Vintage Pontiac GTOs are extremely popular as a collector’s item, so if you have your eye on one of those, don’t wait too long or else someone might snatch it from under your nose! Just imagine how grand it will look when you cruise along in your restored GTO, or enter it into an auto show!
Get organized
If you are disassembling the GTO by yourself, it is imperative to plan ahead so the parts coming off aren’t lost, damaged, or taken out of service, because it will cost you more money and prove to be a hassle. Photograph every part as you remove, don’t mix components from one system with another, tag each part, and lastly, bag smaller system parts and fasteners. It is advisable to choose an area with low foot traffic.
What do you need?
Before you begin, please make sure there is a bench or work table to hold heavy parts and other tools. You will require the following items:
- Quality socket set
- Screwdrivers
- Torque wrench
- Hammers and mallets
- Containers for gasoline, oil, anti-freeze and other liquids
- Draining pans
- Compressor
- Pneumatic lines
- Air-impact wrench
- Grinding wheels
- Transmission jacks
- Engine hoist
- Arc welder
- Hub pullers in different sizes
Go ahead with the restoration
While disassembling the parts, you might find some bolts stripping or rounding out, or components stuck together due to rust, etc. Use the correct tool for the task, which could be a correct-size screwdriver, six-point socket, or trim tool. Rusty bolts will need sufficient amount of oiling that can penetrate deep. Old collision damage may reveal itself, as well as some sub-standard repairs and hidden rust-outs on the body structure or frame, because of this car’s age.
It is necessary to make notes about the condition of each part, so you can decide if they need to be cleaned, repaired, painted, or replaced. At times, it is tough to decide as the extent of damage is tough to determine. If you are handy with tools, you can often save a few bucks by repairing components, but make sure the quality of repair is good. You may also save some time with body panel alignment by keeping your repaired original fender versus buying a reproduction, though the quality of the repair also plays a role in that operation.
Trim pieces could pose another issue. If you haven’t broken the pieces during removal, then repair is possible – replacements aren’t going to provide a snug fit as compared to originals, but you have to keep that option open if pieces are missing or can’t be obtained via used parts channels.
Should you opt for body off or on restorations?
If you decide to pull the body off the frame, in order to conduct a ground-up restoration, it should be done only after inspection the condition of the car and its intended use. In case you are restoring this vehicle to drive on weekends, and it isn’t in need of a large amount of rust repair or weld-in panel replacement, it is best not to separate the body from the frame. Just restore as a single unit.
Remember that all GTOs weren’t created equal, so the high-performance vehicles that are super-rare are always worth more. Levels of restoration vary from functional non-original transportation to the 100-point concourse car that looks the same as the day it was sold. Owners usually restore a GTO between these extremes. The end result is you will end up with a genuine GTO with some original parts but any reproduction components as well.