70 SJ Frame Off Project
 

Last August I saw a add on CL for a 1970 Grand Prix SJ that had been sitting since 2005. The left rear quarter had been backed into by a delivery truck, the repair was started and then the owner lost interest. When I checked it out I found the car to be very solid, all matching numbers, and a local Florida car all it's life. It had PHS documentation and came with rust free parts from Arizona in order to complete the repairs. I have restored many Pontiac's over the years and this one is well deserving of a complete frame off........this will be the first time in my 2 car garage though.

The car had been painted black at some point but I will return it to Atoll blue with black vinyl and black interior

I'm well into it now, so I hope you enjoy the pic's of my progress.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1495246680

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I changed the oil, supplied some fresh fuel via a gravity feed to the carb and it fired right up and settled into a nice idle with no smoke. Drove it around the neighborhood, transmission shifted fine. At that point I started pulling it apart to start on the body.

Rear quarter damage:
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Found a build sheet glued to the back of the pass door panel

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Getting the quarter removed

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this is great. I love a good build thread and will be following it. keep posting, thanks.

Quarters trimmed, then fitted and welded on.

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Thanks for posting pictures of your project.Talk about clean .WOW!!! My life's to busy now to even begin to start on my 69 model J or 72 model J projects but seeing people post their progress keeps the fire burning. LOVE those 69-72 GP's !!!!!

Wow 455 HO & lots of options!!! I'm following this also!!

"XXX Customer Order" = Special order car... nice.

Rear filler panel finshed and rear quarters in epoxy primer

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1495501907

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1495501907

Removed the front clip and started on the front fenders. Check out the Atoll blue on the side of the cowl, first time it's seen daylight in 47 years, it will not be painted over.

Gotta love the Tractor Supply gas tank feeding the carb, allows me to keep it a runner and move it under it's own power.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1495501907

Rear quarters in finish body work and a coat of blocking primer. The under hood light is still on the inner fender, it rolls out and works perfectly.

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Very cool!!!

Keep up the good work!!!

Fenders were nice and clean so it didn't take long to get them done and move on to the doors

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1495762696

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I think that the fenders are as tall as I am

Doors are in great shape also

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Almost all primed

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That quarter you put on was exceptionally nice and straight, good find! I notice a side release button on the bucket seat, recliners or just a temporary mobility seat?

Looking good! You are really getting after it! Have a loaded 390 horse '69 J, I'd love to get to work on. Of all the odd '69 & 70 GP's I've owned, or cut up, one I would have loved to have been able to find just a few years earlier was a triple black 70 Model J with the XF 455 & 3.07 posi 12 bolt. Though a J, it was optioned up with pwr bucket, Dix belts, & rally gauges. The clincher, car originally had black leather buckets, at the time I thought it would have cost a small fortune to recreate the covers. Having dealt with several upholsterers on other restoration projects, it honestly wouldn't have been that far out in price range.

Nice catch ! Yes, the second owner (I'm the third) added tilt wheel and reclining bucket seat from a '70 that he had parted out. I'm thankful for the tilt wheel because I have long legs but that's also when the original Formula wheel was discarded, He said that it was pretty much shot. The build sheet refers to it as a Simulated Leather Str.

With the doors finished, it was time for the hood and trunk lid. While both were very solid, trunk lids always require a lot of finish work to get them straight. Note the blue stains on the floor around the perimeter of the hood, there were many layers of paint on this car, the original blue, two blue re-paints and a black repaint.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1495846443

I then cut in the underside of the trunk and trunk jamb

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I work for a large auto group here in south Florida and they have a full service body shop. They were kind enough to let me use a spray booth to paint it on a slow Saturday.

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That sure is one long hood !

Wow, you're really movin' on this! Looks great.

wholly cow you are quick getting to the gun.........and it looks great!!

Impressive work going on there. Those are such cool cars. Thanks for posting your work.

Paul

Motor and trans out and disassembled. The motor was standard bore and had not been apart other than to do a timing set. Had original head gaskets with notches and date code original oil pump. With the way it ran I was surprised to find there were three broken top rings, number five piston had a broken ring land and number six piston skirt was cracked. Years of too much timing and not enough octane !

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1496193019

4 bolt Main XF block, I guess they had a hard time stamping the VIN that day

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Numbers matching PR transmission

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Thank you all but I really don't work that fast. I started on the car the first week of September and was in the spray booth the third weekend in February. I started posting a little bit at a time and will continue to do so, until I get to where I'm at now.

still 10x's faster than me........

Thank you for posting and sharing! Great job!! You are going to love this car when it is done = just beautiful!