My work in progress

[TuBBeD]

I hope this works! :rolleyes: I took these pics a couple weeks ago.

[TuBBeD]

and another

[TuBBeD]

......another:grin:

[TuBBeD]

Watch out!! Now I'm starting to get the hang of this :laugh:

[TuBBeD]

:)

[TuBBeD]

Last one. lol

[GS4551970]

So Rob what are the plans for this beast?

[TuBBeD]

Jim Burek is building me a 350 that should put out around 475 hp. Currently, we're waiting on the pistons that were custom ordered from Wiseco. How everything is going now I probably won't get to drive till next year, but I guess that's life, lol.

[GS4551970]

A 475 hp 4 speed car. I'm sure it will be worth the wait. Sounds like some compatition for Pats 350. You guys will have to get together next year at the track for a little king of the hill race.And see who has the hottest 350. Don't know what his will run but it sure sounds great.

[Delerius]

I think Rob has to watch out for my turbo, super charged, nitro blown 350 skylark.... its going to eat up and spit out that pedal powered gs :grin: :grin: :grin:

[IDOXLR8]

Rob I can now see why you didn't make it to the Buick picnic :Dou: . Please post some more pictures when you drop in the powerplant. :TU: IDOXLR8

[TuBBeD]

Will do!:)

I'm getting the inner fenders and core support powder coated as I type here. I'm going to detail the frame, etc. so when the engine goes in it'll be nice and pretty. I stripped the firewall down to bare metal and resprayed it and redid the trunk area as well. I put new carpet with new sill plates in so, all I need left is to put the seat covers on. The car is coming out really nice except it feels like it's taking forever.

[IDOXLR8]

Rob , if you want a second opinion your moving along pretty well time wise. I have years of restoration on my 68 Corvette (frame off). I'm looking forward to here of your continued progress.:TU:

[kamkam1]

Hey Rob, the GS is looking good. I was wondering about your wheel and tire combo, man they look awesome. thanks Kirk

[TuBBeD]

Thanks Kirk,

The rear wheels are 17x9.5's and the front are 17x8's. The backspacing for the 9.5's is 5 3/4" in order to center it in the wheelwell. I believe the backspacing for the 17x8's is 4 3/4"

[TuBBeD]

Well,
I'm not happy with how the firewall paint is holding up, so I'm getting a guy to come out on Sunday and giving me a guess-timate on redoing the firewall and frame. The guy has over 15 years of bodywork experience and was referred by a good shop. He mentioned about blasting the frame and firewall to get the finish in the condition that I want. Why do I have to be so damn picky?:Dou: Oh well, at least it'll be done right :) I guess owning a GS is like the Visa commercial, it's "priceless" lol.

[TuBBeD]

Well, here she is back from the shop....

[TuBBeD]

Here's another, things are finally starting to come together. I got the core support and inner fenders powdercoated and they came out perfect. Just waiting on the engine now. :)

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Looks great, Rob. :TU:

Did your pistons ever get delivered? Seems like a loooong engine build....

[TuBBeD]

Ken, I can write a novel about it, the pistons haven't come in yet. Wiseco has to get off their cans and get them done and the line of communication hasn't been the clearest either. I'm that frustrated with the deal and I'm ready to pull the plug as they keep saying they're shipped and they never come. It's been going on for a month now with them telling me they're shipped and I've been waiting six months for the pistons themselves with my patience running thinner and thinner. I received a call from the distributor saying they should be ready this coming week, but I have my doubt's. What's the worst part is they're the only company that can make a top-quality piston. They told me my set was the prototype and they're double checking everything to make sure it'll work, but when I asked the guy why they didn't use the 3.8 litre V-6 piston as a foundation piece all he can say was "that's a good question" :Dou: Maybe I need Dr. Phil to help me with my problems, LOL. Oh well, I guess we'll wait and see how this problem gets resolved.

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Geez, Rob, I sure hope you finally get them. It would be a bummer to sit out another season waiting on your engine. And I don't know, maybe it's me, but I'd be nervous if I was the "prototype" for pistons. What do other 350 guys use for pistons? Is cast the only other alternative?

Well, good luck with it. That car is too pretty to be sitting apart in a garage. Keep us posted.

Worse come to worse, you'll be forced to drop a 455 in it until your motor is done. :)

[TuBBeD]

Well, from what I heard Sealed Power stopped making the 350 pistons. The guy from Wiseco told me they are going to try and put the pistons on the market instead of having to custom order them, like the 455 pistons whick they are doing soon. After all the stories I've been hearing I'm not sure if I can really trust them. If the engine doesn't come through I'll be putting a 455 in. Not driving my car for the past 6-7 months over the summer really sucks, but atleast everything else is coming together really well.

[sixtynine462]

Rob,
Is that an AC delete box from american graffiti? If so, do you have any comments on it?

[TuBBeD]

Nope, this can is an original non-a/c 4-speed car :)

[sixtynine462]

cool! I guess that delete I bought from them is close to the the original then. I was wondering how it was going to fit.