[Andre]

Yeah-It was good to see you guys. My friend Tom picked up a tailpanel and tail lights for his '66 GTO clone. I think he should have purchased those grills that you guys had, and he would have been set.
Apart from the seal, I got a couple of repo remote mirrors for '64-68 from my friend Tom.
After we left you, I stumbled onto a set of '66-7 vinyl top molding that are straight, but cloudy. I didn't see too much else of interst to me.

[Engine-Ear]

I don't usually go thru long threads, but I went thru all of this one. Andre, great work on the car, man.

From the perspective of a DarkSider, it must be both a blessing and a curse to have suck a wide variety of repro parts available! Fore example, the DarkSider buys a complete, rust free Catalina from New Mexico, has it shipped up to the frozen tundra only to be cut to pieces to save his Grand Prix.

In any event, I am encouraged about the future of some of my clunkers after seeing the results you achieved...I also liked the images of kitty posing with your done GTO.

[Andre]

Thanks for the kind words. I am still a closet darksider. I have owned a loaded but rusty '66 GP, a 66 Catalina, a one owner '66 Bonneville convertible, and a '66 Catalina SW.
The lack of repo parts for a fullsize car is a disadvantage, but I think the availability and cost of original fullsize parts is relatively low. Now fullsize interiors will eat you up, that is for sure.

[67 LeMans 326]

Andre,

My friend still has both sets of OEM GTO grills 66 & 67. I beleive he is going to post them on this site as he has several 66/67 parts for sale. If your friend is still interested PM me. I know once he posts the stuff on here it will go quickly as his stuff is by among the nicest I've ever seen.

Did you buy the vinyl top trim? I also found a guy who had 3 of the 4 pieces. He was selling a 67 GTO shell. I picked through the massive pile of trim that he had for the car and found 3 of 4 pieces. They were bent, scratched and toast he sold them to me for $5, I gave him $15 as that was all I had because I felt they were worth more. As it turns out, I have spent the past two days, trying to straighten and polish etc. I had to remove the annodizing from them and then polish the alluminum. Not sure how that will hold up but we will see. I did also buy some pieces from a couple of the guys here so all in all I should end up with a decent set. I'll have more time and money into these ones than if I just bought a repop set but I have more time than money. LOL

[Andre]

My friend Tom would have bought the grills on the spot, but his income is being spent elsewhere. He got a bachelors degree at the age of 48, and will have his masters by next year this time when he turns 50. All the while working a full time job, and having shared custody of his kids.
I did buy the vinyl top trim, and will have to spend some time with it and see what happens.

[67 LeMans 326]

Originally Posted by Andre

My friend Tom would have bought the grills on the spot, but his income is being spent elsewhere. He got a bachelors degree at the age of 48, and will have his masters by next year this time when he turns 50. All the while working a full time job, and having shared custody of his kids.
I did buy the vinyl top trim, and will have to spend some time with it and see what happens.

Ah ok sounds good. Congrats to your friend!

The vinyl top pieces I bought looked REALLY rough, but after hours upon hours of working on them my friends can not beleive I saved them. Once I get the other pieces from the guys on here I should have one complete set. Then our painter frined is going to remove the front & rear glass for me. Then he is going to lead the window channels as the front & rear both have a small leak on the passenger's side. Then he is going to paint the rear filler panel from the glass to the trunk area.

Then we can install the parchment top and he will reset both glass and reinstall the trim. I can't wait to see it completed. Then if I can round up a posi carrier and install my 3.55 ring & pinion, then in goes the 461 and the car will be complete. Trying to hurry as my driving days are numbered litterally as my vision is not holding up.

[67 LeMans 326]

Andre,

Just went through the entire thread. Looked at all the pics as reading is tough for me but I will have my son go back through and read the posts to me.

All I can say is what an awesome car! You have something to be very proud of that's for sure! Will you be coming up for the Wide Track Warrior show in Feb? If so, I look forward to seeing the car in person!

[Andre]

I'll be more than happy to drive you around. Sorry to hear about your vision. I guess you have done all you can to slow it down? That just does not sound good at all.

After dragging my car around for 25 years, it had to be done. I have not gotten a flyer for the show, so I don't know the date, but I will most likely be attending.

[67 LeMans 326]

Originally Posted by Andre

I'll be more than happy to drive you around. Sorry to hear about your vision. I guess you have done all you can to slow it down? That just does not sound good at all.

After dragging my car around for 25 years, it had to be done. I have not gotten a flyer for the show, so I don't know the date, but I will most likely be attending.

It's been a long past two years. In Aug 08 I began having trouble with my only good eye as I was born blind in one eye. To make a very long story short, my "good" eye has now lost the ability to focus and has also lost it's peripheral vision. I am down to an 18-20* vision field in my good eye. As they found out my optic nerves were less than 50% developed at birth. Bottom line by all accounts, I should never have had vision in either eye and there is no explanation as to why I did for my first 40 years. I am no fool and do know why, it was a gift from God and therefore I am thankful

Now, back to cars. The Wide Track Warrior show is at a new location this year. Rt. 46 entertainment complex on Feb. 19th 8am - 3pm. Here is a pic I took at Rt. 46 Entertainment complex earlier this year.



I hope you can make it. So far it looks as though all 12 of our little tribe will be there. The only one missing will be the 62 Catalina as it is being stripped this week for a frame off.

[Coach]

I really wish I had found this site before I did my undercarriage. Looking at your pics I can see all the areas where the judges subtracted points from my car the other day. I may be sending you emails asking about the finishes you used in a few places.

Looking at these pics are enough to make me want to go out to the garage and start "phase two" on my car!

Great job,
Harry

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by Coach

I really wish I had found this site before I did my undercarriage. Looking at your pics I can see all the areas where the judges subtracted points from my car the other day. I may be sending you emails asking about the finishes you used in a few places.

Looking at these pics are enough to make me want to go out to the garage and start "phase two" on my car!

Great job,
Harry

Theres a phase two? I thought phase one was a job well done.

[Andre]

I would probably get a bunch of points deducted because instead of painting, I powdercoated in varying degrees of gloss to match the factory finish. The rear end an is the only piece that was painted. My plan was to drive the car so I figured this would minimize the chips etc.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Old Blue 66

Theres a phase two? I thought phase one was a job well done.

Originally Posted by Andre

I would probably get a bunch of points deducted because instead of painting, I powdercoated in varying degrees of gloss to match the factory finish. The rear end an is the only piece that was painted. My plan was to drive the car so I figured this would minimize the chips etc.

Paul,

Thanks for the kind words, but I'm never done. When I assembled the undercarrige I just went black, I've since realized some parts should be "natural". Plus with all the miles Linda and I put on the car this summer I have a bit of cleaning to do.

Andre,

Powder coating is really tempting considering I drive this beast as well as show it. It would be nice not to worry about it.

Best, Harry

[Andre]

Joe- thanks for the explanation. Hopefully technology will be developed so you can prolong your sight indefinitely.
i'll mark my calendar and start trying to rally the troops from here.

[Andre]

Its almost 5 years later, and the under carriage still looks brand new. As mentioned in an earlier post, I had powder coated my Ram Air pan. When I had to work it over with a scraper to get off the glue residue, it didn't even nick the finish. If it was painted, the paint would have scratched off alot easier.
The appearance of a powder coated item is like it has been painted.

[Andre]

Sometime in 2016, I decided I wanted get away from the Hurst wheels and got to a more stock configuration. Jeff Hamlin had a set of almost NOS hubcaps, so I purchased those and a set of 14x7 stamped steel wheels. Upon initial installation the wheel cleared the caliper bracket, but when torqued to spec, there was intereference so we had to remove a little material.

[Andre]

Continuing to feel the need for the original factory wheelcover, I watched this NOS set on ebay for about a year and a half, before I finally said what the heck and pulled the trigger on them. After I got over the initial price shock, I am very happy with them. I think this was in 2017 or 2018. Time sure flies.

I haven't done anything else to the car except drive it. The tires are now 13 years old but the miles on them are nominal.

At some point in 2017, I decided I didn't like the stock color of the brown rubber mats so I redyed them gold to match the interior. This is not correct, but looks so much better.

For years I had problems with the passenger side inner door handle popping off randomly.. I finally realized that the aftermarket retaining clip was not spring like an original, and replaced it with a 50 year old piece. It never popped off again.

I also felt the wood shifter knob was too small for my hand so I switched out to the standard black knob.

That is mostly it.

The car did gain some notoriety as it appears in a recent book on the GTO called The Definitive Pontiac GTO Guide 1964-67

[tempest1964]

Sweet ride Andre!

[Greg Reid]

The car still looks great Andre. The old photo thread shows how many of these cars came with hubcaps/wheel discs back in the day. Out of curiosity, what wheels came on the car originally?

[vidguy]

You should be proud and satisfied.. What a great thing you have done and to have it, share it and drive it. I love the wheel covers. I agree. I think more GTOs came with deluxe wheel covers than is represented by the wheel treatments on the cars we all drive today. My car did.