Acquired 66 GTO
 

I recently acquired a 66 GTO. On the fence on what to do with it. Its pretty much all there body wise. Interior is from a 67. No drivetrain. PHS says its a 335hp wide ratio 4sp 3:55 safe-t-track. Console and not much else. Barrier blue, black gut. I will post some pics later. I always wanted to build a gasser style car straight axle and all or I have been toying with building it pro-touring style LS or modern HEMI with a manual. What would you do with it.

Pro-touring, but with a Pontiac driveline. 5-speed, rebuild the rear end, AC, quick ratio steering, upgraded suspension, front discs, etc.

Return the body, trim, glass, and interior to stock. 15" '66 GTO Rallye wheels. Staggered tread width, so you have a little more meat in the back.

I'd keep it carbureted. Was it a tri-power originally?

GTO
 

Heres how it sits right now. Still on the trailer.

Wow you have your work cut out for you! Barrier Blue is a great color and you have a clean slate to start with. Endless options and I would keep a traditional Pontiac engine under the hood above all else.

You're in deep! Looks like a good project. Yes, 100% Pontiac power plant.

I just bought this rusty 66 GTO Barrier blue car cause I needed a donor frame . No title but at the time I didn't care
After I bought it I decided to get the PHS for it to see if it had Posi
Turns out the car is an original 4sp, 3:55 posi rear and true tri power car too
At this point I rather sell what I have rather then
Take the frame and scrap it

I would keep it Barrier Blue (you never see that color anymore) and put a parchment interior in it. Do the drivetrain and suspension like you want. I would keep it Pontiac, add AC, and add a 5 speed. Make it a comfortable car that can eat up the road on long trips.

An LS or a hemi???? Really?
It's still a free country, do what you want to do. Both those engines will cost more to make respectably turn key power plants than a Pontiac will.
A Pontiac GTO was like a revered car in its day. A stock 66 GTO is a crazy cool car.
There's still Pontiac engines and transmissions around, especially in your neck of the woods.
I wish you well on your endeviour!!!

Do the LED tail lights and parking lights, plus rear sequential signal lights.

www.webelectricproducts.com
STS-1 Sequential Turn Signals, $69 - For cars with 3 lamps on each side. Guaranteed for as long as you own the car. If they stop working just send the modules back and they will be replaced.

And congrats on getting a 66 GTO. ;)

66 GTO Progress
 

Got the front end rebuilt and installed with BMR 2" lowering springs and polygraphite bushings. Want it to handle and brake well so we can drive the crap out of it. Boxed and repaired the rear part of the chassis. Going to box the center frame and get the body bolted up with the new mounts. its just laying on the chassis in the photo.

Very nice color that is hardly even seen. Personally I would restore it and find a 389 in the date range of production and build it with roller cam and rockers. As for the tail lights I'm definitely not a fan of the Mercury Cougar lights on a GTO they look out of place. If you sell plan on selling it later it will command a far better price than a custom with a Chevy or Dodge engine in it.

Its going to be Barrier Blue. Haven't decided on drivetrain yet. That depends on budget. Somebody mentioned sequential taillights i wouldn't change the housings though. I have a rebuildable 428 & 455. It will get the stick probably a 5 speed o/d.

Progress on chassis
 

Boxed the chassis and sprayed it with Eastwood chassis black. Built a body dolly so i can roll it around. Received sheet metal to begin body. Rockers, driver floor section and rear window and package shelf sheet metal. Follow the build and our others on Instagram @Grumpy_German_Garage

Nice progress. I just went through the same process of boxing in the frame on my '66. Interesting to see that your frame differs from mine in the area where the front section is welded to the side rails in the mid section.

Update
 

Tackled the inner and outer rockers this past weekend. Drivers side so many spot welds were never penetrated from day one. Passenger side they made sure that was on. Goodmark products. Very good quality in shape and metal thickness. Floor pan was also a really nice piece.

Update 2
 

Passenger side pics. Also the UMI shocks we installed. I'm building this one to handle. Not pro-touring just an all around well balanced driver.

Covid-19 GTO
 

A little update on my 66 GTO. Welded some holes up and straightened previous butchery on firewall. Decided to see what was hiding on the 1/4 panels. Replace right with the partial and an outer wheelhouse. Fit was pretty good. I also broke out the TIG for this one.

Update 4/9/2020
 

Rear window panel was extreme butchery. Whoever pop riveted a used section right over the old and let the inner panel flop around. I made it right with a new inner and outer panel. Inner is a lengthened Chevelle. Screws and sheet metal are just there for mock up. A piece was fabricated and fully welded to fill the void. So much better.

Next
 

Left 1/4 panel carnage. I knew it was bad. It doesn't even look like they tried. Next order should be here in a few days. Left full 67 1/4, wheelhouse, full trunk assembly, left trunk drop down and the rear taillight panel which just arrived. All from Ames Performance. So im hoping to have it in primer by the end of 4/20.

That's some great metal work you're doing! Keep the pic's coming. Luv watching here at a distance. :)

Have you decided on the 428 or 455 yet? :confused:

Update 4/23/2020
 

The full trunk floor came. Installation wasn't bad the fit was real good. Replaced left side inner and outer wheelhouse also. The rear body panel also showed up. Fit and quality is real good. Waiting on left 1/4 panel to show up. Had to get a 67 as 66 is not available yet or ever who knows. After that's installed this goat is solid again. Its amazing how many spot welds are not penetrated from factory on these cars.

Update 4/23/2020 Part 2
 

Rebuilt the rusted end of right 1/4 panel. Going to lead this area. Finished sail panel area. Making sure i have nice lines.

Real nice work going on.
Its nice to see another Jersey guy getting into rebuilding a GTO.
How did you like replacing the inner wheel house? I bought 2 new inners but cut what I needed and didnt want to open up a whole can of worms getting into the upper inner structure I see you tackled that no problem
Keep up the great work

Trunk gaps and especially the corners look really good and level with the quarters
Nice fitment

Update 4/23/2020 Part 3
 

A few pics of it back on the ground. Starting to look like a car again. 95% sure I am painting it the original Barrier Blue it was born with. Kicking around and pretty sure I am going to put a red interior in it over the original black. I think it will certainly pop. My neighbor was throwing out those corvette style 15x9 rally wheels so i threw them on lots of room in the 66 fender well. Still have to get at least a better passenger door or both.

Agree - looks like you have a good plan, and are making good progress.

15x8 :thumbup:



K

Wheeels
 

I thought the same thing when my neighbor said 15x9. I measured they are 9 wide. They look aftermarket though. 20-30 years ago i parted nicer cars. With the parts available kind of makes it easy to put them back together today. Thanks for the encouragement Keith.

Wheel houses fit real nice. Wanted to save the inner but car was in a wreck on left side and it was a mess. A lot of drilling to get them out and even though they are different brands Goodmark outer AMD inner they fit really well. Amazing how much better the aftermarket sheet metal has gotten. I like nice even gaps. 22 years doing heavy collision really helps. I used to enjoy the heavy wrecks when i worked in the collision industry and i guess i still do. Thanks for encouragement.

Looking really nice! Your pace is impressive.

Excellent workmanship and progress. Although not standard, I agree that a red interior with the Barrier Blue will be a knockout. Especially if you install red fender liners or paint the wheel houses red. Red pinstripe on the car, as well as redline tires.....super sharp, IMO.

What company made your trunk floor? Did it have the correct contours at the rear under the tail panel?(the one I got from Ames sticks out at the outer corners and will need to be trimmed to fit the tail panel properly.) Thanks...your project looks great.

Floor
 

Got mine through Ames also. Fits perfectly. How long ago did you get yours?

I got mine from Ames in November 2018. It appears as though it will fit everywhere except at the tailpanel. I test fit it and it is too long in the rear corners, by a bunch. Do they expect me to cut it to fit. Has anyone else had a similar issue?

I believe that's because the pan is made for an A-body, but not necessarily a Pontiac.

Trunk
 

The new version is made for Pontiac yours is probably the earlier version which has to be modified to fit.

Thanks 62cat...where did you get this info? When I questioned Ames they were no help.

Don't forget the red brake drums!

Ames description.
 

K149WH

Description 1966-67 ONE-PIECE TRUNK FLOOR (RE)
Net Comments EXISTING REAR PANEL IS NOW PONTIAC SPECIFIC
From Ames site in the description. Hope this helps.

Red
 

Going to have to be calipers. more than likely going 4 wheel discs.

Thanks 62cat...will call again and see if I can exchange.

Left Quarter Time
 

So the left quarter panel showed up last weds 5/6/20. What a nice piece. to bad they don't make 66 panels. Anyway the next day i had it hung and welded. Fit and finish are really good. They have come a long way with repo sheet metal. Modifying the rear section was know picnic but it worked out. I am going to lead all the metal work. First time using lead. Not doing to bad and its kind of fun paddling the lead into shape. I should have some finished photos up next week.

Lookin' good! They've been talking about making full quarters for '66s for ages, but I don't think they'll ever make them.

Update 5/28/20
 

Rolled it out and blew it off. Cleaned the garage and regrouped. Moved cars around and put this one up on the lift. Next to finish body work and prime. My son has been bead blasting all the small parts for me. He took my taillight housings and restored them to new condition.

Back out in the sun! Lookin' good.

Getting there.
 

Almost have all the body work done. Still a few small tasks to do. Then block some more.

Panels
 

Hood and deck have been blocked twice and are edged and ready for final blocking. Picked a newer GM color.

Really looking good ! keep it up

I don't know how I missed this thread but I'm glad I found it. Great work.
I have a Barrier '66 4spd with blue interior that needs pretty much the everything that you've done to this one. This thread will be a great reference for me, especially the back glass, sailpanel, trunk-filler area.

I'm like Greg.
It's always nice when another nut validates my nuttiness!
Boy, do I remember all of that stuff.

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=50

Click on the small pictures on the right to blow them up.

Looks great so far. :thumbup: Hope to see you at a show or cruise night down here when you finish it. Or a show up around Vineland if they have any this year.