Getting closer on my 69 GS400 build a few hiccups on the way but putting lots of hours in on her lately.To do list is getting shorter. Waiting for seats to return from upholstery jail.
That looks really good. What brakes are you running? I had to ditch my 15" Rally wheels because they wouldn't fit around the brakes.
Thanks running Baer SS4+ brakes all the way around. They are 11" up front and 12" in back. I had to run 1/4" spacer in back and a very thin .086 in front to clear the calipers on the 15" wheels. I wanted to run 15" wheels to get things dialed in since I had them. I probably will go with bigger brakes in front once I decide on the wheel and tire combo. Of course the $4000.00 plus for the wheel & tire combo has a lot to do with my decision.:eek2:
Spoilers by Randy. It was for a 70 I just cut about a 1/2" angle on a tab on the bumper where the bumper bolts to the bumper brace. Then re-drilled a few holes it will actually have 5 mounting points opposed to 3 on a 70. The grill is a work in progress. I never liked the grill a 68 looks better to me. I actually want to use a 68 chrome surround and incorprate a 70 style grill insert. Building a honeycomb style one temporarily. The grill I have is Swiss cheesed and hacked together can't seem to part with the $500.00 for a grill I never cared for. Who knows might just bend over and get one just to be done. I could always sell it later.
Starting to get things in the right direction. Still have a few odds and ends to finish. I think I have the right a/c bracket coming. we'll see soon.Tweaking and tweaking.Does anyone know where to get a correct cowl screen?
You have to find a good used cowl screen. I had an in depth discussion with OPG regarding their incorrect advertisement in their catalog and website of a 68-72 cowl screen. It's not correct for a 68 or 69. I pointed them to a 69 GS in their own building and told them to look at it to prove my point. I've been looking for one since 1985. Nobody makes a correct repro to my knowledge. Looking at your craftiness, my guess is that you are going to make one anyway.
Yep that's what I thought. I got one from The Parts Place and was incorrect. I tried half assed to find the material since I kept the POS that I have for a pattern. When I get off my vacation I will have one of the buyers at work try and hunt it down. If I find the material I'll let you know. I'll make one for you too. Thanks
I finally got back to work on my GS400. I've had some fun running the car around the past few years. I built my Mancave garage and finally been able to do some work on it. Since the weather turned here I've put a 200r4 in the car with lockup converter and converted the shifter with a kit from shiftworks. It was relatively easy swap and seems to work well I like the lockup button for hitting the highway. Big improvement for keeping the rpms from buzzing. I also installed a dakota digital dash which helped clean up the dash. I now have every gauge in the cluster including a tach which the car never had and all sorts of toys at the push of a button and a GPS speedo to boot. I'm getting excited I finally ordered my wheel and tire combo too. When the wheels come I'll see how they fit and message areas if I need to. Then time to take apart for paint and attempt to build some carbon fiber parts.
I like the dakota dash. You can change colors and stuff too, right? Carbon fiber looks good on the bottom. Whats your plans for the HVAC panel? Carbon fiber? Guess your not going to share wheel stuff till ya get em on are ya? I bet you like the 200r4. Just did a gear vender in my buddies 69. He is running 3:90 gear. GV works well. Mine is a 5spd, soo. I love the overdrive too. What chin spoiler is that? I am going the Pro touring look route with my 68 as well. racking my brain on how to fabricate a rear spoiler, with supports like everyone does. But these damn weird trunk lids are a challenge. LOL. Post them wheel pics! I'm going with 18's eventually......
I'm going to build a carbon fiber radiator support show panel also panels for where the hood insulation goes and a two piece rear spoiler. If it works out good I'm going to try and to make the ram air work on a sp1 intake with a Holley 4150 style carb. That's if I get a good handle on working with carbon fiber. I've made molds before but never worked with carbon fiber before. I do have friends that have as a back up plan. I haven't put hardly any miles on the trans yet but it seems to work well. I loved the th400 I had in it but wanted to make the car more versatile for longer rides. I do like a stick though. The chin spoiler is from Spoilers by Randy. It's for a 70-72 but the shape of the front bumper is similar. You just have to mount it a little different. The rear spoiler? I too am scratching my head but I think I'm close. I have one built out of art card and have it on the car for about a month now. It hasn't been torn off or modified yet so that's a good sign. My next step is to carve and shape a foam copy then hard coat it so I could make a mold. If your interested I have a GSX spoiler and a trunk lid for your car that I'll probably never use. I like the 68 with a 69 hood. I would actually like to put a 70 style grill in my 69 with the chrome surround from a 68. That would take some work but not impossible. I even bought a used 70 grill that's a donor. I have a lot of ideas just not much time to execute them. The wheels should be here soon. One of the guys from Billet is coming to my super bowl party this weekend maybe he'll have a surprise for me. I'll post the pics when they come.
I would love to but we'll be getting back from Europe Wednesday of that week. We had a blast last year in the Special. I may have a slim chance of catching the very tail end of it. We have a friend that's going and he has been bugging me and I don't think the red car will be ready. If I decide not to paint it in the near future it will be. I've really been dragging my ass on this car and now I'm building this goofy stuff. I really would like to finish the car but we have such a small window of time to use it I hate to tear it apart. I'll see in a few weeks how things progress. Jim you have one sweet ride and who knows maybe we'll still see you on the power tour this year. If not we'll be guns loaded for next year.
Thanks, I had to raise it in front due to the deep trans pan scraping the ground periodically on these city streets. Since I put the 200r4 in and added another trans cooler I probably be able to drop it again. We'll see when my pimpie wheels come. Your lark sits nice too.
Pimpie wheels are on. 18"x10"on a 295/35/18 Mickey Thompson street comp on back with a 5.875 backspace. 17"x8" on a 245/45/17 Mickey Thompson street comp with a 5.0 backspace. Wheels are forged Billet Specialties SLG35 "Twist"
Working on my rear spoiler as time permits. I've carved the two pieces and in the process of hard coating them so I can make the molds for the carbon fiber.