it is, if you cant find it driving down M28. Its not as much tenacity as it is boredom and a need to repay her dad.

I got the pass side fender sanded down, need to do a bit of blasting on it and some rust repair. Havent figured out what to do about the trunk yet, still pondering that. The filler panel may have been stamped wrong, its hard to say right now.

[Huskinhano]

Re: 65 GTO

Todd, 're simply amazing ;D I'm here struggling to get my 66 Mustang road worthy and it just needs some simple shit to complete my 4 speed swap. Time and money are against me :'( along with the hornets that keep stinging me :

[Thumpin455]

Re: 65 GTO

Well you do it as you can. I managed to get the trunk lid to fit better today, made a hinge adjustment and now it fits. So after the truck gets fixed tomorrow, I can do some welding on the 65, its like a veterinary clinic here with all the Goats having surgery..

I'll get pics of it later.

[catchmeblue70]

Re: 65 GTO

I am completely amazed at what you've done with this car so far.

[Thumpin455]

Re: 65 GTO

I am completely amazed at what you've done with this car so far.

Heh, so am I. Back at it on this one tomorrow, if all things work out. I want to do more welding after I get the truck fixed