Off to the Sandblaster

[markandson]

Body is now blocked and polished, what a finish! Take a look. One pic is with flash on and shows darker color, other one with no Blitz is with flash off.

[namba209]

That is, in a word, FANTASTIC!!! Nothing else to add, other than be very careful putting it back together.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by markandson Body is now blocked and polished, what a finish! Take a look. One pic is with flash on and shows darker color, other one with no Blitz is with flash off.

To paraphrase Miss Hilton,

'That's hot'

GT's look so good with a fine metallic paint, it really catches all the body lines. Graphics? we don't need no stinkin' graphics...

[jlthunder]

Originally Posted by RallyBob To paraphrase Miss Hilton, 'That's hot' GT's look so good with a fine metallic paint, it really catches all the body lines. Graphics? we don't need no stinkin' graphics...

I second that. Fantastic. We want to see this in person in May 08

[jeff denton]

I bet that's one of those colors that just doesn't get full justice when viewed on a computer screen! You ever go to a car show and see a hot rod painted in something so unique that you can't take your eyes off it? I suspect that's what Jeff has here.
But I can't help but wonder what would happen if there was some pearl mixed into the clear coat. People who had too much fun in the late sixties would have flashbacks for sure.
And I agree, no graphics are needed on this one.

[jvandyke]

Yes, this thing looks killer. I pulled it up on three different monitors so far checking the color out. Just too nice. So glad you didn't doctor it with "graphics".

[markandson]

Originally Posted by jvandyke Yes, this thing looks killer. I pulled it up on three different monitors so far checking the color out. Just too nice. So glad you didn't doctor it with "graphics".

Thank you all for the great comments, I hope I can get it together in time for Carlisle, seems like it's tomorrow, so much to do, so little time. Was working on the 2.2 motor today cleaning up the timing chain cover, ordered new oil pump gears and cover from OGTS, this is the last part to do before I begin reassembly of the motor. Body should be back in the garage shortly.

[markandson]

Well it's almost exactly 2 years since the car left my garage and today it made it back home. I figured out the unique thing I was looking for but the picture will have to wait for the photo gallery to be back up. I painted the hood blitz black with gold flake in it, and painted the rear OPEL GT gold since it is on the blacked out rear. Both look very sweet. The immediate problem I ran into was that apparently the body shop covered up the holes for the "GT". Can someone measure, precisely, the location of the GT in relation to the OPEL letters so that I can find the holes. They did such a great job on the car that you can't see them from inside the car either. TIA.

[markandson]

It's been a while so I thought I would do a quick post. First I want to thank Mike Lane (opellane) for his help this past weekend installing my front suspension, Mike thanks again!! . Except for the custom injection system and the electric fan all the wiring is in and working properly, every circuit has been tested. This includes the wiring of the daytime driving lights and the Euro driving lights that I have to replace the blinker lenses and all of my LED lights, the only stock bulbs in my car are the backup light and the dome light. The dash is totally installed and looks sweet as it was recovered by Dashboard Restorations in WA. Door glass is in with all new track rubber and Spal electric window kit. Rx7 electric mirrors are in and working. Both the mirrors and the windows are powered through the WIDE contacts that I installed in the door and door jamb, they work great, but very difficult to get right. Rear end is in with all the goodies including the OGTS sway bar and powder coated springs. Torque tube is also in. Front lights are in and lock open and closed and turn on, with Hella Euro headlights. Custom center console is in with the brass trimmed switch area for the window and mirror controls. Circuit similar to Otto Start is in, I took the two buzzers and all buzzer wiring out of the car and used the two studs on the back of the fuse box for additional relays, found the proper wire that ran to the starter solenoid and cut into it so all my "Otto Start" wiring is at the fuse box and nice and tidy. I should be driving it this summer with no problem, just not with my hot engine in it, but everything else. I'll post a few pictures when I get a chance.

[Killer Texas GT]

Jeff how did the rear end work out? Did you move the Panhard Rod mount or stay with the Panhard Rod I sent with the rear end? And did the rear end and brakes work out for you Okay?

[jordan]

Did you chop springs or were you able to find some 1.5-2.0" lowering springs? What are you doing for rear brakes again?

[markandson]

Originally Posted by jordan Did you chop springs or were you able to find some 1.5-2.0" lowering springs? What are you doing for rear brakes again?

I used a set of original rear springs, I want to see how the car sits after it is all assembled. I do have a set of wagon springs that I got, I was planning on cutting them down and using them but the consensus seemed to be that the rear would be too stiff that way, so I chose this route, I can always change my mind later. The rear brakes are the original drums on a 73 rear with 3/4" cylinders. I have another rear from a Buick/Opel with Isuzu disks on it. That rear needs to be cleaned up and painted or powder coated before I put it on the car, but it will be the one that I use. I had already cleaned and rebuilt the original one when I got the disk brake rear. I don't want to stop and clean it up now or I might not finish the car for this summer. I also forgot to mention in my post above that the modified gas tank is also in the car and the vent/return lines are installed with rubber hose and hanging below the car. I have to adapt them to steel lines which will run the length of the car to the engine bay. The supply line is also complete, which was rebuilt with a 3/8" NPT coupling and I have an adapter to carry it as a 5/16" steel line to the fuel pump.....lots of plumbing yet to do. I put the front disks on tonight so I am now ready to finish all the new brake lines.

[Girly_with_style]

this is a really unique a different color ive never seen any color like it.

[markandson]

Originally Posted by Girly_with_style this is a really unique a different color ive never seen any color like it.

That is because I sort of created it myself, every coat of paint changes the color slightly so as more coats go on it goes from an almost bright yellow to an orange bronze, in the sun it flips all over the place, I like it a lot.

[69whitegt]

That looks very nice. Take your time and it will be all worth it at in the end. Do you still think you will have it done in time for Carlisle?

[markandson]

Originally Posted by 69whitegt That looks very nice. Take your time and it will be all worth it at in the end. Do you still think you will have it done in time for Carlisle?

I am still using May as a target so that I can stay focused, but I can't make it to Carlisle this year one way or the other, my sons college graduation is May 17, found out a few weeks ago.

[Gary Sullivan]

I just leafed through a boatload of your posts to see what the heck you had used for that paint. It is really something!
Best of luck with your build.
Gary

[markandson]

Some pictures of my progress, I am actually a little further along then they show, today I finished the brake lines and mounted the engine cross member and fitted the front sway bar.

[markandson]

A few more pictures

[broszzy]

where did you get the clear fog lights? they look great

Broszzy

[markandson]

Originally Posted by broszzy where did you get the clear fog lights? they look great Broszzy

Got the last set that OGTS had, I tried a German Ebay buy about a year ago and lost even though I bid $265 for the set. That set had the chrome cans with it so it was a tad better. Another pic I forgot below.

[Sparky73]

Originally Posted by markandson Got the last set that OGTS had.

With my last order of parts from OGTS, which was only about 1-2 months ago, I got some papers with all the new parts they currently got in.. and those lenses were included. Did you mean you got the last set for the time being, or the last set they had.. and they aren't selling them anymore?

[jlthunder]

A few years back I asked OGTS if they had them and they said they didn't sell well and were not carrying them anymore. Maybe things have changed.

[markandson]

Originally Posted by Sparky73 With my last order of parts from OGTS, which was only about 1-2 months ago, I got some papers with all the new parts they currently got in.. and those lenses were included. Did you mean you got the last set for the time being, or the last set they had.. and they aren't selling them anymore?

To my knowledge these are not being produced any more, Gil told me I got the last NOS set that he had, and at the price I paid for them I expect he was telling the truth.
BTW, Gil does have clear lenses available, these are NOT those lenses, these are true original driving lights with Halogen bulbs and daytime driving bulbs in the lower half of the reflector.

[jlthunder]

Originally Posted by markandson To my knowledge these are not being produced any more, Gil told me I got the last NOS set that he had, and at the price I paid for them I expect he was telling the truth. BTW, Gil does have clear lenses available, these are NOT those lenses, these are true original driving lights with Halogen bulbs and daytime driving bulbs in the lower half of the reflector.

Very nice. I have a hybrid. They are clear lenses, but are made of glass. They are made for the GT because they do have that small alignment notch. Currently I have 1157 NA bulbs in them and they are used as turnsignals, but I may modify them to accept an H-3 bulb and move the turn signals up to the curved lens. Remember, you are never done restoring one of these cars