[boostmaster]

I plan on redoing all the bushings as everything is pretty well worn. However, after looking at the prices, we were wondering if it would be feasable to upgrade a bit.

My other concern is that if i want to stay 100% stock, then keeping a crappy suspension might be required. So, my though was to see if I could add or upgrade a few items to keep is appearing stock while adding a little bit better handling.

For Example: I have been told by the restoration shop that they own some older cars and that they still maintain the 4 wheel drums and the cars stop fine... Not sure how but, that's I'm working with... I don't even have a brake booster... (Bear in mind this is my first 60's car so my points of reference are newer cars with modern tech)...

[boostmaster]

Finally finished the rest of the trim. What a PITA!! And pulled the door guts off... Yippee. I think that's as far as I'm going to go with the tear down. I'll let the body shop have something to do as well. They should get the car this week and start the sandblasting. I will have them give me back the frame so we can assemble it while they do the body work on the rotisserie. I'll be doing a tear down of the engine today and will start looking for a decent "Pontiac" engine builder that can get the block prepped and ready to go.

Anyone have a recommendation for a builder? Ideally one that is close...

Here's a few pics....

[boostmaster]

Also discovered that this car still has the original exhaust, no holes! I may have to keep it too.

And found that there are some old replacement Sears shocks in the rear with air lines...

Could this be the Superlift option? My resto book says RPO code for this year is 634. I don't see it... Any thoughts?

[boostmaster]

Body is on rotisserie. All the body bolts came off easily! Yippee...
Now comes the expensive part (or at least one of the expensive parts- LOL)

I cannot do body work nor do I have the facilities to even attempt it so it's gone to the experts... I will be doing as much as I possibly can in order to keep my costs in check so hopefully this won't turn into too much of a money pit.

Here's the latest:

[psw]

Originally Posted by boostmaster

I have been told by the restoration shop that they own some older cars and that they still maintain the 4 wheel drums and the cars stop fine... Not sure how but, that's I'm working with... I don't even have a brake booster...

I have a 66 GTO with manual drum brakes all around. Quite a bit more pedal effort is required than with power brakes, but for normal driving around town, they work just fine. They even work pretty well coming down from high speed in an emergency, but they get hot and fade quicker than disc brakes. They will not stop you as quickly and repeatedly as the brakes in any modern car, though, no doubt about it.

My car also has manual steering, so the driving experience is totally different from any modern car. If you want this car to be original, and to feel different from a modern car, I say keep the 4-wheel manual drums.

If you are not really interested in keeping it original, and want better performance, go for one of the upgrade options previously mentioned in this thread.

I do not think you ever mentioned where you found the car? Looks like it had been sitting somewhere for a while.

Good luck with the project!

[GT182]

No matter how you go for brakes, use a dual master cyclinder.

If you keep your manual brakes the one thing to do is change to a dual master cyclinder for them. If you break a rear line, you'll still have the use of the front brakes. No not original but so much safer. You can ask me how I know, but you already know the answer. LOL

[boostmaster]

Sorry for my slow response time... Been playing with my other projects and waiting for the body shop... They were supposed to blast last week but some 69 GTO convertible was hogging the attention...

Anyway, to answer the questions:

PSW: the car was from GA. It spent it's whole life there and was last registered in 82 IIRC. The guy I bought it from had it for a year in his shop to restore but had too many projects so he sold it to me...

GT182: The car has a dual master cylinder and Power steering and we're sending the drums to be checked and turned if they're good. They are original all the way around and the rears look better than the fronts but we'll see what the shop says... I looked at the replacement drums and they're about as pricey as upgrading to discs! So I guess we'll see.

Hopefully I'll have more pics and updates in the next few days.


BTW, anyone here have a rear bench seat bottom spring assembly they'd like to sell? (I already posted in the wanted section also) I only need the springs (no material) but they have to be in good condition (ie: not too rusted) . I'm going to blast and paint them too before affixing the upholstery.

[boostmaster]

So, I stopped by the shop today... Blasting has begun and everything is looking good! Here's a few pics.

[GT182]

Body looks pretty darn solid. You is one lucky fella.