[imctjt]

I am almost done making a Lemans into a GTO - it is a 69 convertible. All that is left is the front clip. I have the endura bumper, headlight bezels, grills, headlight backing plates and all brackets, including the Endura Brackets. Plus, the GTO valance panel and all related parts for that.

Has anyone done this conversion? I am wondering if the radiator core support was the same for a Lemans and GTO. Also, any other tips or suggestions from someone who experienced this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[imctjt]

I am almost done making a Lemans into a GTO - it is a 69 convertible. All that is left is the front clip. I have the endura bumper, headlight bezels, grills, headlight backing plates and all brackets, including the Endura Brackets. Plus, the GTO valance panel and all related parts for that.

Has anyone done this conversion? I am wondering if the radiator core support was the same for a Lemans and GTO. Also, any other tips or suggestions from someone who experienced this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[mike nixon]

the core support's the same to my knowlege.

endura bumper brackets are specific to that bumper.

have fun lining the endura up, most don't fit well with out work.

mike

[LanceW]

Mike N. - What kind of "work" are you referring to? I have a 69 GTO front end that I have just put back together and had a heck of a time lining it up to a "moderately acceptable" state. The most challenging part was getting the bumper to fender fronts lined up well. Is work sometimes done to the actual endura bumper itself? Do people add or remove material from the bumper to change it's shape? If so, what materials and process are used?

Lance

[1-GTO]

Putting a Endura bumper on with <span class="ev_code_RED">Non-hide-aways</span> will be easier and lest costly than trying to put a Hide-away setup on it.

There is some special preping you need to do to and Endura bumper and there is a special additive you put in the paint to make it plyable with the rubber on the bumper.You don't remove the rubber from the bumper!There is probably some special type filler to use when repairing any damaged or torn part on the bumper also.Check the BODY SECTION to see what others have used on thier Endura bumpers.

[imctjt]

1-gto - thanks for the tips. I already have the endura bumper painted with flex paint and ready to go. It is a straight bumper. The valance is ready too. I am wondering about the actual conversion process. It is a non-hideaway and the new bumper assembly is complete. Now I just need to take off the old lemans clip and put on the new set up. I am also going to replace the core support at the same time since I'll have all the other stuff off and the core support is not that great. So, if anyone has done this I'd appreciate any tips or advice. Thanks!

[1-GTO]

Your Welcome IMCTJT.

The actual conversion should be no problem,'68-69 GTO/LeMans fenders will interchange.The LeMans body is the same as the GTO aside from different side markers and different style tail light lenses.It will be like any other conversion or restoration where you will have to adjust the fenders,bumper alignment etc....!

[imctjt]

All the GTO Emblems, tail lights and marker lights have already been done. When I got the car, the previous owner covered all the LeMans emblem holes up so putting the GTO badging on it was not hard. I swapped out the tail lights when I put on the new rear bumper and added the spoiler. It's taken me awhile to accumulate all the parts for the front end conversion - endura bumper, grills, bezels, brackets, etc. ao now I'm ready to do the last conversion to make it into a GTO clone. The engine was already replaced with a newly rebuilt 400 when I got it.

One other question, how much of a problem is it to replace the core support? I figure as long as I am taking the front clip off I might as well replace the core support.

[NTAGOT]

HEY ! IM DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. IS THE HOOD ON THE LEMANS/TEMPEST DIFFERENT THAN THE GTO HOOD ..MINE DOES NOT SEEM TO LINE UP ...THE HOOD HANGS OVER THE FRONT BUMPER (I DO HAVE THE HIDEAWAYS)..WHERE DID YOU FIND THE RADIATOR SUPPORT? THANKS ! GOOD LUCK !

[imctjt]

Hi NTAGOT - I don't have the core support yet, still deciding whether to replace it with a repro or fix the one on there. I won't know til I take the front clip off how bad it is. THere are repros avail from all the catalogs - it is for a 70 but will work with a 69 with slight modifications.
As for the hood - THe GTO hood has the scoops. Other than that, it is the same as the lemans/tempest hood as far as I know - I.E., the dimensions are the same - if yours is hanging over you may have a hinge or alignment problem.

[NTAGOT]

Hello again! I would love to think that I just have an alignment problem ..today for giggles I tried the old front end and it aligned ok ...could anybody measure a GTO hood right down the middle and let me know !!!!????? Going crazy with this ...LOL!

thanks Jim - massachusetts