[HWYSTR455]

I've done headliners 5 times in 68-72 A-bodies, and I can tell you, it certainly is not something you learn from the first shot. A lot of the result is a matter of the headliner you start with, it has to be a quality item to begin with, those things are not flat.

I had to start over twice on the 442, the first headliner was no way going to fit right, just wasn't cut right from the manufacturer. I would get all bunched up in the sail panel areas, and no matter which way I pulled, it just got worse.

Ordered the second one, and it was right, but I burned it with a heat gun. 3rd one I got as close as I could and just lived with it. It has some puckers in the sail panel area, but it's a driver quality build anyway (or so I try to convince myself!).

Part of the reason the 442 was such a bear was because from the factory, the shoulder belts are held in place with these crappy plastic sleeves, and I switched to the Pontiac style clips. So the way the headliner was cut in that area was part of my problem.

The LeMans I did twice, the first one had minor puckers, and didn't ever heat it. The second one I got really close with, you have to look hard in the corners to see any issues, and looks great unless you're looking hard. My success was partially due to the fact that I had no windshield or rear glass installed when I did it, which allows you more room to move around.

I used a soap bar to mark the lines where the bow retainer cloth was to get trimmed, and you can use thread or string taped to the roof as a guide. That controls the 'cup' of the headliner.

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[GOAT WHORE]

Vinyl top, check. Tail lights, check. Rear bumper, check.
Picture kinda sucks but it does look great.
Took a little break to clean and paint the Century Pontiac licence plate frame.

[Brewster]

Nice, love the dealer plate frame. Great job on the repaint!

[dataway]

Beautiful ... we should all get a ride when it's done!

[BOB VIDAN]

Greg, you have PM.

[charles bledsoe]

Looking GOOD!!! GW, Damn GOOD! If I can say so.

[Pontiac_Defender]

I normally frequent the big car sections here, but the thread title "Restoring my Grandmas 69 GTO" caught my eye and I must say I'm happy to have taken the time to read through it all.

The work you've done is amazing to say the least! It clearly shows how much you love that car and your Grandma!

Again, outstanding job!

Dave

[GOAT WHORE]

Vinyl top trim install tip..... don't Use to many clips, 3 across the back and 2 across the quarters is enough. We started with 7 across the back and could not get the trim to snap on. Well we could get 1 or 2 started if we worked real hard then we'd have to take it off and try over. Truth be told we spent about 10 hrs just installing the quarter marker lights, the 3 pieces of stainless on the deck lid and screwing around with the vinyl top trim and did not get any of the trim finished up. Came back to it a few days later and Mike brought some clips he's had since back in the day. We screwed them one at a time to a bench and shaped an old piece of trim over them a few times to make it easier once we went to the car. We started with 7 clips and no go! Went to 3 and it snapped right on. Took about 4 more hrs finishing up the top trim and reinstalling one piece of the deck lid trim we were not happy with.
Mikes coming over tomorrow for another day on the car. Good times!

[GOAT WHORE]

Got the dash put together and love the way it looks! Going to put in soon with pictures to follow.
Here is some pictures of the stock dash speaker I modified to hold two 3.5" speakers. I covered it with black speaker cloth so you can't see the speakers thru the vent in the dash.
I had the stock radio modified to be am/fm with outputs for Bluetooth, amp, mp3 player etc. Looks totally stock. Way over priced but very cool imo.

[Alanjnc]

What a fantastic idea with the speakers!

[flyingn]

Great idea with the front speaker

[Engine-Ear]

Originally Posted by GOAT WHORE

Here is some pictures of the stock dash speaker I modified to hold two 3.5" speakers. I covered it with black speaker cloth so you can't see the speakers thru the vent in the dash. I had the stock radio modified to be am/fm with outputs for Bluetooth, amp, mp3 player etc. Looks totally stock. Way over priced but very cool imo.

...For folks who want to add more speaker (more cowbell - sorry, different topic), unless you have your radio gutted and readied for the change in speaker impedance, you will shorten its remaining useful life.

[Gtozy]

Originally Posted by GOAT WHORE

Got the dash put together and love the way it looks! Going to put in soon with pictures to follow.
Here is some pictures of the stock dash speaker I modified to hold two 3.5" speakers. I covered it with black speaker cloth so you can't see the speakers thru the vent in the dash.
I had the stock radio modified to be am/fm with outputs for Bluetooth, amp, mp3 player etc. Looks totally stock. Way over priced but very cool imo.

Very nice, i might even borrow that idea! im heading down the same path with the radio mod, where was yours done? and are you pleased with their work?

[GOAT WHORE]

Gtozy, Taman Electrical did my radio. I am happy with the way it looks but have not had a chance to hear it work.

So years ago when I started this project I bought some stock height springs from opgi. Well they left the car setting to high for my liking so I switched them out for sum UMI 1" lowering springs and I am much happier.


Ordered some repo dome light switches and they are different then the originals so I cleaned up mine and used them. The one on the left is an original, one in middle is original after I cleaned it up and the one on the right is aftermarket.

[Engine-Ear]

Originally Posted by GOAT WHORE

Ordered some repo dome light switches and they are different then the originals so I cleaned up mine and used them. The one on the left is an original, one in middle is original after I cleaned it up and the one on the right is aftermarket.

Nothing like a restoration-correct reproduction...that ISN'T.

[will slow gto]

GOLD is the New Black. Sweet!

[dataway]

Did you rezinc the nuts on those dome switches or bead blast them ... or something else?

[GOAT WHORE]

Originally Posted by dataway

Did you rezinc the nuts on those dome switches or bead blast them ... or something else?

Just a real light glass bead blast.

[charles bledsoe]

Hey GW just seeing if you have made any progress. Haven't heard from you in a while. What color gold is your GrandMothers car? Been thinking about repainting my expresso brown 69 with the starlight painted roof and I like how her car looks. Could very easily just put black vinyl on the roof. That's a factory color correct?

[NAR]

wow very cool project so awesome to know the lineage. I love that gold color. Ive always liked a-bodys in gold.