A Hurst shifter commands the...
A Hurst shifter commands the Tremec TKO five-speed overdrive transmission. That spells nothing but fun for this low-spring GTO.
Motor City Steel installed a Tremec TKO five-speed with a Hays clutch and flywheel assembly, and an aluminum driveshaft. The overdrive transmission provides increased gas mileage over the traditional trans and is very popular with restomods.
Sitting out back is a 10-bolt rear with an aluminum T/A cover, 4.10 gears and an Eaton Posi. "I built the car to be a boulevard cruiser," says Roger. This transmission and gear combination offers a comfortable setup for drives out to local car get-togethers.
Finally, with a competent shop behind the work, the body was aligned to the frame properly after being a 1/4-inch off. The hood, core support, firewall, and wheelwells were all smoothed out, which removed all the metal stamping marks. Then DuPont Chroma Premier basecoast/clearcoat system paint was applied to the freshly reworked body. The paint combination was selected by Roger to reflect a modernized look for the vintage Pontiac. Therefore, the factory Judge striping was left off to emphasize the clean lines. The scoops were painted red, along with the Judge lettering, and a silver stripe was sprayed down the center.
Conclusion
It took over 30 years and four restorations to complete the Judge, but Roger couldn't be happier with the outcome. One day, he'd like to give the GTO to his son. He feels that if he can do that, it will make the whole project worthwhile.
For now, he just likes driving his dream car. "I love going out and talking with car guys and sharing ideas. For me, it's all about going to Dairy Queen and having a bite to eat. This Judge started with an idea I had when I was 18 and this is what I wanted to do back then," he reminisces. "It has been a long road, but reaching the light at the end of the tunnel is rewarding."
Assembled over 15 years ago,...
Assembled over 15 years ago, this 475-horse Pontiac 428 features a set of ported Ram Air IV heads that the owner picked up when he was in high school. According to him, the block was restamped years ago to resemble a 400, but is indeed a 4-bolt main 428.
The red interior has been...
The red interior has been restored using N.O.S. parts while the factory dash, center console, seatbelts, and arm rest were refurbished. The seat covers, carpeting, and door panels were purchased from YearOne. It now features an Alpine stereo system so he can listen to tunes while cruising the streets of Novi, Michigan. All the interior work was done at Motor City Steel.
Roger said, "I didn't like...
Roger said, "I didn't like the look of the side stripes found on the Judge and I felt they made the car look dated. I decided to go with something cleaner, so I stuck with red, black, and silver colors. The Judge logos were painted on and everything has been cleared over."