[Kopfjaeger]

It’s been a ton of time since I posted updates. So much has happened to delay progress. A falling out/major difference of opinion with my body shop manager brother really set me back. Long story short, he intended to set gaps by using filler and not modification of the existing sheet metal. That was the last straw. It kinda put a wedge in our relationship.

The shop that replaced my rotted sheet metal said he’d take my vehicle in to set gaps, do body work, and paint. It was supposed to go there in early spring, was then pushed back to July, then late summer, then I was told it will be a bit longer. I guess he really didn’t want to finish my car.
I found a highly recommended body man who is known for restoring GTO’s. True to his word, She goes in next Wednesday, Nov. 20!

He wanted all the sheet metal installed so I’ve been working on getting that done. Today marks the day that she is the most complete since the day I pulled her apart, 3.5 years ago. Things are finally looking up!

Yes, the gaps suck and all aftermarket sheet metal sucks, but soon she will be making huge progress.

Joe

 

[pcguy]

I hear ya, been there done that... even after doing all the homework, getting all the references and seeing all the finished show cars; it wasn't even close.

Quoted me $85/hour and charged me $95/hour - charged the same for himself and his two grunts; each.

Probably will have the whole thing repainted and the gaps redone.

He even got the body on so that it's not parallel to the frame.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread; rant off.

 

[pcguy]

BTW, very nice project...

 

[Freddy Mercado]

Good luck on your project. It does look good!

 

[Kopfjaeger]

I hear ya, been there done that... even after doing all the homework, getting all the references and seeing all the finished show cars; it wasn't even close.

Quoted me $85/hour and charged me $95/hour - charged the same for himself and his two grunts; each.

Probably will have the whole thing repainted and the gaps redone.

He even got the body on so that it's not parallel to the frame.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread; rant off.

Whoa, that’s a horror story!

Joe

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Measured out the locations for my turbojet fender flags, drilled and hand filed to fit. Drilled the fenders for my NOS wheel wheel moldings.

I also installed the hood. Pretty much dropped right on except my opening is a trapezoid. I had to slant the hood on the hinges to get her to close and latch.

Still it’s the first time my original hood has been mated to all the reproduction sheet metal.

Joe

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Well, she was transported to the body shop this evening. Met with the owner and took a look at a few of the GTO’s he is working on. He does real nice work and he knows his way around these cars and reproduction sheet metal. He assures me he can get my gaps consultant and to an acceptable width. He also will deconstruct the crappy AMD fender to fix the wonky lower body line. So it’s Nov. 20, I’m guessing a month to 6 weeks until I get her back, painted. That may be overly optimistic.

I guess we’ll see.

Joe

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Major progress in 1.5 months. All the aftermarket sheet metal needed tweaking to some extent. Door to fender contours all stunk. Found out my trunk lid was no good, too much surface rust under the primer. Could not trust it.

Thankfully my original hood was salvageable!

 

[Slick87gn]

I know the feeling . Mine was in paint jail for 8 months.

 

[RAIDER SS]

I know the feeling . Mine was in paint jail for 8 months.

Only 8 months? That's prolly under what many here have had to deal with! :grin2:

 

[Kopfjaeger]

So now I’m attacking this project on two front. Body and engine. The body is coming along nicely! Roof, quarters and tail panel are all primed. Finished tweaking sheet metal!

Engine, mk4 454 4 bolt main block bored .030 over, Scat rods, Wiseco pistons, and a virgin NOS nitride GM forged 396/427 crank. The last of my former boss’ horde of super duty cranks! I want/need to keep her under 600hp due to fuel system limits. AFR 265 oval port heads, 1 7/8 Lemons Headers, and a to be determined hydraulic cam. Looking for gobs of torque and done making power by 6500 rpm.
Still need to figure out rims and tire size. Seriously thinking about 17 inch wheels 10 inch wide.

Joe

 

[Brad Waller]

17x10 is doable, but maybe not at all four corners. With some testing you can see what will work. I have 17x9.5, so another 1/2 inch is not much. It may all depend on the upper A arms you have, as I could not go in another mil in the front, and it's pretty tight on the outside.

 

[Kopfjaeger]

17x10 is doable, but maybe not at all four corners. With some testing you can see what will work. I have 17x9.5, so another 1/2 inch is not much. It may all depend on the upper A arms you have, as I could not go in another mil in the front, and it's pretty tight on the outside.

Brad,

I have no problem going a bit more narrow on the fronts. Actually I’d prefer to go with les width up front. I need to get as much tire on the pavement for the rear. I have SPC arms on the fronts with C5 disc brakes.

Joe

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Test painted the underside of my trunk lid. Code L Tahoe Turquiose.
She’s getting close!

 

[Kopfjaeger]

More progress. Fenders and doors edged in color and under coated. Next up is interior paint and engine bay. She’s getting close. I’ll be getting her back soon to install the engine, wire her, plumb the engine compartment brake lines.

Joe

 

[427L88]

NICE! Hey, while I've never used one until I bought a Mark Jones 454, the Isky Hyd Roller he used 228/238 on a 111lsa seems a real nice cam, to 6200 in 468. Morel lifters. FYI.

Nice progress FINALLY!

 

[SFD]

👍👍👍

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Tomorrow, she is getting out of the body shop and returning to me. I need to plumb the brakes, fuel lines, install the engine and trans, wire up as much as I can, install the dash, and steering column.
I figure in two months she’ll be ready to go back and be painted. My body guy does not trust me to do all of that with her being painted. He’s keeping the front clip, just in case! Can’t say I blame him.

Joe

 

[RAIDER SS]

My body guy does not trust me to do all of that with her being painted. He’s keeping the front clip, just in case!

Wait, what???

That sounds something a wife would say..... or does he have prior knowledge of you being careless around wrenches? :grin2:

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Wait, what???

That sounds something a wife would say..... or does he have prior knowledge of you being careless around wrenches? :grin2:

Lol! Well, he’s sort of family. Extended family, of sorts. He recently finished a 69 GTO. The owner took it back and while working on it, he dropped something on the fender so it’s coming back for a repair and a reshoot. I guess he’s still sore over that. I mean it’s more business for him but I think it would pain him if I damaged something.

In a way this is easier. The engine and trans will slide right in now. I could practically install it blind folded. 0 Well sort of.

Joe