65 GTO

[Thumpin455]

The addition of some auto dollies has made it much easier to work on this thing and the LeMans at the same time. I can push this thing around the shop easily and shove it out of the way to work without much effort. I should have bought those years ago, and now I need at least one more set.

The interior is coming out of the LeMans, going in this one, along with most of what is under the hood. The LeMans rear will find its way under the GTO even if it isnt posi, I want it to be the right width so wheels fit good and dont rub. Since I have an extra set of heads now, this one will get the 400 with the 5C heads from the 70 GTO's 455, and that 455 will go in the LeMans with the ported 670 heads. I dont want to mess with the 326 right now, even if it does run and the 400 is a known fresh engine.

The goal is Dave's birthday, May 5th and I am pretty sure I can meet that as long as I get the headliner figured out, a carpet in it, and find some glass for the doors and quarters. Its damn nice having a complete car to see where everything goes, and even pull it off one and put it directly on the other. Every day I am not too sore to work I will be in the shop doing something to these two, so things are about to go really fast.

[SuperBuickGuy]

hardest part of a headliner is the sail panels in the back. clamps and contact cement are your friends

[Thumpin455]

Got more done on it yesterday. I decided to take some time off from cars until we figured out what to do with our kitchen. It was an empty room when we moved in, and we just ordered new cabinets. Had to find out how much that would cost us, and then figure in the car projects into the monthly budget.

The fuel tank is in it, the heater box is bolted up, the dash is ready to go together, just need some bulbs for it. I pulled the speedo apart and put the odometer back to 000000 since its pretty much a new car and I want to keep track of the miles on it. Next up is swapping the manual box for the power box and putting the column back in, turns out the 65 has a different column for power or manual steering. Who knew. Makes me more than happy to have an entire car for parts.

Might drag the 400 out of its hole and swap the heads on it, then rebuild a trans for this thing. I am thinking 2004R and I wont need to change the shifter on the column since Dave probably wont use 1 or 2 in it, just put it in drive and go. Sure a Th350/400 would be cheaper, and not have a TV cable to worry about, but why not go for the mileage improvement. I am considering a constant pressure valve body for it, because that would make the TV issue less of a pain in the ass.

Still need to order the carpet and headliner, might wait on those until it is running. I lost a few parts, they were in a can that has vanished. In it where the brackets that hold the brake lines in place where the hoses connect to them and a ton of fasteners. I really dont want to pull that stuff off the LeMans, but if I dont find that can then its going to be the only way to move forward. The only thing keeping me from stuffing the engine in is the brake line that goes under the engine to the pass side front wheel.

So today its a clean the shop to find parts, and go into town to get some light bulbs kind of day. Once I find those brackets I can start putting the brake system together, then I just need a master cylinder and booster for it. Not too sure about the booster from the LeMans, but if it works then it isnt a problem.

[JOES66FURY]

maybe youre over thinking the mileage. Consider your short driving season and how often he is really going to drive the car, why not save the money and go with the less expensive option. It wont be his DD, it will spend most of its time in the garage...save the bucks...but thats just my logic...which ammounts to a hil of beans.

[Mater]

what rear gearing does the car have? i think the 350/400 would be fine and i do not think the milage diffrence would be that great unless he plans on drivng down the highway a lot

my newest GP i have only functions with 3 gears and the lebaron is going to a 3 speed as well

[JOES66FURY]

With the edelbrock in the Fury and the 727 I could get around 17mpg if i took it easy....not so much with the Holley.

[Thumpin455]

All the driving would be highway, since he lives as far out in BFE as I do. If its reliable and he likes driving it, it will probably see plenty of driving time. If it doesnt do as well on gas as his truck does, then it wont get driven no matter how much he likes it. Im not sure what gears are in the rear ends I can use for this one, but the 9" is still in Nebraska, the Olds rear has 2.93 and needs some clutch work in it before it goes under the LeMans, and I just havent checked the rear under the LeMans right now. My guess with the two speed is 2.73-3.31, but whatever gears it has that is probably the rear going on the GTO for now.

He could be driving it now, and last year it didnt snow until mid December, so it really varies on how long we can drive them. Could have had my hotrods out by March 15, but I waited to save some $$$ on insurance.

The difference for me between building a Th350 and a 2004R is about $200. Not a bank breaker by any means. Its cheap when you can build them yourself and you have multiple cores laying around. I have one Th400 on the floor that also needs built, and the Th350 in the shop didnt want to have high or reverse gear when I rebuilt it back in 01. I think its a separator plate issue since all the clutch packs check out with air. I have other 3 speed transmissions, but they are in cars right now. I have three 2004Rs sitting here, one with new clutches and seals but needs a front pump. The most I would have to do with that one is pull a pump from another, and stuff the VB in it. Then I have three 700R4s in vehicles, but I would rather not use one of those for this one, I like them in my trucks.

The really fast way to get this thing running would be to yank the engine and trans out of the 79 TA, then find some Olds mounts and headers for an A body. That is a good running 403, it really likes the Qjet I built for it last fall. Im pretty sure I could get around 20mpg with that one and the 2004R behind it without much trouble. I'd rather not do that because then the TA isnt mobile on its own, but it is an option if I find an issue with the 400.

[Mater]

ahh i thought the th35/400 was ready to go.

and the olds 403 in a 65 GTO wile i think it would be cool and diffrent. i can just see the pontiac forum having an anerism

[Thumpin455]

I ran a Trans Am 403 in my 72 GTO for a few years too, they are wonderful cruiser engines. Decent power, easy on gas, nice idle and no problem to work on especially since all of mine have been very reliable. They just arent wonderful for running 11s or faster. For that I like Pontiac.

Here in a bit I will pull the heads off the 455 that was in the 70 GTO, and we can see what effect running it on E85 has had. With luck I can have the engine work done today or tomorrow. The dash bulbs showed up this morning so the dash can go together now, and all it will need is the power steering box and the dash will be done.

[Thumpin455]

Here is the dash all installed. The wires are mostly connected, need to connect the heater controls then put the radio and defrosting duct back in. For the most part its done.




My daughter has been cleaning the seats and door panels. They came out ok, still could use new covers on the fronts and new door panels, but for now they will work. Better ones will come later.



Then there are the engines. The 455 is on the small cart, the 400 is on the stand. Really need to do some cleaning on them.



Once the power steering box is in this one, then the column can be mounted in the right position. Need to figure out some carpet and sound deadener, want to do dynamat but $$$. With luck, if I get up before noon, I will probably do the engine work tomorrow. Swap the 2802 cam in the 400 and the heads from the 455, button it all up and wait until I can stuff it in. Really thinking about using the front drive from the 326, and the valve covers, so it looks like a 65 engine, since I will have the front off to swap cams now would be the perfect time for it.

Going slow, but the weather is making me stiff and sore. Just barely motivated enough to mess with the cars.

[Mater]

wow it's almost done hard to belive it's the same car back on page 1

[R442]

The car looks great I went back and followed the pictures from the beginning, amazing. I have never used Dynamat but I followed 1946Austins lead on the home improvement store duct insulation. It cost me $16 for a 15'x12" roll of adhesive backed insulation. I did from firewall to back seat in my 66 442 and used 2-1/4 rolls. The adhesive sticks well and it is very easy to work with. It was a little hard to find but it is in with the HVAC duct work and supplies.

Good luck with the rest of the car, can't wait to see the final product.

[Thumpin455]

I have some duct insulation, the thing I am concerned about is a tar smell when it gets hot. The last thing I need is the interior of the car smelling like a freshly tarred roof on a July day. It apparently isnt the foam backed stuff that you guys used. Might have to run into town and see if I can find something different. I would do most of the interior with it, including under the headliner and all around the foot wells. Having the doors close with a nice thunk instead of a clang and some rattles would be great. I dont want it sounding like my drag car going down the road.

I cant wait to see the final product, the amount of work I still have to do overwhelms me sometimes. Still have to cut and buff the clear, install the engine and everything that connects to it, do the brakes, figure out the rear end situation, headliner of some sort, glass, and a ton of small stuff... Wish I had some kindly gnomes with awesome mechanical ability that would do stuff for me while I sleep.

[mlcraven]

My daughter has been cleaning the seats and door panels. They came out ok, still could use new covers on the fronts and new door panels, but for now they will work. Better ones will come later.



Going slow, but the weather is making me stiff and sore. Just barely motivated enough to mess with the cars.

Wish my white interior (Ford/Mercury call it "parchment" in 67) was as tiddly as that. Man has this beauty come a long way. You're getting very close...don't stop -- think how it's motivating others!!!! (me, for one)

[Thumpin455]

Gm calls it parchment too. These parts have a pearl look to them in the right light. Kinda cool.

I have the heads swapped on the 400 now, just about to head out and torque them down and put the lifters on the Summit cam. Was looking up the specs when I remembered I have a book with them in it already in the shop. I dont trust my memory with torque specs anymore...