Some of you old timers on V8 may know the significance. We're making progress again on the one of eighteen 71GS455 4spd convertibles. Yee ha. This wasn't even a good parts car to begin with. But it will be alive again someday. As crazy as that is. The numbers matching rolling frame is coming together again.
Mike , It looks GREAT! So many people would sell the parts off and make a profit. Effort and hard work will pay off in the long run ! Good Luck
Jim, it will be as original, limemist with green interior and black top. I'm hoping to come in this weekend if I can make it happen (health issues). Hope to see you, maybe Friday the 3rd? Lets get the Buicks out if weather permits. I'd like to try to stomp on you with my new GSX. Steve took delivery and says it's pretty dang fast. Steve E, thanks for fixing the pic. It looks a lot better.
well, f you 2 guys are stomping....do it down Northwest hwy...I wanna be the judge....I'll be sipping coffee watching out the window if its still cold... :TU:
Frank, where are you located on NW Hwy? I can think of some better places that aren't quite so busy. Anyway, I think Jim's car is in hibernation until spring but he should speak for himself.
on Raven & NW ..between harlem and nagel... jeez just a long block away from Jims...met him once..he got nice gs...love that color
Looking good Mike! :TU: Bruce and I had a long talk about you and your "punk" attitude. :moonu: p I also noticed in the picture the timing on the engine is retarded 4*, I have a good eye. :Brow:
Mike- Looks great! Can't wait to see it back together one day! Limemist with a black top, what a great combination! :Brow: Enjoy take Al Fiandaca's old/your new GSX for a spin. I have seen that car a few times in person, and she's a beauty.
Here's a strange thing, and obviously I'm not hiding anything here. Much to my surprise the floor pans had already been replaced. All numbers matching block, trans, carb, distributor, etc. (only 71K on the odo) but this body had been through hell, even by the late 80s. As George said on his site and I didn't quite acknowledge the truth initially, Chicago salt does really kick the crap out of these cars. Here's a pic of the shifter hump, already welded back in once before. I'm learning new things about this car as we go along. Skip is a great guy to keep working it, despite all the constant set backs.
Oh sure. LOL. Bring me back a newspaper or a poker chip or something. Just kidding. Remember, craps tables get you the best odds... Wish I was going with you.
Pretty much all the humps looked "ugly" in the way the floor pan hole was cut and the hump welded in. Is the way it looks in your picture the basis for thinking the pans were replaced? Or are there other signs?
That's great to hear Mike. Say "Hi" to Skip for me next time you guys talk. And Ken is right, the factory boys weren't really picky about cutting the hole for the 4 speed. Here's a visual..
Well, when I saw the pic I assumed that it was a replacement sort of thing. You think it was like that originally? Pretty coarse for a factory job don't you think?
Yes, I have seen a number of them now, they pretty much all look the same. Cut out with a torch. It got the job done, and the boys back then were no where near as picky as we are these days. They were just building cars, as fast as possible. JW
Good job so far. As for the hole in the floor, it looks like a 4 year old cut the ones I have seen. I thought someone had converted to a 4 speed after seeing the first hole up close, but was told that almost all A-Bodies of that era looked like that.