Howie 886 #1 Posted January 5, 2020 I have had a 1970 GTO sitting in my garage since the mid 80's. Parked it when the transmission quit shifting properly and no 98 octane fuel. Did start gathering parts in the late part of the 80's. Quarter panels were re- placed and trunk floor replaced, frame sandblasted and painted. Health issues and other life issues caused it to just sit there. Through an odd set of circumstances last summer I found a guy close to me that restores cars and has done a bunch of GTO's. He came up and looked at the carand as of Nov 20th it is in his shop. It is now back to bare metal and awaiting his magic touch! Since he has the body I figured I had better get the engine and rest of drive train ready. I have the engine ready, transmission ready to be bolted to it. Both of my kids are happy dad finally got thjis thing somewhere to be finished up. 9 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daddy Don 905 #2 Posted January 5, 2020 Good luck hope you love it Send pictures when you get it going. Great car. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
troutbum70 857 #3 Posted January 5, 2020 You really meant to say you had a 1970 goat in my garage RIGHT. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herder 2,354 #5 Posted January 5, 2020 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: GTO 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,336 #6 Posted January 5, 2020 1 minute ago, Herder said: GTO Ditto !!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,350 #7 Posted January 5, 2020 40 minutes ago, Herder said: GTO Waiting patiently 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howie 886 #8 Posted January 5, 2020 Don't have a lot of pictures yet of the body. This was as delivered to shop in Nov.Last week.Shortblock.Engine last week. 6 4 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tom2p 2,394 #9 Posted January 5, 2020 lookin good ! soon you could cruise with some other RedSquare GTO owners ... including peacemaker jack ... the RedSquare 'Goat Gang' ... the first pic with the old GMC truck (68-9 ?) could be submitted to vintage trucks 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herder 2,354 #10 Posted January 5, 2020 Looks like original sheet metal. (?) We to have a Pontiac in the family, we wife's hotrod is a 68 Firebird. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howie 886 #11 Posted January 5, 2020 That truck was sitting outside of his shop, think it must belong to him. I was just excited to get the car there and never looked at it closely. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howie 886 #12 Posted January 5, 2020 1 minute ago, Herder said: Looks like original sheet metal. (?) We to have a Pontiac in the family, we wife's hotrod is a 68 Firebird. No it does not have original sheet metal. I replaced both quarters in the 80's passenger side is a gm panel from Arizona and driver's side a NOS panel. There was not much in the way of reproduction stuff out there when I started on it. It was gm stuff or used rust free gm stuff. The passenger side with the wheel house was rust free. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herder 2,354 #13 Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) 48 minutes ago, Howie said: No it does not have original sheet metal. I replaced both quarters in the 80's passenger side is a gm panel from Arizona and driver's side a NOS panel. There was not much in the way of reproduction stuff out there when I started on it. It was gm stuff or used rust free gm stuff. The passenger side with the wheel house was rust free. The wife's car. Sorry this pic doesn't do it any justice. Edited January 5, 2020 by Herder 3 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howie 886 #14 Posted January 6, 2020 When I bought this car a Firebird was what I was looking for. Did not find one. Almost bought a Camaro go put my 428 in! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,373 #15 Posted January 6, 2020 @PeacemakerJack, where you hiding Josh this man @Howie is a Poncho fan much like yourself. BTW I like em all just a bit more biased to the "Bowtie" I did a mild resto on my 78 Malibu's paint 19 years ago and full "killer" build on the stout lil 406SBC about 6 years ago... Those Poncho engines are torquey if the body turns out nice as you expect you'll love it for generations. 2 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #16 Posted January 7, 2020 You know me Jeff...I get busy with life and get focused on other stuff. Thanks for linking me to this thread and I’ll definitely follow along. Maybe I’ll start a “20 years after” thread showing pictures and indicating what I did with mine all those years ago. That way it is saved here digitally for posterity. Howie—thanks for the cool pics and since you are a member keep on posting updates and pictures as this progresses. I have been involved with two GTO restorations—my ‘69 and dad’s ‘67–and so I know what it takes and I can’t wait to see how yours turns out. Are you taking a stock approach or a modified route? What color scheme are you thinking? My dad owned a 1970 Ram Air IV Goat for about 6 months in the spring of 1973. He said it was the fastest car he ever drove in his life from 0-115mph but the insurance company wouldn’t cover the 20 year old in that machine and so he was forced to sell it. Knowing what he knows now, definitely wishes that he had kept it! 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howie 886 #17 Posted January 7, 2020 The car was Palamino Copper with a sandalwood vinyl top and I think it is going back that way. I used to now care for it in the old paint but do like the looks with the new stuff. It is going to be stock looking other than what I have done with the engine. A good buy on the pistons and rings kind of started that ball rolling. Then the aluminum heads and the 4" stroke crank for the 400 block. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,791 #18 Posted January 9, 2020 Awesome stuff! What transmission are you going with @Howie? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howie 886 #19 Posted January 9, 2020 Transmission is a turbo 400 that has been rebuilt with a shift kit installed and a different converter. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #20 Posted January 9, 2020 sounds just like mine! I would love to drop a TKO 600 5spd in mine one of these days. I like the idea of going with that Palamino copper. I think that is super cool especially when compared to the sea of gray vehicles in the average parking lot today. My car was originally dark green metallic with a black vinyl top. I have never cared for the vinyl tops that much personally although they were extremely popular when out cars were made and so I left mine off. I wanted a little lighter green and so I settled on a 1990’s GMC truck color called bright green metallic. It has a blue and green pearl in it with a medium coarse metallic. I have had tons of compliments on the color through the years. The funny thing is, if my car would’ve had a black interior, I would’ve likely painted it blue or red. Nothing wrong with those colors at all but you just tend to see them at cars shows much more frequently. The first Pontiac that I’ve ever seen that looked to have about the same color as mine was at Iola this year... And it was a ‘69 Lemans! My kids with ours on the last day of school back in June! I have attended Iola with my Goat probably 12 of the last 18 years. Maybe someone saw mine and liked the color or maybe they were looking at paint chips like me and just decided that it would be cool. Anyway...I’m looking forward to seeing your next set of progress pics. Do you have any old pics of the car that you could include in this thread? That would be awesome too... 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,336 #21 Posted January 9, 2020 Theres something about the wide stance of a pontiac v8 ! Brings back alot of Memories! Cant wait to see the finished product! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herder 2,354 #22 Posted January 9, 2020 On 1/5/2020 at 8:08 PM, Howie said: When I bought this car a Firebird was what I was looking for. Did not find one. Almost bought a Camaro go put my 428 in! That's the opposite of what happened to this firebird. The Heavy Chevy was transplanted between the inner fenders. Would love a 428 tri-power with a 4 speed but the wife likes it the way it is. Guess I do too. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tom2p 2,394 #23 Posted January 10, 2020 7 hours ago, Howie said: Transmission is a turbo 400 that has been rebuilt with a shift kit installed and a different converter. most of my muscle cars were sticks - but had a few with auto and they were a blast also one had high stall converter and modified valve body (shift kit) ; could put good strips down on shift to second for the avg Joe - tough to beat a good auto (straight line) btw - years and years ago had a TH400 pulled out of early 70's GTO - sat at my parents house and my dad gave it away or threw it out (frown) 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Howie 886 #24 Posted January 10, 2020 Here is the only old picture I have on the computer of it. Not that good of a picture. The Palomino Copper coler was toward the bottom of the colors ordered in 70. I think only three with less. That was not the primary reason for staying with it, I think it being different from what we normally see was probably the biggest reason. I looked at pictures of them in the solid color and wasn't sure I would care for it in the long run. Vinyl tops, know all the down falls with them too. I figured it will be indoors most of the time so some of the problems will not be as great as if it were outside in yhe sun and weather. At one point was going to change it to Cardinal Red but see red a lot more and decided to be different! 1 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #25 Posted January 10, 2020 What year was that picture taken? Love the classic “five slots” on the back with the factory PMD front hubcaps. Also, how cool that you have the hood tach! What other options did yours come with from the factory? Mine was pretty spartan for a Goat: YS block 400 350hp TH400 black vinyl top remote control drivers mirror PS PDB AC Tilt Wheel Console/floor shift I do like that color combo and with some extra clear...I think that color will really pop! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
