[1966_L78]

Anyone have insight as to what it takes? Anyon know a good website/forum like Team Chevelle? I tried the Performance Years forum, and not bad...

Not looking for a perfect "clone", but I am looking at a Lemans, factory bucket seat/colsole car with a 455... I like the look of the GTO better...

I definitely want the Endura Bumper, GTO hood and maybe hideaway headlights (but those were optional on GTOs anyway, I think)...

Anything else? Is the GTO dash different? Tailights and rear bumper the same?

I tried to search the net for info, but didn't find too much...

Thanks...

 

[mr 4 speed]

Tony,
the dash,tail lights and rear bumper are all the same as the Lemans.
I would love to build a 68 GTO clone with either a 455 or some nutty overcammed small block Chevy with a 4 speed but that car has to look factory on the outside.

 

[Keith Tedford]

Why not leave the car original looking and have something unique with all the good options already on it. We have a similar '72 Lemans Sport. It came with the 400, M20, 3.55 posi 12 bolt, HD suspension, PDB, PS, tach and gauge dash, and rally II wheels. Dressed up GTOs are common. You seldom see a Lemans like these two.

 

[1BLACKHARLEY]

i'd check with the poncho people, before something like this. i'd bet a 455 lemans is probably just as rare as a "real" gto. you might be messing with a car that may be low production and as valuable as a gto. i've seen t37 cars go for huge $. wish the heck i had a lemans with a 455, i owned one once with a 400 in it, it truly was one of the best cars i'd ever owned, and having it look like a grandma sleeper ride, was a big advantage at the stop light...

not trying to steer you from your dream, but sometimes it doesn't pay to change things. it's your ride, we're jealous, and you do what you want, but make sure you aren't killing rare ride in the process. good luck....

 

[Scotch]

Try www.classicalpontiac.com

It's a little more sane than Performance Years.

~Scotch~

 

[Mr69]

Tony,
the dash,tail lights and rear bumper are all the same as the Lemans.

The tail light lenses are different between the Lemans and GTO.

Dash is the same, with the exception of the GTO emblem on non AC cars. It's right where the AC vent is for an AC car.
Rear bumper is same same.

 

[Mr69]

Anyone have insight as to what it takes? Anyon know a good website/forum like Team Chevelle? I tried the Performance Years forum, and not bad...

Not looking for a perfect "clone", but I am looking at a Lemans, factory bucket seat/colsole car with a 455... I like the look of the GTO better...

I definitely want the Endura Bumper, GTO hood and maybe hideaway headlights (but those were optional on GTOs anyway, I think)...

Anything else? Is the GTO dash different? Tailights and rear bumper the same?

I tried to search the net for info, but didn't find too much...

Thanks...

You'd need a GTO hood. It is reproduced in steel. Hood tach was otional.
The endura bumper was standard on the GTO, but a chrome version was optional. GTO grilles are different than the Lemans and the hidden headlight grilles are different than the standard GTO grilles.
When buying a used endura nose, be sure it is not twisted or badly rusted.

The hidden headlights were optional. There's quite a few parts that go into making that work. You'll also need a different headlight switch and a whole bunch of vac hose.

The rear quarter marker light is completely different. There would need to be some cutting and patching there for the GTO bezel and lense. Tall thin arrowhead vs a short wide arrowhead.

The trunk lid has Lemans letters, where as the GTO has a GTO emblem on the right.

The GTO has wheel well stainless trim. Most Lemans do not.

GTO emblems on door panels.

The front lower valance is different. A reproduction is sold. The front turn signal lenses, bezels and buckets are different.
Finding good tail light lenses and the front valance is prob the most difficult items. I think the lenses are reproduced now. I've heard bad stories about the fit of the valance, but that was a fiberglass version and years ago. There might be a steel version now. Not sure.

You'll need to weld up LeMans emblem holes on the front fenders and drill new holes for the GTO emblem that is mounted behind the tire.

I owned a 69 GTO for 8 years. Did a partial resto on it during that time. Parted out no less than 3 69 Lemans.
Ran a best of 14.52 @ 97.5 mph on street tires thru the exhaust

IMHO, you'd be better off finding a 69 GTO that needs a drivetrain and using the Lemans as a donor.
get on eBay and start pricing out the GTO stuff. It's not cheap.

 

[oldsmolet]

i met an old man who has a pretty sad looking house but a beutiful GTO sitting outside very1s like that guy is rude dont even bother i stopped. He was leary at first but after talking to him about cars he was awesome and his car was amazing looking just sitting in his yard he likes to just loook out the window and know its their hes wearing a GTO hat that looks like its from the era. Awesome man to talk to finally gave me a price hes terminally ill cant sell it till a month before his death ( how you would know idk) but 17,000 prolly worth it but just a cool guy

 

[Old fat bald guy]

i'd check with the poncho people, before something like this. i'd bet a 455 lemans is probably just as rare as a "real" gto. you might be messing with a car that may be low production and as valuable as a gto. i've seen t37 cars go for huge $. wish the heck i had a lemans with a 455, i owned one once with a 400 in it, it truly was one of the best cars i'd ever owned, and having it look like a grandma sleeper ride, was a big advantage at the stop light...

not trying to steer you from your dream, but sometimes it doesn't pay to change things. it's your ride, we're jealous, and you do what you want, but make sure you aren't killing rare ride in the process. good luck....

69's weren't available with the 455

I would have to agree with at least chaning the front bumper / grill, I can't stand the look of the chrome bumper...... another reason why I don't like the 67/68 birds but love the 69's

 

[Cameano]

69's weren't available with the 455

"It's a 350" gets me past the safety inspection without a reconstructed vehicle permit. As if they'd have a clue. FWIW, the 350's and 455's both have the "pyramid" cast in the top rear of the block, the 400's don't, so my "350" statement holds up a little better even with people who know a little about 'em.

 

[Old fat bald guy]

"It's a 350" gets me past the safety inspection without a reconstructed vehicle permit. As if they'd have a clue. FWIW, the 350's and 455's both have the "pyramid" cast in the top rear of the block, the 400's don't, so my "350" statement holds up a little better even with people who know a little about 'em.

but the freeze plugs might give you away with the wrong 455

love the poncho's myself :thumbsup:

 

[Cameano]

but the freeze plugs might give you away with the wrong 455

love the poncho's myself :thumbsup:

Yeah, but the first time I took it to the gas station for a safety, the kids there said "what is that, a smallblock chevy?" :clonk: My block came out of a '74 Granville, has the dual mounting bolt holes. :thumbsup:

 

[Mr69]

i'd check with the poncho people, before something like this. i'd bet a 455 lemans is probably just as rare as a "real" gto. you might be messing with a car that may be low production and as valuable as a gto. i've seen t37 cars go for huge $. wish the heck i had a lemans with a 455, i owned one once with a 400 in it, it truly was one of the best cars i'd ever owned, and having it look like a grandma sleeper ride, was a big advantage at the stop light...

not trying to steer you from your dream, but sometimes it doesn't pay to change things. it's your ride, we're jealous, and you do what you want, but make sure you aren't killing rare ride in the process. good luck....

Along these same lines, I'd check the block numbers to see what it REALLY is. Lots of people say they have a 455, and it could be a 326. Lots of people call a 400 a big block too. Pontiac has no big block or small block. All blocks, 326-455 appear the same from the outside appearance.

It's also true that the 455 didn't debut until 1970. But if you're building a clone, it hardly matters !

 

[ssal396]

I know this really doesn't pertain to the topic at hand, but a little known GTO fact.... In 1968 there were some GTO's made with a chrome front bumper, although I can't remember how many there were :clonk:

 

[1966_L78]

69's weren't available with the 455

I would have to agree with at least chaning the front bumper / grill, I can't stand the look of the chrome bumper...... another reason why I don't like the 67/68 birds but love the 69's

Thats exactly my thoughts... I don't even mind the "non-hideaway" headlights...

I just do NOT like the chrome front bumper...

The rest of the GTO stuff was just curiosity on my part... IF I just need to change some emblems and trim (minor stuff IF its available), then it might be the way I'd like to go... Except wheels/tires, I like the exterior to look mostly "stock"

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply it was an "original" 455. The owner had a 455 built (with 400 heads to change the compression)...

IF I bought this, I would do some more research and make sure its a 455

His email said:
It was built by the NAPA machine shop... I was a NAPA employee at the time. I gave them the block and all the internals disassembled and $3500 later they gave it back all put together.

Factory console with stock shifter

Does it have front disc brakes?Yes

Positraction/Limited slip (Saf-T-Trak?)?

It has a stock rear end. The only thing I have done is change the fluid. I believe the gears are 3:23 or somewhere near there."

This is the SAME guy I bought bucket seats from for $50 last month (the seats are from this Lemans and are nice "cores")

I just wanted to get an idea what was needed to look like a GTO, and use that to help make a decision...

Thanks...