Iron Resurrection does a 69 Judge, NO LS engine either!!!
 

I can't believe they kept the Pontiac engine. I'm watching the build and it's a custom orange 69 Judge. Much brighter than Carousel Red. Custom built rear deck spoiler, looks like it's gonna be a good looking car.

Older show 8/15/17 is the original air date.

I saw that episode. I think it came out sweet!

The early bird they did came out awesome too!

I wasn't a fan of the built in rear spoiler but happy to see they left Pontiac power under the hood. It did look good in the end.

Yeah...loved it when I saw it a couple years ago. Glad they kept the Poncho power (Butler valve covers, not sure what else), but would have kept the rear bumper chrome.

I've watched that probably six times over the last three years and I still think they should have gone with an LS engine. The BS about the frame being bent is just nonsense. They knew they were going to shorten the axle and modify the frame to accommodate the big tires, so all that talk about a bent frame was nonsense. Although I love GTOs as much or more than anyone else here, I would not build one for me that way. Sure, if they were restoring the car to stock, then yes, use the Pontiac 400. But since the car is far from original in EVERY other sense, the LS engine would have been a MUCH better choice. JMO

I saw this a few times. While its nice to see a Pontiac get some air time, the build is just okay. It reminds me of the Wanger's Judge and I'm not crazy about that one either.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...tEeGXCIOWMdngQ
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...IJ_9jgY0kaVbeA

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DHi8gu3XUAEWyon.jpg

Yeah, those Kindig door handles are cool, but I prefer the factory handles and mirrors. And those big assed rear tires look too cartoonish to me. That stance just doesn't work for me. But to each his own.

Check out 'Wrench Wars" to see two nicely restored gtos., well a '69 GTO and a '72 Lemans Sport.

That back-end is just plain F-nugly......
 

Sorry but it's the truth.

The original spoiler and chrome bumper are about 10,000% better looking.

Just because you have the ability to change something, doesn't always mean you should change it.........

I’m not a shaved look fan looks like it’s just out of paint and needs door handles and mirror installed still. But it’s still a nice car.

In the end the guy that owned the car was happy, he paid for the work and he's probably still driving it.

I own what GTO purists have bad mouthed ever since it was introduced, a 2005 GTO. I like the car and after 15 years of owning it I like it even more. Plenty of people on this forum hate the 2004-2006 GTOs, I've heard pretty much all the derogatory comments.

The initial idea of the build was to update a 1969 GTO to look and perform like a modern car. That leaves a lot up to interpretation, and everyone has different ideas of what they like. The important thing is the guy that paid for the work was happy.

I almost didn't believe they didn't put a LS engine, and that's why I posted it initially. I tuned in about halfway through the show, so I missed the first half. I'll probably watch the first half on the YouTube link provided.

I think most purest hate those cars because stock it kicks the crap out of the 60’s muscle. Also real Pontiacs got built with real smallblock chevys in them and they are still Pontiacs. My 1980 t/a had a awesome 305 in it stock so would I be wrong to off its original engine? As long as your not changing a rare car or a 50 year survivor car what’s the harm in making it better than it was new?

305???

Yes 305

In a 1980 T/A?

I believe...
 

California car or high altitude got that anemic Chevy engine.

Had a friend with a 1980 T/A who bracket raced with our Pontiac group, it was an original 305 car that he swapped out for a 350.

Could hardly believe it myself but there you go.

Yes 1980 Trans Am

Worked in a GM only junk yard in 1981-84. Saw the strangest car/engine combos over those years. GM was really screwed up back then. Buick V-6 in a full sized rear wheel drive Cadillac Fleetwood was the strangest one. And yes I pulled apart a couple of chevy powered Trans Ams back then. Crazy times for GM.