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#1
10-11-2012, 11:56 PM
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1969 Grand Prix-My Frame Off Restoration Pics
I thought I would start a thread to document my 1969 GP frame off restoration. This project started about 5 years ago. My dads first car was a 69 GP. I had the opportunity to purchase this car from a salvage yard. Like many restorations, I was in over my head and what started as a car to tinker around with became a full frame off restoration. Over the years, I did what I could. I am a true amateur and am learning as I go. I will get pictures up when I have time. Currently the body is being painted so I will try to update pictures as soon as I get time. Here are a few pics from when the car was first purchased. It was pretty rough, but the body was solid. Please add any comments or suggestions positive or negative. I would love to hear any insight or advice anyone might have for me. Thanks
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#2
10-12-2012, 12:51 AM
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Can't wait to see more pictures. Nice to see another GP saved!
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#3
10-12-2012, 01:05 AM
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Looks like a good solid candidate for resto. Will be waiting for more pics.
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#4
10-12-2012, 06:21 AM
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Reply 2 GP Fan
From one Junior member to another, The best advice I could tell anyone that is restoring a Grand Prix, (especially a 69/70 model), is to join this site. I have been working on my GP project for the past 2.5 years and unlike restoring a GTO good technicial advice and parts for a GP are hard to find. This site has both. I've bought and sold parts on the PY web site, everyone I've dealt with wasn't doing it for the money as much as they doing it to help a fellow GP enthusiast. I've made some good connections and friends along the way! Good luck with your project! Dan
I attached some my motivational pictures? |
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#5
10-12-2012, 07:39 AM
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Here are some before and after pics of the frame. I had it sand blasted and then painted it with epoxy. Again learning as I go, so the paint job was amateur but it has been 4 years and the paint is still on it. So far so good. I do have a couple regrets on this part. 1. I wish I would have taken more pictures. 2. I wish I had taken all of he suspension off when it was sandblasted. I did not do that because a rolling frame made it easier to get around and I wasnt ready to go in to the project head first. Woulda Coulda....
The rear end is a 3:23 posi which was a pleasant suprise. Will get into that more later. |
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#6
10-12-2012, 07:49 AM
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Here are some pics of body after it was blasted. I believe he called it star blasting which was a very fine sand which did not warp the panels. Pretty solid or the most part considering it is a midwest car. Had some rust on the rear wheel wells and a few pinholes in trunk and a spot on the windshield, otherwise rocker, floor etc looked good. I had him blast it, then apply an epoxy primer to take care of the rust and seal it up somewhat because I knew it would be awhile before it got anymore work done. After this stage the project sat for almost 2 years while I finished school, got married and eventually had a son (and saved up some money).
Surveyor- U R right, this forum has been a life saver! Will keep the pics coming. |
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#7
10-12-2012, 11:20 AM
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That's a neat body dolly, keep up the good work.
__________________
Steve Naresky |
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#8
10-13-2012, 09:16 AM
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Smart to start off with a non vinyl top car. I peeled the top off of my 70 G.P. and surprise surprize time for a new roof skin. Like others, it's nice to see another G.P. saved !
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#9
10-13-2012, 04:02 PM
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Quote:
__________________
Steve Naresky |
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#10
10-14-2012, 09:59 AM
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Thanks, but I have (2) 70 G.P. parts cars, both have really good body parts. Unfortunantly, the car I'm restoring is rough inside and out, but it's an original 4 speed so I'm going to go through with it. Roof, truck, floor pans, quarters...all rusted. Pity because the car runs and drives great !
Sure glad I joined this forum. Nice to see so many other G.P. people out there. Thought I was all alone in G.P. land. After my restoration is complete I'll be offering G.P. parts from my parts cars to help support keeping other G.P.'s on the road. |
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#11
10-15-2012, 12:04 PM
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Quote:
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#12
10-15-2012, 10:51 PM
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Yes, it was originally red.
During the restoration process I bought 2 donor cars. Both local. One partially pictured, I took the engine out of because it ran well, but the body was very rusty. It also had a nice rear bumper dash and some interior that I am going to use. There are before and after pictures posted of the engine. This was one of the most tedious things I have had to do so far. The engine was pretty gunked up. I had a neighbor mechanic go through it, check compression and replace some gaskets to seal it up. I couldnt afford a crate motor or a complete overhaul so hopefully if I treat this one right it gets me around for a few years. I spent 2-3 hours every night after work scraping and degreasing the engine. I think I got it cleaned up pretty good. Sprayed some high heat primer on it, then Plastikote aerosol. I hope it sticks OK. Is this what most people do? |
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#13
10-15-2012, 11:03 PM
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I also got the gas tank off of a donor car. This was another area I tried to save money. Pry should have just bought a new one for $120 but instead I crawled under the car and risked life and limb to remove and old gas tank, then spend 12 hours cleaning it up. I polished it up, but there were a few spots that I couldnt get the rust off of well enough to just clear coat, plus I hear that can turn yellow from the heat of the exhaust so I ended up spraying a stainless steel paint on it. It looks pretty decent now, but if I see any signs of deterioration on the tank it is coming off and a new one is going on.
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#14
10-15-2012, 11:12 PM
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Does anyone have any use for some used 14x6 Rally II's? I have 6 with tires. Also have some trim rings that are in pretty good shape if interested.
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#15
10-15-2012, 11:30 PM
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Found some more pictures of engine being cleaned up. Also have one of gas tank on car after it has been painted and mounted on back on. Just used a rubber mat that I found (basically a tire tube) between trunk and gas tank. I did splurge a little bit and bought long branch exhaust manifolds for the engine. Also bought a PYPES 2 1/2 X pipe exhaust setup. Racepro mufflers. Lookin forward to hearing it rumble. Will get some pics of exhaust posted soon as I can.
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#16
10-16-2012, 09:23 AM
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[QUOTE=The-Surveyor;4753382]From one Junior member to another, The best advice I could tell anyone that is restoring a Grand Prix, (especially a 69/70 model), is to join this site. I have been working on my GP project for the past 2.5 years and unlike restoring a GTO good technicial advice and parts for a GP are hard to find. This site has both. I've bought and sold parts on the PY web site, everyone I've dealt with wasn't doing it for the money as much as they doing it to help a fellow GP enthusiast. I've made some good connections and friends along the way! Good luck with your project! Dan[QUOTE]
Dan-Couldnt agree more. The forum is a great source for all kinds of info. People are very kind and patient with me when I have what would be considered a dumb question to many. I like the pics of your 70 too. Love seeing pics of restorations. Are you getting close to completion? Last edited by GP Fan; 10-16-2012 at 09:31 AM. |
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#17
10-16-2012, 09:30 AM
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#18
10-16-2012, 11:42 AM
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#19
10-16-2012, 11:45 AM
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The engine looks great, nice job! Gas tank looks nice too.
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#20
10-16-2012, 11:51 AM
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Everything is looking great! I would agree the wheels you have are 7 inch. The trim rings look like they are for a 7 inch wheel.
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