1968 GTO Resto-Mod

[Efi69Cam]

Originally Posted by 1968 GTO Resto-Mod

all the accessory pulleys are now aligned.
i used an assortment of crude washers and sleeves to get them into place.
from here i can calculate dimensions and order one-piece aluminum spacers from aluminumspacers.com...
the water pump pulley lined up to the crank pulley with 3/16" of spacing behind it, the alternator needed about 11/32" of spacing and the power steering pump required about 15/32" of spacing.
hopefully, nothing got pushed too far forward.

now i need to determine where the belt tensioner pulley will have to go, and how i might have to shape a bracket to mount it.
i have found various resources online which cover the basics behind this kind of modification.
there seem to be various opinions about whether or not power gains are possible with a serpentine conversion, but to be straight up... i'm just hoping i'll never have to fiddle with the v-belts again.
please feel free to chime in with your comments at any time.
thanks for your interest!
danny

Great idea on the belt conversion. The setup looks very similar to the accessory layout on a LS Corvette. The only issue I see with what you are doing is that the water pump pulley is often smooth so the belt can wrap around it on the driver side so you get more belt contact on the balancer. Can you get a Pontiac water pump set up for reverse rotation? You'd need that if you swap to the smooth WP pulley.

[1968 GTO Resto-Mod]

Originally Posted by rickpaw

Great job on the belt set up.

The car is going to be sweet.

Originally Posted by Efi69Cam

Great idea on the belt conversion. The setup looks very similar to the accessory layout on a LS Corvette. The only issue I see with what you are doing is that the water pump pulley is often smooth so the belt can wrap around it on the driver side so you get more belt contact on the balancer. Can you get a Pontiac water pump set up for reverse rotation? You'd need that if you swap to the smooth WP pulley.

thanks for sharing your comments guys!
i really appreciate your interest in this project!

the flowkooler high flow water pump #1622 was the best choice for matching up with the mounting pattern on my old school pontiac timing cover.
the impeller in this pump is described as being bi-directional.
however, the backing plate arrangement controls the direction of coolant flow through the housing and this was originally designed for a clockwise rotating pulley.
could problems with coolant flow be encountered by reversing the pulley rotation? i don't know...
my impression is that it would be best to maintain the original direction of rotation at the water pump.
yes, to make this serpentine conversion work i must find a way to get enough wrap on all the pullies.
any other thoughts out there?
thanks for your input!
danny

[1968 GTO Resto-Mod]

this is the muncie 4 speed transmission from my mother's black goat.
it was rebuilt by Young's Gear and Drivelines of Fairbanks.
the shifter is in south carolina right now being refurbished by Hurst.
this is really just mock up stage: i haven't yet installed the flywheel, clutch or pressure plate.
the hydraulic throw out bearing and clutch master cylinder upgrade kit from Mcleod Racing should be here this week.
always moving forward...
thanks for your interest!
danny

[1968 GTO Resto-Mod]

the doug thorley headers extend about 1.5" below the oil pan.
i do not intend to hug the ground too close with this car.
the lowering springs i installed in the front suspension came with a pair of SPC spacers for each side which can be placed under the spring seat to adjust the height of the front suspension.
they are not installed at this time, but they're on-hand if i need to bring the ride up a little bit in the front.
the alignment of the header collector outlets with the transmission crossmember looks promising.
thanks for checking in on my progress!
please feel free to share a comment if you have one!
thanks,
danny

[1968 GTO Resto-Mod]

it's time for another big step!

Mcleod:
hydraulic release bearing and clutch master cylinder upgrade kit

Butler:
MSD pro billet ignition kit

RobbMC:
1/2" fuel pickup and sending unit
pontiac mechanical fuel pump w/ 1/4" vapor return option
pontiac gen II mini starter

Hydratech:
hydraulic brake assist unit
cpp master cylinder

Ron Davis:
dual electric fan radiator
master grounding kit

Flowmaster:
2.5" american thunder exhaust
40 series mufflers

thanks so much for your interest in this project!
danny

[mild2wild]

Originally Posted by 1968 GTO Resto-Mod

it's time for another big step!

Mcleod:
hydraulic release bearing and clutch master cylinder upgrade kit

Butler:
MSD pro billet ignition kit

RobbMC:
1/2" fuel pickup and sending unit
pontiac mechanical fuel pump w/ 1/4" vapor return option
pontiac gen II mini starter

Hydratech:
hydraulic brake assist unit
cpp master cylinder

Ron Davis:
dual electric fan radiator
master grounding kit

Flowmaster:
2.5" american thunder exhaust
40 series mufflers

thanks so much for your interest in this project!
danny

Awesome project with great updates. Don't know what your engine build entailed, but if you running HP near 450+, I'd also look into running RobbMc's mechanical fuel pump as well. I use his products on all my Buick GS builds. Great products.

[1968 GTO Resto-Mod]

so glad to finally get my hands on these...
i'm almost finished assembling the rear suspension!

[1968 GTO Resto-Mod]

Originally Posted by mild2wild

Awesome project with great updates. Don't know what your engine build entailed, but if you running HP near 450+, I'd also look into running RobbMc's mechanical fuel pump as well. I use his products on all my Buick GS builds. Great products.

the engine rebuilding was done by Rick and Randy at Port & Sons Machine Shop, the most experienced and reputable engine builders in interior alaska.
after they had the motor apart they told me they had never seen a pontiac engine this old in such good shape.
other than boring the cylinders out 0.030" over, it was rebuilt to stock pontiac specifications.
the 1968 pontiac owner's manual shows that this motor as originally designed and manufactured would produce 265 hp.
some of the upgrades i have planned may help produce additional power, but to be straightforward, i don't really have any high powered plans for the car at this point.
however, in the interest of preserving the potential for future upgrades i did purchase the 550 hp rated mechanical fuel pump from RobbMC.
i can tell from just talking to those guys on the phone that i'm fortunate to be doing business with them.
thanks for sharing your thoughts!
danny