1968-1969 GS 4 Speed Restorations

Discussion in 'Members Rides' started by George D., Dec 6, 2006.

  1. bill van steen

    bill van steen Well-Known Member

    All I know whoever put those moldings must have really wanted them because the door panels and fenders would have to be off to put the fasteners on aswell as the hole that were put in for the studs weren't drilled but punched out as I found the little circles attached at the back of fender holes? Either way I think I am going to remove them any way. As for the stands , yeah not the safest but believe me nobody goes under there . 69's sure are put together alot different then 70's and up. Bill
     
  2. 54Rich

    54Rich Silver Level contributor

    Would be interesting if a build sheet were to be found. I don't have a build sheet with mine, of course I still think the mice ate it, or maybe the snake, or who knows what else lived in there.

    I've made some pretty shakey stands myself, gets the job done. I just never took a picture of it. Looks like a nice project, wish mine was that solid.:beer

    Rich
     
  3. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    As Rich said, if you remove the trim and you find buttons welded to the panels they most likely came from the factory. I doubt a dealer would go through all of that trouble to add the moldings. If I remember correctly the trim pieces will have studs that go into the body at the ends and use little clips along the middle that snap onto the studs on the body.

    Even if they are factory I think I would remove them but I may think twice if I had the build sheet showing they were factory :confused:

    :beer
     
  4. Davis

    Davis Moderator

    Fingers crossed hoping a build sheet would put this to rest.

    My car is the same way, I dont see how it was dealer installed as to how the post were welded in.

    I would leave them. Especially if you can document them, there is no way I would remove them.
     
  5. Gasoline

    Gasoline Pitbulls and Kudzu

    My Flint GS oddity has trim holes filled with putty under what looks like factory paint. I dropped the tank and have a build sheet, but it is a couple of cars off from my body number:spank:

    Car was built 01A first week of January 1969. Who knows how it came together after the holidays. Got a couple of places still to look for another build sheet, dash, kick panels, and pillars.

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    Last edited: Feb 7, 2007
  6. George D.

    George D. Platinum Level Contributor

    I wouldn't go just by the buttons... Several of the 68-69 Buicks that came through here had the 'screw in' style ferrels.. So there would just be a hole...
    Hey T- any chance that door was replaced?
     
  7. Gasoline

    Gasoline Pitbulls and Kudzu

    No, both are factory doors. I have the filled holes in the both fenders, doors, and quarter panels.

    I am not saying in any way mine came from the factory with trim, but I can't help but wonder with the close (but incorrect) build sheet if the car started out as a Skylark with trim on the assembly line and was changed to a GS before leaving the plant.
     
  8. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!

    Anyone know what color SCO grey this may be ??

    Anyone ?? Bueller ??? Anyone ??

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    Last edited: Feb 12, 2007
  9. stage169

    stage169 Well-Known Member

    Any suggestions on removing the interior kick panels? If there is a build sheet in my car that is the last place it could be. I hope to remove them today. Thanks, Brian
     
  10. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!

    The right one is pretty easy - its the left one on '69s thats tough. Basically, you have to remove the E-brake pedal assy
     
  11. stage169

    stage169 Well-Known Member

    Thanks, I had to remove the booster and master cylinder to clean the black stuff off the nuts for the e brake assembly. No build sheet on the drivers side. I need to remove the duct? from under the dash to pull the passanger side out all the way. If its there it will have to be directly behind the vent and I doubt that it is. There is no question for me that it is not a real stage 1 but I would sure like something in paper. I guess I can go ahead and get on the registry now and just put down history. Brian
     
  12. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!

    Sounds like you may have a freshly rebuilt mill there !! :beer

    Pop a head off and lets SEE !!
    _______________________________________________

    Here's some daily car report break down data I received from Mile Trom(metter) when I inquired about my car



    ...
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2007
  13. stage169

    stage169 Well-Known Member

    George I will post pic's when that day comes. I will have to sell my white Skyhawk to really put a dent in the resto. I really like that car.

    It sounds like some good things are going on at your end! Keep us posted on that for sure. I just finished reading Hemmings Muscle Machine with the 69 4spd Stage1 in it. He has a lot of Stage2 parts!

    I had read (and I thought the number was a percentage guess from the total Stage1 cars made for 69) that there were 415 4spd S1's. But the GS total consolletes at 748 just seems low I guess. I wonder how many of the S1 cars had the consollete. The one in HMM didn't have one but then his shifter wasn't stock. That car also had some trim on the rocker and the bottom back quarter that I haven't seen before. Reminds me of the 70 GS cars. I'm sure you guys will fill me in I don't get out much. Brian
     
  14. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!


    I say - good eyes Brian :beer :beer while the rocker trim was an option in '69, Im not sure it was available on GS's. I think it was only for the Skylark Custom's and SportWagon's and it was a solid piece unlike the later ones with the groovey grooves

    There's one more thing I noticed in Wayne's awsome article and pictures ... anyone care to guess ?? George ?? Bueller ?? anyone ?? its pretty obscure, but something that caught my eye .... I'll have to ask Wayne what the story is on both of them
     
  15. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    Sport wheel looks like a 15" not a 16" :Do No:
    Note: These are not nit-picks, just observations :TU:

    I would like to know the story on the rocker panel trim :Do No:
     
  16. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!

    Definately NOT nitpicking :TU: Im so proud to see Wayne's efforts and the magazine coverage

    4 speed cars didn't get disc emblems on the pedals - same pad for auto or stick.

    Im sitting here with 3 different books and while they dont discuss the trim in words, its color-coded and described by model ... and like I said, the rocker trim is only "colored" for the Custom's and Sporty's

    Sport wheel looks alittle thick but that wasn't it...

    ... you still have 2 guesses Mike :Brow:
     
  17. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    I edited my post to remove the "disc not being on the brake peddle" after I noticed that was the clutch peddle:Dou: :laugh:

    OK how about this;

    Looks like an AM-FM radio but it has an adjustable AM antenna mast, should be a solid mast for an AM-FM...

    Or, the pin stripe on the trunk is not factory?

    :Do No:
     
  18. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!

    You're good ...Real good Mike :beer

    I hadn't caught the radio - same line of thinking though ... putting two things from seperate photo's together :Brow:
     
  19. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    :TU:


    Alan, Your just sick :pp , picking those things out.... I had to really look those pages over very close to find that, never would have noticed otherwise...

    So I guess there is something else besides the radio? If its a '69 only thing I may not find it...

    :beer
     
  20. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!

    Should be similar, but not the same, for '68 ....

    .... and you're just as sick my friend for noticing the radio anomily :eek2: :TU::laugh:
     

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