[wheelspin]

Well, after watching the surface rust on old GTO's horizontal panels worsen each year, and the original interior split and fade to the point where even my wife said "it's time to restore the Goat", I pulled it apart and took it to Auto Perfections in La Habra for a body on restoration. Having been assembled in Fremont CA and never leaving SoCal, the rust free (w/ the exception of surface rust on the trunk floor, the front footwells, and the bottom of the rear window) sheet metal should be an easy job after the usual door dings are pounded out.

First surprise on this original car was that the front clip had been replaced w/NOS panels @ some time in it's past (see black primer vs red oxide on body). No visible frame or cowl damage, or anything else to indicate a collision, leading me and my bodyman/painter to surmise that it may have been damaged on the assembly line or in transit. Whatever happened, my painter said that the entire car was painted in laquer, presumably after the front clip was replaced.

Gonna miss my "Survivor" .

Les

[Blue '66]

Very envious as I continue block sanding my '66 GTO again and again.LOL!Looks geat Les!

[tom s]

will you still let me park next to you when its done?Tom

[wheelspin]

Thanks, man.

Tom, I would be happy to have any of your special Pontiacs parked next to mine, even when it's done .

Les

[Ron Landis]

Yet another post car! What is the original color on that one? Ron

[george kujanski]

I believe it's the '66 in his avatar.

George

[wheelspin]

Painting it Reef Turquoise, the original color.

Les

[INJUNTOM]

Nice

[6 Grrrs]

Les,

The rear window panel...is it the available repro or did the shop recreate it themselves?

Mine was rebuilt in the '80s (when no reproduction was available) & had some mud in it. Now that the car has been together for a year or so, you can see where some of the bodywork was done. I'm considering having that panel replaced. I talked to my body guy & he really doesn't want to repair what is there & told me to order the replacment & he will install. I plan to do the drain tubes as well. It appears that the water just lays in there & it must be getting under the 20+ year old bodywork in this area.

My real question is...how well did it fit? Was your body guy happy with it?

[wheelspin]

Hi Tod,

My bodyman said that the repop rear panel worked great, was the same gauge as the original, and he was impressed with the finished repair. He also installed the recommended drains that you mentioned. I am told that that there used to be a smaller repair panel (only the bottom rear glass channel and 3-4" deep/pictured in the PY catalog, but unavailable) which eliminated the need to remove the two factory leaded seams.

Les

[GT182]

Don't feel bad about what you're doing Les. It's still a "survivor" because it's still around and not in some scrap pile or cut up for parts. It's just not as original as it once was, but it will thank you for the face lift and care you're giving it by being around to enjoy for many years to come.

[mike nixon]

You know that this means Les?


It's time to buy another OE paint car for a beater!

[wheelspin]

Hey Mike,

You know better; shiny paint is not going to keep me off the streets/highways .

Les

[6 Grrrs]

Originally Posted by wheelspin

Hi Tod,

My bodyman said that the repop rear panel worked great, was the same gauge as the original, and he was impressed with the finished repair. He also installed the recommended drains that you mentioned. I am told that that there used to be a smaller repair panel (only the bottom rear glass channel and 3-4" deep/pictured in the PY catalog, but unavailable) which eliminated the need to remove the two factory leaded seams.

Les

Les,

I'm assuming you got the repair panel from PY?

Part # RPR151 @ $89?

[67GTONUT]

I went thru the same thing when I decided to paint mine..... but my decision was easier, it had a 1-2 partial paint jobs in the past..... top half of car was painted once.... and then at one point in its life.... it had the trunk and tail restored.... so it was painted in the rear and blended forward....

Glad I did it.... and so will you be....

Good Luck.... Cant wait to see the pics!!!!

[Rugratman]

Les, no interior work?

[6704gto]

nice i cant wait to see the final result

[wheelspin]

Originally Posted by 6 Grrrs

Les,

I'm assuming you got the repair panel from PY?

Part # RPR151 @ $89?

Tod,

Actually, the panel came from Ames, part #L174H $99, since I won a $100 certificate @ a local car show. Judging by the price, I'm guessing that they are the same part, even though Ames is 10% higher . There were no stickers or identifying marks on my piece.

Les

[wheelspin]

Originally Posted by Rugratman

Les, no interior work?

Rug,

My original interior was in usable condition except for splitting seams on the driver's bucket seat and the usual fading. I replaced the bucket seat foams, armrests, dash wood panel, padded dash pad, and carpet eight years ago and the headliner was replaced four years ago. New bucket seat covers were not going to match the colors of my faded & worn interior.

I opted to replace all of the interior with new stuf purchased from Legendary, the manufacturer, in order to get all of the pieces made from the same dye lots.

Les

[6 Grrrs]

Originally Posted by wheelspin

Tod,

Actually, the panel came from Ames, part #L174H $99, since I won a $100 certificate @ a local car show. Judging by the price, I'm guessing that they are the same part, even though Ames is 10% higher . There were no stickers or identifying marks on my piece.

Les

Thanks for the info.