PY Online Forums - Bringing the Pontiac Hobby Together

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- - Progress Pics.... (https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=510927)

Progress Pics....

Hey all,
I thought I'd post some pic of my '64 GP now that I'm licensing it for the road. It's covered with shop dust, but it's still winter where I live so a wash will have to wait.
Lots and lots of body work in this car - replaced the trunk, lower rear window area, rear wheels well and much of the front wheel wells. I originally wanted to paint it black, but let myself be talked into this blue. The body turned out real well so the car would have looked good in black.:doh:
I've still got a lot of work to do, but I'm thinking I'll get some miles on it and see what else needs doing :eek:
The thing at the top of my list is new wheels and tires. I'm in the process of deciding between Torq-Thrust IIs or Cragar S/S's. They're not very imaginative, but they're definitely classics. I think the choice is boiling down to a quarter toss.
One thing that's really been a challenge is finding good replacement chrome and stainless pieces. From previous experience I didn't expect that to be such a problem. If the car turns out after this run-in period I'll make the decision then to re-chrome or not to re-chrome a lot of stuff. But I've got a lot of duplicate parts I've bought and cherry picked the best for this car. I'll be selling much of it later.
...hope the pic turnout...

Very nice!
I vote for cragars :)

Sweet Ride! I think either type of wheels would look great.

Nice set of wheels Ronan. I like the Torque Thrust wheels but I prefer the older ones with the straight spokes instead of the new with curved spokes. But as said, either one would look great.

I am really falling in love with the steel wheels with the dog dish caps, but on a gp eight lugs are sweet as well. But really do what you like, its your car, all we have is opinions, you have to live with it. Nice car.

Ditto the above about the Crager quality problems - they just don't make 'em like they used to - that being said I think the chrome Cragers would look really nice with that blue paint.
I'm running Torque Thrusts on my Cat but I was going for the weight savings as much as anything else.

That is a really cool car. You did right with the blue. I think Cragers would set that car off but I am a firm believer that one has to build it to their own taste. Its your car build it your way.

good looking car.

3rds on the cragar peeling / balance problems. aluminum spokes of some sort. personally i like the orig torque thrusts.

mike

Thought I would post a shot of the GP in black and with Cragars....it doesn't look too bad in the photo, but it needs a paint job desparately.

Jeff,
I do have balance issues with the Cragars. They were spin balanced on a machine when the tires were mounted, and then again on the car for peace of mind, but I still get vibration at around 70-75 mph. I like the look of them, but I am going to try a set of 8 lugs this spring to see if they make a difference.
Denis

Here is my 64 GP with Torque Thrust IIs

Wow, looking awesome, Ronan.

What all do you have left over? Any sheetmetal?

Mindspin - that's a great looking GP! thanks for posting. I decided on Torqthrust II's ...just picked'em up this afternoon... 17x8's with 4.75" backspace and with 225/55R17 Goodyear rubber. The heck of it is, I've got another project car in my shop now that won't move, and we're getting a big spring storm hitting us that will be here for the next couple of days (with snow tomorrow) so I can't even get them on the car 'till Thursday or Friday!!! I'll post more pic's once I get them mounted.

Craig, I don't have any sheetmetal parts. I guess I was lucky with this project that I could repair what I had as much trouble as I had locating the stuff I did need. Good luck.
...what I do have is various trim parts: reveal moldings, wheel well moldings, headlight bezels and some electrical parts like a new voltage regulator (decided I'd update instead of restore to original late in the project). Some Tri-power carbs with original vacuum linkage. This isn't a complet list, just all I can remember at the moment.

Cheers,
-mark

Sorry for the triple post...silly board was acting up.

Took a while, but here are the wheels/tires with the car all shined up.
Torq-thrust II's w/ 4.75 backspace.

I had to go with a taller sidewall tire to give me enough ground clearance for my header flanges, I'm right at 5" now. The tires are Goodyear 225/55R17.

You know, a lot of people have this wheel on their cars but it never gets old. That car looks great with that combo. I love the paint. You have one fine automobile there. Now get out and wear out those tires.

Out-friggin-standing. Beautiful car and wheels.

Ronan,
Your car looks GREAT!!!! The wheels do set it off nicely.