[PontGuy]

Well, as finished as these sort of projects get, anyway. There's always more that can be done, but I am ready to drive and enjoy the car for a while.

Began with a "reasonably nice" driver. It looked OK but had issues everywhere... worn 350 engine, leaky trans with mystery shifts, poor brakes, rusted out trunk floor, leaky gas tank, bent wheels, worn suspension bushings, top pump/cylinders didn't work, window mechanism problems, ugly dash with wiring problems, sticky shifter, worn out interior vinyl, rust, dents and dings hidden by tons of bondo, bent bumpers, scratched up stainless trim, missing/broken emblems, and plenty more. It seems like my life has revolved around working on this car for the past 2-1/2 years.

Now... 462 CI "sleeper" engine and built TH400 with 13" Continental. Car drives like new, everything works correctly and no more rust (anywhere!) New "original" matador red paint and Legendary interior. Maybe not a 100 point show car, and not as valuable as a numbers matching GTO. But its exactly what I envisioned when I bought the car 13 years ago.

Thanks guys for the help! Not sure how I could have pulled it off without all the advice and references here.

Walt

[murph3204]

well done PontGuy! I too have a red '69 LeMans that's been sitting in the garage since 2004! I hope to have it looking as nice as yours some day.

[Ken Mac]

Wow, great job! She's a beauty

[1978 T/A]

Very nice! Should surprise some people with that lil ol Lemans .

[PontGuy]

Should surprise some people with that lil ol Lemans

Yeah, I don't think the original versions would get rubber on an auto 2-1 downshift, would they? I don't know how it good the car would really do in the 1/4 but its got plenty enough to keep the ricers and wanna-be's in the rearview mirror. I didn't go too crazy with the cam, and installed RA manifolds to a Pypes X system with Dynomax mufflers. The power is very deceptive because the engine is so smooth and quiet. Helps keeps the "classic Lemans" image intact.

Walt

[goatman-68]

Beautiful job you did, love the car and the red on red, enjoy driving it........

[PontGuy]

Thanks for all the comments!

Dealing with the red interior was the hardest part and I spent a lot of time researching it. It seems that they used two shades in these cars, medium (bright) red and dark red which is more like burgundy. Probably why when you order aftermarket "red" parts you may get one or the other, or something in-between. The aftermarket interior suppliers seem to have settled on the medium red for the vinyl and that's what I see in almost all restored 69 Lemans/GTO pictures.

But this car came with a dark red dash, pillar covers, etc. even though the steering column and console were medium red. Work was done on the interior at one point but everything except the seat center sections and lower door panels were dark red matching the dash. So I did my best to duplicate it. The new center panels and lower door panels are the standard Legendary 69 Lemans/GTO red vinyl which matches the console and steering column. And I had them match the dark red dash for everything else.

Interesting that the boot cover that I bought 10+ years ago is the same dark red shade even though the standard interior vinyl available now seems to be the medium red.

Like I said, the red interior was the hardest part. I've always had black interiors in the past. A whole lot simpler.

Walt

[69Customs]

Nice ride!!!

[Greg Reid]

Beautiful car! Always liked the red in red cars. Being a Georgia car, maybe I'll see it at one of the BOP shows one day.

[65lemans]

Nice Car !

[2002Z4CSS]

Beautiful car!

[69gtocv]

Beautiful!

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by PontGuy

its exactly what I envisioned

And that's what it's all about.

Nice car and well done.

[shineybike]

Looks great. I have a '68 Lemans vert, white with a red interior and white top. Feel your pain on the red interior. I'm not at the point of restoring mine but have looked long and hard for red interior parts just to upgrade mine.

[PontGuy]

Thanks again!

I know better than to think there is ever a real stopping point to this sort of hobby and I still have things on my to-do list, so I'll still be around trading notes with you guys. But even when I bought it this was the very last car I intended to restore, and I haven't changed my mind on that thinking.

Another thank you- we have a broad range of Pontiac interests and expertise levels here on the PY board- but everyone gets along and shares. And nobody is too critical. Very cool, one of the best internet forums I have participated in for any hobby- and I have a lot of hobbies.

Yeah Greg, now that the car is in shape I am about out of excuses and need to hit some of the big Atlanta BOP shows. I never was that big into car shows though, I mostly like driving.

Shineybike, if you ever get serious on re-working your interior let me know, happy to provide advice.

Walt

[webfoot]

Now there's something to be proud of!

[My442]

Great job....enjoy!

[nh68gto]

She is a beauty!!!

[70ram4]

Awesome!

[GTO JOHN]

Walt, Congrats on the car and sticking with her for the past 13 years!! The Red/Red is fantastic too!