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MY 70 GT37 SEDAN PROJECT
Well, i posted on another listing and a few people said do my own..so here it is. I bought this over the winter and its been on hold til the guy i got it from got the title straightened out...I got the title last week, so Im already working on it...
I KNOW ITS NOT A GTO..but its still pretty cool..a bench seat stick shift post car.. I bought it out of Texas for $800 delivered to KC MO..I was told it spent its life in Texas and ended up in a junkyard owners hands as far southwest in Kansas as possible and still in Kansas i dont know if he brokered it or went to Texas to get it or what...but he called it a Texas car..maybe i should be calling it a Kansas car..idunno...i didnt ask alot of questions..i just wanted the car here before he figured out what it was..im pretty sure he told me he paid $35 bux for it for scrap....to be honest i never thought i would get the title..but the old guy came thru..thank goodness.... I put a wanted ad on Craigslist to get a 68-72 Lemans 2 door project car, and i prefere a post car, this guy was the 3rd email..i almost passed out when i saw the stripes and hood pins..and the third pedal....he had NO CLUE it was more than a tempest.....AND it may very well be only a tempest, I havent PHS'd it yet because i like to procrastinate.....but without the title thing I didnt want to spend a dime til i had the title... so heres some pix and some thoughts...Code 55 with a gold cloth interior..somewhere i read 81 Baja Gold cars...wonder how many sedans..itsa gonna suck if its a T37 but I dont care...its getting redone...its such a solid Texas car....BUT its beat to death with hail...so it needs a roof decklid and a fron left 3/4 clip at the least..already got a fender from Pat Brown..so Im working on it... Pics he emailed me... http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...2-10-10008.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...2-10-10010.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...2-10-10019.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...2-10-10016.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...2-10-10018.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...2-10-10017.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...tempest003.jpg |
NIGHT IT WAS DELIVERD///you talk about a pain...driving sleet, 15 degrees..and the guy wanted his rollers/tires back..he was so old i had to do it myself...with no gloves...forgot gloves...it was the dsay there was a micro burst on HWY 70 and he was 4 or 5 hours late..there was a terrible wreck on 70..it was on the news..like 8 inches on the hiway in less than 2 hrs...people got hurt etc..but he made it...
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...tempest002.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...tempest006.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...tempest007.jpg |
Some tear down...best floors and trunk ive ever seen.....the tar paper is stuck so good on the pass side i cant get it off...but the pan is perfect..the inside has been a little wet but has light pitting..no holes or weak spots....YET...trunk is the same way...those sedans dont leak like hardtops..and of course Texas helped...
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...hoods022-1.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...hoods021-1.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37019.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37015.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37014.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37016.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37018.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37017.jpg |
Some details..hood pins are in the right spot...everyone puts them too far back...these look like they are originals...theres a spot just big enough to get a wrench on under the support..the holes are very nice..they dont look butchered, and the holes on the bottom are egg shaped not round..FOR CLEARENCE AS THE HOOD COMES DOWN???....look at the anti freeze info...cool or what....more details later..
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37009.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37008.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37013.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37010.jpg |
stuff in the trunk....thats a 4 speed shifter...doesnt mean much, but hope ist a 4 speed..also the trim for the hump was there, and a crossmember and some other stuff...last drive train in the car was a BBC and a 4 speed..the chevy mounts are still there...has a 3.23 posi in it...more later
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37027.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37025.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37026.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...shifter001.jpg |
Stolen from Texas huh. Wish I had known about it. You got you a find Good luck
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NICE!
Can't wait to see this one come back! |
Nice score,that is a very cool ride.Post the PHS when you get it.
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more junk in the trunk..i'd say the clock is right..its dusty, but theres a tach in there too..and some under the hood shots..look at all that cool blue paint everywhere....LOOKEY...close ratio manual steering a little over 3 1/2 turns lock to lock:D...i never saw so much bailing wire on a single car....its everywhere inside outside under the hood etc...
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37029.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37024.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37030.jpg |
WOW....i was editing some pics..you CAN see the GT37 decal outline..(which is correct for 70..71 got an emblem)....i dont know if it will show up here... but on my computer i can see GT 3..clear as a bell...its shiney and the rest is dull..look beneath the Tempest emb!!!i never saw it..cant bee seen with the naked eye, but the digital image picked it up...IM stoked....
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...7/DSC_0028.jpg |
oh yeah!!!! wondering when more details were going to be posted about this bad boy.
It appears to have a lot of GT-37 specific items so I'd say the odds are good thats what it is. PHS or a build sheet would be the best to have though. Personally, I'm interested in more details about the hood pin setup as I try and piece mine back together. Finally there were 82 baja gold cars, this is from Fred Simmonds production numbers. A lot more rare than my "common" Cardinal Red one. However I lucked out in having the original WT code 400 still in mine. If it was built in the Arlington plant, it produced the second most GT-37s, Pontiac the most. Keep the pics and info coming. Chris |
Real nice score! Looks great structurally. Will be a fine looker. A medium po 350 would be fun, do the 350HO Pontiac never did that year.
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My GT-37 gets more attention than my gto conv gets at car shows. The 70 post should be even more of a rarity. Good luck, looks like a great start at a very good price. Mark
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YES its a lowly 350....but its unique and pretty cool...oi found a stick coded 70- 350 in Washington MO..but freakin lost the info...crap...i guess it gets a this 428:D
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37001.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37007.jpg Lanyards are 17 inches long eye to eye..look like they where plastic coated, but its all gone..screws look like wheel opening molding screws...it all looks like Chevelle stuff to me, ive had a few SS cars, and have handled that hardware...it would make sense to use on the shelf parts for a low production car.. http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37031.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37033.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37032.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37037.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37038.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37036.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p.../70gt37034.jpg |
GREAT pics!!! THANKS!!!! My hood pin posts looks just like that and are in the same spot. I'm missing the lanyards and pins, not to mention where they attach. I've seen a couple different routes for the lanyards. There was a GTO hood on my car when I got it, but it had the plates/discs on the hood. John Sawruk said those are the correct ones however they do look different than yours. The screws are also different on mine. but like I said, the hood on my car was switched. I've since put a correct flat hood on and transferred the discs.
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on original untouched chevelles that ive had or worked on etc., the discs under the scuff plate are rubber..replacement/service parts where plastic..ive bought NOS and have had both, but orig was rubber...i had a Green 71 GT 37 w/white bech and it was a 4 speed with black sword stripe.., the car had never been touched, and the discs under the scuff plates where rubber too...but the screws where just a little different..
i like to never got these off..id say if they where replaced it was when the car was young..i had to be careful with these, they where glued/welded/stuck whatever ya call it..i was afraid i would rip them, i actually heated them up with a heat gun to get them loose..so id say they where original to this car...and all 8 screws where identicle |
Mine look a bit different, alot like chevelle parts which they may be, they had the rubber pads under them as well. Last year I took a set off a really rusty 71 gt 37 and they were the same as mine. My screws were different than those, but mine is a 71 and the other one was too. Mark
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Nice find!
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Nice score. You stole it. Especially with all of those parts in the trunk. That car has all of the GT-37 signs. I'd say it's a true GT-37. I found a build sheet under the tar paper on the tranny hump in my car (Pontiac build.) I would be ordering the PHS, I wouldn't be able to handle the suspense. I really like the fender photo showing the ghost of the GT-37 decal. And the shots of the original stripes in the jambs.
Can't wait to see this one redone. I'm a purist and would put a correct 350-2bbl in it, but that's just me. Great car. A Gold post GT-37 with manual trans. NICE! |
I'm envious. Should be a whole lot a fun with the 428 with a four speed behind it. I like it.
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Could you please post a good photo of the trim tag?
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If the right driveline was there id really consider a correct resto..but since its already gone, and it obvious the car is a 350 2bbl and dont know if its a 3 or 4 speed....i dont think it would hurt the value..i dunno..im a long way off from that right now..i just want to stay motivated and focused on getting it done...
of course..i would hide as much as i could if i use the 428 and camoflauge it a BUNCH..ya know chevy made a huge 2 bbl carb for 69 396 impalas and HO manifolds are cast iron and really, unless your a pontiac guy are hard to pick out a 3 speed shifter ball all by its self hides a 4 speed ... and ... and .. well...never mind.... |
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Looks like a real clean car especially from a junk yard. Wish mine was that solid. My hood pin stainless trim had different screws that were a different head and longer on both of my 1971 GT-37's. I thought the sport mirror was only for a hardtop due to the vent windows contacting the mirror? Great picture of the lanyards. Can't wait to see your PHS or build sheet on this one. :) In 1970 was the GT-37 on the fender a decal? Mine are die cast metal emblems with I beileve 3 holes.
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Subscribing!
Keep us posted on your progress/plans. Looking forward to seeing what this will look like when "finished" and I love the 428/4-speed idea. '70 is by far my favorite year for the Lemans (I am a bit biased though ;)). Scott |
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That sport mirror on the door had me thinking too. That's not right to me. The interior panel has the remote mirror hardware. I'm thinking that the outside mirror got changed at some point. |
mirror is added..its way wrong, and its green and it lays out real bad its from a later style car that somone put on...the door panels are 71.
70 sedan panels are tuff to get, the good thing is they are a stitched pattern so i can have a set made and will look close.. somone was just begging for a tracing or outline in actual size or something of a GT37 decal to reproduce them he had them but the demensions where off a little..once he had it right he was going to offer them? with the static about the hood pins, could it be 70 and 71 are different? thats interesting....maybe mine are wrong but i feel they are original, look at the rust under the lanyard on the bumper..they have been there a long time..my car has never been painted either and the rubber isolaters where stuck..and i mean stuck to the car.. chevelle lanyards are wrong the ends are looped over...the closest lanyard ive found is off a 70 dart or duster, they are 17 in long and the ends are identicle to mine...maybe its a supplier thing..kinda interesting... |
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The way I understood it, the 70 and 71 GT-37 hood pin setups are slightly different. What is the difference I don't exactly know. My hood plates also did have the rubber under the metal. I also wonder if it was a plant thing. One plant used screw type A, another plant used screw type B. Or a plant used whatever screws were available and some cars out there have two different screws securing the plates to the hood. |
Texas cars are SWEET! Mine came from San Antonio, went to California, then went back to El Paso before going into Philly and Chicago collections. It's now loving life in Georgia but its Texas heritage is still evident in the amazing rust free floor and trunk pans, frame, and sheet metal.
Your car is gonna make a very nice project and I am looking forward to following it. BJ |
I will definitely look into reproducing the GT-37 decal. The same decal (P/N 483376) was used on the trunklid.
http://www.gt-37.org/images/GT-37Decal.jpg Your door panels look to be correct for '70, but appear to be ones for the extra-cost trim level (249). That would explain why they are Black. Your trim tag shows Gold (232). Here's a shot from the 1970 Colors & Interiors booklet: http://www.gt-37.org/images/70CI03.jpg |
If you follow this link, heres a close pic of what my car should look like it says its Granad Gold #58...i think it should have this interior too....because the my back seat is identicle in the material and pattern..so i assume it should have these door panels too...i was told the black door panels where 71..i havent researched it...
i tried to do a copy and pasted but it says the pics are copyrighted...ya what ever...read the text..it says the first 300 GT 37s had 69 350 HOs in them..kinda strange, because 70s are 70 1/2 cars....so 6 or 7 months into production...they started using 69350 HOs..? i dont know about all that but just a little bit of common sense tells me it doesnt work.., but..its close to what my car should look like.. http://www.gtoalley.com/gt37pice.html |
I like this pic..black and white makes it cool..post car..notice the lanyards look like they go between the hood and header...not sure about that....could be a tribute..look how high the 400 embs are..who knows....look at the w/o moldings too..although it breaks the car up..i see factory literature with the lanyard between too..maybe my car is wrong..
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...rospective.jpg trunk decal http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...0GT37/gt37.jpg neat article about a magnum tempest......post car http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...37/magnumb.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...37/magnuma.jpg |
Check out my website at www.GT-37.org
It's still under construction, but I have a boatload of info and photos online. http://www.gt-37.org/gallery/main.php |
VERY COOL....i've been there, but couldn't find it again.....lots of work there..i hope others appreciate what youve done....and how much work it takes...an the whole reason ya did it was because you appreciate the CARS!..thats gotta make it worth while..GOOD JOB....
lets talk about GT 37 decals...you have a perfect outlet to bring them to market!!! |
my parts cars..i started rounding them up as soon as i had an idea what the car was...
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...37/pw001-1.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...GT37/pw003.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...ADRESTS025.jpg http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...ADRESTS024.jpg |
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[QUOTE=marxjunk;4042434]I like this pic..black and white makes it cool..post car..notice the lanyards look like they go between the hood and header...not sure about that....could be a tribute..look how high the 400 embs are..who knows....look at the w/o moldings too..although it breaks the car up..i see factory literature with the lanyard between too..maybe my car is wrong. [QUOTE]
marxjunk, The top black and white pic is a factory photo. Don't really know why they have the lanyard going between the hood and header. Maybe that photo is originally of a Tempest and they air brushed in the GT-37 hood pins, lanyard, 400 emblems, etc. John Sawruck once did a presentation at one of the POCI conventions that I attended and he showed pictures of a gold '71 GT-37 in which one half of the car was a T-37 and the other half was a GT-37. They did all kinds of stuff to get photos out. I've attached a pic of an original owner '70 GT-37 that I took at one our local shows. This car has the lanyards going thru the grill. UPC-WU2, You might want to add these two pics of this white '70 GT-37 to your wonderful website. I'm hoping to run into to the owner of this car again and get some better pictures. |
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Also notice the hood pins insert from the side, perpendicular to the car. Mine are like this too, but I have no idea if the core support has ever been changed. I suspect the drivers fender isn't original to my car, but I haven't taken anything apart yet cuz I fear it might not go back together. not to mention I'm having to much fun driving it to local cruises and racing it at the Pure Stock Drags. Here's a pic of mine, hope you guys don't mind. It's from the Pure Stock Drags last year. She's about a 50 footer ... for now. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...s/100_2747.jpg Lastly, I'll help out any way I can on getting the 70 GT-37 decals reproduced. Been meaning to touch base with you Bill, on seeing what can be done on that front anyway. Just keep getting busy with other car projects. |
color #s
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First post! hit the reply button before finishing.. Are you going to keep that color? If it is a GT-37 will you keep it original and try to find correct motor and trans?
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welcom to the forum...i already knew the colors etc..i was posting the tag because i was asked too...
I dont know what i'm doing yet with the car...i really like silver..when i first posted pics everyone thought it was silver....but i dont dislike Baja Gold... It will probably get gold with black interior, ive been looking for the gold cloth insert and havent found it, or gold with a gold interior just all vinyl no cloth..just too far down the road to think or worry about it... I dont think i will look that hard for an original motor..if i stumble on one when im ready i will use it...but realisticlly i have 4 engines and have a choice from a 428 a 70 GP 400, a 71 GP 400 and a 75 firebird 400 4 speed thats fresh on a stand...since i have money invested in all of these already, i will more than likely use what i have..i have a few 4 speeds and a richmond 5 speed ive been staring at for 6 years...so i just havent made that decision yet..im more concerned about getting it apart, doing the frame and getting it back on the frame. MY DOWNFALL...on prior projects is changing my mind 30 times...aint gonna happen on this car...Im going for original to a point but I'm keeping my head down and working on it...not thinking about it, but working on it!!! Unfortunately, im going to be on the road for work for the next 10 days or so..so i cant do anything to it....Im driving to Louisville KY so all the way there, and back I will look for parts.... |
I figured you new the color, just wanted your thoughts on keeping original color or not. I just started my project too! You might have already found this link but I need cloth for my project and this is where I found it http://www.smsautofabrics.com/result...5B%5D=C&rpp=12 they also have vinyl.
Hope it turns out to be a GT-37, rare find. Good luck with your project!! |
ya, i found that... my interior is way down the line...thanks..
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Craigslist score..this was on yesterday..i emailed and the chick said it was NEW GM..for $150..it wasnt it was aftermarket so i beat her down to $100....she dropped so fast i coulda got it cheaper......its new and has the wire harness and instructions..and templates..
the templates are for gto 68 and 69..then another for 70 and one for 71-72.. firebird skylark lemans and GP kinda cool... ..im not sure im going to use it, but it was cheap! http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...7/defog148.jpg |
Any bites yet with the parts car want ads on CL? Is that your ads?
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ya thats me...i changed it up..and made it nicer...i was being a smarty...
yes. i think i got one bought a 4 door 70...ill know tonight, hes emailing me pics...hes also got a 71 lucy blue bucket seat and console hardtop car too....ya need a parts car? |
I have an entire series of GT-37 pics from the Pepin, WI auction May 2009. Hood pin plate screws were countersunk. Can share if interested.
Kurt |
haahah , I thought that was you mark. Like you, always looking for a good deal...I forgot to show you the doors I had from that 70. They were in one of those other cars. Don't know if door panels would work or not, or if they are close to the pattern. Not sure of the color, I will have to look. They are coupe doors, so panels are different, right?
Oh, speaking of 428's, I just brought one home last weekend. It's from a 2+2, '67. It was a manual car, still has the bell housing on it. The chrome valve covers were mint on it. Covered in oil...nice protective coating! LOL Even has original dated 66 plug wires on it. Engine is stuck, I've had it soaking in Diesel for a few years at my in laws barn, finally brought it back last week. |
I have a way to break it loose..and it works fast...i just saved a 377 stroker thats was under water in a boat it had some serious parts in it..and everyone gave it up as junk..i had it broke loose in 3 days...and didnt break the pistons or the cylinder..and it was stuck and rusty tight!!!!....call me ill tell ya how i did it..mark 317 945 2568
actually the door panels are different from a hardtop to a coupe...not just the sail panels the coupe panels are notched to clear the door frames...id like to find an original set to get some made... Have you ever used North County auto trim..if you havent you need to find them..they are fast do perfect work, and can make alot of stuff from scratch....they did a buddies chevelle amd WOW..beautiful..and better than any aftermarket stuff.. |
Pat, call Mark. Send me email when you learn this. I have two 68 WT 400s that need this treatment. :) Hi to Sandy and Sydney
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Done.
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