67 GTO - Budget pro-touring/track car
 

I have been lurking for quite a while, and i finally feel like i am making enough headway to start a thread.

I got this car at 15 after the first "father/son" gto project was just too much to take on anymore. I never went through PHS to verify the options but looked to be white originally, a 400 with a 2bbl carb :question:, front bench seat, power rear antenna, and a vinyl top. The old 400 made it about a year when water started showing up in the oil, which was fine because it was the perfect excuse for a 455! In 2006 i moved away to college to start Auto Body collision repair school and brought the car with me. I decided to have a friend take some nice pictures of the car for me, and got quite a few good ones! Well, the last shot of the day i thought it would be a good idea to have a picture of a burnout. Great right?! Well, my idea following that was complete ignorance. I wanted to continue the burnout past the photographer and have her take a picture of me going away from her. So to do that i felt it necessary to hold the pedal down as long as possible. The car started tossing back and forth slightly and once i felt it couldnt go any farther i hit the brakes. The old drums on all 4 corners worked enough to upset the balance of the car even more, but didnt help enough to slow her down. The guardrail, and the tree sure helped though.

Now, 2 years prior to this my mom and dad got divorced. When this happened, my father had already stopped talking to me, and when i talked to him about it he said some very hurtful things to me, and about the car. After that I became depressed for a few years, debated on sending it to the crusher, selling it, etc. Finally i decided that was enough, that he was wrong, that i have the will power and drive to fix her and shove it in his face! The name of the project has been decided. Project VENDETTA! :woot: :lateral:

Here is a little photoshop work i have done to a previous Nelson Super Cars rendering. Everything is just an idea, and I will get a better rendering done when i have a better idea of what i want. But some ideas are tucked bumpers, Do away with as much chrome as possible!, 70-72 chevelle SS cowl, one off sideskirts for side exit exhaust, and stretched quarter panels and front fenders. the front splitter is to resemble one from a new challenger
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...orender1-1.jpg

When i brought it to college with me.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...GTO/gto005.jpg

One of my favorite pics from the photoshoot day.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k.../GTO/gto31.jpg

The infamous "burnout pic" If you read the story above. you know what picture follows this
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...TO/gto27-1.jpg

Her resting spot.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k.../GTO/gto28.jpg

Inspecting the damage
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...GTO/gto015.jpg

Through inspection i realized the frame was bent, BADLY. The firewall was wrinkled, The toe board was wrinkled, and the steering column was collapsed. Fast forward a couple years, and a couple of rental houses later, i finally pulled the engine, sold it and bought a new frame, and a boxing kit from a guy online.
After that it sat for another 2 years rotting away. Eventually i got a job at a body shop where the boss happened to be VERY into old muscle cars. Even though he doesn't understand why i wouldn't want to make it look like it rolled off the showroom floor in 1967, he towed it to the shop for me so i could fix it. :hail:

Picked up a 1966 LeMans for a donor car for the front end mainly.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...27982754_o.jpg

On the frame machine
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...79811328_o.jpg

Set-up to pull the cowl over and forward
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...20830397_o.jpg

Getting everything straightened
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...18147279_o.jpg

The new corner section
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...35414928_o.jpg

At this point the "Damage" is mainly fixed. Its all restoration and modification at this point!

:woot:

Ridetech single adjustable coil-overs mocked up. I really didnt like the factory bracing at all, and since there was no need for a spring bucket. I decided to get rid of it
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps3982bff0.jpg

Took some universal Ridetech mounts and moved the mounting point up
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps6ec10bc0.jpg

Mounts tacked in. I didnt change any geometry at all on the mounting point. just what they mount to.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps17acaa64.jpg

Support bar tacked in
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...psbf43195e.jpg

I had debated about doing this, but finally grew a pair and went for it!
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps3128b54f.jpg

1/8" plate fit up
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps54262e1d.jpg

After cutting the factory spring bucket out, this chows the nothing that is in the frame, which i finished boxing in
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...psf029c3f8.jpg

Basically all done, have a little bit more to do, but not picture worthy
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps5c196cce.jpg

Also boxed in the rear lower control arm mount
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...psa25c8f7b.jpg

Thats basically where i'm at now! I am currently waiting on an HPI customs frame bracing kit to be made and then i can get it off to powder coating.

I am considering ordering the ridetech front control arms, spindles, and coil-overs since they are having a holiday sale but I'm trying to make sure ill have sufficient funds to purchase the frame bracing kit. We will see what happens. :thumbsup:

Nice project. Should be a nice ride when your done.

Nice project.Look's like your doing about the same as I am.:thumbsup:

Thanks! hints why i asked about your body mounts the other day. :D

I too noticed that we are doing kind of the same thing. yours is just nicer, and has a sweet front suspension! Also weird we are both Scott's that live in KS :willy:

Thank's, just a bunch of home made stuff.

Very cool! 67 is my fav year GTO. Keep up the good work and don't get discouraged!

-Joe

I did a similar treatment with the rear of my Chevelle. This crossmember has been recessed into the frame on both sides, via a holesaw. Did all my crossmembers this way. Nice GTO!

http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3500f7fa.jpg