My 71 GS evolution

Discussion in 'Members Rides' started by Nathan Leonard, Nov 24, 2019.

  1. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    I've had it for about 15 years now. As it goes for a lot of us it's a work in progress. I've replaced,rebuilt, restored most of it to this point with most of it happening right now.
     

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  2. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    My 71 posing with a customers 70 x clone after new interior, seals, weatherstrip,and top. I epoxy primed roof and painted just like it was any other body panel before putting the new vinyl on. With American racing 15x7 and Bfg 225/60 and 275/60.
     

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  3. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    Out cruising with the wife after wheel/tire swap and stopped for lunch, I had to get a pic. 15x7 and 15x8 Hurst with Mickey Thompson 215/70 and 275/60 sportsman s/t.
     

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  4. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    Hanging out with customers 70 ss clone on a nice spring afternoon.
     

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  5. BYoung

    BYoung Stage me

    The car looks great!
     
  6. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    Which brings us to what's going on with it currently. The core support under the battery was getting to be in bad shape and I've had the repair kit for my 71 skylark for 20 years now and thought it was a good time to use it for 1 of them. Like most other parts for the Skylark, the GS has gotten priority and the parts. Unfortunately the kit was made for a Lego car and requires lots of work/reshaping to make it fit and look factory.
     

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  7. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    Got metal fab finished and had it blasted. Clean, acid washed and sand with 320, then epoxy prime and paint. Man now I remember why I wasn't in a hurry to get that done.
     

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  8. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    I can't leave it alone. Since I pulled cap to fix support and I already have the body bushings (another item stashed for 20 years for Skylark ), I figured it was a good time to replace the body bushings and restore the chassis.
     

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  9. BrunoD

    BrunoD Looking for Fast Eddie

    The car looks really good,but you are creating your own problems.Why not buy a new piece for the support.it most likely cost you more to reshape another part to fit,then buying new.Just my opinion.Bruno.
     
  10. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    And have a look inside the motor and do a couple more oil mods while there. After seeing how well it's held up all these years though it wasn't necessary to do anymore mods. I did them anyway and replaced all bearings and seals. ..already there why not.
     

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  11. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    And can't forget the power steering pump. Wasn't giving problems but looked like it was starting to leaked and it needed a good detailing anyway.
     

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  12. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    Might as well have a look at the trans while I'm at it. Added a sonnax pressure regulator kit, new detent plug, changed some seals and altered the shift kit. I originally built it with red alto clutches and steels with a truck style shift kit. Everything was great inside so no hard parts changed.
     

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  13. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    It's also time to have a look in the rear. I had already put 30 spline Mosers with a new posi and new 3 08s recently. Only change here was just to inspect and install a TA / Moser girdle cover ,stainless lines,new hose and clean detail the outside
     

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  14. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    Don't know if it was necessary but I sealed everything. The studs, nuts and plugs with thread seal. These are the quick abbreviated version of what I have and been up to. Hope I've posted all these correctly.
     

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  15. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    Thank you
     
  16. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    I always get excited to uncover the history of these if for no other reason than confirming what I already know. Cleaning the firewall and uncovered the interior and paint codes scribbled on it.
     

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  17. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    Paint code. Guessing the x is for the vinyl top? There's nothing above the master cylinder. This is a Fremont car if that matters.
     

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  18. Philip66

    Philip66 Well-Known Member

    Very Nice!!

    Thanks for all the pics and updates. Slow and steady will get you finished with a nice car you can be proud of.

    Years ago I had a '71 GS 350 in that color with a black vinyl top.
    Looks great!!
     
  19. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    Thanks. The bottom of the cowl is soild inside and out. Original paint on cowl,jambs and trunk lid, was told it was painted in the late 80s. I will give more/better details and pics as it develops. Yeah I keep finding things to do. I was going to touch up the bottom of the floors and set the body back on. It was sprayed with undercoat years ago and still looked good but the more I thought about it and looked at it I couldn't. I am now in the process of stripping it off now. So what started as a carb rebuild and rocker swap has turned into a partial frame off restoration.
     

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  20. Nathan Leonard

    Nathan Leonard My 71 GS and customers X clone.

    Inside is just as clean, no flakes, no pits, no mulch. I didn't have to vacuum it out or anything. I've seen some cars full of rotting leave, flaking/pitted rust and holes. Looking down into passenger side cowl through blower motor opening. I'm going to spray a light coat of converter in there to freeze it where it is.
     

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