Finally Started My Restoration of my 68 GTX

[GetX'd]

I'd love to see you keep the car black. I have a 68 X as well. Had it for 43 years. Black ones are very rare. So what it it doesn't match the build sheet. It's your car. Black is bad ***! Good luck with the restoration. I changed the color of mine from maroon to a black Garnett pearl. Which is a deep dark burgundy. Build em like you like em!

 

[moparedtn]

Josh-
I'm late to the scene here, but I just read through this entire thread and caught up.
First off, I'm very sorry to read of your loss. Losing Pop is tough, man, real tough.

Now on to the reason I'm posting:
The coincidences strike me here. I also have been working on a '68 GTX for some years now;
cancer has tried to kill me a few times in the last few years; and my name is also Ed! :icon_salut:

Well, let me tell ya - it can be done, despite all of life's challenges:


This one was a lot worse than your dad's (and now yours), trust me. Floors, quarters, it's had a lot of sheetmetal replaced.
Just about everything on the car has been replaced, repaired, repainted, you name it....all in between hospitals and jobs life in general.
I've been taught the lesson to take it in small bites - the car has been a series of small projects out of necessity, as my energy levels aren't what they used to be. That keeps me motivated (oh yeah, still working on it - these things are never really done).

You just never give up on it, that's all. Sorta like life.
Give it hell, Josh. You got a fan back here in TN and if I can, I'll be glad to offer whatever help I can from here.

 

[68GTX440]

Hey everyone, I've finally gotten a little of free time, and decided to jump on and do a little update. Well I finally got the car into our garage after 13 years lol, but the reasoning why I put the car in the garage finally is extremely frustrating. Someone decided to light my trash can on fire that was pressed against the side of the car and the fire spread to the plastic tarps on the car and melted the tarp to the car in a few places:angryfire::angryfire:. So there's some places I need to re sand to get the plastic off and to fix the primer. Thank god the car was stripped! Here's some pictures.








Here's the pictures of it being moved into the garage. The garage was still a mess, but that's a lot better than it was two days ago. had some issues getting the car in the garage, the E-brake release is broke, so it was kinda gripping the back end and to top that the back left tire exploded and I wasn't aware of it until I went to move the car, because I had the truck I blew the engine out of sitting next to the car!





Dad and I always went back and fourth on how much work it would take to get the rims cleaned on the car, so for the first project of it being in the garage I decided to use some of this new polish I found and I just rubbed a little on hit it with a buffer that was attached to my drill and it cleaned the rim extrememly fast there's still some oxidation on it, but I didn't spend more than fifteen minutes on it! Ever have some really oxidized wheels just use some of this stuff (http://www.amazon.com/BlueMagic-400-Metal-Polish-Cream/dp/B000BO8Z9I) Works like a dream!




- - - Updated - - -

Glad to hear you're still kicking it! Cancer is something tough to watch someone go through, can't imagine how it actual is dealing with it. And thanks for the pictures of the car Ed! it looks great I can't wait to see mine up and running.

- - - Updated - - -

See that's what I always told my dad, but he wanted it to. We never even found the build sheet for the car, dad had the fender tag at one time, but he took it off for some reason and lost it about 20 something years ago. I'm definitely going with black though, this car is one mean looking SOB in black.

 

[68GTX440]

Alright everyone, I've got one hell of a question here. What is the best way to get the rubber coating under the car off? I've tried everything I can think of! I've taken a chisel and didn't get too crazy with it, took some heat to it and it just melted a little, but as soon as I went to scrape it off with something it was already dried (also tried heating and scraping didn't work it was just sticking to the car), Hit it with the sand blaster just got laughed at lol. I'll post some pictures of the undercoating.

 

[jason lewis]

I've spent many an hour with a propane torch and putty knife doing that.Get it hot enough to turn brown,the thicker stuff will require a bit more heat.I've also had good results with a needle scaler,noisy though.A friend uses a oscillating multi tool with the flat blade and it works well.Just be patient it will all come off.Crank the tunes and and zone out!

 

[68GTX440]

Hey guys haven't had much time to work on the GTX lately. I got so caught up in work and then I had to get the ol' chevy back up and running guys(Figures can't catch a break with a chevy lol), I'm currently still working on the chevy give me a couple weeks and I'll get back to work on the GTX!

 

[68GTX440]

Hey everyone, it's been awhile! I've finally been able to get back to work on the GTX, scraping away at that damn undercoating! Well after tons of hours laying under the car, and getting all that undercoating in my hair and everything, I've decided to start looking into a rotisserie. I think it'll be cheaper and easier to build on by hand. But I'm not really sure how to go about it. I know at onetime my dad had someone send him a way of building one and all the materials we'd need, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated!

 

[69 GTX]

The only thing I would recommend when building it, is spend the money for good caster wheels, the bigger the better. Also make sure both ends are tied together.

 

[whayden2003]

First let me say I just read the whole thread. This really stuck me in the heart about how much time he gives us. And that it is never known and is always to soon. I think it is amazing you still work on the car much less still have it. Keep plugging away. One thing at a time and finish it all the way. Your dad said the same thing at the start of the thread that I tell my boys everyday. Start something and finish to the best of your abilities. Please keep the updates coming.
On the rotisserie I can say that we bought the cheaper one out of the Eastwood catalog. As 69GTX said. The castors sucked. Heaviely. Made that whole thing junk. If you can't buy the best build the best. So many different ones on this site that I have seen built that are light years ahead of the ones we can buy "cheap".

 

[moparnation74]

Great to see you back and getting back on the X...

 

[68GTX440]

The only thing I would recommend when building it, is spend the money for good caster wheels, the bigger the better. Also make sure both ends are tied together.

Thank you! After looking around for steel and all the materials, I said forget this! I found a nice looking one on eBay, it put a little bit bigger hole in my pocket than I would like, but I honestly don't trust my weilding skills a whole lot lol!

 

[68GTX440]

First let me say I just read the whole thread. This really stuck me in the heart about how much time he gives us. And that it is never known and is always to soon. I think it is amazing you still work on the car much less still have it. Keep plugging away. One thing at a time and finish it all the way. Your dad said the same thing at the start of the thread that I tell my boys everyday. Start something and finish to the best of your abilities. Please keep the updates coming.
On the rotisserie I can say that we bought the cheaper one out of the Eastwood catalog. As 69GTX said. The castors sucked. Heaviely. Made that whole thing junk. If you can't buy the best build the best. So many different ones on this site that I have seen built that are light years ahead of the ones we can buy "cheap".

I have to agree, we're definitely not given enough time with our loved ones. But I'm glad I was able to have the time I did with my dad, I miss him more and more everyday especially working on the GTX. I wish I would've been able to talk him into starting this project years ago! He was always telling me, " we will one day right now we just don't have the time." Well it took someone busting one of the windows to get the restro started, everday, he would tell me, "finish whatever you start on the car, and do your best, when I get home I'll help." When he usually got home, he would be surprised to either see one half of the car sanded down and primed, or something else missing off the car and in the garage haha. I remember when we pulled the motor and transmission, he was saying, "I'll be out there in a minute to help!" Cause he was helping a friend out with his computer over the phone, well about an hour later he comes out side and I've already pretty much everything done, just needed to loosen one or two more bolts and start lifting it up and out. He had to make sure everything was disconnect and moved correctly, but once he was done with that he was glad that I did it 100% correct with out his help haha. I was 13 when that happened. Now I'm 19 becoming a level 2 tech at a Chrysler dealership.

 

[conv67bdere]

Under coating removal . . . wish I would have listened to what the other told me a lot earlier:

I spent months using a putty knife, and got 3/4 of the car done . . . got the whole back half of the car ( from the axles back ) done in a weekend - and with better results . . .

Needle Scaler - it's the way to go . . .

Here's what it can do . . . and very quickly too . . .

The process . . . in action . . .

 

[carnalsupply]

Hey bud,

You've seen my rotisserie at the shop, and we built it, so if you'd like the plans let me know and we'll get you hooked up. Can't remember what kind of costs were involved but you can figure saving 50% of what you'd pay to buy one. If you'd like a hand building it I'd be happy to help

There's also a chance I'll be finished with mine fairly soon; when are you wanting to begin? I will be selling mine when I'm done.

Shoot me a message and we'll go from there,

Bob

 

[69 GTX]

That's what I did with mine, bought it from a guy who was done with it, then sold it when I was done. Cost me 100$

 

[68GTX440]

Hey bud,

You've seen my rotisserie at the shop, and we built it, so if you'd like the plans let me know and we'll get you hooked up. Can't remember what kind of costs were involved but you can figure saving 50% of what you'd pay to buy one. If you'd like a hand building it I'd be happy to help

There's also a chance I'll be finished with mine fairly soon; when are you wanting to begin? I will be selling mine when I'm done.

Shoot me a message and we'll go from there,

Bob

Hey Bob, it's been awhile how's everything been man? I just got mine off the truck getting ready to assemble after I'm done here, I would've built it by hand I just don't trust my weilding all that much lol! Thanks for the offer for help though, I probably would've built it by hand if I saw that in time. I might end up needing your help if you're ever available though, seeing as you've gotten really good with body work!

 

[68GTX440]

Under coating removal . . . wish I would have listened to what the other told me a lot earlier:

I spent months using a putty knife, and got 3/4 of the car done . . . got the whole back half of the car ( from the axles back ) done in a weekend - and with better results . . .

Needle Scaler - it's the way to go . . .

View attachment 430947

Here's what it can do . . . and very quickly too . . .

View attachment 430948

The process . . . in action . . .

View attachment 430949

Sweet, just got my rotisserie today, hopefully get it together and mount the car up to it, and I can get started with my needle scaler I went and bought the other day. Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[conv67bdere]

Sweet, just got my rotisserie today, hopefully get it together and mount the car up to it, and I can get started with my needle scaler I went and bought the other day. Thank you for the suggestion!

You're going to love it - it'll make it so much easier ! !
( I'd say "enjoy" . . . but how can you enjoy that job ! ) - so, good luck !

 

[68GTX440]

You're going to love it - it'll make it so much easier ! !
( I'd say "enjoy" . . . but how can you enjoy that job ! ) - so, good luck !

Got parts of it assembled, the directions are kinda jibberish so just going off of pictures. Probably going to have to watch a video of how to balance it, from what the directions say it makes no sense lol.

 

[Satans Fury]

Hey Bob, it's been awhile how's everything been man? I just got mine off the truck getting ready to assemble after I'm done here, I would've built it by hand I just don't trust my weilding all that much lol! Thanks for the offer for help though, I probably would've built it by hand if I saw that in time. I might end up needing your help if you're ever available though, seeing as you've gotten really good with body work!

Hey Josh,

Congrats on the rotisserie, you will NEVER regret the purchase; they make a HUGE difference when you've got an extensive amount of work to do (like our cars).
I understand totally about fabbing up your own and the welding skills, I don't think I'd have tried to make mine when I first started out (my ace fabricating buddy Jimmy did my rotisserie welding) but now it'd be a piece of cake. You need to get yourself some scrap metal of varying thickness and practice, practice, practice.
I moved to a different shop number but I'm still in the same complex, so any time you need something you're always welcome to stop by, and if you need a hand at the house just let me know and I'll be happy to come by and give you a hand; it'd be my pleasure.
Not sure if you have my cell number or not but if you'd like it PM me and I'll send it to you; going through your post to communicate can delay things.

Talk to you soon,

BW