65 GTO

[Huskinhano]

Whoa!

[Thumpin455]

Been cleaning parts and putting stuff on. Bead blasted the intake a couple days ago, it should be on tomorrow, need to get some paint to make the engine purdy again. Started cleaning the 2.56 geared rear that came in the LeMans, and once the wheel cylinders are changed the brakes will be good. New lines, hoses and everything cleaned and shiny. The small stuff takes almost as long as the big stuff, mostly because there is so much more small stuff. Didnt I say that already somewhere in here?

It finally looks like a GTO again, not a half put together car.

[JOES66FURY]

. Time to start getting things wired up and running, I want to video this thing doing a big smoky burnout before winter sets in.

thats the spirit man!

[STINEY]

That's just the Patina trying to creep back.


Car looks super. Will you POR the backside of the bumper? Looks like a good place for it.

[Thumpin455]

Thanks guys, got a little more done yesterday, havent been feeling well due to fighting some respiratory issues. Not sure whats causing it, but man it kicks my ass. It took longer than I expected to get the headlights in, still need adjusted. Also the bumper mounts are too narrow, so I have to break the bolts loose and move the brackets around so I can put the bumper on. Decided to let it sit overnight with PB on it and see how they do today. Time to start getting things wired up and running, I want to video this thing doing a big smoky burnout before winter sets in.

[JOES66FURY]

finish it and drive it before the snow comes...it aint perfect...so effing what. you think Davie is gonna give 2 shits that it aint..I would be proud as a peacock to roll that car man...congrats!

[cantvalve16]

Todd, if you didn't do anything but reassemble the car to the point of it being operational it would be more than a triumph. The car has come so far and looks fantastic. Not perfect, but fantastic. You saved a muscle car from the tin worm. Beautiful job. The true appreciation will come from seeing it's new owner bask in muscle car glory.

[SuperBuickGuy]

I was in the same spot on the Corvette - I'm going with "drive the wheels off it and then repaint it again in a dozen years or so".... but I figure a flaw or 10 gives it character.

Todd, you've done an amazing job resurrecting Lazarus from the dead; don't sweat the little sh*t - if you do, then the guy who drives it will be a nervous wreck not wanting to mess up a perfect car.... at least, that's how I'd be after watching the blood, sweat, and tears you've lavished on this car.

[Thumpin455]

Yeah, its a pain in the ass, but why not look at the bright side instead of getting discouraged? It doesnt look too bad, but man the pics really show the spot where I ran out of clear on the third coat. The paint is lifting on the drivers side fender, just a small spot, but enough that it will make me reshoot the entire fender just to be sure I got it all. Might as well order a hood for it and shoot that too while I am at it.

Repainting it will allow me to fix some spots I messed up, the pin stripe, and all the chips it has gotten sitting around in pieces. Just going to get it running and driving before I do the repaint, that way its a simple job without anything being screwed up in assembly. All the jambs are done, the weather stripping wont need pulled, just spend the time getting parts of it right. Might find a new door for the drivers side while I am at it, this one still needs tons of work.

Here it is with the front end almost done. The headlight buckets are painted and ready to go in again, the bumper is all I need to install to finish the exterior, but it needs one more piece for the pass side wheel well. After that, the body is done enough for now. Over the winter I will try to put EFI on the 70, and get the Mustang done, maybe pull the LeMans in and do something to it too. None of that will happen if this thing doesnt spend the winter at Dave's house.

[Scott Liggett]

Found out the hard way that POR15 does not stick to good metal, but it sure sticks to rusty spots.

I found the same thing. It doesn't stick to non rusty, or clean, smooth metal. You have to rough up the good metal significantly to get it to stick for the long haul.

[Thumpin455]

Found out the hard way that POR15 does not stick to good metal, but it sure sticks to rusty spots. I think I am done using the stuff, every can has been sealed shut when I got it so it has to be ripped open the hard way. On suspension and parts under the car, sure it works great. Never again on the body.

Short story, I gotta repaint a good portion of the car now. Might as well do the whole thing in the spring and fix all the stuff I missed before, along with fixing the stuff that is showing up already.

I got the front end on most of the way, will have pics later.

[milner351]

Nice work Todd and Walt!

[silver_bullet]

WOW... Looking goooood!! Being from the "rust belt",
I can really appreciate your efforts!!

[Thumpin455]

Well if she were closer to Michigan I would gladly trade her a flat hood for the GTO hood Dan. I would even paint it the factory color and make absolutely sure it was rust free and no dents anywhere. Maybe if someone wants to make a road trip with a truck and happen to be going that way....

[DanStokes]

Todd - looks GREAT! I REALLY like that you saved this from being made into 15 Kias - and I really don't hate Kias. Just that we don't need to give up all of our wonderful old American iron to make them.

I'd be proud to have it in the shop.

One of these days I'll remember to take a camera when I'm driving down near the medical center here in town. There's a PERFECT '65 LeMans 2 dr. HT that was the owners Mom's car from new. The owner uses it as pretty much her daily driver so I see it out in front of the radiator shop where she works in the office. No, it's not for sale - for ANY price. It's that blue/gray color but I forget the interior color. Has a GTO hood as the LeMans hood was damaged somehow and the GTO hood was the only one available. Last I spoke with her she would give a lot for a perfect (rust and dent free) LeMans bonnet.

Dan

Dan